Making your garage an ‘oasis of calm’, or an ‘energising space’

When designing an environment, it’s obvious that the choice of layout, colour and texture are important considerations, yet it’s easy to overlook the role that sound plays in the success of a room. In the way that a reassuring ‘clump’ from a car door speaks volumes about the solidity and quality of the vehicle, your senses continually absorb audible cues to help inform your experience and influence your perception of the space.

So how do you master this tricky aspect to enhance your garage space? The Dura design team recommend you break the task into three areas of considerations:

1. How the shell of the room affects the sound
2. How the furniture sounds when in use
3. How you incorporate sound systems

a) The shell: Creating an acoustically efficient space

A basic unfurnished garage is rarely a pleasant environment. Noise from outside is usually significantly louder than what you would perceive in other areas of the home, and any noise created within the garage itself easily leaks out – amplified by the bare walls and lack of insulation. Dura offer a number of solutions to these issues:

• Fitting a ceiling will covers the void within the roof trusses, which in turn reduces the ‘echo-chamber’ effect.
• A smooth, hard floor surface reflects sound more than a softer, textured one. By laying Dura’s studded PVC floor tiles, the studded and slightly ‘rubberised’ surface will help to minimise this effect.
• Bare flat walls also reflect noise. Dura’s wall-mounted storage panels help defuse reflected sound, especially when they are covered with stored equipment. In addition, the void between the panels and the wall can be filled with sound-deadening material to act as further soundproofing.
• Applying door brushes and rubber trim to the door aperture can help reduce gaps and insulate from sound (as well as protection from the elements). Road traffic is less noticeabl and noise created inside the garage will be less apparent to others. 

b) The furniture: Cabinets with the unmistakeable sound of quality

Dura cabinets have been designed to sound every bit as good as they look and feel. Dura’s furniture is constructed from high-quality materials, all of which contribute to minimising noise when used.

• Wall cabinets are fitted with smoothly operating gas struts and a soft close feature, for apleasing ‘clang-free’ operation.
• Dura cabinet drawers are fitted with quality runners for minimal noise when used, even under extreme loads. They are fitted with foam inlays to limit the movement (and also noise) of tools when being opened and closed. Tool control foam eliminates movement altogether.
• Cupboard doors are double skinned and fitted with bearing catches for a pleasurable ‘click’ when closed.
• Dura’s mobile cabinets sit on quality castors, allowing a virtually silent ‘glide’.

c) Sound systems : Bringing your garage to life

Adding a personal sound system to the new garage environment is a feature that many of our customers look to do. Whether it’s to provide motivational music for a home workshop or exercise room, or to deliver relaxing music for a serene ‘chill-out’ area, integrating audio facilities neatly will enhance your space and improve your experience.

Dura’s modular furniture system has been designed to accommodate facilities such as these within the back panels. Controls for remote music systems or cradles for electronic tablets can be seamlessly integrated for convenient use.

The StorePanel™ system also provides an ideal surface for positioning speakers. The slatted wall and clip on hooks provide the flexibility to alter the locations of speakers without inconvenience, to allow users to optimise their listening pleasure as the space develops.

From design to completion

We hope you have found these series of guides useful and taken you just one step further towards achieving your dream garage. Please don’t forget to share it with your friends if you’ve enjoyed it!

For further information on any of the products mentioned, or to speak to our design experts and book a FREE no-obligation home consultation, please call 01280 700563 or email info@duragarages.com