Our garages often become storage rooms, hoarding items we now have little use for but converting this space can completely transform your home.
Whether it gives you a dedicated office, a bigger kitchen, or an additional bedroom, a stylish garage conversion will afford your family some much craved extra space. Not to mention, it will add a substantial amount of value to your Southend home.
Check If You Need Planning Permission
The work for garage conversions is generally internal, and therefore does not require planning permission.
However, the rules can vary hugely depending on the alterations you make to the windows and doors. Therefore, it is always best to check with your local authority in Southend before beginning any work.
Consider a Double Story Conversion
If your budget permits, a double story garage conversion is a stunning addition to the home. A mezzanine works fantastically, transforming an otherwise dark, unused space into an area your family will love.
Use the bottom story to create a comfortable, relaxed living area – the perfect annexe for guests to enjoy. This allows visitors to stay in your home, but have their own slice of privacy.
The top floor can then become the bedroom. Use large windows to allow natural light to flood into the room, overlooking the garden if the layout of your garage permits.
Don’t Forget Insulation and Ventilation
If your garage is separate from your main home, it was likely built with entirely different regulations. If its original purpose was to house a car, the ventilation and insulation will not be sufficient to create a living space.
It will be worthwhile to have a professional look over the room, ensuring the finished product not only looks spectacular but functions perfectly.
Ensure Consistency
The garage should flow from the main home, with consistency in the architecture and the styling techniques. Use the same doors and windows to help blend the conversion, and ensure skirting boards and coving follow into your new space.
Plan for Natural Light
To create a stunning room, you must contemplate the light sources. Unfortunately, garages usually have little to no windows, which does not equate to an ideal living space.
Adding a large glass panel or bi-fold doors that open onto the garden is an excellent way to incorporate the maximum amount of natural light.
Create a Utility Room
For smaller garages, a utility room conversion is a great idea.
A little extra space to put our washing machine, tumble dryer and other cleaning equipment in is always welcome. Garages are often connected to the kitchen, making them ideally located for a purpose-built utility room, with the added bonus that this dedicated area allows you to live out your Pinterest styling dreams.
Build a Home Gym
Especially in the colder months, a home gym can make committing to regular exercise much easier.
Gym equipment takes up a surprising amount of space. You can carefully hide a small set of weights and a yoga mat in another room, but if you plan to advance to larger pieces of equipment such as a spin bike or treadmill, a dedicated space is essential.
Transform Into a Playroom
A playroom is another popular option for a garage transformation. These rooms are often cluttered and filled with mountains of toys, so having a dedicated space to allow the children to get messy is fantastic.
Alternatively, those with older children can create a stylish and cool place for teenagers to hang out – a snug. This can be designed relatively inexpensively, using bean bags and an overhead projector to build a relaxed movie room.
Create a New Kitchen
Garages that are connected to your home are often right next to the original kitchen. This offers an incredible opportunity to extend and renovate your kitchen, knocking through to create one large open plan room.
It might be that the floor level of the garage is slightly lower than the original kitchen, so play around with split level design ideas before committing to a releveling of the whole area.
Consider a Home Office
The way we all work has changed dramatically over the past 18 months, and the demand for a home office has never been higher.
Working from our dining room tables is no longer viable as a long-term plan, and therefore an unused garage creates the perfect opportunity to build a dedicated office.
Ensure there is plenty of natural light, as a dark room does not lend itself to productivity. Additionally, consider a multifunctional space that doubles as a playroom in the evenings and weekends, to ensure you get the most from your garage conversion.
Want more tips like this? BM Property Agents are your local property experts for the Southend area.
Call us on 01702 596027 or email barry@bmpropertyagents.co.uk to find out we can help you.
