It isn’t uncommon for families to outgrow their houses over time. Not only can you run out of bedrooms upstairs, but you may find that you don’t have enough living space downstairs too. For this reason, lots of families decide to build home extensions. An extension is a great way to add usable space to your house and it can help to improve functionality. With some careful planning, an extension can completely transform your home.
Whether you install a single-storey extension or a double-storey extension, there are several ways you can use the extra space it provides. To give you some inspiration for your house extension, below we have put together a list of some popular extension ideas for family homes. No matter what your reason may be for wanting some extra space, you can design an extension that perfectly meets your family’s needs.
Open-Plan Kitchen, Dining and Living Area
Large open-plan spaces are very popular in modern family homes and building an extension is a great way to create a spacious kitchen, dining and living area. A single-storey rear extension can provide you with plenty of space that can be used for general day-to-day activities and the whole family can cook, eat and relax together. You could even knock down some internal walls in the original house whilst building an extension to create even more space for your family. You can guarantee that you will spend lots of time in this new open-plan area.
Home Office
If you work from home, even if it’s only on a part-time basis, building an extension for an office is always a good idea. Having a dedicated workspace can help to improve productivity and you don’t need a huge space to create a quiet and motivating environment. Using an extension as a home office can free up space elsewhere in your home too. This is particularly useful if you currently have an office set up in a spare bedroom that you now need for your children.
Downstairs Toilet
A simple side extension can provide you with the space you need for a downstairs toilet. There are lots of benefits to having another toilet in your home, especially when you have children. Getting everyone out of the door on time in the morning is much easier when you have multiple toilets and an extension can help to prevent long queues for the main bathroom. A downstairs toilet is convenient when you’re entertaining guests as well.
Children’s Playroom
Turning a new extension into a playroom for your children can help you to keep your living room clutter-free. You can create a safe and fun environment for your little ones to play and explore when you build an extension, and you can keep all of their toys in here. You don’t necessarily have to use the whole extension as a playroom, but it can be beneficial to have a specific area for neatly storing your children’s toys out of the way.
Home Gym
It’s becoming more common for families to have home gyms and an extension is an ideal space for a gym. You can create a dedicated space for fitness and invest in some versatile exercise equipment. Having a home gym will promote a healthy lifestyle for the whole family and help you to stay fit and active. Building your own gym at home can save you money in the long run too by preventing the need for several monthly gym memberships.
Entertaining Space
When you frequently have family and friends over, you should consider building an extension that can be used as an entertaining space. Whether you design a games room, home bar or cinema room, for example, you can enjoy spending time with your loved ones in the extension. Depending on which type of socialising space you’re wanting to create, you could even use large bi-folding or sliding doors to connect the extension to your garden and create the perfect space for summer parties and gatherings.
Planning an Extension for Your Family Home
When deciding how to use your new extension, remember to consider your lifestyle, preferences and the unique requirements of your family. Working with professionals, such as experienced architects, can help you to optimise the space and create a functional and aesthetically pleasing addition to your home.
If you’re interested in getting some plans drawn for an extension, feel free to get in touch with us at Arkiplan. We specialise in providing convenient and affordable extension plans in the UK, and we can provide you with the detailed drawings you need to build your dream home extension. Whether you’re looking for planning permission or building regulations drawings, we can design your project from the ground up and we will keep working until you’re 100% happy with the house extension plans. If you have any questions about our services, contact our team today.