House extension planner: House extension ideas: 10 best designs to reinvent your home

House extension ideas: 10 best designs to reinvent your home

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House extension ideas are amongst the most sought-after of building projects for homeowners.

Get your house extension just right and you won’t just create a big open-plan room with space for dining and seating. Smart extension ideas can add more valuable space to your home and can increase the value of your property, if you decide to sell, too.

Below, we have gathered the best house extension ideas to suit all house design styles and sizes of homes, and a wide range of budgets, too. There are different material choices to consider, plus expert advice to help you make the right decision.

House extension ideas

These house extension ideas will inspire you to get started on your project. Remember when planning a kitchen extension, the key to success is to pick an extension style that either complements your home’s existing materials and period, or contrasts with it completely.

1. Consider extension ideas for small houses

(Image credit: Ståle Eriksen)

Architectural practice Studio Hallett Ike’s ER Residence started as a small but well-proportioned one-bedroom flat in a Victorian terraced house. But thanks this clever home addition idea, the space was opened up into a two-bedroom apartment. 

‘The new dining area, above, provides an immediate visual link to the garden,’ says co-founder Madeleine Ike. ‘We kept the material palette simple, using raw and natural materials. Stained Douglas Fir joinery forms a bespoke dining bench that extends from the kitchen. We also designed the dining table which is made from blackened steel.’ 

Keeping the overarching palette warm, muted and minimal throughout helps to make the whole flat feel cohesive.

2. Be sympathetic to existing house styles

(Image credit: Johan Dehlin)

A ruined cattle shed seems an unlikely starting point for a new home but architect Will Gamble thought otherwise and his vision created The Parchment Works for his clients. ‘Initially the owners wanted to demolish the former parchment factory,’ says Will, ‘but I convinced them the ruins could be celebrated through a sympathetic intervention.’ 

Will’s design created ‘a building within a building’, where two lightweight volumes were inserted within the old walls. ‘I exposed the beams of the cattle shed, as well as steelwork in the new parts. The clean lines of the kitchen helped to juxtapose the uneven nature of the older structure making a contemporary intervention set within a historic context.

3. Extend the ceiling upwards

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

The owners of this elegant Victorian-era country house in Dorset enlisted the help of interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch of Sims Hilditch to help them to envision a new kitchen extension idea for the property. ‘The answer was to preserve the original, grand parts of the house while opening up and rationalizing the secondary spaces that had been added later on,’ explains owner Sarah Ainsworth.  

The rear extension was replaced with a large open-plan kitchen idea, dining and seating area with a show-stopping roof lantern that brings in lots of light and ceiling clad in rough, whitewashed boards to add texture and improve the room’s acoustics.

4. Use natural materials for any home additions

(Image credit: David Salisbury)

Planning a home addition can be an opportunity to let materials shine. Oak is the star in this Somerset house which has been renovated by David Salisbury, replacing two smaller structures with one space that can be enjoyed all year round. A fully glazed garden room has been created that features a new chimney made using brick and stone to match existing materials. 

‘Our client wanted a rustic look so opted for natural, unfinished oak,’ says creative director Karen Bell. ‘This type of open-plan living room is perhaps our most popular request. Being able to combine the functionality of a kitchen extension, alongside a living room and dining room, we have captured the essence of modern living. ’

5. Maximize efficiency and sustainablity

(Image credit: David Butler)

As well as respecting the history of this Grade-II listed Cambridgeshire farmhouse, Mole Architects also made sure that sustainability was part of the process, following ‘passivhaus’ principles to maximize energy efficiency. As well as ticking the environmental boxes, the clients asked for a home that was at once both special and modest, using unfussy finishes that enhanced the older structures and complemented the new. 

Rescued from near dereliction, the property now boasts a garden room, kitchen and main bedroom all in buildings that adjoin the 17th-century cottage. The revitalized design has also created a new connection with the garden and offers beautiful views across the nearby water meadows.

6. Let light in

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

When designing your house extension, it’s important to think about how natural light will enter the space and move throughout the day. Light is a vital consideration for extensions – and glazed doors, windows and skylights can be game-changers.

Opting for a glass ceiling instead of a skylight will allow light to flood in, making the area feel bigger and brighter. But glass isn’t limited just to your ceiling ideas – adding a glass partition wall will not only create a slick design feature but will help to unite the space overall. 

7. Reunite with nature

(Image credit: David Butler)

Combining indoor and outdoor living is an integral trend, and should be taken into consideration when planning an extension for your home.

Architecture and design studio Levitate had to do some serious juggling to breathe new life into the tricky layout of this Victorian mid-terraced home in north London. The result is a striking zinc-clad rear extension that appears as a garden pavilion, and features a cantilevered structure with bifold doors that allow the extension to be opened up entirely onto the garden.  

Spencer Guy at Levitate illustrates how important it is to know where light is coming from and how it will change through the seasons: ‘Our client’s brief was for the space to be used comfortably during the day in summer and in the evening in winter. The analysis showed a glazed roof would work fine in summer through the use of shading devices but it was a challenge in winter without excessive heating. We redesigned the roof to include the characteristics of a conservatory but using smaller roof lights so more of the fabric could be insulated. The roof lights were still large, but they were standard products with proprietary opening systems, which made for a better functioning, more cost-effective solution.’ 

8. Don’t obstruct views out to the garden

(Image credit: Taran Wilkhu)

Don’t let a lack of space restrict your style – or block your view to the outdoors. Taking an ambitious approach to the design and fittings can result in a striking small kitchen idea that punches way above its weight.

To create a separation between the kitchen and dining areas without losing the views to the garden, architect Alex Michaelis installed a low wall. ‘It also gives a feeling of protection while sitting on the banquette, allowing it to run longer and seat more people.’ 

(Image credit: Dan Glasser)

With vision and careful planning a huge amount can be achieved. This house extension project started as a relatively simple rear extension and roof terrace but became much more radical. Mulroy Architects’ plans saw four storeys of staircase moved and a floor removed to create a dramatic double-height atrium which brings daylight and views into all levels.

10. Retain the existing structure, style and materials

(Image credit: Joakim Boren)

By their nature extensions are not built in isolation. The design must consider the building they are connected to and also the environmental impact.

Napier Clarke Architects reclad the existing extension on this 1970s house in Buckinghamshire and returned it to its original brick form. As Steven Clarke says: ‘This creates a more contemporary home, which reflects the local vernacular and materials.

‘One of the key decisions for this house extension project was, should we knock down and start again, or work with what we have?’ said Steven Clarke from Napier Clarke Architects. ‘We believed we could work with the original house as a way of creating a highly sustainable project through the virtue of retaining the existing.’ 

Steven’s clients were keen to retain the existing structure if it was more cost effective, but they also recognized the sustainable benefits. Once the decision was made, the ground floor, first floor and roof were insulated to reduce thermal loss. All windows and doors were changed from single-glazed to double-glazed and the heating system was replaced.

Is it a good idea to extend your house?

It is certainly a good idea to extend your home. Smart extension ideas can add more valuable space to your home and can increase the value of your property, if you decide to sell, too – but do be mindful of costs.

‘Cost control starts from the outset, says architect Andrew Mulroy: ‘Try to keep as much of the existing structure as you can. This means that all areas of the house are fully utilized rather than some rooms being dark and redundant. Get regular cost checks on your design as it evolves so you can steer it back on track before going out to tender. This will allow you to understand where financial risks are and help avoid the temptation to change things on site, which is always more expensive.’

Kate Burnett is a journalist and editor who has been writing about residential design and architecture for nearly 20 years. A former acting executive editor of Homes & Gardens and Livingetc, she has written for national newspapers and magazines including the Financial Times, Evening Standard and Sunday Times. A trained designer, she has also worked with leading architecture and design practices including dRMM and Keechdesign.

How to extend a house – a guide to planning your extension

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If you’re planning, and wondering how to extend a house, then you are in the right place. Extending your home will let you enjoy more family space, and it can even up the value of your property to make moving easier down the line. As one of the most life changing home improvement projects you could take on – requiring extra care when planning –  we have put this expert guide together to help you every step of the way.  

From designing your home, to permitted development rights and building regulations, you’ll find everything you need to know about extending a house right here, including how to add value to your home via an extension.

Keep reading to get your building project off the ground and for information on the cost of an extension you can look to our feature.

How to extend a house: planning

Planning how to extend a house – from getting the required paperwork in place to agreeing the contract with your chosen builder – is vital, to ensure that your extension schedule runs smoothly and to keep you on budget. This is what to consider.

Applying for planning permission when extending a house

Gaining planning permission is an important stage in the process of planning an extension, but can be tricky to navigate if you’re not in the know. Use our expert guide to planning permission to find out more, and make sure you have gone through your plans thoroughly with an architect or builder who is familiar with the local planning authority and their preferences.  

As a general guide, when building a more ambitious extension you will need planning permission if:

• Your extension covers half the area of land surrounding your home;
• If you are extending towards a road;
• You are increasing the overall height of the building;
• You are extending more than six metres from the rear of a semi-detached house;*
• You are extending more than eight metres from the rear of a detached house;*
• Your single storey extension is taller than four metres;
• Your single storey extension is to the side of the property and more than half the width of your house;
• You are using materials that differ from the original style of the house;
• You plan on building a balcony or raised veranda;
• Your house is listed.

Other planning considerations for house extensions

What else might affect your planning application that you hadn’t considered? Here are just a few things to bear in mind when you’re planning a house extension.

Overlooking neighbours

Features such as upper-floor balconies can be contentious if they overlook the neighbours. For windows, you can use obscure frosted glass, install them at a high level, or fit skylights.

Overshadowing neighbours

Building a two-storey, or higher, extension too far out from the back of the house into your garden may overshadow the neighbours, which will limit the permissible size.

Highways and your extension

If your proposed extension could interfere with visibility for motorists, it will also limit how far out you can build.

‘Another factor to bear in mind when building within three metres (or in some cases, six metres) of neighbouring buildings is the Party Wall Act, which requires you to formally notify the adjoining owners two months in advance of the proposed project,’ says Ian Rock. (See planningportal.gov.uk .)

Discover how to apply for planning permission in our guide.  

(Image credit: IQ Glass)

Considering access issues when extending a house

Organising the access to your extension is an important early step to consider when planning a house extension because it could limit your design options. So, if access to the rear of your home is restricted, perhaps because you live in a terraced house, you will need to talk to your builders and neighbours early on in the process to ensure you won’t be causing issues for later on in the build. Having materials craned over a house is possible, but it’s extremely expensive and you need to get the agreement of the council to close the road temporarily.

What to do if your extension’s planning application is rejected

If you’re planning to extend a house and your application is refused here’s what will happen: your planning refusal notice will outline whether or not you can appeal and specify a time period in which an appeal must be submitted. An independent planning inspector, who will take into account national and local policy, as well as the impact of the proposal, will then consider the appeal.

Sometimes changes to an extension’s design are unavoidable and any that are slight should be given the okay with few issues. However, any significant changes made to your extension’s design after the planning application has been approved will require a retrospective amendment, or a new application all together. Find out more in our planning permission guide.

(Image credit: Korniche)

Planning an extension under permitted development rights

‘Homeowners are sometimes surprised at how much can be built on to a house under permitted development rights,’ says Alan Cronshaw of Acronym Architecture & Design.

