How to Transform a Garage Into a Room

A garage space is excellent for a bonus room, home office or guest bedroom. The structure that is already in place will make the project doable over time. The fact that the roof, walls and flooring are in place will make it relatively easy to work on the interior during cold and inclement weather, for example. One important issue, however, is that you need to build the room to disguise the fact the room was once a garage. The exterior of the home, where the main garage door stood, will require a remodel with siding or other materials.

Measuring tape
Sketchpad
Graph paper
Heat pump
Electric heater
Window air conditioner
New windows
2-by-4-inch boards
Electrical wiring
Water lines
Drywall
Drywall tape
Joint compound
Sandpaper
Semigloss paint.
Crown molding
Closet doors
Window treatments
Tile
Hardwood flooring
Baseboard material
Light fixtures
Wall sconces

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the garage interior and define all newly planned wall designs. Draw the space on graph paper, including the dimensions of each wall facade, window opening and any planned openings. Draw the room interior with a wall cabinet unit that covers the entire back wall, as one option. Sketch the street side of the exterior, for example, with a large window and house siding to cover the garage door opening.
- 2
  Figure out plumbing and electrical issues. Assess whether your present heat pump will serve the new space, too. Buy a bigger unit, if your existing heat pump is old. Purchase electric heaters and a window air conditioner for the new room, as other options. Figure out how you will route water lines and electrical wiring into the space.
- 3
  Add any planned windows to exterior walls. Ask a brick mason to assist, if your garage exterior is constructed of cinder blocks. Removing blocks or any bricks covering them to install a window can cause cracking. Blend new windows and their framework with your home's exterior design. Take down the main garage door and its tracking as well.
- 4
  Construct the framework of the new room, run utilities and add drywall. Use 2-by-4-inch boards nailed on 16-inch centers to compose the wall framing. Cover the main garage door opening with framework, too. Build all framework for a wall unit, if you will include one, plus any closets. Install electrical wiring and water lines before nailing drywall over studs. Tape the drywall, add joint compound and sand before painting the walls with semigloss paint.
- 5
  Finish details of the room and add wood trim. Install crown molding around the ceiling perimeter and build the wall unit for books and miscellaneous items. Hang closet doors and install window treatments, such as plantation blinds.
- 6
  Tile the floor or add hardwood before hooking up lights. Install flooring last to prevent scratching it during the construction process. Nail baseboard material into place and touch up any needed places with paint. Connect light fixtures and wall sconces before moving furniture into the space.

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