Top Tips to Make Your Home Extension a Dream Come True

Val Watson
Authored by Val Watson
Posted Monday, September 26, 2022 - 4:21am

Thinking of adding an extension to your home? If so, you're not alone. Home extensions are a popular way for owners to add more space and value to their property, as well as increase living areas that improve everyday life. Whether it's extending your home by creating new bedrooms, a bathroom or even a games room, there are various different types of home extensions that you might want to consider. Choosing the right type of extension for your needs and budget is the first step in making sure that your new space is exactly what you want. Once you have planning permission and you're ready to start creating your extension, these top tips can help your make your dreams a reality.

Plan Carefully

Make sure that you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with a home extension. This way, you'll be able to select the right type of extension that meets your specific needs. Whether you're looking to increase the size of your living space, add extra bedrooms, or create a home office, you'll be able to better choose an extension type that meets your requirements. You might want to consider making a sketch or diagram of your extension to help you visualise your ideas. This can help you identify potential problems with your ideas and allow you to make changes before work starts.

Think About The Layout And Design You Want

When you are deciding on the layout and design of your extension, it's important to think about how it will be used as well as the architectural style of your house. For example, if you plan on extending your kitchen, you might want to go for an open-plan layout with a dining area that connects to the kitchen. You can also use architectural features in your existing home to help you decide on the layout for your extension. For example, if you have an attractive feature like a bay window, you can build a new extension so that it connects to that room. You can also use colour and materials to add a visual connection between the existing house and the extension.

Make The Most Of Natural Light

Natural light is a great feature for any room, but it's especially important in bedrooms and living spaces where you want to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Make sure you select a room layout that makes the most of light by choosing the right position for doors and windows. If you're adding a new room, it's also a good idea to add skylights to help light the space and provide ventilation. If you're extending your home, you can also add skylights to let more light into a room. This way, you'll be able to make the most of light in your home and create a room that's well-lit and comfortable.

Hiring A Professional Is Key

If you are planning to extend your home, it's important to hire a professional to make sure that the extension is built to a high-quality standard that will last. This will help to prevent costly mistakes and reduce the risk of your extension needing repairs in the future. When hiring a professional general contractor, it's important to make sure that they are fully licensed and insured and have experience in building home extensions. This will give you peace of mind that the extension is being built to a high standard.It's also a good idea to hire a professional electrician, and you can search MyBuilder for "electricians near me" to find the top-rated professionals in your area. 

Be Realistic About Budget And Timing

One of the most important things to remember when extending your home is that it can be costly and time-consuming. Before starting the extension, it's important to have a realistic budget in mind and to have a timeline in place for the whole project. You can reduce the costs of your extension by being smart about the design and materials that you choose.

Make Your Extension Energy Efficient

Whether you are extending your home to create a new bathroom or a new bedroom, it's important to make your extension energy efficient. Installing modern, energy-efficient windows, for example, can help to reduce your energy bills and make your home more comfortable. If you are extending your home to create a bathroom, you can take advantage of the opportunity to install an energy-efficient fan that draws moisture out of the air.

Add More Storage

Whether you are extending your kitchen, bedroom, or even the hall, adding more storage space can make the extension more functional and help to improve organisation in the rest of your home. You can add built-in storage in the new extension in the same way that you would add cupboards to an existing room. This will make the extension feel more like a room and less like a storage space. 

Utilise Colour Wisely

Choosing the right colour scheme for your extension can be tricky, especially if you are planning to extend your home to create a new bedroom. If you are extending your home to create a bedroom, it's important to consider which colours would be most suitable for the space. If you are extending your home to create a bathroom, a bathroom with a neutral colour scheme is likely to be more functional than a bathroom that has a strong colour scheme. Whatever type of extension you're planning, it's important to consider which colours would be most suitable for the space.

Go For High-Quality Materials

When it comes to building your extension, you'll want to make sure that you're using high-quality materials, as they can affect the overall life of your extension and your home. You'll need to factor in the costs of design and materials in your initial budget, but it will be worth it in the long run. It's also a good idea to make sure that you stay on top of maintenance to make sure that your extension lasts as long as possible. Regularly cleaning windows and skylights, keeping gutters clear, and fixing any small problems as they arise can help to extend the life of your home.

Invest In High-Quality Furniture That Will Last

When you are designing your extension, think about the furniture and other items that you want to include in your new space. It's worth investing in high-quality furniture, as this will last for years to come and make your home look stylish.

Don't Forget To Talk To Your Neighbours Before You Begin

Before you get started, it's a good idea to talk to your neighbours to see if they have any issues or concerns with your planned extension. You can also explain how the work will be carried out so they know what to expect. Not only will this help to avoid conflict, but it will also allow you to make the most of your space and get the most out of your investment. Before you get started with the building work, make sure that you have a plan in place in case something goes wrong. This will help to reduce the risk of interrupting your neighbours.

Conclusion

Extending your home is a great way to create additional space and make your property more comfortable and enjoyable to live in. Planning carefully, thinking about the layout and design you want, and hiring a professional are just some of the ways that you can make your extension a dream come true.

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