Side return extensions are a good example. In many cases, two-storey side extensions may not even be a problem, but it’s a good idea to discuss your proposals with the planners before spending money on drawing up detailed plans. Even in conservation areas you can build rear extensions as long as they meet the size criteria and are in matching materials.

Building regulations for extending a house

This is important to factor into your extension planning routine. 

All home extensions need to comply with the building regulations. Most obviously, this relates to structural stability – including foundations, window and door openings, lintels, beams and roof structures. Therefore, your design will normally need to incorporate a structural engineer’s calculations, submitted together with drawings as part of your building regulations application.

When it comes to submitting your application, you can either do this via local authority building control, or an independent firm of approved inspectors. Either way, there are two ways of making an application – either full plans, or the short-cut method known as a building notice.

For a major project such as an extension, it makes sense to get your design approved with the former before you start work, otherwise you could run into trouble if your project doesn’t comply with the regulations.

‘When work is due to start, it is essential to liaise regularly with building control, as they will need to carry out site inspections at key stages, commencing with start on site and excavation of foundations. Finally, once your new extension is built, don’t forget to obtain proof of compliance in the form of a completion certificate – this is a key document when you come to sell.’

What to submit to make sure you comply with building regulations:

• Completed application form;
• Estimate of costs;
• The appropriate fee;
• Two copies of detailed drawings at a scale of 1:100 minimum;*
• Two copies of a site plan showing the proposal, site boundaries and sewer positions;*
• Two copies of any plans and specification to accompany drawings including structural design and calculations;*
• Four copies of plans for buildings covered by fire safety legislation, showing fire resistance, fire detection, alarms, emergency lighting, means of escape and signage. *

*If online applications are accepted, only a single copy of each plan is required.

Planning an extension? Comply with fire regulations

Most extensions should naturally comply with fire regulations thanks to the inert qualities of building materials such as plasterboard, bricks and concrete blocks, which can normally resist the spread of fire for at least 30 minutes.

However, where you have any exposed major structural components such as timber posts and steel beams, they will normally need to be protected, for example with skimmed plasterboard lining. Also, where holes are cut in ceilings for recessed lighting, they may need to be fitted with fire hoods. Extensions built with modern timber-frame wall panels are lined internally with inert plasterboard and also incorporate integral cavity barriers to slow the passage of smoke and fire.

If your design includes an integral garage, then the walls and ceilings need to resist fire – which most materials should manage, although special pink-coloured plasterboard (fireboard) is the ideal cladding for ceilings and stud walls. Ceilings to integral garages must be plastered, and any doors from the house must be fire doors with a suitable step down into the garage (normally 10cm).

Requirements become a lot more demanding for extensions of three storeys or more. Considered as part of the newly enlarged house, this might involve fitting special fire doors to all new and existing rooms as well as ensuring there is a safe escape corridor (usually via the landing and stairs) down to a main exit door, with the stairs protected with a fireproof lining.

If your extension is two storeys or higher, it is best to assume that you need to fit a mains-operated smoke alarm to the upstairs landing(s) in the newly extended house.

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

It’s always best to pick a designer with a style or track record of projects that match up to what you’re trying to achieve. Ideally, a local firm is a better choice than one that’s distant, since they will be more familiar with the local vernacular and the local council’s foibles.  

‘Organisations such as the Federation of Master Builders, Home Improvements Guarantee, Which? Local and Checkatrade offer builders who have been assessed in some way,’ says Kate Faulkner. ‘Make sure they have insurance and a warranty service that survives something happening to them or their business, and check they are happy to sign a contract.’

‘It is good to have a brief for your designer, but this can be loose,’ says Alan Cronshaw of Acronym Architecture & Design. ‘If you want an open-plan layout, a better relationship between house and garden or simply more space, your designer will advise you on how to achieve this, perhaps with options. If you want expensive items, such as a certain brand of kitchen, or bi-fold or large sliding doors, let the designer know so the added cost can be factored into your budget.’

Bear in mind that some designers will charge for an initial visit. Check their fee structures and flexibility before you appoint, too.

You can find architectural technologists on ciat. org.uk and architects via architects-register.org.uk or RIBA . Find out more in our guide to working with architects.

Planning an extension: find the best builder

We all know that recommendations from friends or neighbours locally, as well as via trade bodies such as the Federation of Master Builders, is the best way to find a good builder if you’re planning for how to extend a house. Questions to ask when looking for referrals include: Was the project completed to schedule and as expected? Was it finished on budget? Were there any unforeseen problems and how were they dealt with?

Ask to see examples of previous work and talk to past clients as well. Compare at least three written quotations and ask for clarification on any detail so you’re comparing like for like. Finally, make sure you’re comfortable – you’ll be working closely for months.

‘Decide if you want to use a larger, faster but more expensive firm that may be more flexible, or a smaller firm that will be less expensive,’ says Marta de Sousa of property developers Lux Reality.

‘Make sure that any contractors you use have warranties in place, such as Masterbond. Draw up a watertight contract using a template, such as a JCT homeowner contract, and make sure to state in it that payments be made following the completion of specific parts of work and not at different stages, as it is usually very hard to define when you are halfway or a quarter of the way through an extension project.’

Use our guide to find a builder and reliable contractors for your extension project.

Hiring a project manager when you extend a house

A project manager, often the architect or lead builder, will oversee the project to ensure it runs smoothly, on budget and to schedule. Or, you may wish to save money by running the extension project yourself. Use our guide to how to project manage an extension to find out what you need to know about the process. And, either way, checking our week-by-week extension planner will give you an understanding of the extension process and help yours be built to schedule.

• To source materials, try BRE
• If you’re looking for planning advice, try The Planning Portal

Designing an extension doesn’t just cover how the extension’s interior will look when completed; it also encompasses details such as the roof’s structure and height; the exterior materials used; door and window construction; and the extension’s footprint. Here, we cover everything you need to know about the practicalities – and, the fun bit, the extension’s aesthetics and interior.

It’s important to ensure that your extension’s design suits your needs during the planning process, as it can be costly to make changes further down the line. There are many options to consider, including:

Defining its footprint

When it comes to how to extend a house, knowing the footprint you want to cover is vital. There are few limits on the size of your extension’s floor area unless it’s likely to cover more than half the garden (including any existing extensions and outbuildings). However, bear in mind that any extension that does swallow up a significant proportion of usable garden space may affect your home’s future saleability. 

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

Deciding on your extension’s height

You’re not normally allowed to build higher than the existing house. However, side-extension roofs and walls often need to be set back slightly from it (perhaps by 10cm to 15cm). Ensure that your extension’s roof design flatters that of the original house – whether through matching materials, echoed roof lines or even through contrast. This part of your extension’s design will be looked at closely by planners.

(Image credit: IQ Glass Solutions)

Don’t think about your extension in terms of adding the maximum size you can fit in – or are permitted to. Instead, consider exactly what you need for your extension and how you want it to feel. Often, over-sized extensions lead to over-sized rooms – usually kitchen diners – that feel unwelcoming and overly spacious. It’s better to get the perfect floor plan laid out, then work backwards to ensure the extension’s footprint is the right size for both your needs and the plot. 

Exterior materials for your extension should be chosen to either match those of the original house – think reclaimed bricks to make your extension look like it’s always been there – or picked to contrast with the original house, such as cladding and render or even glass.

‘There are no hard-and-fast rules on what materials will be accepted by the planning office. It depends on the building, the area, local planning policy, and you – the homeowner,’ says Hugo Tugman.

‘It used to be that planners generally wanted extensions to be in keeping with the original building, which led to a rash of pastiche additions to older buildings, but these days there is more and more of a prevailing view that allowing an original building to be itself.

‘Contrast does not have to mean shiny modern or hi-tech. It is generally a good idea when extending an old building for the extension to play a quieter role to that of the original building, and it is quite possible to produce a relatively contemporary design that is modest and calm in its expression. ’

Inside, try to think of your furniture choices for the interior and exterior together. ‘Choosing matching finishes, colours and textures for outdoor and indoor furniture is a great way to keep a coherent look that flows from within the home and out into the garden or patio, for example,’ says John Sims Hilditch, co-founder of Neptune .

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

Choosing contrasting materials for extensions is sometimes more acceptable to planning departments and an architect can help with this, but make sure the contrast is complementary and not grating visually. This is one of the most important, but often forgotten parts of learning how to extend a house.

When Up Architects designed an extension for a South London home (below), providing a young family with a large open-plan living space, they incorporated twin-hipped roofs to break up the bulk of the building and clad the walls and roofs with Kebony . Developed in Norway, Kebony starts out as sustainably-sourced softwood, which is then modified to make it stable and highly durable. It costs £60 per sq m.

(Image credit: Adam Scott)

Adding bespoke elements to an extension

(Image credit: William Eckersley/Ar’Chic)

Adding bespoke elements when you extend a house doesn’t come cheap. Because they’re produced individually rather than available off the shelf, they’re more expensive to manufacture, or might involve the skills of an individual artisan. Thus they can be subject to delays, holding up your building project. However, it’s worth paying the premium since they can add massive appeal to an extension, both practically and visually.

Expect to pay more for bespoke solutions such as the outstanding metal-framed curve of glazing on this extension by Ar’Chic (above and below), which also includes circular rooflights, a green meadow on the roof and bespoke kitchen joinery. A similar project would cost around £190,000.

(Image credit: William Eckersley/Ar’Chic)

Ensuring the extension feels like part of the original house – or like a wonderful addition – rather than something that’s awkwardly bolted on is vital, and this will be most noticeable from inside. Renovations expert Michael Holmes suggests the following expert tips so you can get this right:

Maximise the opening between the existing space and new

The wider and taller the opening that links the two spaces, the more they will feel like a single room.

All new openings will need to be spanned by joists, usually steel, to support the walls and floor above. The joist size and its supports should be calculated by a structural engineer (you can find one via the Institute of Structural Engineers at istructe.org ). The smaller and less visible these elements, the more seamless the flow between old and new. In most instances it is possible to conceal the joist within the ceiling void, especially if you’re removing only a non-load-bearing partition wall.

Create a continuous ceiling level

The ceiling height between old and new spaces should, ideally, be the same. If they’re different, however, the higher ceiling can often be brought down by adding new battens and plasterboarding over the top.

There is no minimum ceiling height under the Building Regulations, other than above staircases, but 2.3-2.4m is standard. If this is not a practical solution, then it is best to have a smaller opening with a boxed bulkhead to conceal the step-in ceiling levels.

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

Make sure the flooring is laid at the same elevation

When setting out floor levels for an extension, it is important to work backwards from the finished floor level in the existing property to ensure they will be identical once they’re linked.

When you’re remodelling, rather than extending, any differences in floor level can be overcome by building up – often using a quick-setting silicone floor screed. If the same level can’t be easily achieved, it is best to create a full step, (H)19-22cm, rather than a small difference that could end up being a trip hazard for children.

Use matching finishes in existing and new spaces

Old and new spaces can be linked seamlessly by using the same flooring material throughout. This principle also applies to the same architectural detailing such as windows, doors, skirting, architraves and coving; and the same décor, including colour schemes, flooring, curtains and furniture.

Try to think of your furniture choices for the interior and exterior together. ‘Choosing matching finishes, colours and textures for outdoor and indoor furniture is a great way to keep a coherent look that flows from within the home and out into the garden or patio,’ says John Sims Hilditch, co-founder of Neptune .

