We can outgrow our homes in many ways. If you’re expecting a new baby or planning on having one in the future, you may need another bedroom. If you’ve got more than one child, and you’re finding that their toys are taking over your house, you may consider a playroom. If you work from home, you could find that you find it hard to concentrate and stay focused with all of the distractions of family life surrounding you and you may long for a home office. You might want a dining room, a games room or a guest bedroom, especially if you entertain a lot or have family that visit from out of town. Or, you might just have a lot of stuff, too much for your current home to contain. Whatever the reasons for you outgrowing your home, your first thought can be to move to give yourself more space, and more options. However, this isn’t the only answer.
Moving to a new house is expensive, stressful and time-consuming. It can also be emotional. Our homes are part of our families. We spend a lot of time and money getting them just right, and the idea of moving can be upsetting. Well, you don’t have to. If you need more space, but don’t want to move, why not extend? When it comes to extending, there are probably more options than you think. Let’s take a look at them before you rush off to the estate agent.
Loft Conversion
If you’ve got a loft, it can be the obvious place to add extra space to your home. It is after all much easier to use an existing area than add something entirely new. However, this can be a lot of work. Think about what you currently use your loft for. You’ll need to clear everything out, throwing a lot away. You may need to say goodbye to those old couches and other furniture you are storing up there. You could have to spend a lot of time taking rubbish to the tip or sorting out things that can be sold, recycled or put somewhere else in your home.
But, this work can be worth it. Once your loft has been thoroughly cleared out, a professional loft conversion will secure the structure, add windows, heating and stairs down to your house. You can be left with a room, or even two, with plenty of space for use. A loft conversion can be perfect for a guest bedroom, a child’s room or nursery, an office or a workspace, without affecting the rest of your home.
A Basement Conversion
A basement conversion is less common but can be as great as a loft conversion. Especially if you are looking for a dining room and the loft is a little too far away from the kitchen. Converting your basement again means a huge clear out, and you’ll need a professional team to look at the structure. Depending on the position of your home, you may even be able to add a small window.
With the right conversion, a basement can be warm and cosy and give you plenty of space for storage. You could even install a small bathroom or kitchen area with the correct plumbing. This could make an ideal home office area away from the rest of your home. The basement could also make a fantastic, trendy bedroom for an older child, giving them a little space of their own as they become more mature. Other ways that you could use your newly converted basement can include a wine cellar, a library, a study, a romantic nook and dining room, a second lounge or a home gym.
An Extension
If you don’t have a loft or basement, or just don’t want to convert them, an adding an extension to your home is another brilliant option. If you’ve got a large garden or plenty of space at the side of your home, you could build on to the side. This can be a big job; you may need planning permission and a lot of help. But, it adds another room to your home. It will be linked to the rest of your home with an internal door and have windows and heating just like every other room. It can be seamless and fit in perfectly. This room can be used for anything you need, and it would have no real restrictions. If you need a lot of extra space, you may even be able to install a double level extension, so you’ve got a new room upstairs and downstairs.
Even if you’ve not got much space outside, you might be able to manage a micro extension, just to make the room the looks out onto your garden bigger.
A Conservatory
If you don’t need a lot of extra space or don’t intend to use it as a fully functional room like a bedroom or bathroom and you don’t want to commit to a huge job and expense, a conservatory could be the answer. It’s a much smaller job and can be a great idea if you are just looking for an occasional room, somewhere to get some rest, a place to sit and work quietly, or just somewhere to open out your home a little. Conservatories can now be heated and have roofs that will let the sunshine in all summer and keep you warm in the winter so that you can use them all year around.
A New Structure
If you’ve got a large garden, you could erect a completely new structure. You’ll need planning permission, so check any requirements and limitations first. This new structure could be used as an office, gym or a living room.
Extending your home can be a great way to make it last longer and ensure that it still meets your needs. But, it can also increase its value. If you ever come to sell in the future, this could be important. Whatever you decide on, make sure you obey the land laws of your location and get any permits that you may need.
XOXO
Debbie
This is a collaborative post
