The Top 39 Garage Conversion Ideas
Looking to make the most out of your home’s floor plan? Adding square footage to an existing home is often more trouble than it’s worth. With that said, you might be overlooking one of the simplest ways to add a new room or living space to your property.
Garage conversions are growing in popularity, especially in areas where the real estate market is booming. Converting your spare garage is an excellent way to add functionality and value to your home without heavy construction.
For more information about how you can transform your home’s layout, check out these great garage conversion ideas.
1. Apartment
Converting a garage into a full-scale apartment is neither cheap nor easy. But if you’re looking to get the most functionality out of your garage remodel possible, it’s definitely the way to go.
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By converting your attached or detached garage into an independent living space, you’ll be adding an accessory dwelling unit to your property.
While many homeowners opt for this type of garage transformation to accommodate a family member or close friend, it can also be a great financial investment.
You can rent out your garage apartment to tenants. If you live somewhere with abundant tourism, you might even be able to list this new space on a platform like Airbnb.
2. Bar
A garage bar isn’t as practical as an apartment or home office. But the great part about being a homeowner is that you get to call the shots!
Plus, in the right market, a high-quality bar can add quite a bit to your home’s real estate value.
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Think about how you plan to use your new home bar before getting started. If you want a wet bar in your garage conversion, you’ll need to account for the necessary plumbing.
You can replace your garage door with more traditional sliding doors or windows. However, there’s nothing wrong with keeping the original door and opening it up for summer grilling.
3. Bathroom
If you want your garage conversion to be a full-fledged living space, you’ll need to incorporate a bathroom somewhere in your design. However, what the final product actually looks like is entirely up to you.
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Converting even a small section of your garage into a bathroom can add a ton of value. The extra bathroom can serve as a space for guests. It can also be used to keep dirt, mud, and grease out of your main living space.
Keep the space simple with regular drywall or protect your new bathroom walls with tile or wood panels. If your converted garage features materials like exposed brick or plumbing, be sure to include these industrial elements in your final design.
4. Bedroom
Transforming your garage into an extra bedroom is certainly one of the most practical garage conversion ideas. This is a great option if you find yourself in need of a guest room or to temporarily boost your home’s capacity to accommodate a friend or family member.
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Converting a garage space into a spare bedroom can be as complicated or straightforward as you choose. Assuming the space is clean and safe to use as a sleeping area, insulation will be one of your top priorities.
If you want the flexibility of using your converted garage as storage or another type of living space, invest in convertible or multi-use furniture. A daybed or Murphy bed are a couple of good options.
5. Game Room
Not all garage conversions emerge from a need for more usable living space. It’s totally fine to convert your garage into something more fun than functional — like a game room.
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This is the perfect spot to set up your cherished arcade machines. Many game rooms keep it classy with man cave essentials like a pool table and dartboard. Or it can be a private hideout with all of your favorite board and video games.
The ideal conversion plan for your game room will really depend on what you like to play. Ample, comfortable seating is a must. If you want to include a wet bar or half bath in your game room, you’ll need to add plumbing to the space.
6. Gym
Turning a garage into a home gym is one of the easiest and most common conversions homeowners make.
Whether you want to drop your expensive gym membership or just need a more convenient way to work out, having your own private gym is a luxury nobody should pass up!
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The fitness equipment you choose for this garage conversion project will depend on how your household works out. Some people might need little more than a treadmill. Others will want a full set of weightlifting gear.
No matter what, it’s a good idea to protect your old garage floor with specialty gym flooring. Install hanging storage to organize your equipment. Add a personal touch with wall hangings and a stereo system.
7. Living Room
It’s not uncommon for families to spend a majority of their time at home in the living room. If you have a large household and a small house, though, it’s easy to find yourself wishing for some additional space.
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Converting a garage into a living room is actually a super-efficient remodel project. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom conversion, you don’t need to worry about plumbing.
Adding a living room with a garage makeover can free up your existing family room for use as a more formal space. You can decorate your formal living room to your heart’s content while still giving your family a playroom to enjoy.
8. Loft
Would you love to convert your garage into a functional room but can’t sacrifice the parking space? Then a loft conversion is the ideal solution.
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There’s no limit on how to use your new garage loft. Open-concept lofts make great media rooms or home offices. If your loft space offers a bit of privacy, you might be able to convert it into a guest room or granny flat.
Your garage doesn’t necessarily need to have a vaulted ceiling to add a loft (but it certainly doesn’t hurt). A skilled contractor will be able to create a floor plan that suits your needs and the space you have available.
9. Office
Working from home isn’t always easy. Distractions are never-ending (especially if you have pets or kids!). Creating a home office is one of our favorite garage conversion ideas for anyone looking to boost productivity and privacy.
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Even if your garage remodel will double as a family room or additional living space, set aside a dedicated space for your desk and other work necessities. Don’t skimp on functional storage or feel-good decor in your office design.
You can convert any style of garage into a home office. With an attached garage conversion, you have convenient access to electricity, plumbing, and other amenities. A detached garage offers more privacy but at the expense of a more complicated remodel.
Garage Conversion FAQs
While you can usually transform a garage into a living room or man cave without issue, this might not be the case when it comes to building a bedroom.
The laws regarding turning a garage into a bedroom or extra living space vary by location. Check your local laws to learn what regulations your garage conversion must abide by.
As long as you aren’t making any changes to your garage’s exterior (such as making the garage bigger), a building permit generally isn’t required.
Professional builders will know what permits are required in your area to complete your planned project. Of course, it’s always best to do your own research before you start the remodeling process.
Garage conversions vary far and wide. While some conversions cost as little as $1,000, others cost $20,000 or more.
The more dramatic your conversion project, the higher the cost will be. For example, it’s cheaper to convert a garage into a rec room than to turn it into a studio apartment.
