30 Clever Garage Conversion Ideas to Make Great Use of Space

If you're not actually using your garage to store your car, it might be time to make it work a little harder and smarter for your needs. Garage conversions can provide extra space for all kinds of purposes, from home gyms to guest bedrooms. So declutter your garage and get brainstorming with 30 of our favorite garage conversion ideas.

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Add a Guest Room

The Home Consultant

Need some extra space for guests? Try converting your garage into a guest room, like The Home Consultant did in the guest studio above. It doesn't need to be fancy—you just need a comfy bed, a nice rug or carpet, and some kind of temperature control.

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Create a Sleeping Area

Arbor & Co.

When converting your garage into another type of space, consider setting aside the back half of it for a sleeping area. You don't even need walls—thick, room-darkening curtains will do the job well too.

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Add Extra Furniture

The Home Consultant

Garages-turned-bedrooms can sometimes feel a little too vast and cavernous. To minimize this effect, add extra furniture to the emptier parts of the room to ensure it doesn't feel unfinished.

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Reuse Your Garage Door Opening

The Home Consultant

Many garage conversions utilize the garage door opening as an opening for double doors or windows. This can work for bedrooms too, as a pair of glass doors lets in lots of light while providing an entrance and exit too. Mount a new pair of blinds to the doors for easy privacy.

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Hang Wallpaper

Design by Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Ellie Lillstrom

Add a little character to your garage bedroom by hanging some wallpaper or installing some paneling—or you can do both. Either way, this is an easy method to keep your bedroom from feeling too sterile.

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Create a Double Home Office

Designed by William Hunter Collective / Styled by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Another way to transform your garage is to turn it into a home office. But don't stop at one—thanks to the large footprint of most garages, you can easily create an oversized shared home office or a pair of home offices in your garage.

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Don't Forget About Standalone Garages

Home Made by Carmona

A standalone garage or shed like the one Home Made by Carmona converted above can also be turned into a home office. Use whatever light you have and consider placing your workspace at or near a window.

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Create a Home Office Combo

Michelle Berwick Design

Garages with awkward wall heights can be difficult to turn into more conventional spaces like living rooms or bedrooms. However, these types of spaces are a great fit for a home office and seating area combo like the one Michelle Berwick Design did above.

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Add Personality

Casa Watkins Living

Don't forget to add lots of personality to your home office garage conversion. We love how Casa Watkins Living did this with the wallpapered ceiling in the space above, as well as all the other fun textiles and decor throughout the space.

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Convert the Garage Into a Mudroom

Michelle Berwick Design

Consider converting your garage into a mudroom if you spend a lot of time outside or have a lot of outdoor gear. This can be a pretty cheap conversion too, as you probably won't need temperature controls, and you may be able to make do with your existing garage floors.

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Create a Small Mudroom

Arbor & Co.

Don't want to convert your entire garage into a mudroom? Try converting a small area near an external door instead. You don't need much: just some sturdy hooks, shoe storage, and a durable floor.

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Add a Kitchenette

The Home Consultant

If you're converting your garage into an extra living area or bedroom, consider adding a small kitchenette too. This will make it an all-in-one space that's great for guests, short-term rentals, or for those hang-outs when you just don't feel like walking all the way to the (other) kitchen.

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Turn Your Garage Into a Kitchen

Studio Peake

Converting your garage into a kitchen is certainly more work than making it a bedroom or bonus room, but it's a great way to add a spacious kitchen while working with your home's existing footprint, especially if your garage is small and towards the back of your home.

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Make a Carriage House Kitchen

Studio Peake

Kitchens can also be created by transforming your home's "carriage house," the older brother of the garage. These smaller spaces often face the backyard, providing opportunities for natural light and privacy.

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Add a Home Gym

Casa Watkins Living

To stay in shape with the expensive gym membership, convert your garage into a home gym or exercise space. If your space is large enough, you may even be able to add some floor-length mirrors and yoga mats for a home yoga studio.