How to create an open plan living space

If you’re designing an extension for a contemporary home, it’s likely that you’ll be designing an open plan space.

‘Open plan or, more frequently, semi-open plan living, is very popular, as it suits most people’s modern lifestyle and enhances the sense and use of space within the home,’ says Hugo Tugman. ‘I do generally encourage people to go this way; however, there are a number of things to bear in mind when working out how best to use the space.

‘It’s usually a good idea to identify different zones within your layout – such as the kitchen, dining and living areas. The look and feel of your space can be fine-tuned by the extent to which the boundaries of these are defined or blurred, and there are lots of devices, such as continuing through or changing the floor finish, for example, which can control this degree of separation.

‘While walls can block up an open space, they can be helpful when it comes to positioning furniture, storage and radiators, for example. One of the reasons that underfloor heating works so well in an open-plan space is because often there are not enough suitable walls on which to position radiators.’

Use our guide to creating an open plan living space for more tips and inspiration.

Choosing doors and windows for extensions

Doors and windows for your new extension will affect its appearance both inside and out. Getting their positions, sizes and shapes, framing materials and sightlines just right will make the new extension blend with the original house, and can affect how much daylight reaches the room.  

It’s important to ensure both the windows’ and doors’ style and framing complements not just your interior fittings – such as your kitchen design – but also the style and framing of your home’s existing windows. Something as simple as having the exterior frames in the same paint shade as existing window frames can help the new extension blend with the original house. 

Opt for the widest panel possible when you’re choosing bi-fold or sliding doors for uninterrupted outlooks to your garden space. ‘The maximum panel width for this door style is 1.2 metres, providing a large expanse of glass and maximising the view outside,’ explains Neil Ginger, chief executive officer at Origin .

‘There are a range of different options available for bi-fold doors in a two storey conversion, from two-door models through to large eight-door configurations, set-ups for bays and 90-degree corner sections,’ continues Neil Ginger. ‘The price of doors varies but, as a guide, a bespoke, aluminium design would cost from £1,500 per door leaf.

‘The space allowance for the doors to open outside depends entirely on their width, which can be as narrow as 40cm, protruding less than half a metre outwards. You will need to allow just over a metre of space for doors with a width of 1.2 metres.’

Read our guide to choosing windows sympathetic to period homes or go contemporary with metal-framed windows.

Choosing bi-fold and sliding doors for an extension

When you’re designing an extension, much of the focus of the new room will be on the doors that open out on to the garden. 

‘There are a range of different options available for bi-fold doors, from two-door models through to large eight-door configurations, set-ups for bay arrangements and entire 90-degree corner sections,’ explains Neil Ginger. ‘The price of bi-fold doors varies but, as a guide, a bespoke, aluminium design would cost from £1,200 per door leaf.

‘The space allowance for the doors to open outside depends entirely on their width. Bi-fold doors can be as narrow as 40cm, protruding less than half a metre outwards, while you will need to allow just over a metre of space for doors with a width of 1.2 metres.

‘Doors that open inwards are ideal for projects where space outside is limited — on a balcony, for example. In the majority of cases, it is recommended that outward-opening doors are chosen to prevent any rainwater from coming into the home when the doors are opened after it’s been raining.’

Bi-fold doors can also be installed internally, as the low threshold of the design can create a seamless transition from one room to another.’

Ways to add space without having to extend out

If you decide an extension is not for you, or that now you know how to extend a house, it’s not for you, there are still other ways to add the space you need:

• From remodelling the layout to loft conversion, we show you how to add value to your home by working with what you’ve got.
• If a joined extension is out of the question, you might want to add a detached extension in the form of an annexe or a garden outbuilding.
• Maybe you already have the space in an unused garage? A garage conversion can bring you lots of new living space at a fraction of the cost of a single storey extension.

• House extensions for every budget
• House renovation: an essential guide
• Loft conversion costs: a breakdown

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes – long enough to see fridges become smart, decorating fashions embrace both minimalism and maximalism, and interiors that blur the indoor/outdoor link become a must-have. She loves testing the latest home appliances, revealing the trends in furnishings and fittings for every room, and investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house revamper. For Realhomes.com, Sarah reviews coffee machines and vacuum cleaners, taking them through their paces at home to give us an honest, real life review and comparison of every model.

Extension planner: a weekly schedule of works for your extension

Real Homes is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.

(Image credit: Prime Oak)

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Jump to the relevant week

Week 1: Preparation
Week 2: Groundworks
Week 3-4: Superstructure
Week 5: External walls
Week 6: Internal walls
Week 7: Roof structure
Week 8: Roof covering
Week 9: Windows and doors
Week 10: Breaking through
Week 11: Plastering
Week 12: Second Fix
Week 13: Snagging
Week 14: Get paperwork in order

An extension planner is a vital tool to make you aware of all the stages involved when extending. Our week by week extension timeline will give you a clear understanding of the schedule or works to consider, so that when you come to extending your home, there won’t be any surprises. 

Anticipating everything will not only give you more clarity at each step, but it will also reduce the risk of extra costs and delays (because delays in projects can be costly).

So whether you’re extending a house for the first time and have no idea of what’s involved, or if you want to refresh your knowledge ahead of starting another home improvement project, we can help. 

Before you get started, have a read through our extension checklist below to ensure that you don’t forget anything. And, to get an idea of the types of house extensions you can work towards – even on a tight budget – be sure to read our ideas piece.

How can our week by week extension planner help?

Each extension type comes with its own complications and knock on effects. This week by week extension planner will help anyone planning a single storey extensions, including a kitchen extension. It’s also very useful if you are building a double storey extension. 

If you’re looking for cost guidance, use our extension cost calculator, which will help you budget accurately for your extension.

Week by week extension planner checklist

• Obtain planning permission, if required, prior to work starting.
• Submit an application to your local Building Control department; find out more in our guide to building regulations.
• Begin the party wall agreement process if your extension will sit on or affect the party line.
• Organise the hire of plant, toilets etc.
• Compare quotes from trades and let them know if you will be completing any tasks yourself.
• Read up on project managing an extension and decide whether to do this yourself or with professional help.
• If you’re planning to live on site, arrange the schedule to minimise the impact on daily life.
• Agree timescales and schedules with trades to avoid delays.
• Arrange renovations insurance.
• Let your neighbours know that work is about to start.
• Arrange access for delivery lorries and decide where skips will be placed.
• Set up accounts with your local builders’ merchants.
• Check delivery times for materials and order when needed.
• Notify Building Control that work is starting.
• Make space to store materials safely on site.
• Ensure water will be available for cement mixing and plastering.
• Make second-fix decisions. such as the positions of lights and sockets, as early as possible.
• Allow time for plaster to dry before decorating.

Extension planner Week 1: Preparation

• Make sure there is clear access to the site.
• Have bricks, blocks and other building materials delivered and stacked close to where they will be needed.
• If you are project managing, hire a mixer and digger, otherwise your builder or contractor will do this for you.
• Make sure the site is safe, particularly if you have small children.

Extension planner Week 2: Groundworks

• Your builders will arrive on site and dig the foundations.
• Building Control need to visit the site to approve the foundations.
• If required, reinforcements will be laid within the foundations.
• Pipework, drainage and services will then be laid within the foundations.
• Concrete footing will be poured in and levelled.
• Building Control will need to visit again to approve the footing.

Extension planner Weeks 3 and 4: Superstructure

• Bricklayers will build up the damp-proofing course.
• Concrete lintels will be inserted into the brickwork, if required.
• Concrete lintels will be inserted into the brickwork, if required
• Sand will then be laid before damp-proofing membrane is put down.
• Insulation will be fitted.
• The concrete slab for flooring will be poured.
• Building Control will need to carry out another inspection.

Extension planner Week 5: External walls

• Check that lintels, door and window frames and wall ties have arrived.
• Your builder will create the blockwork and brickwork.
• Cavity wall insulation will be fitted.
• Wall ties will be inserted to fix the new walls to existing ones.
• Lintels for windows and doors will be fitted.
• Door and window frames will be inserted as the walls are built.

Extension planner Week 6: Internal Walls

• Internal walls will be built.
• Make sure you have ordered the windows, doors and roof tiles as these sometimes have lead times of up to five weeks.
• Check that your carpenter is ready for the following week and all materials are ready, including lead.

Extension planner Week 7: Roof structure

• Your carpenter will start building the roof structure. Sometimes, prefabricated roof trusses may be used.
• If you’re having rooflights or dormers, theses will be created and fitted.

Extension planner Week 8: Roof covering

• Roof battens will be cut and fitted over the membrane.
• Roof battens will be cut and fitted over the membrane
• Tiles/slates will be laid.
• Ridge tiles and valley tiles will be laid, along with finishing details like flashings.
• Fascias, sofits and verges will be primed, stained and painted.
• The floor screed will be laid.

Extension planner Week 9: Windows and doors

• External rendering will be completed, if required.
• Windows and doors will be fitted into the frames that were put in place when the walls were build.
• Guttering and drainpipes will be fitted.
• First-fix carpentry, plumbing and electrics will be completed.
• Studwork walls will built with door linings fitted and pipes boxed in.

Extension planner Week 10: Breaking through

• Now is the time to seal off the extension from the rest of the house as things are about to get messy.
• Steels will be put in place, along with padstones that have been approved by Building Control.
• Joins will be made good.

Extension planner Week 11: Plastering

• Walls will be boarded with insulation placed between battens on the existing internal walls.
• Plastering will take place and must then be left around a week before decorating can be carried out.

Extension planner Week 12: Second-fix

• Second-fix electrics will be carried out, which means sockets will be made live, switches will be put in place and lights fitted.
• Second-fix plumbing means taps will be installed and connections completed.
• Flooring will be laid.
• Kitchen units will be installed, if applicable. Read the ultimate guide to kitchen design for this part of your project.

Extension planner Week 13: Snagging

• Report any issues such as leaks, electrical problems, heating system issues, or sticking doors and windows to the relevant trades to get them fixed as soon as possible.

Extension planner Week 14: Get paperwork in order

Once the job is finished and building control have been round to sign off the works, ensure you have all the necessary building regs paperwork present and correct. Keep it somewhere safe – if there are future problems or if you move house and need to prove to your buyer’s solicitor that the work was done legally and correctly, it will be useful to know where it is.

Looking for more home improvement inspiration?

• Garage conversion ideas: make the most of spare space
• Loft conversion costs and how to manage them
• Kitchen extension costs and how to budget accordingly

Lucy is Global Editor-in-Chief of Homes & Gardens having worked on numerous interiors and property titles. She was founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home, before becoming Editor-in-Chief of Realhomes.com in 2018 then moving to Homes & Gardens in 2021. She has also written for Huffington Post, AOL, UKTV, MSN, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. Find her writing about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening.

8 Best Free Home and Interior Design Apps, Software and Tools

Are you planning an extension, new kitchen or bathroom, or finally getting round to landscaping the garden? Or maybe you’ve just moved into a new house and are planning to embark on several renovation projects? Whether you’re doing everything yourself or turning to the pros, there’s plenty of professional home and interior design software that’s readily available, user friendly, affordable, and in many cases, free.

