Single Garage Conversion Plans

No matter if your single garage is large or tiny, you can convert it into an additional living space. It can be suitable for lots of various purposes. You can use this structure as a home gym, a rental unit, a home office, a guest suite, an art studio, or a storage space to accommodate elderly relatives, adult children, guests, and so on. In this article, we’ll talk about the main types of floor plans for single garage conversions.

The Benefits of a Garage Conversion

Do you consider converting your garage into an ADU but are unsure whether it’s worth doing?

It has several important advantages:

• Lower costs. Typically, garage conversions are cheaper than most other ADU types;
• A garage conversion is a completely functional, structurally sound ADU that you can equip with everything necessary for living – a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, a place for storage, and so on. Some conversions even have more than one bedroom!
• Faster building process. Converting a garage into an ADU takes much less time than constructing a new building from scratch;
• As with any other additional habitable space, a converted garage can add extra value to your property (up to 20%).

How to Convert a Garage

What are the main things that you need to do in order to convert a single garage into an extra living space?

Here’s what:

1. Get the planning permission —- this is compulsory;
2. Change the garage door. You won’t need the old door for the car anymore, so you’ll need to replace it. You may install an ordinary door, sliding doors, a window, or a wall instead of it;
3. Upgrade the roof. Make sure it doesn’t have any leakages. Cover it with a new roofing material that matches your preferred ADU style;
4. Create internal walls (for instance, stud walls) with doors between them to organize the new space;
5. Insulate walls in the building to keep the garage space warm and prevent dampness. Also, you’ll need to do it with the other surfaces – the ceiling, the floor, the door, and the windows. The bedroom and the living room should have the thickest insulation, while in utility rooms, it may be thinner;
6. Install cooling and heating systems to regulate the temperature. A good heating variant can be a special electric system situated beneath the floor. Its installation process is very simple;
7. Install a ventilation system to ensure the air circulates well. A kitchen, a bathroom, and a home gym need an extractor fan. Other rooms require background ventilation such as trickle vents or air bricks —- and also well-opening windows;
8. Install plumbing and electric systems. We don’t recommend that you do it yourself. If you lack the required skills, it may be dangerous. It’s much better to hire qualified specialists;
9. Design the interior and the exterior of the house;
10. Also, any living space needs fire safety —- including a converted garage. Make a fire exit window and install a smoke detector. In case you’re doing only a partial conversion, divide the building with a completely insulated inner wall that can protect you from fire for at least half an hour.

Garage Conversion Types

There are different types of garages — detached, attached, and integrated. The latter two types have a connection with the primary residence, and usually have got a bedroom over their roof. You can access an attached garage from your main home, which makes it way easier to convert into an ADU. However, detached garages are also popular for creating a converted space.

Let’s name the main types of single garage conversions:

• Complete integral single conversion. It’s the most widespread type, which is also rather inexpensive. It’s an attached garage situated within your primary residence that has direct access to it (typically through a utility room or a kitchen). If you live in a mews house, you probably have it. Also, it can be a basement;
• Partial conversion. It’s a very quick-to-create option, perfect for those who need to leave some garage space or don’t have enough money for a full conversion. In most cases, people turn the back part of the garage into a living space while the front one keeps functioning as a garage. Between those two zones, there’s a partition wall – in some cases, with doors;
• Detached conversion. This is an ADU made from a completely standalone garage construction. Usually, it needs more effort, but the resulting house is completely worth it. Also, if a detached garage is close to your main home, it’ll be possible to make an integrated passageway between the two buildings.

Ideas for Garage Conversions

And now, we’ll talk about the most popular garage conversion ideas. What can you make out of a single garage structure? Let’s find out!

Art Studio

If you’re a creative person, this garage conversion project might be for you. A second house where you can indulge in your hobby without anyone bothering you, and make a storage place for all your art supplies (for example, paints, brushes, canvas, and so on) —- isn’t it great?

When projecting such a conversion, take into account the specifics and requirements of your art. For instance, if you’re a musician, install soundproof walls that will protect the room from any outside noise. If you’re an artist, make proper lighting, both natural and artificial. As for plumbing, it may be unnecessary for such an ADU — you won’t use it as space for living, anyway.

