Your garage has long held your stuff. At this point it doesn't even hold your car anymore. It has essentially become your own private storage unit. As long as it is not doing anything very useful, why not move out the clutter and add a little value to your home by making it a functional space? There are a ton of things you can do with your garage. As long as you are willing to pony up a little up front cash, you could find that it saves or even makes you money. Here are a few ideas about what to do with that extra space so that it doesn't go to waste.
Home Office
Did you know that if you have a job that allows you to work from home, you could actually save a ton of money? Think about it. You do not have to buy business attire, spend money on a commute, buy lunch or chip in for the office Christmas party. If you add a play pen or play area to your office, you could even save on childcare. Turning your garage into your office or business space could be a significant benefit to you. You may have to insulate and drywall the garage and lay some flooring so that it is a warm and inviting place to be. Paint it to give it a friendly boost. Add a desk, some shelves and, of course, your computer and you are all set.
Home Gym
Think of what you will save in membership fees and time if you only have to go ten steps from your bed to your gym. Getting up at 5am to get to the gym before work? Not any more. Now you can get a little extra shut eye. You've got no excuse to skip the workout when it is right where you live. Turning your garage into a gym does not require much at all. If the garage is not insulated, depending on where you live, you may want to do that. Other than that, just install your favorite gym equipment. You could have a punching bag, free weights, stationary bike and even a stair climber. To make things more interesting as you work out, also add a sound system or even a television.
Mother-in-Law Suite
This is the conversion that will require the most investment. You are essentially turning a storage loft into a living space. Not only will you want to insulate and pretty things up with some paint, but you will want to lay flooring and - most especially - add some plumbing. Another thing to consider is installing a new garage door that will look more presentable and suited for a living space. In order to add even a kitchenette and small bathroom, you will be investing some hard core money. You should also look into local building codes before you go making any major decisions. The last thing you want is to invest a bunch of money into your project only to find out that you will either have to scrap it or invest even more to keep things in compliance with the law. The good news, however, is that if you do not actually have a mother-in-law who is hoping to occupy this suite, you can rent it out and make some serious bank.
Workshop
Turning your garage into a workshop is probably the simplest conversion on this list. You do not necessarily have to add any insulation or make things visually appealing. A workshop is a place to focus on your craft. There is likely to be some mess. And even when the mess is cleaned up, it probably would not be worth the effort of installing a nice new floor or adding some paint. All you need is your equipment, a work bench, storage for your equipment and materials and a garbage can. For very low overhead, however, you would have a workshop where you could make beautiful handmade items to give as gifts or even sell. Not only could it save you money on gifts but your new space could potentially help bring in a profit with your new side business.
As long as your garage is not doing much for you, why not clean it out and make it useful? Turning it into a useful space could end up saving or even making you money. Under the right circumstances, it could potentially increase the value of your home, as well. Consider these suggestions when you are trying to decide what to do with your unused garage space.
