Garage conversion ideas for your home

What is a garage? It is a simple question, but if we’re honest there could be a number of answers! And often “storing a car” is not the first thing people think of! Often, the response is “it’s where all the stuff I can’t fit in my house is stored”. But beyond a glorified storeroom, a garage can be completely transformed with the addition of a power supply. Here are some of the garage conversion ideas you can utilise to make the most of this versatile space:

1. Workshop

Having ample sockets in the right locations makes it easier for your garage to be turned into a workshop. Having a workshop usually means regular use of tools, so it is quite a common requirement for cabling within a workshop to be contained and protected. This way, it will not be vulnerable to being knocked by tools and materials.

This also goes for the sockets; plastic sockets can be easily damaged if they are installed in the wrong environment. Metal cladded sockets and switches are normally installed where tools are used regularly. An exception to this rule is if an IP-rated socket or switch is justified; then these are made of stronger plastic than your general household sockets.

2. Art or craft room

Getting crafty can be a messy business and if it is a regular hobby then you might think about packing up all your resources from the kitchen table and setting up a room in the garage. A socket or two can’t go amiss for powering those glue guns and sewing machines.

The source and quality of lighting for a craft room are important, and there are various options. You would want it well lit, but also the light to be flexible to direct the light to where you want it focused according to the task you are undertaking. Talk to your electrician about the different ways you use light to help you and decide their location based on these factors.

3. Gaming room

Whether it is a good old-fashioned pool table and dartboard or a modern virtual reality game setup, power plays a part. Lighting is important and so are the positions of sockets. Plan out how you are going to set up your game room and arrange for the sockets to be installed accordingly.

Strip and mood lighting is quite common in games rooms to add to the atmosphere when playing games, so think about the type of lighting you install.

4. Working from home office

With more of us working from home and many offices adopting a hybrid working model from this point onwards, a home office is now a requirement for many families. For those with no space, converting the garage, or a section of it is an increasingly attractive solution.

Again, make sure you know how you want to lay out your furniture beforehand in order to ensure you have the sockets in the correct place. If you are wanting more advice about how to go about planning your home office renovation, take a look at our other blog post on the topic here.