Regardless of what home project you’re working on, you’ll want to communicate your ideas with everyone involved as accurately as possible, from the layout of your room to the paint colours for each space. Using a room planner or design app is the most accurate way of fleshing out your ideas visually, says Cory Powell from DBS Bathrooms, who talks us through some of the best free design software currently available to home designers and interior decorators.

Dreaming up a new home has never been more fun…

SketchUp is the most comprehensive free 3D design software you’ll find on the web, says Cory. This powerful home design tool is immersive enough to make it seem like you are moving through your future home, while being flexible enough to make it feel as if you’re working with pen and paper.

The free version is perfect for hobbyists, while the pro version is more suited to professionals in architecture, construction, engineering and commercial interior design.

Whether you’re building an extension for your home, a treehouse, or conceptualising your debut on Grand Designs, the thoroughness of this software will help you bring every aspect of your design to life.

Start designing with SketchUp

Floorplanner lets you design and decorate your space in 2D and 3D, which can be done online and without having to download any software. While its interior decorating function is an excellent feature, the strength of this tool lies in its functionality as a floor planner. Then, once the floor plan is completed, you can switch view and decorate the space in 3D mode.

It’s simple to use and easy to get the hang of, so if you’re after something that doesn’t require a steep learning curve, Floorplanner is a good choice.

Start designing with Floorplanner

SmartDraw is another powerful tool in the world of floor planning. It’s easy enough to learn so no one is excluded from using it, while being advanced enough to facilitate intricate designs for more advanced designers.

With a seemingly endless selection of furniture, cars, building materials and thousands of templates and floor plan examples, you’ll be able to explore an infinite amount of possible designs and layouts for your new space. The only downside to this tool is that it’s only free for the first seven days, so if you plan on using it for longer or for multiple projects, it may be worth the upgrade.

Start designing with SmartDraw

Planner 5D is the best-looking home design tool. Like the free version of Sketch Up, this tool is immersive, which means you are able to explore your design with your feet virtually on the ground.

With Planner 5D you’ll be able to start from scratch or use a template which is perfect for throwing together a quick floor plan if you don’t have the time or don’t want to make a complex design. What’s especially great about this software is that it works on iOS, which means you can create plans on your phone or iPad while you’re on the move.

Getting started couldn’t be easier. Start by adjusting the floor shape, size, materials and colours. Then add furniture and accessories, switch to 3D and add windows and doors. Add a second floor if you want to, and then the roof. The only downside is that if you want to use the in-app furniture, it can get expensive for anything other than the most basic beds, chairs or sofas.

All aspects of the design can be changed in terms of colour and texture and, when you’re ready to share your plans, it can be printed in a photorealistic format.

Start designing with Planner 5D

HomeByMe is one of Cory’s favourite home design tools. As far as we can tell, it’s genuinely free throughout and so are all its features. The way it works, is brands add their products to its catalogue, which means you’ll be using actual products to furnish and decorate your home. The perks of this is that you’ll be able to plan your design through to the very end and have access to the actual furniture and decorations you used to create your space imaginatively.

Like with Planner 5D, you’re able to switch from 2D to 3D after you’ve finished your floor plan and designed the look and feel of each room. Or, you can start with the décor and hit ‘summary’ and the software will produce a floor plan with all your furniture and appliances in the right places.

Start designing with HomeByMe

There’s a lot to like about Roomstyler. Like HomeByMe, it’s very easy to use. In fact, it’s so intuitive that there’s almost no need for the tutorial video’s available. Which is another plus for this software. Of all the home design tools, this one has a tutorial video available for every question you might have about the tool.

The greatest perk about this software is that you can create a custom room in a matter of minutes. This app also allows you to furnish your space using products from real brands, meaning you’ll be decorating your plans with items you can purchase when you’re ready for your design to materialise.

Start designing with Roomstyler

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You’ll often find that some of your favourite brands and retailers have their own room 3D room planners online, which offers even more scope to visualise your space, and enables you to ‘try before you buy’. Take a look at our top picks below…

A sofa is one of the most important investments you’ll make for your home, so while browsing for your new sofa at DFS, you can also redesign your room – it’s ideal if you’re redecorating or moving into a new home. You can use a 2D view or 3D view and from there, choose a room shape, input measurements, and decide on a wall colour and floor covering. You can even add accessories to enhance the space, plus play around with decor to complement your chosen sofa.

Start designing with DFS room planner

DFS

If you’re thinking about investing in new flooring, Carpetright’s flooring visualiser will help you envision what your room will look like with carpet, vinyl, wood or laminate flooring. Simply take a photo of your chosen room (or select a sample room) and upload it onto the visualiser. You’ll be able to customise the wall colour and flooring type. From there you can save your rooms and order swatches, bringing you one step closer to your dream room.

Start designing with Carpetright visualiser

Carpetright

• Virtual consultations •

Need some professional help? Bring your ideas to life with experts in the design field by booking an online design consultation from the comfort of your own home.

See a full list of virtual design services

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17 living room accessories for an instant style update

20 House Extension Ideas | Homebuilding

Homebuilding is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.

(Image credit: Simon Maxwell)

Looking for house extension ideas? If you are planning on extending your home, then you will need to research what kind of extension you want to build. These 20 ideas will provide loads of design inspiration to help you create the best addition for your home and to get your project off the ground.

For a comprehensive guide to costs, planning and what you need to know before starting an extension project, take a look at our beginner’s guide to building an extension. 

1. Reconfigure Your Existing Space During a House Extension

Knocking through walls in terrace houses or other awkward layouts during an extension, as in this project, can make a huge steps towards a functional and modern home (Image credit: Darren Chung)

When it comes to good house extension ideas, the existing space is often reconfigured to make the most of the new space. The reconfiguration will allow you to establish the optimum layout to make the most of access, views, natural light and privacy.

Knocking down internal walls and or moving doorways to achieve the space you require and to integrate any new extension, to ensure you get real value and use from it.  

Consider the position of the entrance and central hallway design – which should lead efficiently to all main rooms – and the relationship between key spaces, such as the proximity of the dining area to the kitchen.

Use our Extension Cost Calculator.

Key Tips

• If you can’t match a traditional home exactly, don’t try. A contemporary contrast is a more honest solution in this case
• It’s all about light. An extension will take away some of the light source to your original rooms, so make sure it is packed with glazing
• Create a feature. Whether it’s a striking staircase design, fireplace, kitchen island or something else

2. Consider a Two-Storey Extension

Building two storeys rather than one is a great idea for those who are looking to achieve maximum value for money with their house extension idea, as the average cost per square metre (m²) is reduced by stretching the more expensive elements of roof and foundations over a larger area.

(MORE: How to Add a Two Storey Extension)

This cottage has been extended with a large two-storey addition and new veranda (Image credit: Simon Maxwell)

You could also build an extra storey over the top of an existing single-storey structure, such as a garage (providing the existing foundations and structure are adequate enough).

(MORE: How much will my extension cost?)

3. Choose the Right Materials for Your House Extension

The same stones from the local quarry were sourced for this oak-frame extension by Oakwrights. The roof slates will also weather to match the original bungalow  (Image credit: Richard Keily c/o Oakwrights)

Another great house extension idea is to choose either a contrasting but complementary style, or make the extension look like it has always been there. The former is much easier to pull off well.

If you decide on the latter, make sure you are matching materials and copy the key design elements, roof pitch and details like the brick bond and even the mortar colour, or your new addition will look wrong.

4. A Contemporary Kitchen is a Great House Extension Idea

If you are looking to create a contemporary  kitchen extension but don’t have the budget for a bespoke design, create your own using modular units, combined with end panels, worktops and other features sourced elsewhere to recreate the same look.

This kitchen was sourced online to keep the extension’s overall costs down. The on-trend timber kitchen – from Units Online –  was installed at a third of the original design quote. (Image credit: c/o Effie Dracou)

Most trade suppliers do not offer panels large enough to create big islands or floor-to-ceiling banks of units to form an ‘appliance wall’, without obvious joints. 

You can overcome this by buying large sheets of MFC (melamine-faced chipboard) in a matching or complementary finish from a specialist such as Timbmet  together with matching iron-on edging strips. Sliding metal timber unit doors to suit standard-size cupboard units are also available from CK Kitchens .

5. Add a Conservatory or Sunroom Extension

If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive house extension idea, then this is where the conservatory or sunroom comes into its own. Smaller conservatories often don’t require planning permission, are excluded from the Building Regulations and are fairly cost-effective, making them one of the most popular home improvements.

A conservatory can have its drawbacks, however: it must be separated from the house by external doors to reduce energy loss, and it can be difficult to heat in winter and keep cool in summer.

Adding a sunroom is a popular alternative. They are an extension with large areas of glazing, but with a conventional insulated roof and typically one insulated wall (particularly the one facing the boundary). The space can be open to the rest of the house, and the temperature can be controlled more easily.

(MORE: On a budget? Here’s how to keep costs down when building an extension)

6.

Don’t Forget Ceiling Space When Considering Your House Extension Ideas

A difference in levels between the old dining room and the kitchen meant that this side return extension needed to be 3.8m. The wall was instead topped with glass to make the most of the quirky ceiling heights (Image credit: Simon Maxwell)

Tall ceilings can transform the way a room feels — larger rooms especially are made to feel even more spacious and impressive. An extension gives scope to add this feature for relatively little cost, either by digging down to lower the floor level, or by building up. In a two-storey extension this may result in a split-level on the first floor, which can add interest.

Where an extension is beneath a pitched roof, there may be the option to create a vaulted ceiling, open to the ridge. Instead of building a conventional flat ceiling with a void above, fit insulation within the pitched roof structure to create this feature.

When it comes to period homes, it can be especially difficult to find the right extension design to complement the existing property. One possible solution is to add the new space as an entirely separate building in a sympathetic style – either traditional or contemporary – and to join the two with a fully glazed walkway.

Choosing structural glazing for the walkway will reduce its visual impact and leave the original building’s character unaltered. This is a device favoured by many conservation officers and can work well in linking existing period buildings, too.

8. Fireplaces: Bear Energy Efficiency in Mind

Mendip Stoves’ Woodland is an DEFRA-approved Ecodesign Ready stove which is double sided making it the perfect addition to an open-plan extension (Image credit: Mendip stoves)

With increasing emphasis on energy efficiency, many people are blocking up open chimney flues and air vents or excluding them from their extension plans. Yet there are two energy-efficient options that still give the feature and comfort of real flames and are fitting for any house extension idea.

Flueless gas fires are 100% energy efficient and require no chimney or flue: a catalytic converter cleans all harmful combustion gases, producing just water and carbon dioxide. Designs include traditional fireplaces and stoves, and contemporary hole-in-the-wall models.

The second choice is a room-sealed log burning stove, connected to an internal air source to prevent any draughts. They are highly energy efficient and there are some exciting modern design options.

(MORE: Fireplace Ideas)

9. Outdoor House Extension Ideas

(Image credit: Garden House Design)

Verandas and covered outdoor spaces provide somewhere to sit or eat outside during the warmer months, but are protected from either too much sunlight or light summer rainfall.

You could choose a traditional option, such as a loggia, or go more contemporary space, set beneath a projecting flat roof supported by slender steel posts, perhaps with an area of slatted sun louvres.