Tiny House

Tiny houses are becoming increasingly popular not only in the countryside but also in urban areas. Lots of property owners create these houses from their old garages that they don’t use anymore, making a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen there. Such a project can be an amazing variant for rental income or elderly relatives, especially if they need care. Because they’ll live on your property, it will be easy for you to help them. But they’ll still have private space, as will you.

If you’ve got friends that often visit you, you can turn your garage into a comfy guest suite. In case the company is big, you can make several bedrooms. it’s possible to do even if your garage isn’t very large.

A subtype of a tiny house is a studio flat. It’s popular as a rental unit, especially among those who live near tourist destinations.

Home Gym

If you’re a fitness lover who wants to save money on gym memberships, a great option for you would be a personal mini-gym project. Moreover, it’s much simpler to follow your workout routine when you’ve got your own gym at home. You won’t have to commute to it and use public lockers that can be dirty.

This type of garage conversion has rather low requirements. Since it’s not a living space, it doesn’t need much electricity, plumbing, insulation, heating, cooling, a kitchen, and a bedroom. All this makes it one of the most cost-effective options. On the other hand, you’ll need intensive ventilation and lots of special equipment such as pull-up bars.

In many gyms, there are big mirrors on one wall and a large window on the opposite. It’s an amazing solution that can visually expand the room and increase the amount of natural light in it. Also, when planning your gym, dedicate most of its space to your favorite fitness activity. After all, it’s your gym and nobody else’s!

Another great idea is to install a mini-laundry and a shower (or even a bathroom) there to wash your body and clothes after workout sessions.

If you prefer yoga, you can convert your garage into a personal yoga studio. For it, you’ll need to leave a lot of open space. Paint the walls in calm, neutral tones to create a suitable atmosphere for relaxing and meditation.

Workshop

A garage conversion can be very suitable to use as a workshop where you can make and repair various things. Add pegboard walls with modular boxes to organize the storage space for your working equipment. To turn a garage into a workshop, you won’t need to divide its layout into several rooms, which makes the whole conversion process much simpler.

Playroom

If you have kids, you can convert a garage into a playroom for them. Use various lighting types for various activities. Attach color-changing small fiber optics to the ceiling. Because children love to play on the ground, make the floor surface softer – cover it with a carpet or vinyl and some rugs. Make a whiteboard or a chalkboard wall so that they’ll be able to draw and write on it. In addition to that, you’ll need to provide plenty of space to store kids’ toys, chalk, and other stuff.

Mini-Office

Nowadays, lots of people have distance jobs. During the pandemic, their number has increased even more. On the one hand, working online is very comfortable, but on the other hand, your family members can distract you. In this situation, converting your old garage into a personal home office is a perfect solution. You’ll get a separate space where you can fully concentrate on the working process. This will boost your productivity and the quality of your results.

In the place of the former garage door, you can install a big window. It will provide lots of natural light, brighten your mood, and give you energy for productive work.

Home Cinema

In case you enjoy watching movies, why not make your own mini-cinema out of an existing garage? You won’t have to go to a movie theater, pay for the ticket and overpriced popcorn, and listen to other people coughing and sneezing. You’ll be able to watch your favorite films privately — alone, with your family or loved one, but in a real cinema atmosphere!

For this type of garage conversion, you won’t need to install new windows. For lighting, use special dimmed lights on the ceiling and walls. Also, equip your garage cinema with a stereo sound system, comfy sitting places, and of course, a large screen. Also, you won’t need plumbing, since a bathroom and a kitchen there are unnecessary. You won’t need to include a bedroom in the plan, either.

This conversion type is also suitable for sports fans. In such a cinema, they can watch various competitions or matches of their favorite teams.

House for Pets

A garage conversion can be a great home not only for you and your family but also for your pets. You can provide them with a separate area to live and have fun. Place several specialized toys there, and add space for sunbathing. If you have a cat, install some wall-mounted shelves and ceiling walkways so that your furry friend can climb and explore. Also, install a scratching post for your kitty to sharpen the claws. And, of course, make special pet doors.

