Although COVID-19 put a bit of a wrench in the plans for hanging out and having social events, you might have been thinking of renovating your house to have a space for hosting and guests!
If this is something that you’ve been wanting to implement in your house, you should think about turning your garage into a bar. Even if you don’t drink, a bar is – at its core – a social location that is meant to bring people together.
A bar has a lot of potential, and you can use a bar as a place of relaxation or as a place of entertainment.
Not to mention that garage makeovers tend to be pretty fun! Because the garage is already a part of the house, you don’t have to add anything additional to your house, and you also won’t have to deal with living in a mess the whole time that you’re renovating the space.
If this is something that you’re interested in doing to your house, check out our 3-step process to help you build the home bar of your dreams. We’ll also help you make sure to keep all the essential details in hand when you’re working on your project.
If you like this image (sourced from Unsplash), you can do something similar in your renovated space. You can set up a billiards table and even some classy storage options.
Step 1 – Make A Plan
What’s your plan and how much money do you have to spend?
Depending on how you want your project to turn out, you have to have a great idea of what you want to do. Your decision will ultimately determine how extensively you want to renovate your garage.
No matter what your end goal is, you need to make sure you have a budget.
Depending on the state of your project, you might end up spending more time and preparation time than you’re expecting. And that’s not even considering whether you’re going to install heating or air conditioning in the place as well.
And if you go that route, you will have to deal with insulating the place as well.
But don’t worry! There are many ways to cut costs if need be. Also, if you’re struggling to get all that you want figured out, there’s an easy way to spice up your garage: paint the walls a new color. If you do this, you’ll notice a significant difference in this room’s ambiance.
Not to mention that if you’re a decent handyperson who knows their way around a set of tools, you can save money by doing the whole project yourself.
It’ll take time, energy, and it might lead to some tears, but at the end of the day, you’ll be able to point to the work and feel proud for what you did.
Make sure to have a plan before you start your renovation project. Use your plan to determine your budget as well. (Picture sourced from Unsplash.
*IMPORTANT: No matter how DIY-handy you are, realize that some tasks – electrical and plumbing, for example – should be done by professionals since they’re so much more dangerous and easier to mess up.
Also, if you end up making a mistake that a handyperson-with-a-permit would have caught, you’ll end up spending more money trying to fix that mistake.
Looking For Inspiration? Here Are Some Ideas!
Make sure to determine how much space you have to play with and, once again, make sure you have a budget in mind that you’ll stick to!
One of the ways to figure this information out is to do some research into what you’re trying to accomplish and figure out any preferences (lighting, coloring, etc.) you might have. Crowd-source ideas if you have none – check with your loved ones and see what opinions they have.
You can also look online on sites like Pinterest to look for more inspiration. In fact, we found some inspiration for you already: check out 50 other existing garage renovation ideas, and see where the inspiration takes you.
Step 2 – Work Ahead to Save Time Later
Cleaning
One of the reasons you might be remodeling your garage is because it has become a dumping ground for all your old things: paint cans, sports equipment, old clothes, and baby toys... the list goes on and on.
Before you can remodel, you’re going to need to clean it out!
Not to mention any stains and the like that have been left unchecked in your garage over the years – those will need to be cleaned, too!
The first thing you must do is pull everything in your garage out. Once you do that, you’ll be able to inventory what needs to be kept and what you can throw away. It’s like killing two birds with one stone, and you’ll have a much better idea of how to design your bar/recreation space once you have an empty space to work with.
Now it’s time to actually clean! Get out your mop and deep cleaning supplies and get to work. Brush off dust and scrape away mold across the whole area until the place gleams. *
*The garage does not actually have to gleam, but if you manage that, congratulations!
If you have oil, paint, or rust stains on your floor and no idea how to clean this up? Don’t worry! Look at this article from Gilmour, a watering, gardening, and cleaning company, that shows you how to properly clean your concrete floor.
Keep your garage floor in good condition and remove any potential hazards with these valuable tips!
Insulation
Whether you have a finished garage or not, you’ll need to spend some time thinking about insulation. No matter the purpose of your new room, you’re going to want to be comfortable – you’ll not want to freeze to death when you’re trying to enjoy your new space.
As such, you’ll need to look into ways to keep the room at a constant temperature... which is where insulation comes into play.
Also, keep in mind that if you have an attached or detached garage, the level of insulation you need will vary. Determine the R-value within the room (the value that measures the thermal resistance) and use that to decide what you need to choose for insulation materials.
Fun note – if you have a really high R-value, that means you already have good insulation!
There are so many types of insulation as well – check out this website to learn more about whether fiberglass, blown-in cellulose, rigid or sprayed foam, etc. will be better in your new space.
Garage door
If you’re a fan of chill evenings in, you can make your dream a reality! Picture this: you and all your loved ones are sitting cozily on a couch and having a wonderful time with one another while you look out onto a gorgeous backyard. If this is something you want, you can do it! Check out our all-glass California garage door design with a Black aluminum frame.
Your garage door is your garage's fourth wall. The R-value will help you find the right garage door for your needs, but besides insulation and maintenance, every aspect of its design - style, color, windows - should be considered as well.
Design and windows
As with all remodeling things, if you choose well, you can change up the entire space with only one modification. If that modification is a new garage door, you’ll find that you can enhance the visuals of your home, both inside and out with a singular choice.
However, the thermal resistance of the space will change depending on the type of garage door and style that you put into your new space.
These days, it’s becoming a trend for homeowners to choose all-glass garage doors, just like those found in some restaurants. It’s a great option if you don’t have enough natural light entering your garage. You can also opt for tempered glass to keep your privacy!
