Extending house ideas: 26 house extensions – best house extension ideas for any budget

Home extension ideas: inspiration, costs and tips

Read these home extension ideas to see if you find inspiration for your own projects:

• Split Level Home Extensions
• Garage Conversion
• Indoor-Outdoor Living
• Conservatory Living
• Loft Living
• Bedroom Living
• Outdoor Living

There can be many great reasons for a home extension. You might need a bedroom extension because you have a growing family, want to enlarge your living area, or feel you need a private office for working from home.

Whatever your reason may be, you don’t have to stick to the usual home extension ideas. Thinking outside the box could give you more than just extra space.

7 home extension ideas

Read these ideas for house extensions to see if you find inspiration for your own projects:

• Split Level Home Extensions
• Garage Conversion
• Indoor-Outdoor Living
• Conservatory Living
• Loft Living
• Bedroom Living
• Outdoor Living

Split Level Home Extensions

If you live on a sloping block and want to extend your home, does it really need to be at the same level as the rest of the house? Split level extension ideas could open your mind to new possibilities. A sunken living room, for example, is a cosy separate space that’s defined by the few steps leading down to it.

Garage Conversion

If you’re not making much use of your garage, a garage conversion is one of the most cost-effective home extension ideas that can create a new bedroom, study or other living or working space. Bringing a garage up to living standard takes some effort, but with the structure already being built, you’ll save the biggest cost of most extension projects.

Indoor-Outdoor Living

Are you torn between building a covered patio and extending your living room? Why not do both? Installing bi-fold doors allows you to open your living room up to the great outdoors or close the doors while still enjoying the views. Your bifold doors can open up into a patio, an outdoor kitchen or a sunroom, depending on how you want to use the space.

Conservatory Living

Conservatories are classic home extension ideas that suit both traditional and modern homes. Attached to the side or end of the house, depending on how your property is oriented with relation to the sun, a glass conservatory makes the most of daylight to create a green and relaxing indoor space.

Loft Living

Do you have unused space over your head? If so, consider converting your loft space instead of going to the expense of extending your house. It’s surprising how much use you can get out of even a relatively small loft, which could be perfect for a spare bedroom or home office. To make your loft extension more cheerful and inviting, add skylights and windows wherever possible. If the roof is sloping, use areas where head space is lower for seating, storage or both.

Bedroom Living

Why does a bedroom have to be a room just for sleeping? If you need a bedroom extension, think about other ways you could use the space. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to spend quiet time during the day in your bedroom without feeling locked up in a box? If your bedroom extension opens up to a patio, it becomes a wonderful place to relax. Give your bedroom just a little extra space and it could double as a home office. Or you could indulge yourself by adding a spa bathroom to the bedroom.

Outdoor Living

The Australian climate is perfect for outdoor living, and many homeowners are discovering that there’s more to an outdoor extension than just a covered patio. Your “patio” can be semi-enclosed, enclosed or even a combination of the two. This photograph is just one example of an outdoor extension that blends seamlessly with the home’s interior. For more outdoor extension ideas, visit our Outdoor Living Ideas pages.

Getting quotes for home extensions

Whether you’ve settled on your perfect home extension idea or you want some professional advice, the next step is to consult architects, designers or extension builders near you. Get several quotes and ask to see examples of their previous work so you can be sure you’re choosing the right team for the job.

Beautiful Home Extension Ideas | Country & Victorian Times

Image source

No matter how big your home is, somehow it seems like one more room is all you need to make it perfect. That’s why many people often decide to create home extensions and improve their interior and exterior home design. If you’re in the process of home remodelling and you need inspiration for modern home extension designs, you’ve come to the right place. From attic and basement reconfiguring to building a whole new room at the rear or side of your home, we have a list of contemporary home extension ideas that will transform your home into a living space that you’ve always wanted to have.

Make the most of your basement

Is your basement filled with boxes of old items and other clutter? Instead of keeping it unused, make the most of your home’s space and transform it into a gym, for instance. Maybe you’re not satisfied with the size of your dining and living room. In that case, you can remodel the basement and make it suitable for all the celebrations and festivities. A family entertainment area is more than welcome for families with many children who constantly have friends over. The options are truly endless when you have a basement. So, just think about the type of room you need the most and start working on your home extension.