Place for Parties

If you’ve got lots of friends and often host parties, this variant is for you. You can entertain your friends and throw unforgettable parties in your former garage. Add a refrigerator, a mini-bar, seating places, a sound system, and some game room equipment — for instance, a ping-pong table, a pinball machine, and a table for tabletop games.

In such a conversion, it’s better to keep the old garage door, so your guests will be able to go outdoors easily if they want — and then return to the garage. Consider covering it with a garage screen to protect the inner space from pests.

Additional Kitchen Space

Big kitchens are extremely popular in California. In case your garage is near your kitchen, you can turn it into its extension. Of course, you’ll need to connect plumbing and gas, install a ventilation system, and do plenty of things that can increase the overall price. Converting a garage into a kitchen can be costly — but it’s worth it! This conversion will probably add more to your property value than many other ones.

By the way, such an extended space can be not only a kitchen — but also, for instance, a dining area, a bedroom, a bathroom, or a living room.

Room for Studying

An ideal layout option if you’ve got a schoolchild. Studying requires lots of concentration, which is not always possible in the main house. So, a garage conversion can be super helpful. Make it comfortable for doing homework and preparing for exams. Put a spacious desk or a table there. Soundproof the walls to isolate them from any outside noises, and hang some bookshelves on them. Installing windows that give lots of natural light can also be very useful.

Multipurpose Space

In case you can’t decide what to choose, you can create a conversion project with more than one function! For example, it can be both an art studio, an entertainment area, a yoga retreat, a storage space, and a cozy bedroom with a large bed. Simply make an agreement with all your family members, who and when will use the building, and for which purpose.

Greenhouse

If you’ve got a detached garage, you can make an amazing greenhouse from it! Install lots of windows, so your plants won’t lack natural sunlight. Also make sure that you have direct access to all the plants, to care for them. Also, a great variant would be an indoor mini-garden. Unlike a greenhouse, it’s meant not only for growing plants, but also serves as a sunroom and a place to relax.

Additional Bathroom

Of course, most people already have a bathroom in their houses. However, you can make not an ordinary room with a sink and a shower — but your own little oasis, the perfect bathroom of your dreams! Decorate it with lots of plants, cover the walls with the most beautiful tiles you can find, and install a super-comfortable bathtub! Of course, you’ll need to pay special attention to the plumbing. You’ll definitely need a qualified specialist in this sphere.

Outdoor Terrace

Another unusual idea is to demolish one of the walls, replace it with a large window, and make a cozy outdoor terrace to relax during cool weather. However, you’ll need to make sure that the wall you’re going to remove is not a load-bearing one. So, we recommend you to consult with a specialist before starting the conversion process.

Teen Hideaway

When kids grow up and become teenagers, they start to need their own private space. If you have a teenage child, you can make such a space out of your garage. So your kid will feel free and hang out with friends there, but you’ll still have the possibility to watch over them and ensure they’re safe. You can even move your child’s bed to it. A great idea is to ask your teen kid to help you plan the future conversion — of course, within reasonable limits.

Sunroom

Have you ever thought of turning your garage into your own sunroom? There, you can relax watching the sunrise with a cup of fresh hot coffee, or in the evening after a hard working day. Remove the garage door and install a large window in its place. In case you’ve got a carport, converting it into a sunroom is even simpler.

Mudroom

If you like hiking, going to the beach, or taking part in other outdoor activities, you probably often come home in wet or dirty clothes — or with tons of sand in them. In this case, a mudroom would be an ideal option for you — especially if you’ve already got a washer and a dryer in your garage.

Since a mudroom doesn’t require much space, it may take up only a part of the construction. You can easily combine it with something else from our list.

2-story Loft for Guests

Such a floor plan resembles a studio flat, but it has a second floor. So, it’s more suitable for a garage with a “bonus room” — or, in other words, an attic. It’s great not only as a guest house but also as a passive income source, in case your local regulations allow renting out such buildings.

The Takeaway

A garage conversion is an amazing way to add extra living space to your backyard. It’s a perfect blend of high quality, low cost, and fast construction speed. Moreover, it’s incredibly versatile — you can use such a structure for various purposes. Also, it can add significant value to your property. No wonder creating garage conversions is so popular nowadays!