Have you ever imagined your garage as a home office? If you have bicycles, old furniture, sports equipment, and trash cans along with stacks of boxes in your garage, it may be hard to picture it as anything besides a convenient storage space. But hiding beneath all of those boxes and other items, you may have the perfect space for a home office. Consider how you can convert your traditional garage into a pleasant home office.
Clear Away the Clutter
One of the first steps of converting your garage into a home office is to get rid of the boxes, old furniture, and other clutter there. You may want to donate your old furniture to a charitable organization or throw it out if it’s in bad shape. Of course, there are some things that can’t be thrown out, such as trash cans and boxes of valuable items. You can either create a small corner in the garage for those things or put them in a storage shed. (By the way, I have some quality storage sheds if you want more storage options at home.) The goal is to end up with a reasonable amount of space for your home office.
Set Up the Right Lighting
Lots of natural light is ideal for a home office. If you have a big window in your garage, be sure to put your desk near it so you can enjoy all of that sunlight. If you don’t have enough natural light, add a floor lamp or several table lamps to the space. You may be surprised at how much light you can create by putting a floor lamp in one corner of your home office. A desk lamp is also useful if you want to make sure you have enough light to work as you sit at your desk.
Choose Furniture That Suits the Space
I recommend that you assess the size of your garage, then choose a desk and other furniture for your home office. This helps you to avoid getting furniture that is too big for the space. The type of furniture you get depends on your needs and the atmosphere you want to establish. Maybe you want to be able to take a break from your desk and sit in a comfortable easy chair. Or you may want to have separate tables for your fax machine and printer so there is plenty of space on your desk or worktable. A small refrigerator may be something you want to put into your home office so you’ll have enough snacks and refreshments to keep your energy up during work hours!
Put Your Personal Stamp on the Space
Plants, a rug, curtains, pictures, and bookshelves are just a few examples of items that help you put your stamp on the unique decor of your home office. If you have a favorite print, hang it up on the wall of your home office. Or put some colorful flowers in pots on a window ledge. I think you’ll be surprised at just how much a few personal details can jazz up the atmosphere of your office. Thanks for reading! – Alan
