How To Create a Dedicated Work From Home Office Space In Los Angeles

You’ve certainly heard about the significant change in our office habits – the trend of work from home (WFH) during COVID and indefinitely into the future. A recent study indicates approximately 50 percent of the labor force is now work from home. Plus, many large companies, including Twitter, Facebook, and Shopify have announced their intention to make telecommuting a long-term strategy for their workforce.

So, it seems even after COVID passes, working from home office space is here to stay, at least for a substantial portion of the population. And one thing’s for certain – working from home requires a specific place to work, be it a home office, spare bedroom, or using the dining room table as a desk. As Work From Home becomes a more permanent arrangement, many Los Angeles homeowners are considering the best options for having a suitable, dedicated workspace… and many are deciding a garage office conversion or ADU office space (or JADU office) might be an ideal solution.

Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura or San Diego with reliable general contractors, we speak to homeowners every day about their need to create a dedicated work office space in their home or garage – here are some ideas & tips to get you started.

Work From Home Office Space     |        Source: The Spruce

As people continue working remotely, it’s becoming more important than ever to have a productive environment to get things done. While some people are happy working at their dining room table, many of us want a dedicated office for many reasons, like avoiding embarrassing moments like these. Recent changes in the laws and guidelines in both California and specifically in Los Angeles have made it much easier to convert an existing garage into a ‘living’ space, be it an office, guest house, rental unit, etc.

You can learn all about the new guidelines in my ADU overview article. The good news is these laws allow for a ton of flexibility in converting a garage into a living space with no requirement to add new parking spots.

In-Home Office Space Remodel – Things to Consider

If you already have a dedicated space but are considering a home office remodel, there are a few ideas to keep in mind. In order to create an ideal space to get your work done, you need to start with noise and light. Does your space need more insulation to keep the noise out? Or you might need to add a window, skylight, or more recessed lighting to get the bright space you want. Another idea for a home office remodel may be installing built-in cabinetry and storage so you have all your work necessities stored neatly. Or you can splurge and install those appliances that are so helpful during the workday…a mini-fridge and a coffee maker.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Office Space – Let’s Discuss Your Options

These new regulations allow homeowners a few different options with regard to creating an office or other living space on their property.  The first one is to convert an existing detached garage into an ADU (accessory dwelling unit). Another option is to convert an attached garage into an office or living space called a JADU (Junior accessory dwelling unit).  Alternatively, now all residential properties can build a new ADU in their backyard, and this can be used as a work from home office, etc. Finally, homeowners can create a garage with an office above.

Because the average 2-car garage is generous in size – approx. 350-400sf, this allows for quite a lot of flexibility when considering a garage office conversion. This is plenty of room for a very luxurious office with multiple desks, cabinets, file cabinets, shelves, and even a couch or conference table. It’s also plenty of room to have an office for two or more people (with or without a partition). Also, there is substantial room to easily add a bathroom.

ADU Office Space Can Be a Great Flex Space

Another option many LA homeowners are considering is creating a ‘dual-use’ room. In addition to a work from home office, they can design the floorplan to also accommodate an area such as a playroom, a homework room for the kids, an art or fitness studio, a mancave/she-shed, a guest house, or even a full rental unit with a kitchen & bath.

There is a significant advantage in creating an ADU that can be flexible enough to change its use over time. For example, a homeowner can design the building to presently function as both a guest house and a dedicated work from home office (with a small kitchen & bath). Then later they may decide to start using it as a rental unit or to house an aging parent or post-college-aged kid. There really are a ton of uses for these Accessory Dwelling Unit offices.

Considerations When Building a Garage Office Conversion

When it comes to converting a basic unfinished garage into a work from home office or ADU/JADU, there are a few things to consider. (Here’s an ADU scope checklist to get you started). The first major decision, whether to include a kitchen and/or a bathroom, might depend on whether this space is intended to function purely as an ADU office or to have the flexibility for other uses.

This is a significant decision because these ‘wet’ rooms aren’t cheap to build. These two rooms require such things as plumbing, water lines, and waste lines, as well as a water heater, sewer line, appliances, tile, and more. A bathroom certainly is a nice luxury to have in an ADU office space, so you won’t need to go back and forth to the main home bathroom.

Main Scope Elements For an ADU Home Office Design

You’ll need more than just 4 walls and a desk to design an Accessory Dwelling Unit office space that is comfortable and accommodating to your needs. Additional aspects to consider when converting a garage into a home office (or any ADU in general) include:

• • Drywall & paint on the walls and ceiling
  • Insulation
  • Flooring
  • Windows & doors
  • Electrical outlets
  • Lighting
  • Patio doors
  • Partition walls
  • HVAC

There are a few other elements you may consider for your garage conversion as well. Some other considerations include:

• • Do you want to replace the existing garage doors with a fully-framed wall?
  • Would you like to introduce more natural light by adding a skylight?
  • Need more storage by installing built-in cabinets?
  • Want a private outdoor space with the use of a patio, trellis, landscaping and/or fencing?
  • What home office gear will you need?

In terms of garage office conversion costs, a JADU (via an attached garage conversion) is likely the most affordable option, followed by a detached garage conversion, and a new build ADU office is the costliest. The ADU office costs of each will vary substantially depending on which amenities the homeowner wants to include, but some cost guidance is below for a typical 350-400sf space: (give us a call if you’d like to discuss your options and pricing in your area)

• • JADU/attached garage office cost – $15,000-25,000.  Including a bathroom- $35,000-$45,000
  • ADU/detached garage office cost – $25,000-35,000. Including bathroom – $45,000-$80,000
  • New build ADU cost – $70,000-$100,000. Including bathroom- $100,000-$150,000

Some people are understandably concerned about losing the storage space in their garage. One solution is to leave a portion of the garage as a storage room/area. Another option is to purchase a storage shed; they are widely available and come in many shapes and sizes and offer a great alternative option.

Source: Shutterstock

When it comes to the process of creating a dedicated Work From Home office, a garage office conversion is the simplest and fastest. If you plan to build a space with new walls, a bathroom and/or kitchen, you will need a simple set of plans created by an architect/designer, which will get submitted to the building department for plan check.

These plans should cost between $2,500-$10,000 (depending on size and complexity) and should take no more than 60 days to get approvals from the city. If you don’t need any new walls or plumbing, it’s likely you won’t need any plans and you can have your contractor just pull a city permit and start immediately. Conversely, if you plan to build a new ADU in your backyard, you’ll need to get a more detailed set of plans created by an architect.

In any case, you’ll also want to meet with one to three experienced, licensed general contractors to get estimates on this work. It’s strongly suggested you use a reputable, licensed general contractor, and not a handyman, as this is a reasonably major project and requires the knowledge/experience of several trades (drywall, electrical, framing, HVAC, carpentry, plumbing, etc)

When it comes to planning and coordinating a work from home office or ADU/garage conversion for your home, you shouldn’t have to go it alone – GreatBuildz can help simplify your renovation experience.

GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura or San Diego with reliable, thoroughly screened general contractors and provides project support from start to finish. Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your next renovation project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com