Do you sometimes hear the Cheers theme song running through your head? Do you wish you had a nice place close to home where you could have a drink with your friends? Maybe you want to get together and watch some sports or a television show while having a drink. Here’s some good news. Rather than finding some bar outside of the home to visit, why not bring the bar to you? It’s easier than you may think.
If you have a garage, and you don’t need all of that space for vehicles or storage, it’s time that you put it to use. You could easily turn the space into a bar, or just about anything else that you want for that matter. Make a special spot where you can entertain your friends, relax, and just have a good time all without needing to leave home.
Not only is rethinking what you do with your garage space practical, but it can also be fun. It’s easier than renovating the interior of the home, as well, since you won’t have to deal with a mess inside of the house. Adding a bar to the garage can be a great project that can be as simple or as complex as you want.
Below, you’ll see our simple process that will make it easy to build a bar you’ll love. It’s time to do something fun with your garage space.
Transform your garage into a relaxing space for pool, drinks, and more! Image from Unsplash.
Step 1 – Create an Idea for the Space
What do you want to create and how much money do you have in your budget?
Your desires and your budget will play major roles in what needs to be done with the garage and what you will be capable of doing. Perhaps you want something simple, or maybe you prefer a space that’s more complex. Regardless, you will need to have some type of budget set up for the work that will be done.
Naturally, those who are going to have a full makeover in the garage will need to spend more time preparing and getting things ready. It tends to mean greater expenses, as well, including the installation of AC and heating, for example.
You can find some ways to cut costs. For example, you can make your garage look new simply by painting the walls. This is a project you could do on your own, or you could hire someone if you don’t want to deal with the mess. It’s always a good idea to keep in mind some of the DIY options you have available. Although DIY might take more time and require that you learn new skills, it could help you save some money. Just make sure you learn correctly and do it right.
Good preparation helps to make your project easier. Image from Unsplash.
KEEP IN MIND: There are certain tasks that you should not try to handle on your own. This includes the plumbing and the electrical work. There is too much of a risk that things could go wrong if you were to try to handle these things on your own, and you could end up making some costly mistakes.
Tips for Planning Your New Bar
Once you know your budget, you need to think about how much space you can use in the garage for the bar. Will the entire space be turned into a relaxation and entertainment area? Do you need to keep some room in the garage for other projects or to park your car? Consider the space you have and what you want to build.
If you have friends or family that have already turned their garage into a living area, you can ask them for some tips to ensure you get it right. They might provide you with some recommendations that will make things easier for you.
Additionally, take some time to explore Pinterest to get some ideas. Here’s a link that has 50 other existing man caves. You should find something that works for you.
Step 2 – Proper Preparation Is Essential
Clean the Garage
The garage is one of the parts of the house that gets dirty quickly. It’s where you put the things that you want to keep out of sight, such as clothes, tools, old sports equipment, boxes, and so much more.
The first thing you should do is pull everything out of the garage. This will provide you with a cleared-out space that will be easier to clean. You can then sort through the things that you don’t need any longer. Get rid of the things you don’t need by selling them, giving them away, recycling, or trashing them. This ensures that you will have more room for setting up the bar.
Once this is done, you will need to give the garage a deep cleaning. Clean the floor, walls, and any affixed surfaces you have in the garage. If you happen to have oil, rust, or paint stains on your garage floor, check out this article from Gilmour. This is a company that specializes in cleaning, gardening, and watering, and you can learn how to clean your garage floor.
The Insulation
You want to make sure the garage is comfortable if you plan to spend a lot of time there. Proper insulation will be essential. If you don’t already have a finished garage with insulation, you will want to add some to the space to ensure you aren’t dealing with drafts and air leaks.
What type of insulation do you need? It will depend on whether you have an attached or detached garage. Thermal resistance is measured with the R-value. The higher the value the better the insulation will be. Pay attention to this when you are choosing the insulation materials.
Several options are available for insulation today. They include rigid or sprayed foam, blown-in cellulose, fiberglass, and others. Check out this website to find out more about each of them, along with the advantages and disadvantages they offer. Good insulation means less energy expenditure and a more comfortable temperature.
Your Garage Door
How nice would it be to have a glass garage door like this? You can relax with your friends or on your own, have a view of the outdoors, and enjoy a nice drink. This California all-glass garage door design with a Black aluminum frame makes this dream a possibility.
The garage door needs to be considered, too. You have to think about more than just the R-value when choosing the door. You also need to make sure the style, design, color, and windows all go with the aesthetic style you want for your space.
