Whether your kids are already straight-A students or they’re hoping to bring their grades up this year, you want them to have everything they need to do their best. One way to do that is to make sure your kids have a good place to work on homework and other school projects. It helps for kids to have a dedicated study space that’s free of distractions, and often their bedrooms or common rooms in the house don’t quite fill the bill, especially for older students who may need to spend long hours studying. But if you have extra garage space, you can turn your garage into a study room for your kids with just a few modifications. Take a look at a few things that you need to know.
Add Electrical Outlets
Count the electrical outlets in your garage. Do you have enough of them to support a computer, printer, or any other equipment that your students might need? Can you plug in a fan or heater to make the garage more comfortable?
If you don’t have enough outlets, or if the outlets aren’t in the places that you need them in, you can add some. Don’t rely on extension cords or multi-outlet plugs, as these can create a fire hazard. If you have basic knowledge of electrical wiring, you may be able to add the outlets yourself by creating a PVC conduit. But if you have very old wiring, aluminum wiring, or if you just don’t know much about electrical wiring, hire an electrician to do the job.
Make It Bright
The average garage lighting isn’t necessarily conducive to extended study periods, but it’s fairly easy to modify your garage lighting to make it brighter. That will help ensure that your kids can read for long periods without hurting their eyes.
LED lights are cost-effective and energy efficient, and tend to work well in a garage environment. You can also bring in desk lamps or standing lamps, as long as you have enough outlets for them. String lights that can be tacked to the wall or line shelves can help create a brightly lit environment even if you have limited space.
Consider Comfort
A garage can get very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. If you want your garage to be usable as a homework room throughout the whole school year, it’s important to consider how you can make the room as comfortable as possible. Your kids won’t be able to study effectively if they’re shivering or sweating. Adding insulation to the walls, ceiling, and garage door can create a much more stable climate in the garage.
You should also consider covering the garage floor if it’s unfinished. Garage carpeting can also help improve the room’s insulation, cut down on echoes, and make the floor more comfortable to walk on. Look for garage carpeting that can handle the weight of a heavy desk, rolling office chair, file cabinet, and other furniture.
Once you’ve remodeled the space, you can bring in office furniture to create a quiet, distraction-free homework room for your kids. To make the space even more inviting for your kids, let them add a few personal touches.
For more great garage renovation ideas, Schedule your free design consultation 