(MORE: How to bring the outside in)

10. Choose Pocket Doors for the Best of Both Worlds

When it comes to your house extension design idea, if you can’t decide between enclosing a new extension with a wall or going open plan, consider fitting sliding pocket doors, giving you the best of both worlds. When closed, sliding flush doors can give the appearance of a wall, but when open they can disappear within the wall, presenting a clear opening.

Pocket door systems are available off the shelf (try Em-B ) or you can buy the running gear separately (try Häfele ) and have doors made up to suit your own design.

11. Make Sure Your House Extension Idea Features Obscured Glazing for Privacy

Introducing lots of natural light is one of the key ingredients in successful extension design. Where a potential new window opening will look out onto a neighbour, the street, a side alley or directly onto a boundary, consider using obscured glazing, so you get the benefit of daylight but without anyone being able to look in or out.

Traditional options include textured or stained glass and glass blocks, and more contemporary options include acid-etched or sand-blasted glass and coloured glass.

12. Make a Feature Out of Your Lighting

(Image credit: Original BTC)

Top tip

Independent control of each circuit using dimmer switches or smart switches with preset options is essential.

A well thought out lighting scheme will create a great atmosphere in your new space, allowing you to use different combinations of circuits for different activities.

As well as ambient lighting to provide basic background light for everyday activities, include accent lighting in the form of directional spotlights, uplights, downlights, wall washes, baffled (concealed source) lights, table lamps and standard lamps to create light and shade, which is key for atmosphere. Add decorative lamps, for instance, above a kitchen island or dining table as feature lighting.

13. The Best House Extension Ideas Manage Acoustics

Interior timber cladding can act as a great acoustic deadener while offering the opportunity to add extra character  (Image credit: Indigenous)

Contemporary extensions with glass walls, polished stone or concrete floors and crisp, clean lines can look fantastic, but they can also create acoustic problems as sound reverberates from one solid flat surface to another. Such problems need to be overcome by introducing soft sound-absorbent materials into the room.

However, rugs, curtains and soft furniture are not always appropriate — in a dining or kitchen area, for instance. An alternative is to fit some form of acoustic panels. These can be fitted to the walls as textured profiled panels like wall art, or flat panels printed with any chosen image.

14. Frame the Views from Your House Extension

Position window openings to frame the best views and to improve privacy — by screening off any unsightly external features or neighbouring properties. Options include projecting bay windows and oriel windows set at an angle, with one or both reveals designed to act as a blinker.

This dormer loft extension beautifully captures the views of the treetops to create a stunning master bedroom (Image credit: Chris Snook)

Think about window styles including shape and the height of the cill — narrow elongated windows can create wonderful panoramic aspects, or be designed to frame a particular landscape view. Low-level windows can be effective at creating views when sitting or lying in bed.

Window seats can be another useful device here.

15. Consider a Cantilevered House Extension Idea

Cantilevering is a useful device for creating design features such as balconies, mezzanines or whole storeys that project out from the floor below and appear to float with no visible means of support.

This award-winning cantilevered extension designed by Adam Knibb Architects  is a clever solution to a challenging site (Image credit: Martin Gardner c/o Adam Knibb Architects)

16. Make the Most of a New Staircase in an House Extension

If you decide to go for a new staircase design when extending, consider making it a key design feature. Options include floating cantilevered treads, open treads, glass or metal balustrading, galleried landings, sweeping curves and spirals. It is probably the best opportunity to create an exciting architectural feature in the home.

17. Give Your Home an Exterior Makeover

This 1930s bungalow was also given an exterior facelift (and reclad in render) when it was extended (Image credit: Paul Arthur)

Instead of building an extension to match your property’s existing architectural style, the project can become part of an overall redesign scheme that completely transforms your home’s appearance. This is a good technique for adding character and value to buildings that are bland, utilitarian, unfashionable, or which have been extended unsympathetically in the past.

You might be able to undertake the remodelling work under Permitted Development rights (whereby planning permission is not required), but do check with your local planning authority first.

(MORE: Exterior Makeover Design Guide)

This new extension features vaulted ceiling and reclaimed oak trusses (Image credit: Dave Burton)

A vaulted ceiling with exposed oak beams makes a great design feature that gives a room instant character — ideal for a kitchen, sitting room or master bedroom. An entirely oak frame extension is ideally suited to a rustic-style property such as a cottage, farmhouse or a barn conversion, or an Arts & Crafts home.

A cost-effective option is to combine an oak frame principal roof structure (principal rafters, collar, tie beams, braces, ridge and purlins) with softwood rafters — the latter hidden behind plasterboard and insulation.

An oak frame extension can be encased within structural insulated panels (SIPs) or any other construction system to ensure it meets Building Regs’ standards of thermal efficiency.

19. Introduce Natural Light into Your House Extension Idea

(Image credit: Jean-Christophe Godet & SOUP Architects)

Bringing daylight into your extension from more than one direction to add multiple layers of light and shade, will greatly enhance the quality of space.

As well as maximising window and glazed door openings, consider introducing a bank of rooflights, a roof lantern or a clerestory (a row of windows set just below ceiling level and above the eye level) to bring in light from above.  

In addition to bringing light deep into the floorplan of an extended home, these ideas will also help address issues regarding overlooking and privacy.

20. Consider an Annexe

Where the garden is large enough, an annexe might well prove a more sensible and manageable solution than extending the existing house. A garden building might provide additional games space, but would be much more exciting as self-sufficient accommodation, providing kitchen, bedroom and bathroom spaces.

(MORE: Do I need planning permission for an annexe?)

(Image credit: Garden House Design)

Michael is HB&R’s Head of Content and Product Development. Michael is also, Chair of the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), presenter of multiple property TV shows and author of Renovating for Profit (Ebury). Michael is a regular in the seminar theatres and Advice Centre at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show.




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Building an Extension: How to Budget and Manage Your Project

Homebuilding is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.

(Image credit: c/o KeDesign)

Building an extension isn’t a one size fits all affair. Your build journey will be unique to you and your home so it’s important to plan and manage it well for it to be successful.

Each extension will have its own criterion, whether you opt for a wrap around extension, a glazed single or two-storey extension, but there are some key details to get right, whatever your project. 

If you’ve not built an extension before how do you go from sketching your ideas down to seeing it come to fruition? Who do you talk to first? How should you budget? What do all would-be extenders need to know?

Our beginner’s guide breaks down all the areas you need to think about, from answering questions on planning permission and how much an extension costs, that will help kickstart your extension project.

Before You Start Building an Extension…

VISIT THE HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING SHOW

(Image credit: Future)

Need more advice or inspiration for your project? Get two free tickets to the Homebuilding & Renovating Show

Before building an extension make sure you’re aware of construction news locally and nationally that might affect your project – from materials to trades and changes in planning.

One area that’s hitting the headlines is the construction material shortages and price hikes, and lack of HGV drivers that are having an impact on the build sector. Dwindling supplies of key building materials such as roof tiles, cement and a timber shortage are impacting the construction industry nationwide and prices have soared across several materials.

The shortage is expected to continue so this will have a knock on effect with the trades you want to employ (who are battling with backlogs from Covid, increase in demand and the material shortfalls) and with your budget, as inflated prices hit trades, who then have to pass that increase onto you, the client.

(Image credit: Matthew Smith)

Factor in Extended Timescales

“With the material and labour markets still so volatile, clients just need to be prepared for delays,” says quantity surveyor Tim Phillips. “Lead times for quotes are only a little longer than normal due to the surge in demand,” says master builder Andy Stevens. “But start dates are way longer now. If you can get a good, experienced builder to start in under a year you’re doing well. You may be lucky if anything is cancelled due to planning issues, and so on, but I would aim for a year (obviously depending on where you are geographically).” 

And as far as build time goes? “Depending on build cost and complexity, I would allow five to six months as a minimum build time for small extensions, due to the current challenges in the industry,” says Darren Bray. “Most tender prices are coming back way over budget, so allow time to look at cost savings.” 

Many extension projects – big or small – are now choosing to use a quantity surveyor (QS) because of this to help keep a handle on costs as Tim Phillips explains: “More clients are aware of the nationwide price hikes, so projects where a client may have sought quotations from individual trades and project managed the build themselves are now seeking reassurance and advice from quantity surveyors. ” So this might be something to bear in mind.

Be Realistic About Your Budget

It’s easy to daydream and get carried away with design ideas but one of the first steps to take is to be realistic about money. “Before taking the plunge it’s a good idea to work out roughly what size extension you can afford,” suggests Ian Rock MRICS, author of the Haynes Home Extension Manual and director of rightsurvey.co.uk . Most extension projects cost around £1,500- £2,000/m2 of new space and Ian agrees: “A ‘sticky note’ calculation of at least £2,000/m2 should give you a rough guide for build costs.”

And it’s not just build costs to account for. “Making design decisions up front can help you keep in control of your budget so you know how much you’ll be spending on flooring, tiling, kitchen units etc,” says Jo Dyson Dyson, a partner at Mae House Design . 

Your extension will almost always cost more than you expected it to, so it’s important to have a contingency fund you can fall back on. “Allow a contingency of about 20%. There will always be unforeseen costs no matter how much you plan ahead in advance, especially with old buildings where there are a lot of unknowns,” says Jo.

How Much Does Building an Extension Cost?

Extension Cost Calculator

Try out our Extension Cost Calculator for an accurate estimate for your build project. 

How much does an extension cost? The million dollar question for any extender! 

Price hikes for materials, caused by the construction material shortage, and labour are occurring across the UK and will affect most bottom lines. Size, shape and glazing will also impact the cost of building an extension.

If you’re carrying out a fairly standard single storey extension project, managed on your behalf by a builder, you should be looking to allow £1,800-£2,300/m2 for the finished scheme, with a two storey extension costing slightly less (on account of more cheaper space) at around £1,500-£2,000.

In certain parts of the South and high value areas of the UK – affected by labour shortages – this you could easily be paying £3,000/m2, particularly on smaller schemes. That makes an 8x4m kitchen extension a £50-£70,000 project; a two storey extension on the same footprint around £100,000. But, these figures are there to be broken depending on the chosen specification and the build route. 

(Image credit: Photographer John Selby, glazing by Schuco, fabricator Thomas Charles Grant Ltd)

Who Will Project Manage the Extension Build?

There isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to who will act as project manager. You can choose a build route that suits you, your budget and the type of extension you want to build.

Hire an architect

The first option is to have an architect or professional designer draw up plans for your scheme who can take you through the process until work gets underway on site. “Generally, if an architect is appointed for a full design service, we’ll assist the client in appointing and then co-ordinating the other specialists and consultants up to a start on site,” says Nimi Attanayake, founder and director at nimtim Architects .

This would encompass the co-ordination of the various consultants required before the project begins, including designers, structural engineers, party wall surveyors, the Building Control Officer plus any other specialists. Your architect will also see you through the planning permission process. 

Once construction begins, project management responsibilities could then be passed onto the main contractor. “This role would encompass appointing, co-ordinating and managing the separate construction packages and contractors, such as foundations, structure and finishes,” says Nimi. “The architect’s role during construction would then be one of contract administrator – facilitating the contract between the client (you) and the builder. We’d inspect the site regularly to ensure the project is being built according to our information.” 

Employ a Design and Build company

If you’d prefer to keep everything under one roof, there are design and build companies with in-house professionals who’ll be able to take you through from the start of the design process right up until completion. Or, for larger and more complex schemes, you might consider employing a professional project manager to oversee everything. Going down this route could save you time and potentially stress. Plus, using a professional PM brings the benefit of experience. They will be well-versed in managing the challenges that arise throughout the build because they’ll have done it plenty of times before. 

