Back to home
Covid and the subsequent lockdowns taught us a newfound gratitude for simple things we may have previously taken for granted, like hugging loved ones and friends, visiting the pub or cinema, even doing the food shopping, which at one point became quite a scary proposition for some.
With true British resilience the nation went about distracting itself, many of us tackled home improvement projects, sought new hobbies or rediscovered past passions. Never have we all spent so much time at home, which has naturally led to us re-evaluating our homes and how we use them, with many of us deciding that we need more room. This is one of the reasons the property market is currently so buoyant, but moving home is not an option for everyone, so in this article we look at various ways of creating extra space in your home.
Extending Your Home
If you are running out of room and need extra space, then it might be time to consider extending your home. Older properties, tend to have quite a lot of land around so it might be feasible to have a single storey or even a double storey extension. When considering this option, it is always best to check with your local council to see what planning permission is required and to check for restrictions. If an extension is a viable option for you, then you might want to read this very helpful article from homebuilding.co.uk which gives a wealth of advice about home extensions, what to consider and what to expect.
Converting Space
After extensions the next great space creating idea is to convert unused or ill-used space. How many of us park a car in our garages? Could the garage space or your loft space be put to better use?
And if it is not the garage or loft that can create more living space for you, how about changing how you use some of your existing space? If you have a large living room/diner, why not add a room divider like this one from Wayfair to partition off some space to use as a play room or cinema space? An unused guest room might make a much needed second bathroom and even the cupboard under the stairs can be converted into a fabulously handy storage area. Take a good look at how you use your home and consider how you could better utilise the space available to you.
Conservatories, Sunrooms and Garden Rooms
To bridge the outside space with the interior, many people opt for a conservatory or sunroom, giving homeowners an extra living area without causing quite as much disruption as an extension. Increasing popular are the standalone Garden Rooms, which can be built with heating, power and running water and can provide the perfect place to get away from it all. Used as home offices, home gyms, hobby studios or as they were originally intended, as a place to enjoy the sanctuary of your garden whatever the weather. One of these out building additions could be the answer to your lack of space.
The Feeling of Extra Space
Sometimes it is enough to simply generate the feeling of extra space. You can achieve this by using lighter colours in your décor. Replace heavy, dark furnishings with lighter, brighter fabrics and materials. Just adding more light can give your home a roomier feel. If your home is cluttered or full to the rafters with big furnishings then this too might be creating a claustrophobic feel, try removing items, a more minimalistic look will make your space feel much larger.
The key before deciding on any of these space generating ideas is to decide what you want to do with the extra room. The use of the room or rooms will help you to determine the best solution. Seek expert advice especially if you are considering extending, converting or adding a standalone room and if possible, think long term as well as satisfying immediate needs.
