When You Need More Living Space

If you are living in a small space but don’t have the cash for major renovations, knowing how to extend the space you’re currently in can be helpful. Set your budget and determine how much work you’re willing to put in, and then consider these ways of extending your current living space while staying within your cost parameters.

Convert Your Garage Into an Extra Room

One of the easiest ways to create more room in your home is to commit to parking your car on the street or in the driveway, and using your garage, or part of your garage, as an extra room. Depending upon the condition of your garage, updating it may be more affordable than you thought – in fact, concrete flooring is even in style, meaning you can potentially leave the floors as they are with a little acid cleaning and polishing. You may need to add insulation and additional security, or hire an electrician to add electrical wiring. Painting will likely be necessary. Otherwise, adding some rugs, furniture, and color can be a great way to create a bedroom, home office, or TV/living room out of what once was a garage used for just storage.

Building a Deck or Covered Patio

Another way to improve and extend the space in which you live is to build a deck or covered patio. This can be somewhat costly, but if you live in a mild climate and you find yourself outside often, this can be a huge benefit to you, your family and guests. Additionally, building a deck or patio is a surefire way to improve the value of your home, and give you a little more room to lounge, entertain, and spend time with family and friends. Before you build, check the laws for your state/city to ensure that extending your property is permitted, and to determine whether or not you need an inspection.

Knocking Down Walls

Rather than actually adding room to your home, you could consider making your home feel roomier by knocking down walls that create barriers. By knocking down walls, you can make a space feel more open, and therefore larger – the fewer the number of walls, the more spacious a property will feel. We here at Simplicity Homes pride ourselves in our attractive floor plans, and open layouts are very sought after right now. So whether you are getting your home ready to sell, or just want a more spacious feel to your home, consider removing a wall. Of course, before you knock anything down, make sure you consult with an expert, as walls often provide structural integrity, and you could compromise the safety of your home by removing them.

Before You Begin

Before you start any DIY project, make sure you know the building regulations for extension, and strongly consider meeting with a contractor/building professional who can advise you regarding the best and safest way to complete your extension project. Also make sure that the extension project is within your budget before starting, as once a project is underway, it could be impossible to reverse. Undertaking a major project like extending living space just isn’t for everyone, and does require a fair amount of know-how, patience, and attention to detail.

If you’d like to consider building a new home that better suits your needs, give us a call today!