(Image credit: c/o Welsh Oak Frame)

Project manage the scheme yourself

If you’re working to a tight budget, project managing the scheme yourself can be one area to save some pennies. As well as giving you a greater degree of control over the budget and construction, it could be an enormously satisfying experience. “Project managing a construction scheme is always challenging and difficult, but it comes with its own rewards and satisfactions,” says Nimi. “Providing you are comfortable enough to undertake it, the feeling of satisfaction and reward may be an advantage in itself. ” 

Split the project management

It may be that you can split the responsibilities between yourself and your contractor. For instance, the building company could manage construction until the extension reaches watertight stage, at which point, you take over the role and project manage the rest of the sub-contractors (plumbers, electricians, plasterers etc.) yourself. Every project is different, so the key to managing your extension effectively is to come up with a strategy that maximises your skills, the expertise of the professionals you employ, and your budget.  

Factor in How Build Route Will Affect Costs

Which build route you choose will impact costs. Typical build costs based on routes are likely to be:

• DIY: £300-£700/m2
• Self-managed: £600-£1,400/m2
• Main contractor: £1,000-£1,700/m2 
• Design and build: £1,200-£2,000/m2 

Glazing features heavily in this kitchen space, flooding the room with natural light. The Monrovia Kitchen featured, from Wood Works Brighton , starts from £35,000. (Image credit: Wood Works Brighton)

Talk to a Builder Early on

An informal chat with a couple of local builders could be a wise first move as, at this stage, you’re trying to get a sense of the feasibility of extending from an engineering and construction perspective. 

“A good local builder will likely have so much experience, extending all sorts of houses, that they have invaluable advice to impart, so use it to your advantage before getting plans drawn up,” recommends master builder Andy Stevens of Eclipse Property Solutions . 

“If you engage with a builder before plans are drawn up then you can discuss structural details, groundworks and so on first. Then you can take this information to your architect and plans can be drawn up accordingly.” 

If your home is in a sensitive location, for example, it might be worth getting a site appraisal by a planning consultant, too, who can advise on potential development with a site survey and feasibility studies.  

Here’s what you need to know on how to find a builder.

Keep Costs Down: Can I Build an Extension Cheaply?

One way to keep costs down is choosing a more budget-friendly construction system. Concrete blockwork is readily available and most builders know how to work with the material, too. However, some modern methods of construction, such as structural insulated panels, may cost more to begin with, but may save in labour on site, especially when it comes to insulating your extension. 

Keeping the design and shape of your extension build simple — either square or rectangular shaped with a flat roof — will be less expensive than angled designs with more complicated roof structures and lots of glass. 

It is possible to design and build extensions for every budget, so putting in work at this stage can pay off later in the project. 

(Image credit: Simon Maxwell)

Building an Existing DIY

If you’re asking ‘can I build an extension myself?’ the answer is to an extent. While chipping in and doing some of the work yourself can keep costs within budget, some jobs need to be left to the professionals (namely electrics). 

As chartered surveyor Ian Rock says, “Anyone with an aptitude for construction may relish the prospect of learning new skills, taking genuine pride in their achievements. But as a general rule it’s best to leave anything seriously time-critical to the professionals, along with all the heavy duty structural work. If your extension needs to be completed sooner rather than later it makes sense to stick to tackling jobs near the end of the project, such as landscaping.” 

The type of work you choose to undertake when building an extension will depend on how happy and handy you are with the tools. Pick parts of the build to work on where there’s less risk of causing delays. 

Here are some DIY jobs that are most suited to DIY input…

(Image credit: Flooring Superstore)

Internal joinery 

Timber stud partition walls are typically non-structural and should be a realistic project for the average DIYer to get to grips with. However, there’s usually time pressure to get them built so the electricians can start running first fix cabling. Installing door liners in the interior walls can also be worth doing, although these normally need to be in place before plasterboarding and plastering walls. Cutting and fixing skirting boards and architraves is reasonably straightforward, and can be left until the later stages, along with hanging interior doors and boxing in pipework. 

Flooring

The most widely undertaken DIY flooring project is laying floor coverings. Types of flooring such as tiles, vinyl planks, or thin strips of interlocking laminate or engineered timber are relatively simple to install. However, installing structural timber flooring to the joists upstairs, such as traditional softwood floorboards or chipboard panels, should also be a feasible DIY project. To provide a temporary work platform for the builders, large sheets of oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood can be put in place to use as a deck.  

This allows you to postpone fitting the floor towards the end of the project, relieving time pressure and reducing the risk of pristine new floors getting damaged by building work or splashed with plaster. When it comes to the construction of ground floors however, these are not generally DIY-friendly because the insulation and floor screed work tends to be very time-critical and needs to be coordinated with other trades. 

(Image credit: COAT)

Decoration

Good quality decoration is key to achieving a professional finish, often ingeniously compensating for the less-than-perfect surfaces other trades leave in their wake. Nonetheless, deploying paintbrushes and rollers with a basic degree of competency is well within most people’s abilities, if you make sure you know how to paint a room before you start. Taking on the role of the decorator is also appealing from a DIY perspective because it isn’t usually too time critical, coming towards the tail end of the project.  

Tiling

Wall and floor tiling are popular DIY projects that require dexterity combined with a logical mindset. Using good quality cutting tools is key to a successful outcome (specialist machines can be hired). It also greatly helps if you work to a clear plan and allow yourself plenty of time. As with all finishing trades you are to some extent at the mercy of those who have gone before; tiling onto perfectly true and level surfaces makes the job considerably easier! 

(Image credit: Thames Valley Window Company)

Use Modern Materials to Build an Extension

There are a handful of modern methods that self builders have been using that could well be adopted by extenders to potentially make the job of building an extension that bit quicker and easier.

Beam & block floor

Also known as ‘suspended concrete’, this floor structure has the advantage of being much less prone to structural problems caused by ground movement. Beam & block floors are more suited to large extensions where the existing house has a suspended timber floor that needs continuity of ventilation. 

Liquid Screed

Liquid floor screeds are much quicker to install by a specialist than conventional sand and cement screeds, but aren’t cost-effective for a small extension. If you’re adding UFH, then liquid screeds pair well. 

I-joists

The cross-section gives them their name, but also means they can carry far heavier loads than a conventional timber joist of equivalent weight. 

Monocouche render

Monocouche house rendering can be sprayed or pumped onto exterior walls, which reduces the need for scaffolding and site costs. It’s low maintenance, durable and available in a variety of earthy colours. 

Prefabricated Roof trusses

Where extensions need to marry with existing roofs and walls, the need for customisation favours the traditional ‘cut timber’ route (cutting timber to size on site). However, if you’re building a large rectangular extension then prefabricated roof trusses (manufactured off site) can offer labour-saving advantages on site.

Will Building an Extension Add Value to My Home?

It’s all about balance. If you’re likely to sell on eventually then you don’t want to price yourself out of not recouping any of the money you spend on building an extension. 

Building a small house extension while adding value in terms of space it’ll create might not be that cost effective in how much it’ll add to the value of your house if you come to sell it. 

Adding a larger extension should increase the end value of your home but it’ll cost more to build so be mindful not to spend more than you’ll make back on it. Plus, there’s generally a ceiling price that you’ll want to keep within so make sure the numbers add up. 

Talking to local estate agents can help paint a picture of the local market and what extended homes similar to your own are selling for.

(Image credit: Wood Works Brighton)

What Size Extension Can I Build Without Planning Permission?

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You might find that you’ll be able to build an extension under Permitted Development (PD), which means you won’t have to go down the formal planning route. 

Do bear in mind that if your house is in a Conservation Area or a National Park, the amount of work under Permitted Development is usually reduced.

Under PD rights certain works can be carried out providing you meet certain criteria, such as:

• You can extend a detached property by 8m to the rear if it’s a single-storey extension (6m for a semi or terraced house), or by 3m if it’s double
• A single-storey extension can’t be higher than 4m on the ridge and the eaves, and ridge heights of any extension can’t be higher than the existing property
• Two-storey extensions must not be closer than 7m to the rear boundary
• Side extensions can only be single storey with a maximum height of 4m and a width no more than half of the original building
• Any new extension must be built in the same or similar material to the existing dwelling
• Extensions must not go forward of the building line of the original dwelling
• In designated areas (such as areas of outstanding natural beauty, conservation areas, etc), side extensions require planning permission and all rear extensions must be single storey
• An extension must not result in more than half the garden being covered

(Image credit: Arboreta)

From 31st August 2020, the rules changed so that two-storey extensions on detached, semi-detached and terraced houses will be fast-tracked as long as they get prior approval. This means the local authority have to be notified of the details before the project starts and it’s a much more involved process with the Local Authority. 

There are some restrictions an extension has to adhere to:

• Once works have been completed, the building must not be more than 18m high (excluding plants)
• The floor-to-ceiling height of any additional storey must not be more than 3m in height or higher than the floor-to-ceiling height of any of the existing storeys
• The overall height of the extension, including the roof, must not be more than 7m high.

If you’re planning on building a large extension then it will, more than likely, need planning permission and you will need to submit an application. 

It’s wise to engage with your local authority early on and research local planning policies to know what’s likely to get approved before you submit an application.

You can submit an application via the Planning Portal. An application in England for an extension currently costs £206.

Do I Need a Lawful Development Certificate?

Even if your extension project can be done under PD rights, it’s worth applying for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) from your local authority to confirm that the work was lawful and met PD requirements and didn’t need planning permission. This is well worth doing if you plan to move, too. 

It costs £103, half the normal planning fee.

How Close to a Boundary Wall Can I Build an Extension?

If building your extension involves digging or building foundations within 3m of the boundary, party wall or party wall structure, or digging foundations within 6m of a boundary, the work will require you to comply with the Party Wall Act (see more below).

The homeowners of this detached home wanted a better and more seamless connection between house and garden so built a contemporary side extension garden room. The glazing system was supplied by Thames Valley Window Company . (Image credit: Thames Valley Window Company)

Does the Party Wall Act Apply When Building an Extension?

Good to know

You don’t need to have planning approval to serve a Party Wall notice. They are separate. 

There are instances when the Party Wall Act applies to building an extension. Chartered surveyor, Ian Rock explains: 

“For aspiring extension builders the part of the Act that’s often most relevant is where it applies to the excavation of foundations close to neighbouring buildings or garden boundary walls. In order to trigger this legal minefield, excavation normally needs to be within a critical distance of three metres from the adjoining property where your new trench is deeper than their existing foundations. Because older properties tend to have relatively shallow footings in most cases it’s a ‘given’ that the new ones supporting the extension will be considerably deeper. 

“Where there is any doubt, it might be worth consulting any records of foundation depths or seeking an expert opinion, for example from a Building Control surveyor (since the neighbours may not relish the prospect of trial holes being dug next to their home to confirm actual foundation depths).  

“Be warned, however, that in some cases excavating within six metres of an adjoining property can also be covered by the Act. But this only applies where the new foundations are so deep that drawing an imaginary line downwards at a 45° angle from the bottom of the next door’s foundations would hit them, for example on a steeply sloping site or where you’re incorporating a basement. 