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Make a Hobby Home Base

Michelle Berwick Design

To take your hobby to the next level, make your garage the home base for it. Michelle Berwick Design did this well in the space above, as the garage is transformed into a high-end home for bikes, motorcycles, and their care and maintenance.

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Make a Craft Area

Home Made by Carmona

A garage can take on a new life as a craft or project room with the help of some great storage, a workspace, and some comfortable seating.

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Create a Workshop

Home Made by Carmona

If your weekends are spent doing all-things-DIY, make your life a little easier by converting your garage into a workshop. We love how organized and well-styled the one above is from Home Made by Carmona—it proves that workshops don't have to be all function, no form.

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Turn It Into a Playroom

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Another great use for your garage is a playroom. The large and open footprint of a garage lends itself well to a space ready for running and jumping—just be sure to add some soft carpeting.

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Add a Homeschool Room

Michelle Berwick Design

If you need a homeschool space (or a room for crafting and other messy projects), check out your garage. A two-car garage can become a great spot for a large workspace, comfy chairs, a pegboard, and plenty of school supplies.

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Make a Multipurpose Hobby Room

Blanco Bungalow

Have more than one hobby? Your garage can become an all-purpose hobby room too. We like how Blanco Bungalow did this in the garage above, as parts of the space are dedicated to surfing, cycling, working, and lounging.

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Use Oversized Spaces Well

House Nine Design Studio

Extra-large garages (or other oversized spaces, like the once-upon-a-time barn pictured above) can be transformed into stunning living spaces with the help of careful divisions of space and furniture placement to ensure nothing feels too cluttered or overwhelming.

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Create a Game-Day-Ready Space

Blanco Bungalow

For a game day retreat, head to the garage. A large TV, a few carefully placed rugs, and some comfy seating can quickly turn a once-boring garage into a comfortable space to hang out and watch games.

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Make a Classic Living Room

Arbor & Co.

Of course, a garage can become a more traditional living room too. We like the space above by Arbor & Co. which uses hardwood flooring, neutral colors, and classic furniture choices to create a cozy space.

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Paint Some Paneling

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Kaitlin Green

If your garage is covered in paneling that isn't in great shape (as can be the case in some poorly converted garages), paint it. The color and texture painted paneling provides will make you forget that this space was ever a garage.

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Show Some Love to Paneling

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Of course, you can always embrace the paneling too. Use rich colors and textures alongside it for a converted garage that's inviting and filled with character.

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Embrace Cinderblock

Designed by William Hunter Collective / Styled by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

If you don't have the budget to cover up concrete or cinderblock walls, embrace them. A quick coat of glossy paint can make dull cinderblock look a little more lively.

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Don't Forget the Exterior

The Home Consultant

Don't forget to give the exterior of your converted garage some love too. We love how The Home Consultant created a small outdoor living space with the help of some seating and greenery.

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Make an Indoor-Outdoor Space

Design by Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

To make your garage an indoor-outdoor space, replace the garage door with some screens or glass doors, and fill the inside of the garage with some stylish and comfortable outdoor furniture.

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Add a Dining Area

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

You can also transform your garage into an indoor-outdoor dining area. We love the Mediterranean look of the space above by Emily Henderson Design.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to do a garage conversion?

The cheapest way to do a garage conversion is by doing it yourself. Look for DIY-friendly conversions, like a mudroom or workshop, rather than trying to strong-arm your way into a complicated kitchen or bathroom conversion.
How much will a garage conversion cost?

The cost of a garage conversion depends upon its complexity and size. A simple workshop may cost less than $3,000, while a more involved conversion into a studio apartment or kitchen can easily cost more than $20,000. Other factors that affect price include whether you make the conversion temperature-controlled and whether you work with the existing garage door opening.
Do I need permission to convert my garage into a room?

Generally, if you're trying to turn your garage into livable, temperature-controlled space (i.e., space that gets added into the square footage of your home), you will need permits from your local municipality. It may be best to work with a construction professional in more complicated conversions like this.