Image source

Use the attic to the maximum

Just like basements, attics tend to stay forgotten and rarely put to good use. This is the perfect opportunity to create the designated room of your dreams out of the attic. Reconfigure the attic to establish the optimum layout of your upstairs. On top of that, by redesigning the attic, you will have better access, create splendid views, introduce more natural light and privacy. For instance, if you’re planning to expand your family, the attic can conveniently become your older child’s room. If it’s spacious enough, you can build a wall in the middle to have two additional rooms. Installing rooftop windows for extra light will offer enough daylight to make the upstairs airy and inviting.

Think about rear or side extensions

When your basement and attic don’t provide enough additional space, consider building an extension from scratch. Feel free to turn to CGI professionals for visual renderings so you can see how the extension can fit into your home seamlessly. That way you will know what option is the best for your home. If your backyard is large enough, consider rear extensions that will stretch through the garden. That way, you can build a continuous joining between the outdoor and indoor areas. A winter garden is one of the great options for your rear extension. Have a sunroom-like area for the plants that don’t handle cold weather the best. Your conservatory can feature large areas of glazing and a conventionally insulated roof. You can choose to open the room to the rest of the house or not.

Image source

If there’s room between the two sides of your home, it’s only natural to consider connecting them when thinking about home extension ideas. Creating a glass extension will add more light to your interior while increasing your home’s net value. It can almost look like a see-through tunnel that will make all the neighbours green with envy. Worried that you won’t be able to achieve it because you don’t have room on the ground? No need to stress because a cantilevered house extension is the perfect solution to your problem. Create a floating-like structure that will bring more space to your interior and stun everyone who passes by your home.

Consider pergolas and gazebos

Does your backyard look empty? Do you need some type of structure to make it more inviting? Pergolas and gazebos will be just what you need to add more space and interest to your backyard. If you opt for opening roofs, you’ll be able to enjoy your home extensions all year long. Spend your mornings, afternoons and evenings outside without having to worry about the wind, rain or show. You can easily incorporate a variety of devices into the design and create an outdoor dining area or a relaxation sanctuary.

Do you already have a patio, but you’d like to make it more useful? Extend it into a gazebo. With some comfy furniture, decorative flowers and a mini fountain, you’ll have an oasis of peace in your garden where you can forget about the hectic day you’ve had.

Image source

Outdoor kitchen areas

Speaking of patio extensions, introducing an outdoor kitchen can also be a splendid way to extend your home and make more room for enjoying the outdoors. Prevent the variety of aromas from spreading through the home, when you plan to prepare dinner for the entire family and all of your friends, by cooking outdoors. Check out everything you need to equip an outdoor kitchen, and don’t forget to invest in sturdy furniture. An annexe is another manageable solution for the outdoor kitchen area. Instead of extending the existing house, add a garden building for additional cooking. Alternatively, annexes can also be self-sufficient rooms with bedroom and bathroom spaces.

Final thoughts

Looking to extend your home, but you’re fresh out of ideas? Our comprehensive guide will offer enough options to consider. Whether you decide to choose one of these or you become inspired and start working on your own home extension idea, we’re confident that you’ll create a lovely space for the entire family to enjoy.

Rate this:

Like this:

Like Loading…

Expansion and relocation of doorways

Redevelopment in the apartment must be coordinated – this is obvious. But not everyone knows that even moving or expanding the doorway by a couple of centimeters is already considered redevelopment. In the article we will analyze how to do it legally, without breaking the law.

Determine the type of wall

The first step is to determine which walls are affected by the redevelopment – load-bearing or not. Bearing, as a rule, are marked on the plan in the data sheet of the apartment with thicker lines.

Another way to identify load-bearing walls is to measure their thickness. In panel houses, the load-bearing partition will be 12 cm or more, and the non-bearing one will be thinner. In brick houses, the thickness of the bearing wall starts from 38 cm, and in monolithic houses – from 20 cm. For clean measurements, remove the layer of plaster, if any.

The load-bearing walls in the drawing are thicker, but the walls between the bedrooms and in the hall are not load-bearing. Designer Ekaterina Zabegina

Approval procedure for non-load-bearing walls

If the doorway is not located on a load-bearing wall, then approval will take place “according to the sketch”. All changes must be noted on a duplicate of the BTI floor project (you can do it by hand), and then deliver the document to the housing inspectorate. In this case, you do not even need prior permission to start repair work. And when they are completed, it remains only to wait for the inspection officer, who will carry out the acceptance and issue an act on the completion of the reconstruction of the premises.

