A Guide to Garage Plans

Many homeowners spend just as much time in their garage as they do their house, especially if that garage doubles as a home office, gym, yoga studio, workshop or living space. The garage is also the place you may store some of your most valuable possessions, including cars, boats and RVs. 

Many garages are attached to the home, but a freestanding garage can give you added flexibility to make your garage into more than just a place to park your cars. Family Home Plans is here to help you choose the right plans for a garage that meets your family’s specific needs and wants.

Perks of Having a Freestanding Garage

Freestanding garages, also called unattached or detached garages, are garages that do not share any walls with your house. They are available in a variety of sizes, layouts and with several different features. They offer several benefits over attached garages, including more privacy, design freedom and increased safety from fire and break-ins.

More Privacy 

Because detached garages do not share any walls with your house, you get much more privacy to work on projects. This is ideal for homeowners who use their garage as workshops or home offices and want to reduce the amount of noise that transfers between your garage and primary living space. If you choose a garage with upstairs living space that you plan to rent out or use as guest lodging, the privacy of a freestanding garage is even more of an asset.

Design Freedom

With attached garages, you are limited to choosing a garage layout that fits with your existing house and does not overwhelm it. If your house is built on a small lot, there may be little room left on either side to add a built-in garage. With freestanding garages, you have the design freedom to place your garage anywhere on your lot and fit it into any dimension or unique shape you need. Also, when compared to attached garages, freestanding garages are much easier to expand, add a garage addition or install more features, should you want to make any changes in the future. 

Increased Safety

Freestanding garages do not provide direct access into your home, which often makes them a safer option for homeowners worried about fire safety or home break-ins:

• Fire-safety: Garage fires often result in more costly damage and repairs than any other type of home fire. One reason for this is that garages are typically full of flammable items, including gasoline, boilers, lighter fluids and car batteries. Should a fire ever start in your freestanding garage, you do not have to worry about it spreading to your house as quickly because there are no shared walls. To minimize the risk of garage fires, operate all machinery and chemicals safely and in properly ventilated rooms. You should also take care never to overload electrical outlets.
• Break-ins: In the United States, a property crime — including burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft — occurred every 4.1 seconds in 2017. Freestanding garages eliminate the possibility of a garage break-in giving a burglar easy access to the rest of your home.

Finding the Right Garage Plan for You

Family Home Plans offers a wide range of garage plans to suit any specifications. We make it easy for homeowners by providing an advanced online search service for different garage floor plans. Here’s a simple guide for how to find the right garage plan for your home using our advanced search tool:

• Step 1: Choose the type of garage bay you need.
• Step 2: Select a garage category.
• Step 3: Enter width and depth in feet.
• Step 4: Sort search results by selecting either the newest plans or the bestselling plans to appear first. Additionally, choose the number of garage plans you want to view per result page.
• Step 5: Click the search button.

Creative Ways to Utilize a Garage

There are many ways to get the most out of your garage that go beyond parking your car or storing the gardening tools. Here are some of our favorite creative ways to utilize freestanding garage space.

1. Storage

To get the most out of your garage storage, implement these creative storage ideas:

• Overhead storage: Overhead storage frees up valuable floor space, which is ideal for smaller garages. Some overhead storage options include garage door hooks, hanging cargo nets and mounted ceiling racks.
• Peg and slat walls: Install peg walls or slat walls to your garage for an easy way to hang tools, metal storage bins, hooks and more.
• Garage pantry: Create a garage pantry by purchasing a standing pantry or building one into the corner of your garage. Here you can store canned goods, jarred foods, dry packaged goods, bottled water, paper products, laundry and cleaning supplies and more.
• Wall-mounted bike racks: Instead of keeping your family’s bikes in a floor bike rack or parked in the corner, install wall-mounted bike racks to keep them out of the way until you are ready to use them again.
• Tool chests: Use standing tool chests to store all of your tools safely away and keep them from creating clutter on your storage shelves or work surfaces. Look for a tool chest that has wheels for easy portability.
• Bench storage: Benches that flip open provide additional covered storage.

2. Home Gym or Yoga Studio

Freestanding garages are perfect for creating your at-home gym or yoga studio. Many people prefer at-home gyms and studios because they are more private, they are easily personalized, there is no membership fee and you do not have to commute each time you want to get a workout in. If you opt for a garage with workout space or a yoga studio, choose comfortable flooring or invest in some padded floor mats.

3. Workshop

No matter your hobby or interest, an in-garage workshop is ideal for all types of creatives. Consider using your workshop for:

• Working on vehicles
• A craft room
• Woodworking projects
• Tackling DIY projects
• A sewing room

4. Pet Care

Are you a proud pet owner? Consider using your garage for pet care, including:

• Pet washing station: Install a pet washing station in your garage for an easy bath time solution. By having an in-garage pet washing station, you no longer have to worry about bathing your pet in fluctuating outdoor temperatures or cleaning up a mess in your bathroom.
• Dog kennel: Turn your garage into a pet paradise by choosing a garage floor plan that includes a cozy dog kennel.
• Run space: Some garage floor plans are designed with active dogs in mind and include a dog run area. Dog run space is great for letting your dogs get some exercise while you are working in the garage.

