There is no getting away from it, moving house can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. However, if you want to increase the size of your home, you don’t necessarily need to move. Here are some cunning ways to increase your living space without moving house.
Basement
If you need some more living space, then how about converting the basement? This could make a fantastic living room or playroom for the kids. This is quite an easy DIY job to do too. Firstly, you will need to clear out the basement so that you have a blank canvas to work on. Next check to see what condition the walls are in. If they are in a good condition, you may be able to get away with using a lick of paint to freshen them up. If not, you might need to board and plaster them before you paint. Next, you will need to lay some flooring, again, this is not a difficult job. You are then ready to move the furniture in and you have yourself some living space.
Garage
A garage will make a lovely living space. It may be that you don’t want to use all this room if you keep your car in it or use it to store tools, but even if you only use part of it, you can still create a lot of space. This area could be used as a playroom, a games room, a mancave, or an office. The choices are endless and if you already have electricity in your garage, you can do the work yourself in much the same way as you would your basement.
Loft
If you need an additional bedroom, then consider a loft conversion rather than moving house. This is a specialized job as it may involve lifting your existing roof, so if you are considering this, it is best to call in the experts. This can be an expensive job, so it is not necessarily cheaper than moving. However, it will save you the hassle of packing up and going elsewhere and it will increase the size of your home. Depending on the size of the loft and the money you have available, you could even turn this space into two separate bedrooms or a bedroom with an en-suite, which will add value to your home.
Backyard
Your backyard can be a great place to dine or entertain your friends and you can do some of the work yourself to keep costs down. Firstly, tidy up the yard, then consider a seating area. If you need some decking or a new fence, contact a fence and deck company like Outdoor Living Inc. Decking will provide you with a wonderful place to sit that could be built enough to entertain your guests and even use for a barbeque area too. Place a cover or a gazebo over your decking area and you will be able to use this space all year round.
These are five fantastic ideas to increase the size of your home without having to move.
