The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in innumerable ways. And few ways were more impactful than the changes we saw in the office. Suffice to say, a case can be made that the traditional office, as it stood before the pandemic, is on shaky ground. By some measures, the government alone is sitting on 45,000 empty or underutilized public office buildings. Add to that the thousands of businesses that are allowing employees to work from home, and you have a lot of empty space.

And that is what we want to talk about today: Working from home. Companies all over the country are beginning to see the benefits to allowing their employees to work from home. From lower lease bills to decreased utility bills and less overhead overall, when employees work from home, companies benefit. And let’s be honest, workers like it too. Who doesn’t like to be in the comfort of their own home working? Okay, maybe not everyone, but many do.

But here’s the thing. Maybe your company is sending you to work from home but you don’t have a proper office. Do you have a garage? If so, and you need to adapt quickly, it may be time to invest in a garage office. An office in your garage might be just what you need and converting a garage has never been easier. Let’s look closer at how you can do it.

Start With Your Garage Door

You won’t be able to properly appreciate your new workspace if you are stuck looking at an old, ugly, or worn-out garage door. You need to appreciate what makes a garage functional, both as a garage and as a newly converted, dedicated office space. For the perfect garage office space, you have to start with the basics.

Of course, choosing and installing a gorgeous new office-friendly garage door is a great beginning, but there is a lot more that goes into transforming your garage into the perfect place to work. So, what are the key questions?

First, consider whether you even need a new garage door in the first place. We would never recommend you installing a new one if you do not need it. While it is easy to take your garage door for granted, a planned office conversion should get you asking the right questions. Questions like:

• Does the garage door still match my home’s appearance?
• How old is the garage door?
• Does the garage door show damage or wear?
• Is the garage door’s appearance and function conducive for an office environment?

Obviously, one of the most important questions is going to be whether the garage door – new or not – can protect your new office from pests and weather. And consider lighting. The best garage door for an office is one that has windows and lets in light. So, once you have assessed your garage door, it is time to consider the interior.

Assess Your Garage’s Interior

Asking yourself what you will be doing in your new office is an important question. You might want to consider making a list of activities that you plan to undertake. Will you need to lay your work in a staging area? Or perhaps you will need tables or desks? It is likely you will need some kind of storage, whether it be a filing cabinet or otherwise.

Of course, you won’t be working all the time, so a space to lounge in might also be in the offing. Also consider your background and lighting. If you work remotely, it is likely that you will need a good amount of lighting and a nice background for clients or coworkers to see when your video is turned on. Make sure you are very comprehensive when you conduct your due diligence. You don’t want to put all this work into a garage office space only for it to lack in functionality.

It might also be important to consider what else you are using your garage for. In some cases, you can approach it from more than just ground level. Is your garage conducive to a loft space? Storage racks on walls and ceilings also free up a lot of room on the ground. And you may very well still need the garage for storage. If so, you have to use your space wisely.

Consider How Well Your Space Flows

Okay, you are probably reading this and thinking, “What the heck do they mean by ‘flow’?” Well, we are taking a little creative license here. Let’s face it, if you are the kind of do-it-yourself individual who is considering a garage office refit, then you probably aren’t thinking about interior design. But you see, the thing is, you should be. There comes a point when you might benefit from having a second set of eyes looking at your concept. The “flow” refers to how well your space flows together. Someone like an interior designer will look at all the elements of a space and provide suggestions to help you elevate your workspace.

A big part of getting the flow right involves your flooring. Most garage floors are already comprised of standard cement. And it may very well be that cement is simply not what you are looking for in an office floor. Consider elements like vinyl, area rugs, or carpet. Whatever you choose, it is important to remember that it is all about what you want to accomplish in your new garage office.

If you are now working from home and need a new garage door for your office conversion, give the professionals here at Prestige Door a call. We will be happy to help you decide whether the garage door you have now will do the trick or not. And you can always expect an honest evaluation from us. We can’t wait to service your home