A Guide To Converting Your Garage Into A Home Office

Since the global pandemic that was Covid, the number of people who work from home has increased. 

Prior to the pandemic, only 6% of employees primarily worked remotely. Now, it’s expected that 25% of professional workers in the UK will work remotely by the end of 2023.

With that rise in numbers, it has now become essential for people to have somewhere that is not only free from distraction but also a nice place to spend those hours working from home. Having a dedicated office space may seem like a luxury to some but having somewhere to work that is comfortable is essential for your work life balance.

Many of us would have initially found a corner or nook in the house or apartment where we could set up the laptop and knuckle down to a full day to a full day in a makeshift office space.

Spaces were cleared in bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchen breakfast bars and even the odd shed or two during the summer months, but as the trend continues for more of the Worldwide workforce to work from home, isn’t it about time we made room for a real home office space?

What About The Garage

If, like many other UK households, you are lucky enough to have a garage as part of your property, then it is an under-used space full of clutter and storage items. Some people have trouble opening there garage doors. Rarely used as a parking space and was often cold and damp.

That said, it is another room in your house, so why not take full advantage of the floor space. It will be more affordable to convert your garage from a dumping ground into a home office than to build more rooms in your house, and with a little imagination and interior design flair, it can look and feel like an excellent place to work.

Do You Need Planning Permission To Convert a Garage Into a Home Office?

Planning permission is not usually required for a garage conversion project, providing the work is internal and does not involve enlarging the building. As most garage spaces are already part of the plans of your house, you will not require any further permissions to upgrade or convert to a home office.

However, if you are altering the size or exterior appearance of the garage, then it is advisable to seek guidance from your local authority before you begin work.

Building Regulations

Building regulations are different guidelines to that of planning permission as you will need to seek approval and certification of the garage conversion if you are adding elements such as lighting, electrics, plumbing, windows, doors and insulation.

If you are using a building contractor, they will be able to advise you and apply to the relevant departments on your behalf. Making the new home office energy efficient by adding properly insulated walls for instance, will ensure not only you have good ventilation but that you also meet current building regulations.

As garages were often a separate building from the main house they may need to have a damp proof course injected into the brickwork to keep it free from and and ensure that it is structurally sound.

If your builder does not offer or advise you of this, then searching for an alternative contractor makes better sense.

Will A Converted Garage Add Value To Your Home?

Real estate agents have suggested in the UK that a converted garage may add value to your home by anything between 10-15%. However, that is dependent on what your garage has been converted to.

Not surprisingly, the home office is at the top of the list of value-adding conversion as it has more versatility and, therefore, more appeal to potential buyers than, say, a gymnasium or games room.

How Much Will It Cost

If you pardon the pun, that is the $ 64 million question, as it depends on the garage size to be converted and what you want to include in there. If you add the new insulation to the walls and roof, the electrics, online access, lighting, new doors, new windows, office furniture, and possibly even an en suite then you are looking at spending anywhere between £5000 – £10,000.

Converting an existing room will be a much more cost effective option than an extension to your property and does not require planning permission. This will mean the building cost and legal fees will be greatly reduced.

A lot of initial outlay for a new room, including a structural engineer in some cases but if you consider it could add as much as 15% to the value of your home, it is a worthwhile investment into your property.

Adding Colour

As this home office will be your workplace for an average of 35 hours per week, setting the tone is essential in creating a great workspace.

The walls need to make you feel comfortable yet creative, and they will also determine which furnishings and which style accessories you add to your home office.

White is the most popular colour in many home offices as it is versatile and easy to accessorise. Surprisingly, white has a calming effect that is an essential part of our mental well-being. It can also accentuate any natural light that you have in the form of windows or a skylight.

The up-and-coming trend in home office wall colour schemes is to find earthy tones such as greens and blues to evoke a feeling of calm if you are looking to reduce stress. These colours are also great for accompanying furnishings and essential office items.

Home Office Furniture

Tables and chairs are the most apparent and essential furniture to have in your garage conversion home office. These need to be comfortable, functional and easy to use but can also be stylish and different as it is your home office; you get to choose what it looks like.

A vintage table with an ergonomic chair will add contrast without detracting from its purpose.

Finding an upcycled storage unit for files and office equipment will add character, or mixing the old, and the new will make your home office your personal workspace.

Shelving And Storage

A vital ingredient in any office space is storage space, as the need to store equipment, files and machines that help you in your daily routine. Ensure that you have enough storage to put those non-essential items, as clutter is not conducive to a peaceful working environment.

Open shelving is one way to display items that you need to hand, but make sure they are regularly tidied as you want to create a professional image, even if it is only you that gets to see your newly converted garage office.

While expensive, bespoke shelving will enable you to design the look and feel of the office walls and help utilise all available space in your garage.

Great cupboards must be considered places to store or even hide office paraphernalia that is unnecessary for your everyday needs. Flat pack has some excellent storage solutions, but why not upcycle an old wardrobe or sideboard if you want to save money?

Artwork And Photographs

In recent studies published, it is estimated that over half of the UK’s office workers display at least one family photo on their desk at work, and this is usually encouraged by employers as it is said to reduce stress and therefore promote productivity so why not have them in your home office.

The only difference is that you can hang photos or favourite pieces of artwork on the walls of your new home office. Display them with pride, and if you use adhesive wall strips, you can change the photos or artwork every few months.

Flooring In Your Home Office

Most garage floors will be concrete and, therefore, very cold and uninviting to you in your home office, so new flooring is essential in any garage conversion to a home office.

One suggestion worth noting is underfloor heating, as it will ensure temperatures in the coldest months and help reduce energy bills as it is a very cost-effective way to heat a room. This can be installed to work in conjunction with your home’s central heating systems which will save on your budget.

Wooden floors are the preference in most garage-to-home office conversions as they are easy to install and maintain. If you want to break up the overall look of the wooden garage floor, then why not add rugs that can add colour and even become a focal point and focal points are big in the world of interior design for 2023.

Personal Touches

As this will be your own home office, you can add anything you want to it. We have spoken about artwork and photographs, but why stop your finishing touches there? Plants that lift your mood and help reduce moisture are proven to be calming, and whilst talking of plants, you can add flowers that are displayed in ornamental vases you bought at a thrift store.

Armchairs with textured cushions and soft furnishings that you will use to relax in, as not everything in your home office has to be functional and work-related. Making it a comfortable space may also encourage family members to sit with you whilst you work, which is one of the biggest benefits of working from home that you see more of your beloved family.

Future-Proof Your Garage Conversion

With the ever-changing technological advances, you will need to ensure the best ways to keep up-to-date so that any phone line, ethernet cable, electrical installation or any other internet connectivity will still be functional down the line.

Your electrician, plumber and internet provider will be able to help you with this, and it is worth overestimating what you will need rather than being unable to keep up with current trends.

Future-proofing isn’t just about the technical stuff. Still, your interior design ideas will need to have longevity, so try to avoid too many on-trend items or ideas and aim for classic and versatile colour schemes, furniture and accessories.

You want to avoid having to redecorate too often!

In Conclusion

If you do work from home and are currently making do with an area that is neither comfortable nor inspiring, then why not convert your garage into a home office? It can be your personal space that you can enhance with all of those things that were missing at your office building, from photos, armchairs and beautiful colour schemes. The choice is yours to make.

One major plus point for converting your garage into an office is that you will reduce the time you have to commute to work, saving time and money that can both be spent on the more important things in your family life.

Any additional, liveable or workable space added to your home will be an investment for your future, so why not convert that cluttered, damp and cold garage into a home office?