Everyone is working from home these days. It can be challenging to find a quiet office space when everyone is home and you can’t leave the house. If you don’t park in your garage, why not turn it into an office? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of your extra space so you can finally work in peace.

Cleaning

If you’re like the rest of us, your garage is a bit of a catch-all for everything that won’t fit in the rest of your house. It won’t be easy to turn your garage into an office if you have to parkour your way over boxes and garden tools every time you head into the room. With that in mind, start by cleaning and organizing your garage.

Go through everything you’ve stored in there and figure out what you want to keep and what you can stand to part with. That should cut down on the clutter. Then you just need to organize what’s left.

Insulation

Most garages aren’t designed with temperature control in mind, so your next step will be to insulate the space to keep it comfortable while you’re working. If you’re going to leave a work computer out there, the insulation will keep it from overheating. If you’re not sure where to start, it might be a good idea to consult with a professional — especially if your garage walls are finished and you’ll need to tear down drywall to insulate.

Security

The last thing you want to do is waste all your money to create the perfect garage office, only to have someone make off with your work computer because the space isn’t secure. Remember to have your garage door inspected regularly to ensure it’s working properly and will protect whatever you store in your garage. Proper maintenance will also make sure your door doesn’t accidentally injure someone when opening or closing — including you!

Lighting

Don’t kill your eyes squinting at a computer or laptop screen in the perpetually dim light of your garage. Natural lighting is best, but if that’s not an option because it’s hot outside, upgrade your lighting so you can actually see what you’re doing. Overhead fluorescent lighting is inexpensive and easy to install. Depending on your garage’s design, you may even want to install a ceiling fan and an attached light fixture to keep the air moving.

Climate Control

Whether you live in warm or cold climates, this will be a necessity. In most houses, the garage isn’t attached to your HVAC system, so there’s no heat in the winter and no AC in the summer. You have two options here. One, you can pay an HVAC technician to connect the garage to the rest of the home’s ventilation. Or two, you can purchase a portable air conditioner to keep you and your office comfortable.

Keep in mind that portable ACs can chew up a lot of power if you use them often, so if this garage office space will become a long-term thing, it may be more cost-effective to choose option one.

Create Your Space

Once you’ve got the basics down, your garage office space is yours to create. Add some wall hangings, fairy lights or whatever tickles your fancy. Hopefully, once it’s done, you’ll be able to get the peace and quiet you’ll need to work from home.