Have you ever looked around your home and thought that a lot of potentially useful space was going to waste? The fact is that plenty of families invest in properties that look wonderfully large and spacious from the outside, but then when you are inside them, seem a little cramped in terms of space. Of course, with most families struggling financially, often it is far too easy to end up settling for a property that is slightly smaller than you would like, due to the price tag that comes with larger properties.

Feel Like Your Home Is Going To Waste? Here’s How To Make The Most Of Every Space!

Usually, smaller homes are ideal for new families, or couple’s that are hoping to start a family soon but are still yet to do so. Plus, smaller properties are more affordable, which is why most couples and smaller families, tend to opt for them. The good news about smaller properties is that there is often the room to expand your living space, it’s just a case of knowing how to go about doing that, that’s all.

Have you ever wondered why so many properties have so much unused space that has fantastic potential as additional living space? The truth is that most homes have large areas of untapped living space that just sits there, wasting away. The good news is that this does not have to be the case in your home, as you can choose to utilize this space and make more of your home, giving yourself and your family that additional living space that you crave, while adding value to your property.

With all of that in mind, the question is: what spaces in your home could be transformed into additional living areas, and how? For everything that you need to know about what areas of your home have the potential to be successfully transformed to how to go about doing so, read on.

Attic

Does your home have a large attic space that is used purely as a storage space? Do you feel like it is a wasted space and one that has a lot more potential? If the answer is yes, then conversion could be worth considering. If your home has a sizeable attic that gets little use and has the potential to be transformed into an additional living space then you are most probably wondering how to go about doing this. There is a common misconception that attic conversions are complicated to plan, due to various steps that need to be taken.

The process does not necessarily have to be a complicated one; it is just a case of determining if your loft can be converted. You see, most properties come with a ‘Permitted Development Rights’ clause that allows for the attic to be converted within certain specifications, without planning permission being required. However, if your home is situated in a conservation area or your roof is not high enough for an attic conversion without work to the exterior of your property, then this process may be somewhat more complicated. (A simple way to see if your attic can be converted, is to look at whether any other properties on your street have conversions.)

If you are able to get planning permission (or don’t require it) the next step is to consider the type of loft conversion that you would like. A roof light conversion is the simplest, as this means adding a roof light window to your roof but making no other external changes. Then there is a dormer conversion, which is constructed and protrudes from the slope of the roof – this is the most popular kind of attic conversion as it offers lots of space. Hip-to-gable extensions are only suitable for detached or semi-detached houses, as they are built on the side of buildings, extending up into the roof – these are popular as they maximise the space on offer. Last but not least, there is Mansard conversion, these run along the whole length of the roof and alter the roof’s angle and size, ensuring that the conversion offers plenty of space.

The best way to determine which type of extension to opt for, as well as what design to incorporate on the inside of the extension, is to speak to a contractor. This kind of project is too advanced to do yourself, as there is so much that could potentially go wrong, which is why you will need a team of specialist contractors to deal with the work for you.

Basement

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Is your property blessed with a sizeable basement that gets little to no use? If the answer is yes, and you crave additional space in your home, your basement is somewhere that it is worth considering converting. The fact is that aside from adding considerable space to any property, a basement conversion can also add considerable value, which is what is making these conversions so popular, particularly in areas where extending above ground, such as in cities, is not a possibility.

When it comes to basement conversions, there is a lot that needs to be considered. The main question to ask is whether excavation is required or not – excavation makes the whole concept much more expensive, and lengthy can also mean that planning permission will be necessary when usually it would not be. So ideally, you want to avoid excavation and work with the space that you have, to keep costs low and the project length shorter.

One cost that cannot be missed out though is the cost of waterproofing the space. Did you know that most basements are prone to flooding on a regular basis? If your basement is ever wet, even slightly wet, then waterproofing is required as the problem could get worse, as the Helitech online website states, or it could cause damp and mold to occur, which is never a good thing and can cause all kinds of serious problems. That is why, having your basement waterproofed before any work commences on it, is vital, to ensure that the final result ends up being a livable space.

Garage

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Often, garages are cold, damp spaces, and don’t seem like they would make good places to convert into additional living space. However, most garages are only cold and damp because they are not properly insulated, and require additional care and time to improve them. Usually, garage conversions require planning permission, as structural areas of them are often changed, to create a livable and usable space. The good news is that converting your garage should come cheaper, cheaper than converting your attic or basement, so it is a very cost-effective option, and one that still adds significant extra value to your home.

As part of the construction part of your garage conversion, you may want to consider moisture proofing, having additional insulation added to the area, and ensuring that the necessary ventilation is in place. It is also vital that your garage conversion comes with a fire escape route that is separate from the one that the main house offers. Other factors that you will need to consider, including how you will heat the space – under floor heating could work well – as well as what the room will have the potential to be. Although it may make a fantastic additional living space, it may not be well-suited to being a bedroom.

You need to carefully consider all of the options that comes with choosing to convert your garage and decide if it is something that is worthwhile doing. Is the cost worth it? Does it have the potential for additional living space that you require? Would you take full advantage of the space? There are lots of questions that need to be asked.

The fact is that many homeowners feel like large areas of their properties are going to waste and are not being utilized as they should be. Combine this with the fact that many families lack space in their homes, and it is easy to see why so many homeowners are now considering converting unused areas of their homes into additional areas of living space.

Of course, you could just choose to build an extension from scratch, but the fact is that this is always most costly and time-consuming that choosing to convert an area that is already in your home, which is what makes a conversion that most obvious choice for most homeowners. Plus, most extensions require extensive planning permission and take up value outdoor space. Whereas, conversions of your attic, basement or garage, or all three spaces for that matter, don’t tend to do so. There is also the cost to consider too, as most conversions tend to work out far cheaper than extensions but add a similar level of value to the property.

If you feel like your home is going to waste and is not being made the most of, it is worth considering converting an area within it, to give you and your family the additional space that you need, while adding to your home’s value at the same time. Converting an unused area of your home is a fantastic idea, and one that could have a huge impact on yours’ and your family’s quality of life.

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