When it comes to updating your house, there are many things that can be done to help you fall in love with your home all over again. Changing the layout is one of them… It may sound like a big task, but it can make a real difference to the feel of your home. Plus, it may add value to your property.
Make your living room your new dining room or your dining room your new living room. Changing the purpose of your rooms can make a big difference to your home and can be done quickly.
If you like to entertain, moving your dining room into a larger room can give you more space to enjoy dinner with friends. Whilst your former dining room could make a lovely, cosy retreat to relax in at the end of a long day. If you’re not keen on the change, you can swap back
Open-plan homes can give you a great sense of space as well as flexibility. For example, an open plan kitchen/living area offers more room to play with when it comes to kitchen space. However, if you’re considering opening up the downstairs of your home, there are a few things to bear in mind. For instance, the walls between your hallway and reception rooms often provide structural support and will need something there to replace them. It’s a straightforward job, but your design may be different from what you imagined.
An open hallway also means your front door opens into your living area, meaning you lose a little privacy and can be open to the elements. Think about whether you want the door to open directly into your main living area or not. Either way, a good architect will help you get the design just right.
Adding an extra bedroom to your home is a great way to increase space and add value. Attic conversions or garage makeovers are a popular choice.
Garages are usually easier and cheaper to convert as they don’t need any structural alterations, however, the advantage of converting your loft is that it’s closer to other bedrooms and bathrooms, making it much more convenient. Garages, however, make excellent guest rooms or even games rooms.
A basement in any home can offer lots of extra space, but it does come at a cost. On average, extending your home below ground level tends to be between 75%-100% more expensive per square meter than above ground modifications. In areas such as London, where space is at a premium, basement extensions can offer a great return on investment, despite the upfront cost.
Planning permission applies in most cases, which means you’ll need to consider things like natural light, but when you’ve got the green light, your basement space has endless possibilities, think: gym, office, home cinema…
Whatever you decide to do with the layout of your home, remember that there are building regulations and requirements to consider. However, an architect can not only help you when it comes to the design, but they can help with said regulations and make sure your project runs smoothly.
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