Over the years, your family will grow in size and number. As your family grows, you will need more space. Sooner or later, your home will feel smaller and more cramped.
A home should make you feel at ease and relaxed, but a crowded home can do the opposite.
It would be at these times when you would probably consider getting a new place. However, buying a new home may not be practical, especially if you are still paying for your car and your kids are still at school. It can be a big expense that can leave you with another loan to pay for many years.
There are many creative and cheaper ways that you can do to add floor space to your home without breaking the bank. From moving around your furniture to investing in kit granny flats, here are some ideas on how you can increase your home’s living space.
Declutter And Move Around Your Furniture
This may be the simplest and most cost-effective method of increasing your floor space. Sometimes, all you need to do is move around your furniture to maximize your home’s floor space. By strategically moving your furniture, you can improve the room’s traffic and even free up some space.
It is also normal for many households to accumulate stuff and clutter over the years. Magazine subscriptions, books, china wares, gadgets, accessories, clothes, and even furniture can pile up. Before you know it, your once spacious home is now cramped with things you may not even need.
Now, this may be old advice, but it’s worth repeating. Go through your things and purge those that you have not used in the past six months. Opt for digital subscriptions when it comes to newspapers and magazines, as well as with your billings. You can save yourself from additional waste and clutter when you opt to go digital.
Install A Patio Or A Deck
An outdoor addition can be your option to increase your space. A patio or deck is a great outdoor space addition that your family can use for many purposes. It can serve as an entertaining area for your guests. It can also be an outdoor dining area for you and your family. Some use it as an area to hang out and relax.
You can install a covered pergola to protect you and your furniture from the harsh heat of the sun, rain, or snow. If privacy is an issue, use drop cloth curtains, shutter screens, partitions, or privacy planters. You can also have some hedges or bamboos to provide your patio or deck some cover from prying eyes.
Invest In A Granny Flat
Kit granny flats are living areas designed for one or two occupants. It can be attached to your home or detached. It is called a granny flat because families mostly use it for their senior parents. Basically, it is a small version of a house, complete with amenities such as a kitchen and a restroom and bathroom. These tiny houses give seniors the independence that they need while being close to their children.
Granny flats can also be used for other purposes, such as an extra room for guests and families that come over during the holidays. It can also be used as a man-cave, a business space, or a home office. They can come in prefab kits, which allow for faster construction and set up.
Convert Your Basement
Your basement makes up precious real estate space. Instead of using it as storage for junk and the things that you no longer use, convert it to a usable living space. You can convert your basement into an additional bedroom, a living room, an entertainment room, or a home office.
One of the pros of converting your basement is that you already have a structure you can work with. You just need to hire a contractor to check the foundation’s integrity and finish the walls. You will also need to hire an electrician and an HVAC contractor.
The biggest problem you may encounter in converting your basement is moisture. Make sure to check for watermarks or cracks where water can come in and fix them before you remodel your basement.
Convert Your Attic
You may think that the attic is easy to convert and remodel, but it is more difficult to transform an attic into a usable living space than with a basement.
Your attic shape is not shaped like a regular room, with angled dormers and low ceilings. You also cannot use an attic for rooms that will have constant foot traffic. Even if you use it for an additional bedroom, your contractor will have to strengthen your safety joists.
Adding floor space to your house will not only make it more comfortable and spacious. It can also increase the value of your property should you decide to sell it in the future.