“There are two other situations where the Party Wall Act often applies. It’s not unusual for new extensions to be designed to maximise floor area by building right up to, or ‘astride’ the garden boundary between two properties. The second situation would be in cases where you physically cut or alter a party wall, such as where you want to build onto your neighbour’s existing wall so it becomes your new extension’s party wall. 

“Happily, minor works like fixing screws or plastering onto party walls are not significant enough to be covered by the Act, but resting a new beam within the wall, as you might for a loft conversion, definitely would be. ”

Learn How to Plan the Build

What to Consider Before Drawing up Plans

There are some important aspects to consider before you get to the stage of getting your plans drawn like:

• soil type on the site
• services
• surrounding trees
• any history of flooding
• site access
• rights of way.

Importantly, notify your insurer of the work. Some may not provide cover during the works, but others offer dedicated extension insurance products.

This London townhouse had both a loft and rear extension, designed by The Gentleman Architect , to transform how the house functioned as a home. (Image credit: The Gentleman Architect)

Should I Employ an Architect when Building an Extension?

Useful Contacts

Most of these bodies require full members to have relevant academic and technical qualifications. Whichever designer you choose, ensure that they carry sufficient professional indemnity insurance.

You’ve got house extension ideas in mind but now you need someone to turn that sketchy line drawing into a plan. 

You can opt for a build and design company, or you can choose an architect or architectural technologist. However, don’t just approach the biggest or most well-known architectural practices in your area. 

Look around and “choose an architect who you feel really gets your lifestyle and family life, as well as what you want, and don’t want, from an extension,” suggests architect Darren Bray of Studio Bad .

If you’re competent with CAD then you can draw up plans yourself, although more complicated designs will benefit from a more expert eye due to the complexities. 

Bear in mind, if you’ve designed the extension yourself you may need the aid of a designer or draftsperson to draw up your plans to submit them for planning approval (if required) and a structural engineer to produce drawings and calculations for Building Regs’ purposes. These will also form part of the tender documents when hiring builders.

(Image credit: Simon Maxwell)

“Whether your first meeting with an architect or designer is a formal design consultation, where the first sketch design proposals are drawn up or it’s just an initial chat, it’s best to write up a short design brief detailing how your home works or doesn’t work for you,” advises Laura Jane Clark, founder of Lamp Architects . “It will then help form the basis of the first discussions you have with an architect.” Plus include any prior knowledge you have gleaned from builders or surveyors about the site. 

Be clear, too, about your budget as this will help a designer create a design brief that’s achievable and desirable for you. “This will signal to your architect that you are serious about getting project work done, and it encourages them to address this key item at the beginning of the process,” advises founder of Gbolade Design Studio , Tara Gbolade. 

Do I Need to Comply with Building Regulations When Building an Extension?

Whether you require planning consent or not, you will need to make sure you comply with Building Regulations. To meet the Regs, you can either submit a Full Plan Submission or a Building Notice.

• Full Plan Submission: send plans to your local authority building control or approved inspector prior to the build for approval. The building inspector visits your site at different stages and inspects the work as it progresses
• Building Notice: a statement which lets the local authority know that you will be complying with the regulations in building your extension and gives the building control department 48-hours notice of your intention to start the work. Building inspectors will inspect the work at various stages and will advise you of any problems

A Building Notice is the riskier of the two as you may only find out you have a compliance issue once building work has started, which then needs to be paid to be put right.

All alterations to listed buildings, including internal ones, require consent and it is a criminal offence to alter a listed building without it.

With a listed building the planners will always regard the existing property as more important than what you are proposing to add to it. Any extension will therefore have to respect the flavour, appearance and historic material used in the construction of the original house.

Getting a warranty for your extension is advisable as it will cover you for things such as structural defects or faulty workmanship. Should the worst happen, the builders who did the work will need to return to put right what has gone wrong.

(Image credit: Trend Interiors)

How to Finance an Extension Project

There are several options when it comes to borrowing money to finance your extension.

In an ideal world, we would all finance our projects using our savings, but if you need to borrow the money, your best options are:

Credit card: If you need to borrow thousands rather than tens of thousands for your work, an interest-free credit card is a good choice. Shop around — the best deals offer up to 27 months of zero-rated spending

Loan: Personal loans of up to around £25,000 are suited to smaller projects. The loan may be enough to cover the building work and if you are fitting kitchens or bathrooms in your extension you can often buy these on finance from larger stores. Just keep an eye on repayments as they can quickly add up when you borrow from several sources

Remortgage or secured loan: If you are borrowing more than £25,000 you may need to remortgage or take our a secured loan against your home. Many building societies offer a Home Improvement Loan of up to £200,000.

This stunning kitchen extension, designed by The Gentleman Architect , embraces the original house leaving brickwork exposed and highlights the new with the striking geometric-style rooflights that stitch the buildings together. (Image credit: The Gentleman Architect)

Your builder will generally stage payments for each phase of the project.  Try not to make any payments upfront.

If it is necessary to purchase an expensive item perhaps a bathroom suite some months in advance of its installation, you should make sure it is in your name and not that of the builder, just in case they should go out of business.

Your designer will charge fees according to the work involved, so an accurate quotation of the fee would be a very useful thing to have before you give the go-ahead for plans to be prepared.

It is wise to check what any quote includes and who will pay any local authority application fees. Also, ask if any provision has been made should structural calculations be required.

Can I Reclaim VAT When Building an Extension?

VAT is zero-rated on new build in domestic properties including self builds, but this does not include extensions.

If you are renovating or extending a property that you can prove has been empty for 2 years or more, it will be treated as a conversion and therefore be charged at the reduced rate of 5%.  The VAT concessions are only available via a VAT-registered contractor.

How to Prepare Tender Documents

“The aim of going out to tender for works is to obtain a fair and competitive price from the market to achieve the project you are proposing,” says project manager and chartered surveyor Bob Branscombe. 

Approaching how to prepare tender documents can be tricky. “First, approach at least four (ideally six) builders informally, to brief them about your scheme and to gauge interest. Then whittle the list down — you’ll probably have three to four companies who have agreed to tender. These will form your list, and will all be sent a pack of documentation.”

The pack must contain a framework to cost the job, a timescale to price the work and a copy of the legislative framework, plus key documents such as drawings, specifications, planning permission compliance, and so on. Give them a timescale to get back to you by, but be realistic – give them at least four weeks – there’s a lot for them to go through.  

When you get the bids back, go through them thoroughly (your QS, if you have one, can look over the cost breakdown too), and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to push back and query items you’re not sure about. Once you’re happy with your chosen builder, you’re ready to start your build!

Chartered surveyor Ian Rock MRICS is a director is Rightsurvey.co.uk  and the author of eight popular Haynes House Manuals, including the Home Extension Manual, the Self Build Manual and Period Property Manual.

Ian is also the founder of Zennor Consultants. In addition to providing house surveys, Zennor Consultants provide professional guidance on property refurbishment and maintenance as well as advising on the design and construction of home extensions and loft conversions, including planning and Building Regulations compliance.

Ian has recently added a 100m2 extension to his home; he designed and project managed the build and completed much of the interior fit-out on a DIY basis.




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10 modern task schedulers – ITC.ua

Among the many task schedulers, we have selected 10 modern options. These applications will help organize your personal life and work, increase the number of completed tasks, will not let you forget about important things and free your head from the constant “noise”. If there is no program that you use in our top, then write its name in the comments and tell us what you like about it.

Zmist

• 1 TickTick
• 2 Any.do
• 3 Trello
• 4 Notion
• 5 Google Keep
• 6 Microsoft To-Do
• 7 Todoist
• 8 Remember The Milk
• 9 Omnifocus
• 10 WeDo

TickTick

The TickTick Scheduler helps you get things done and set reminders by adding sub-items, tags, files and documents to your tasks. Cases are grouped into thematic folders and stacks.

TickTick has voice support, so tasks can be set not only in writing. And to improve concentration during work, the creators added a classic and convenient pomodoro-style timer. TickTick is available as an app for Android and iOS and as an extension for the Google Chrome and Firefox browsers.

Course

Java evening

REGISTER!

Any.do

Any. do is perhaps the most minimalistic task manager on our list. At the same time, the application has many features, including adding tags to cases, reminders tied to a place or time, attachments, and structured subtasks.

With Any.do, it’s convenient to go shopping, writing down the necessary products or goods in the built-in notepad, and there is a calendar for detailed planning. Created tasks, shopping lists and trips are easy to share with family, colleagues and friends. any. do supports voice control (Alexa and Siri) and is available on Android and iOS.

Trello

Trello is one of the most popular kanban board apps. These are handy business cards that are sorted into thematic columns. Each task is given a name, documents, files are attached, participants and deadlines are added, details of the case are signed, and so on.

Most often, Trello is used not only for personal purposes, but also for work. The application helps small or large companies, corporations and the media. The author of this material also has his own working board in Trello.

Detailed visual customization is organized in Trello: you can set a background, attach an image to a card, upload a video, or paint it in a different color. Trello is available as a web version with extensions for Chrome and Firefox, as a standalone program for Windows and MacOS, or as an app for Android and iOS.

Notion

Not quite a task planner, but Notion’s power allows you to turn it from a simple to-do list tool to a whole Trello-style organizer. In the application, the user receives a blank page on which various blocks of information can be added. Accordingly, you can create a task scheduler for your needs or for the current project. And in order to make this task easier for the user, Notion has ready-made templates that can be edited.

Google Keep

The Google Keep Task Scheduler was the least feature-packed of all apps on the list. But this does not prevent the service from being convenient, useful and easy to use.

Google Keep is often used for notes, shopping lists, books to read, and short-term tasks. The tasks here are presented in the form of cards, where lists, files, drawings, photos, documents, etc. are attached. Cards can be recolored and pinned to the top of the screen if that note (or notes) is used the most.

Google Keep has powerful integration with other Google services, so any letter or document in Google Docs or Gmail is quickly created as a note in Google Keep, and tasks are conveniently viewed through Google Calendar. Google Keep comes with Android and iOS apps and a Chrome extension.

Microsoft To-Do

Microsoft also has its own task scheduler. Microsoft To-Do does not stand out for its abundance of features, but it is easy to use. There are basic to-do lists, tasks and reminders, as well as smart recommendations for to-do lists and due dates. All this is sent to the right people and synchronized with other company programs – Outlook and Office 365.

Microsoft To-Do is available as a Windows program and apps for Android and iOS.

Todoist

Todoist has long been an Editors’ Choice in the Google Play store and often makes it to the top of the top planners. The functionality of the program is really huge, but some of the chips are opened only when buying a paid version.

But even without that, Todoist allows you to create detailed to-do lists and reminders, sort them by categories, days of the week, months, and tags, set filters, set colors, and send tasks to other app users.

In addition, Todoist can cheer you up by showing you the statistics of completed tasks, giving away prizes and achievements.

Todoist has links to files from Google Drive and Dropbox, as well as collaboration with a bunch of other services. Don’t forget about voice control support. Todoist works as a web service, app for Windows, Android, and iOS, as well as extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers.

Remember The Milk

Cute application Remember The Milk will help you to cope with the basic things: set a reminder, specify the details of the task, its time and place. In addition, the program allows you to create lists and send notifications to social networks, instant messengers or e-mail – so you definitely do not miss a meeting, event or business.

