The Super Organizer Universe

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More people are working from home these days, which makes the idea of having a home office go from a luxury to a necessity. If you don’t have room inside your home for an office, an even better option is to use your garage. Your garage space is full of potential, and it gives you plenty of room to work with, so you can create the office that fits exactly what you want and need.

Browse Design Ideas

When you’ve decided that a garage-turned-office is the solution you’ve been looking for, the first step is to figure out exactly what your dream home office will look like. The easiest way to get ideas is to search online for images you find exciting. You can either just look for inspiration or collect them on a website like Pinterest to refer to later.

Along with determining the look and feel you’re going for, you also want to brainstorm about what you need from a home office when it comes to practical matters. For example, an architect will need a completely different space than someone who runs a web-based business. You want to think about the right layout, the right furniture, and whether you need space for guests. Will you have clients or customers who visit? HomeAdvisor explains that all of these questions will go into planning your space so that it accomplishes what you need.

Make it Functional

After the brainstorming session comes the time to put it into action. Creating a functional space should achieve two things: logistical requirements so that it’s a space where you can work, and comfort so that it’s a space where you actually want to work. This begins by deciding things like whether you will stain the concrete floor, and whether you need to drywall the room.

Office Essentials: The obvious office essentials include furniture pieces like a desk, chair, and storage. Besides furniture, a functional office also needs an electrical supply so you can have power for lighting and electronics. One detail to keep in mind is how you’ll access the internet since most garages aren’t wired for the internet, and having wire run can be expensive.

In this case, a simple option is to use a hotspot device. These devices that enable internet access, like a jetpack or global modem, are affordable to buy, and as long as you have an unlimited data plan, there’s little to no ongoing cost after your initial investment. Plus, this is something that you may even be able to write off on your taxes as a business expense.

Layout and Storage: The best layout for your home office will depend on what your everyday work routine looks like. For example, if you have clients visit you may want a conversational seating area that’s separate from your work space. Planning your storage is another element that ties into the layout because you want to have easy access to everything without the risk of clutter creeping in.

The most important step for preventing clutter is to make sure everything has a place. So for paperwork, you could go with a traditional filing cabinet or decorative boxes on open shelves to keep papers and miscellaneous items organized. And while you set up storage for the big things, don’t forget the small stuff too, like charging cables and other electronics.

During the planning process, it’s smart to consider whether you have anything in your garage currently that will still require storage. One idea for keeping these things organized, especially ones you don’t need to access often, is to follow the advice of DIY Network and build loft storage at the top of the garage.

Some of these details, like finding the right storage solutions, can present a challenge with getting your garage-turned-office setup just right. The great thing is that a garage truly is a space that has limitless potential. All you have to do is form the best plan for your needs and bring your vision to life!

You can reach Jackie Waters at jackie@hyper-tidy.com