According to accepted standards, the permissible minimum width of the opening for non-load-bearing walls is 60 cm for a bathroom and 70 cm for living rooms. These are the dimensions, taking into account the thickness of the door frame, the openings themselves will turn out a little wider.

Approval “by sketch”

Approval procedure for load-bearing walls

To legitimize the transfer or even a slight expansion of the doorway in the load-bearing wall, you will need to contact the author of the house project, who will conduct a technical study. His conclusion will show whether redevelopment can be done or not. In some cases, it may be necessary to survey neighboring apartments, for example, above or below yours.

Information about the author of the project can be clarified in the BTI technical plan, on the developer’s website, with the management company, in the apartment building management agreement or with housing inspection employees.

If redevelopment is possible, a project will need to be developed. To do this, you need to contact a design company that has an SRO permit (certificate of admission to construction or design work). The finished project, together with the technical passport and a copy of the title documents, must be submitted to the MFC. Refusal or permission will come within 45 days.

When the repair is completed, and the door is in the planned place, you need to contact the housing inspection again and carry out acceptance together with representatives of the design organization. If all requirements are met, the owner of the apartment will be issued an act of completed redevelopment.

Marking changes on the original plan Plan after completion of work

Difficulties in construction work

It must be borne in mind that alteration in load-bearing walls will require serious preparatory work. It is almost always necessary to strengthen the opening with metal structures. In addition, it is imperative to retreat from the outer wall, and the dimensions of the opening vary depending on the type of building and the series of the house.

It is not recommended to use tools with high impact energy to drill the opening – this can cause cracks and other deformations in the walls. It is better to first drill holes around the perimeter of the future opening with an interval of 3–5 cm, and then remove sections of the wall with cubes. At the same time, a construction vacuum cleaner should be ready, and it is better to cover the floor with flooring so as not to damage the ceiling of the neighbor from below in any case.

ARTSTUDIO Design & Construction

Remodeling in houses of different types

It will be easier for owners of apartments in brick houses to obtain permission to move the doorway, since the walls in them are less dependent on each other. But in panels and monolithic buildings, it is more difficult to agree on redevelopment. In them, the main walls are closely interconnected and the load is distributed over them all. Unauthorized redevelopment in this case is especially dangerous – it can adversely affect the strength of the building, up to its collapse. Violators face a fine or an order to return everything to its original state.

Even hanging the hinges on the door is not always allowed. Changing the direction of opening the front door may be contrary to fire regulations. The matter is that doors of evacuation exits and doors on ways of evacuation should open towards an exit from the building. Even if this option seems inconvenient to the owners.

Dolgopiatova Design Studio

How to increase the usable space in the summer cottage and expand the house: 5 ideas of designers about how to expand the available space. There are several good options for how to do this. However, some of them are quite simple to implement.

©Shutterstock/Fotodom

If your vacation home or dacha is becoming too small for an increased number of family members, you can’t fit everything you have, or you’re having trouble finding a place to stay, it’s time to think about how to expand the available space. There are several good options for how to do this. However, some of them are quite simple to implement.

Summer kitchen

It will help out during the warm season and solve the problem of lack of space at the dining table. Summer kitchen in the country can be small and as simple as possible. And you can make a whole complex, consisting of a barbecue or grill, countertops, a terrace and a dining group, a full-fledged recreation area with a canopy and all communications, writes Roomble. Important: the summer kitchen should be decorated in the same style as the garden, landscape designer Yulia Namestnikova points out.

Terrace

Another simple and good idea for expanding a country house or summer house. The terrace is easy and quick to install. You can add a canopy to it – it will become more comfortable, designers recommend.

Pergola

Pergola allows you to quickly create a small place for dining or relaxing in the garden. Designers advise to place it away from home, this expands the boundaries of available possessions for the whole family.

Veranda

Veranda will also allow you to significantly expand the available space in the house. It is most convenient to place it near the kitchen (and put a dining group there) or near the living room, in the latter case, you can create a secluded corner for relaxation.