Door Design and Windows
Getting a new garage door can make the inside and the outside of the home more appealing. All-glass garage doors are popular if you want o have more natural light entering the garage. You can even opt for tempered glass, to ensure more privacy. However, you want to be sure that the space is heated properly regardless of the garage door design you choose.
Those who live in areas where it gets colder, for example, might want to have fewer windows on their garage door. You can still have some windows for natural light, but you will have better insulation. Here’s a tip to keep in mind: consider having a dehumidifier in the garage to reduce condensation.
Are you going to spend more time in the garage if you put in a bar and use it as a living space? If so, you might want to consider doors like the Princeton P-13 Design. It has windows at the top, for some natural light. It’s shown here in a Desert Sand color.
Remember Door Maintenance
Just because you won’t be opening and closing the garage door as much as you would if you were using it traditionally, it doesn’t mean you can’t forget the importance of maintenance. You need to make sure that you have it maintained properly.
For example, if you have weatherstripping that’s damaged, there could be gaps. This could allow pests, water, dirt, leaves, and more to get into the garage. Take some time to find a company that can offer maintenance services in your area.
Electricity and Lights in the Garage
Good lighting is essential for these types of projects. Think about the type of ambiance you want in the space, and how you want it to look at different times of the day. You might want to use natural light in the daytime and have options for both bright and dim light in the evening. This is especially true if you are setting up a garage bar.
Take a few minutes to read this article from US-based design and manufacturing studio Juniper. It can give you a crash course on lighting. For example, warm, indirect light works well for home theaters and bars. Brighter light is needed for space that requires more visibility.
You should have outlets on all of the walls, just so you can be sure you have enough. It will ensure you don’t have to worry about not having enough places to plug in all of the items you want for the bar. This might include blenders, televisions, gaming systems, etc.
If you live in an area where the temperatures can be very cold or very hot, you might want to have heating and AC in the garage. It might cost a bit more, but it will be more comfortable.
The Garage Floor
While there’s nothing wrong with a concrete floor, you might want to consider some of the other options. Here’s a list of different alternatives from Family Handyman. Some options include:
- Epoxy coatings
- Concrete floor paint
- Stains
- Sealer
- Mats
- Tiles (rigid or flexible)
Which of these will be right for you?
Step 3 – Decorating the Space
For most people, this is where the real fun is had. You get to decorate the garage and the bar, designing it according to your dreams. For example, you could get some LED signs or blacklights, a beer dispenser you can mount to the wall, neon signs, and more. Turn the space into a place you’ll love to be.
- The Bar
You have a lot of options when it comes to the type of bar you choose. You could get a custom-built bar, or even a prefabricated bar if you have the money. However, you could also make one on your own if you follow this guide. Find the solution that works best for you. Add other elements like a mini-fridge, or a full-size one, depending on the size of your garage. You can also add a liquor cabinet. You might even want to put in a coffee machine, so you can make it a coffee bar, too.
- The Television
Chances are good that you’ll want to watch some TV while you are in the bar. Maybe you want to catch the latest sports games or watch some TV with friends and family. A nice TV that’s large enough for all to see is a great idea. Consider getting a nice sound system, too. Check out a few ideas of home cinemas on Pinterest to get some ideas.
- Seating
You need to have comfortable seats, especially if you are going to spend a lot of time in the bar watching TV. In addition to bar stools, you might want to consider some softer, plusher chairs, too.
- Games
Outfit the space with some of your favorite games, too. This could include darts, pool, a poker table, old arcade games, or new gaming systems. You could even have a table set up for board games and tabletop roleplaying games.
Get Your New Garage Door
The right garage door will be practical, and it will do a good job of blending in with the rest of your décor and the aesthetic sense of the space. Get in touch with area specialists who can help you with your garage door needs.
You have a lot of options including designs, hardware, and colors, so it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. When you work with Doormasters, we can help to make it far simpler to get just what you need. We divide our garage doors into 3 main styles:
- Traditional is perfect for those who want a classic look that always appeals.
- Contemporary is a section that features modern looks.
- Carriage House has images of rustic garage doors that you might love.
What do you think of this full-view garage door? It’s a California, 12' x 7', Black aluminum frame, Clear glass.
Get a Free Quote and Plan Your Budget Better
Consider visiting our Design Centre, where you can virtually customize your garage door and see what it will look like with your home. Additionally, you can get a free quote via email.
Let us help you!
Need some more information? You can contact us at 403-347-8670.
Doormasters can help you better understand garage doors, sizes and dimensions of doors, maintenance, insulation, and more. Let us help you today.
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