All too often our garages go sadly neglected. We use them as a home for the car or a disorganised storage place that may be useful, but results in an ultimately uninviting space.
A report in Improvement Loans suggests that a good garage can add up to 5-10 percent of the value of your home onto your property’s overall value. This is a significant percent when you consider that many self-assemble garages can be picked up for under a thousand pounds. But failing to utilise your garage well means that you are neglecting an essential part of your estate.
Should you want to invest in your garage, here are some alternative uses for it.
Man cave
Transforming a garage into a man cave takes very little effort: just add some furniture and an entertainment system. Optional extras like a home bar or pool table could also be added. The man cave gives the men of the house a little retreat but can also be adopted into a games room that is fun for all of the family.
A gym
Ditch the expensive gym memberships by installing gym equipment, mats, weights and mirrors in your garage. You’ll need to check that the floors and foundations are solid enough to support heavy equipment but this could be a great way to get fit in the comfort and privacy of your home. Garages also tend to be well ventilated and cooler for those sweaty workouts.
Home theatre
Sounds luxurious, but a home cinema can be created reasonably cheaply in your garage. All you need is a projector system and some comfortable seating. A home theatre is a great way to entertain the whole family and you could even invest in popcorn and drinks machines to make the experience that bit more authentic.
Home office
These days telecommuting means working from home is easy for people in all trades. Renovate your garage into a home office and you’ll never be disturbed from work again. Invest in some good garage shelving, a desk and computer system and you’ll soon find your creativity and productivity booming.
Guest room
It may require a little more monetary investment but an extra room (complete with en suite) in the garage would be extremely useful and add significant value to your home.