5. Home Office or Art Studio

If you run a business or work from home, you know how valuable a comfortable workspace is for productivity. Setting up a home office in your garage can be very beneficial due to how private and soundproof freestanding garages are. If you plan to use garage office space for an art studio, make sure you choose a garage floor plan that offers plenty of windows and natural light.

6. Recreation Room

Fill your garage with recreational activities for the whole family to enjoy during winter months or rainy days. Some ideas for your garage rec room include:

• A pool table
• A dartboard
• A pet play area
• A kid-friendly ball pit
• Arcade games

7. Guest Room

Choose a garage floor plan that has upstairs living space if you want to have a private area for out-of-town guests to stay, or if you are interested in renting out your garage as an apartment. To choose the best garage apartment layout, look for one that has everything you need. For example, if you are renting the apartment out as a complete living space, make sure it includes a kitchen and bathroom area.

8. Entertaining

Use the interior of your garage for a weather-proof entertaining space for family gatherings or birthday parties. For outdoor entertaining, look for garage floor plans with features like patios, porches, covered decks or rooftop mezzanines.

Garage Plans FAQ

Choosing the best garage plan for your home and family is a big decision. To make it easier, here are some commonly asked questions about garage plans.

What Are Sizing Options for Freestanding Garages?

At Family Home Plans, we have several garage floor plans in a range of heated square feet. In addition to these various sizes, you can refine your floor plan search by how many bays you need — from one-car to six-cars — and whether you want a one or two-story garage.

To choose the right size garage for your family, ask yourself these questions:

• What do you plan to use your garage for? Determine what you will be using your garage for the most. Will you park cars in there? If so, how many bays do you need? Do you want a garage with space to work out or a garage with boat storage? How many stories should your garage be? Do you need to consider living space or additional storage? Create a list of your garage must-haves and use it to guide your selection.
• What size lot are you working with? Once you know how much space you have to work with, you can narrow your garage floor plan search even further. 
• What is your budget? Just because you have enough lot space for a large, multi-bay garage does not mean it is ideal for your budget. Look for a floor plan that you feel comfortable with, keeping in mind the cost of building, furnishing and ongoing maintenance.

Does a Garage Need a Foundation?

Yes, a freestanding garage needs a solid concrete foundation to remain structurally sound and stable. Your builder will help you decide which type of foundation is best for you by analyzing:

• Your lot size
• The type of garage you are building
• Local building codes and zoning laws
• The climate and other environmental factors

What Is the Cost of Building a Garage?

The cost of building a garage varies depending on several factors:

• The size of your garage
• Type of garage foundation
• The type and quality of materials used
  
• Insulation type and installation
• The kind of garage door and door opener you choose
• The interior design of your garage
• Utility installation
• Site prep and land excavation
• Any built-in living space
  
• Number of windows
• Trim and other design accessories
• Construction labor

By choosing a stock garage floor plan with Family Home Plans, you can save as much as 80%.

What Are Your Most Popular Garage Plans?

Family Home Plans offers a vast collection of plans in all garage styles and sizes. We work with more than 150 architects and home designers from America and Canada to produce quality garage home plans that comply with national building standards. Our blueprints are highly customizable to fit your specific needs and budget. Some of our most popular plans include:

• Garage with apartment: For additional living space, take a look at this farmhouse style two-car garage with overhead apartment and large covered deck or this traditional two-car garage with a full upstairs apartment.
• Barn garages: For a rustic look, choose this space-efficient one-car barn garage or this farmhouse barn style two-car garage with vaulted attic.
• Garage with boat storage: Opt for this traditional two-car garage with additional garage space for boat storage, as well as a full upstairs apartment or this traditional two-car garage with boat storage and built-in office or living space.
• Garage with a bonus room: Looking for extra space? Choose a craftsman style two-car garage with workshop space or traditional two-car garage with an upstairs apartment, bonus room and deck.
• Garage with an extra carport: Park your car indoors or outdoors with a traditional two-car garage with outdoor area and optional kitchen or contemporary style three-car garage with carport.
• Garage with dog kennel: Pet owners love this two-car garage with first-floor dog kennel and run area, complete with upstairs living and studio space.
• Garage with a lap pool: Interested in putting in a pool? Check out this two-car garage with outdoor lap pool space and patio.
• Garage with loft space: This traditional two-car garage with single door entry has loft space for out-of-the-way storage.
• Garage with office space: Get some work done in this craftsman two-car garage with downstairs shop area and upstairs office and loft space or this ranch style four-car garage with office space and designated workshop area.
• Garage with RV storage: Park your rig in this country style three-car garage with RV storage and additional space upstairs.
  
• Garage with workshop space: Have the workshop you always wanted in this two-car garage with lower level workshop space and upstairs storage space or this one-level two-car garage with shop space and bathroom.
• Garage for entertaining: Do some entertaining in this two-car garage with upstairs mezzanine on the roof or this traditional style two-car garage with complete upstairs living space and outdoor porch.

Find the Perfect Garage Plan Today

Drawing up a garage plan from scratch using a local architect is expensive and time-consuming. Family Home Plans is the ideal garage floor plan solution for homeowners interested in high-quality designs at a fraction of the cost. Our garage blueprints are builder-ready, meaning you can place your order and receive your acquisition by the following business day via email. We also make your search fast and efficient, saving you both time and money. Browse our garage layouts to get started, and contact us with any questions.