If you live in a colder area, you may prefer having garage door panels with fewer windows. You’ll still have natural light filtering in, but you’ll also have a higher level of insulation to keep the heat in. If you want to reduce condensation in windows, a dehumidifier in the garage should solve the problem.
Strongly consider how long you’ll be spending in your new space. If you’re going to spend a lot of time there, you should consider this Princeton P-13 Design with clear panoramic windows at the top panel. And if you want it to look warm and inviting like in the picture, you can use a Desert Sand color for the doors and overlays.
Maintenance
Although you may think that your garage door doesn’t need to be maintained since the space will now be a primarily social space, that’s not the case!
You still need to make sure that your garage door and all its components are in fine working order. Thus, regular maintenance is still a necessity.
Damaged weatherstripping can leave some gaps, allowing water, leaves, and dirt to get in your garage. This problem needs to be fixed as soon as possible because moisture can start to develop. Also, rodents may sneak in as well, so you’ll want to avoid that!
Many garage doors companies in your area offer maintenance services. Garage door technicians will ensure your garage door is working correctly to prevent unexpected repairs.
Lighting and electricity
Lighting is what makes your project comes to life! If you have poor lighting in your bar, not only will you not be able to see, but you also won’t be able to show off all the beautiful work you’ve done to get your bar looking great.
Light can change the ambiance of a room, which is why you need to make sure you’re choosing the best lighting for your bar. Depending on when you want to use the place, you will have to decide between warmer, cooler, and darker lights to ensure your room feels like you want it to feel.
If lighting is an interest far outside of your wheelhouse, we have an article for you from Juniper, a design and manufacturing studio in the US. Read this information to learn some of what you need to know to succeed in your lighting vision.
● Warmer, indirect light for a relaxing space or home theatre
● Brighter and direct light for a better visibility
Speaking of lighting and electricity, make sure that you have lots of outlets within this space. More is better than less in this specific situation – you don’t want to be knee-deep in a party and then find out that the stereo needs to be plugged in... and not have anywhere to plug it in!
*IMPORTANT: If you live in a place where there’s very hot or cold weather, you should consider having an air conditioning or heating system in your garage. It will reduce the risk of having a high level of humidity and make your living space more enjoyable.
Floor
Concrete flooring is par for the course in garages, but because it’s so standard, it’s also boring. Thus, you can either choose to paint the floor to give it some life, or you can figure out a nice covering to give it a beautiful and long-lasting finish. Here is a list of different alternatives from Family Handyman.
● Concrete floor paint, stain, or sealer
● Epoxy
● Rollout mats
● Rigid or flexible tiles
Read about the pros and cons and look at your budget to see which option would be the best for you!
Step 3 – Decoration Time!
This is the part that you’ve been waiting for – it’s time to decorate and to put your own unique spin on the space. Review those things that inspired you when you were initially planning your idea, and then use them to transform your dream space.
● Beverage bar
Depending on how handy you are, you can make a homemade bar yourself and customize it as you like with this guide! Don’t worry – it’ll help you with a list of all the tools and materials required and practical tips you can use to make your dream a reality.
Then, you can add a mini-fridge or liquor cabinet to store your alcohol and soft drinks. Your guests will enjoy having a drink at your bar!
● Flat Screen TV
If your bar is going to double as a recreation room, you will – of course – need a television. And as such, you should go with the sleekest and most elegant looking model... a flat screen.
Also, try to make sure that you have a good sound system. Unless you want to become the narrator of your favorite sports teams, you’ll want to spend some energy on researching the best sound for your space!
*IMPORTANT: If your garage is close to another room in your house, you should soundproof your garage. You can either replace the actual wall or add another laying of drywall.
And, almost of equal importance to the television is what you will be sitting on when you’re watching the television. Make sure to get comfortable furnishings that will make it so you never want to leave the room.
Explore different ideas of home cinemas on Pinterest according to your preferences!
● Games
What’s cooler than having a pool table, arcade game, poker table, or dartboard? Entertain your guests with the games you like, and you will not realize how time passed so quickly!
You can buy them at different retail stores, online advertising platforms, or people close to your location who don’t need them anymore!
Make It So Your Guests Want to LIVE In Your Garage... With A New Door
No matter what you do, at the end of the day, you will still be in a garage. But there are ways to hide this fact so that you’ll forget what the room used to be!
If you’re hoping that your garage door will blend into your new décor – while still being usable – you should look into contacting a specialist who can help you find the perfect door for your project.
Here at ACS Door Services of Sioux Falls, we have innumerable designs, colors, and decorative hardware you can choose from, meaning that you’ll be able to find what you want. We’re here to help you in your decision-making process as well by dividing our image gallery into 3 main styles:
● Traditional for a simple look that never goes out of fashion
● Contemporary for a modern and clean appearance
● Carriage House for a charming and rustic design
This all-glass garage door is a California, 12' x 7', Black aluminum frame, Clear glass. If you like the look, check it out and see how it might work for your own project.
Get a free quote to help with your budget
We have a neat tool called the Design Centre. This tool will allow you to choose which garage door you’re considering and then preview it in your own space. This way, you won’t end up with a puce colored garage door that makes your whole house look tacky.
We can also provide you with a free quote – just let us know your budget, and we’ll work with you to make your space as perfect as can be.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Our team at ACS Door Services of Sioux Falls is full of garage door experts, so if you find yourself feeling as if you’re in over your head, contact us at 605-332-5188!
No matter what you need, we’ll have an answer waiting for you. We love helping with renovation projects, so please call us!
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