The best home office is the one you already own
Since hybrid working became normal, the garage office has become one of the most requested conversions across Greater Manchester. It makes sense: a single garage is bigger than most commercial office spaces, it's separate from the living areas so calls and video meetings aren't interrupted, and unlike a garden office it's already connected to the house, the electrics and the heating.
We design garage offices around how you work — a single desk and meeting corner, a two-person studio for a couple who both work from home, or a treatment room or consulting space for therapists, accountants and other professionals who see clients at home.
What we include in a garage office conversion
- Insulation to habitable-room standard — floor, walls and ceiling — so the room is comfortable to sit in all day, every day, in every season.
- A generous window or French doors in the infill wall for natural light, with the option of a side window for cross-ventilation.
- Power and data done properly: plenty of double sockets at desk height, USB-C charging points, a dedicated circuit if you run equipment, and hard-wired ethernet back to your router so video calls never drop.
- Layered lighting — recessed downlights on a dimmer, plus task lighting positions — and colour-neutral decoration that looks good on camera.
- Heating via a radiator on your existing system or electric underfloor heating with its own thermostat, so you're not heating the whole house to warm one room.
- Sound insulation in the party wall and ceiling where you need privacy from the rest of the house or the neighbours.
- Separate access if you want clients to come and go without walking through your home.
Office, studio or clinic?
The same shell suits a wide range of uses. We've converted garages into recording and photography studios (with acoustic treatment), beauty and physio treatment rooms (with a hand-wash basin and easy-clean floor), sewing rooms, art studios and small workshops. If your business needs a sink, a WC or a specific electrical supply, tell us at the survey and we'll design it in.
Planning and regulations for a garage office
Using part of your home as an office doesn't normally need planning permission, and converting an attached garage is usually permitted development. If clients will visit regularly you may need to check the "material change of use" rules with your council — we can advise. Building Regulations approval is required because the garage is becoming habitable space; we deal with Building Control from start to finish.
Garage office conversion cost
A single garage converted to a home office typically costs £8,500–£13,000, with the higher end including French doors, upgraded electrics and data cabling, and acoustic insulation. That compares well with a garden office of similar size once you add a base, power supply and insulation — and it adds value to the house, which a garden room rarely does. Full cost breakdown here.