When we all started working from home this year, most of us didn’t really put a lot of thought into it. There was no designated home office, a lot of us are still hunched over at the dining room table, curled up with a laptop on the sofa (trying not to think about what it’s doing to our spines), or tapping away on the PC in the spare room on the ancient desk that’s one sudden movement away from collapse.
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As we head into the new year, it’s the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and do something about your working area. A garage is a fantastic space if you’re thinking about a conversion, and it can make for the perfect home office. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Consult A Professional
Turning a garage into a home office isn’t just about making sure you’ve got a south facing window and new office chair. If you’re serious about converting this space into a room that can be somewhere you can both work and relax, then you’re going to need to do you your research. Is this something that is going to require planning permission from the local council? Will it require any electricity or gas? Will water pipes need rerouting? Will the boiler or electricity meter need to be relocated? From exterior changes to underfloor heating, there are many practical considerations to take into account and if you’re going further than simply moving a desk in, it’s always worth finding a local professional who can tell you what you need and what it will take.
Let There Be Light…And Heat
Here’s something to think about if you’re taking the conversion seriously. Typically, a garage isn’t filled with natural light sources, so think about areas where you can add some windows. You don’t want to be sitting in your new work space in total darkness, after all. And, just as light isn’t something you can really negotiate, you’re going to want to make sure that your new home office is well heated. Garages are rarely built with the idea that anyone is going to be spending several hours a day in them, so putting in the extra time, effort and cash into making the space comfortable is an absolute must.
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It’s Time For A Clear Out
For many of us, the garage is a space where things end up. We’re talking about boxes and files, old furniture, the toys that your kids aren’t using at the moment…the things that you can’t bear to get rid of but you don’t want cluttering up the house. When you turn the space into a home office, you will not want to be struggling to squeeze past cardboard boxes and knocking over that bike no one is using every time you get up to make a cup of tea. It’s time to look into putting these things into storage until you need them again. SafeStore has a wide range of indoor storage rooms to keep your belongings safe and secure while you can crack on with turning the garage into the perfect home office.
Make It Match
If your garage is an external structure, then it goes without saying that you can make as many interior changes as you want, but if it’s part of the main house, then you will want to think about the ways in which you can make the conversion into a home office a seamless addition to your home. This could be as simple as making sure the décor matches, but don’t be afraid to think bigger. Do you want to raise the level and get rid of that step down? How do you want the new exterior to match the rest of the house? It’s important to remember that this is a bigger change than you might think.