For long tasks, it is allowed to set intermediate tasks, and the system of smart lists will not allow ignoring overdue tasks. Remember The Milk can create themed to-do lists, including long-deferred, unfulfilled, often transferred, and more. There are file uploads from Dropbox or Google Drive.

Remember The Milk is available as an extension for Google Chrome or as an app for Android and iOS.

Omnifocus

Omnifocus is another minimalistic, but versatile and sophisticated task scheduler in our top. The application has an abundance of options for each task, including the start and end date of the task, adding users and location, size and complexity.

Omnifocus has added the ability to view current tasks and their due dates, the number of completed projects and the degree of completion. The program also knows how to recommend cases depending on the user’s location. If he is at work, then she herself will offer him tasks from the desired list, and if at home, she will remind you of buying groceries, repairing a faucet, and so on. Omnifocus is only available for iOS or macOS users.

WeDo

WeDo combines the functions of a task planner and a healthy habits application. In addition to basic work with to-do lists, tasks and reminders, there is a built-in system for studying the user’s state.

WeDo periodically inquires about the user’s mood, health and physical parameters. The application finds out the amount of time spent on certain things, and then gives detailed statistics with recommendations. For example, it advises to perform a certain type of business more often, because after that the user had the most positive emotions. In the same way, you can find out from which cases the mood improved to a minimum.

The best Chrome extensions to help you relax or be productive at home

Next Chrome extensions can help you be more productive and focused. If your office has suddenly moved into the living room of your house and gone completely virtual, don’t forget to be productive and focus on these nifty Google Chrome extensions.

In this post, you will find a list of many productivity and organization apps to help you manage your life across multiple devices. Relax, stay connected, or stay productive and focused while working from home with these browser extensions for Google Chrome. You can also install them in the Microsoft Edge browser. 9Zapier

1. Noisili
2. Google Keep.

1]Netflix Party

Exclusive Google Chrome extension synchronizes video playback to help you watch Netflix videos remotely with friends. It also adds group chat to your favorite Netflix shows.

2]Google Hangouts

Social networking and communication allows you to communicate with your team through instant messaging, voice and video calls. Hangouts works on computers, Android and Apple devices, allowing you to chat with everyone.

3]Houseparty

This simple video chat application allows you to have spontaneous meetings of people inside the house, reproducing the social life of people locked in the house. It alerts you when your friends are “in the house” and ready to talk, so you can start a conversation right away. gram

4]Share in class

Teaching should be about exploration, not navigation! “Share in Classroom” creates a more interactive class. It uses digital technology to share web content between teachers and students. It also allows you to post announcements, create assignments, or save web pages to post to Classroom later. The extension allows you to navigate to web pages shared by your teacher without having to type in the entire URL.

5]Loom for Chrome

This extension makes it easy for users to record their screen and share a video link with just a few clicks. The screencasting Chrome extension can record up to ten minutes, but if you refer friends and colleagues to Loom through a special referral link, the app will grant you unlimited recording time.

6]Scale Scheduler

Plugin helps you quickly hold or schedule meetings directly from Google Calendar. Zoom Scheduler offers free unlimited minutes for one-on-one meetings and 40 minutes for group meetings. Video, audio and screen sharing quality is extremely good and compatible with a wide range of devices running Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android and H.323/SIP room systems.

7]Productivity-enhancing text-to-speech

Productivity-enhancing text-to-speech offered by Intelligent-speaker.com . Using this extension, you can listen to any device as it easily converts files, blog posts and more to speech. It supports web pages, documents, and PDFs. The human voice defeats any text and opens up a new world of listening to your favorite content and increases your productivity.

8]podStation Podcast Player

This great tool acts as a podcast aggregator for Chrome. Its home page allows you to save feeds to your Google account and sync them across computers. Simply add your channels to the home page or use the search tool. It has a fully featured audio player that plays in the background and offers playback speed (rate) control. Subscribe to podcasts and download/listen to their episodes.

9]Asana

Whether you need a tool to help you create tasks or complete projects, Asana lets you move any job from start to finish. Simple to start, yet powerful enough to manage your entire business. In addition, it allows you to easily and quickly track progress towards your project goals.

10]BodBot

When you’re not working, the best way to get rid of boredom is to exercise. Add BodBot, a personal trainer and workout reminder, to your new home workout routine. Its personalized workouts and reminders will help you stay on track and improve your fitness games. The more you train with BodBot, the more you improve body composition, performance, and favorable biomarkers.

11] Les

An app designed to help you beat your internet addiction, develop your personal time management style, and complete your work productively.

12]Amazon Assistant

It helps you make more informed decisions wherever you shop online. See new offers every day. You can find all product deals, ratings, reviews and similar recommendations while browsing the web.

13]Office editing of documents, spreadsheets and slides

Easily edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without having Office installed on your computer. It works offline.

14]Huntr

Save jobs from all over the web and find them all on one board with the Huntr extension. The job search tracker keeps track of the jobs you are interested in and collects them all in one place.

15]Zapier

Need to save or share a site? This Chrome extension is the fastest way to do it along with dozens of other tasks.

16] Current

Turn your workload into a dose of mindfulness with this great app. It contains helpful tips in every new tab. Warning – do not use it as a substitute for therapeutic or medical treatment.

17] Noise or

Create a pleasant sound environment by blocking out annoying noises and concentrate to improve your productivity with this tool. There are carefully selected playlists for different situations. In addition, you can find an advanced timer for working in sessions and a beautiful, distraction-free text editor. Gift the Noisili Chrome extension, give it a try and give yourself some sanity in a noisy world.

18]Google Keep

Google’s note-taking service allows you to take, share and access notes from your computer, phone or tablet. It comes free with a Google account.

Similarly, there are other useful extensions, such as:

• NimbusMind
• Child Mode
• ZenScreen
• Valid for Chrome
• Giphy
• Planway

Battle Tabs

• Focus To-Do
• Push the Bullet
• Todolist for Chrome
• Bitmoji
• Line
• Kami Extension
• Grammar

  0

• Office for Chromeify

  0

The right Chrome extensions can help you get rid of the most distracting parts of the web while still taking advantage of its productivity benefits. Collect them all here from the Chrome Store.

we’ve been on this for a long time – Microsoft 365 Blog

When Microsoft acquired Wunderlist, the goal was to combine a simple and thoughtful interface for daily planning with a comprehensive, intelligent, and secure ecosystem. So there was a new application – Microsoft To Do. Today we want to introduce you to the new version of To Do: a redesigned design, access to to-do lists from anywhere in the world, and more integration with Microsoft apps and services.

The path was not easy, but it was worth it

A lot has changed since we first introduced the To Do app. We listened to feedback and made it in such a way that it was convenient for people to work with their tasks: group them, distribute them using common lists, and add the necessary files to them. Our engineers have been working on integration with Mac apps and other products. We are grateful to the users of Wunderlist and To Do for their support in helping us move in the right direction. A lot has changed since Wunderlist was launched, and today we want to talk about the next step in improving this application. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new in To Do.

The new design is a breath of fresh air

We polished the design of To Do by reducing the headings and adding warm colors to enhance personalization. It’s still the same simple, easy-to-use app, but now it’s more customizable so you can customize your lists the way you like. The new version of To Do has a large selection of backgrounds, including a photo of the Berlin TV Tower, which many Wunderlist users have loved. For each list, you can choose your own background.

Do your eyes need a rest? To Do already supports dark mode on Android, Windows, and macOS devices, and will soon be available on iOS. But we have worked not only with background colors. We’ve redesigned the To Do app to look simple and modern.

Video in the public domain.

Smart Daily Planner

Like the Wunderlist app, you use smart lists. Scheduled and important tasks are displayed in one list. But besides this, To Do has the “My Day” function – your individual task planner for the day. With it, you can add to the list of important things that need to be completed during the day. In My Day, you’ll get smart recommendations for adding tasks to your to-do list for today. What about tomorrow? Every day, the My Day list resets to allow you to start planning from scratch. Incomplete tasks will appear in the recommendations.

Access your to-do lists from anywhere in the world

The To Do app works on all platforms, including Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows. A web version is also available. The data is synchronized, so you can work with up-to-date information on any device and browser. Wherever you go, your to-do list will always be at hand. How long does it take you to get to work? Plan your day on your phone. When you arrive at the office, you will be ready to get down to business. On Windows or Android devices, you can switch between a personal account and a work account. When you leave the office at the end of the day, forget about work tasks. Open your shopping list or select a movie for the evening in your personal account.

Be part of the Microsoft ecosystem

To Do is a centralized space that brings together your tasks across all Microsoft 365 apps and services. Flag messages with important tasks and they’ll appear in your Starred Messages list. This feature is available to users with a Microsoft work or school account, or an email account hosted on a Microsoft server (Outlook, Hotmail, or Live). In the Assigned to me list, you’ll see your tasks from shared lists and Planner (Microsoft). To see all your tasks for the current day, add tasks from these lists to the My Day view. But this is not all the possibilities. With Cortana integration, you can add tasks from Amazon Echo.* And if you’re using the Microsoft Launcher on an Android device, we’ve got good news for you too. To Do supports integration with this application as well.

Security is paramount

We put data protection first. And when developing To Do, safety remains our top priority. Microsoft’s comprehensive approach helps protect information from a variety of threats. In To Do, you can set up multi-factor authentication and not worry that the lists will fall into the hands of intruders.

Get started today

Now is the time to try To Do in action. We are sure you will like it. To make it easier for you to get started, we’ve thought of some handy features for importing lists and tasks. Click the “Download To Do” button and don’t worry about existing to-do lists – you’ll add them to To Do in no time.

Microsoft To Do

Organize your day.

Download To Do

If you don’t have a Microsoft account, sign up with your email address (eg Gmail). Once you’re logged into your account, you’ll be able to transfer your lists from Wunderlist in the settings section. Just import the tasks you need and you’re ready to go to To Do.

Learn more about moving to To Do.

Conclusion

We sincerely want to say a big thank you to you – active users of Wunderlist and To Do. Your feedback and ideas have helped make To Do even better. We remain open to your suggestions on Twitter and Facebook. Without you, we would never have achieved such success. We hope you stay with us on this journey of perfecting the product we all love.

* Cortana integration is supported in English in Australia, India, the US, and the UK. The Cortana Skills feature is currently only in US English (US) preview for users with personal Microsoft accounts.

10 services to organize your to-do list and increase productivity in 2021 — Services on vc.ru

more efficient and productive.

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In this review, the topic of productivity and its main methods are analyzed in detail, as well as a collection of various applications, diaries for organizing tasks and checklists, which we sorted out on the shelves, highlighting only the most basic and important, so that you choose without a tedious search what really suits you.

What is productivity?

To be productive means to have time to effectively complete the maximum number of important tasks in a timely manner. There is no way to cope without a systematic approach. The to-do list must be compiled sequentially, taking into account the priority and scope of tasks. Competently composed, it serves as a rigid framework for your productive activities during the day, week or month, preventing you from being scattered on secondary matters and procrastinating. To do this, there are certain methods and tools that will help to clearly structure all tasks and sequentially decompose them in time space.

What are the main methods and tools for productivity?

There are several popular scheduling and task management methods that application developers integrate into their products to varying degrees.

GTD – Getting Things Done

Self-organization method proposed by David Allen and based on the book of the same name. Basic postulates:

• Write down absolutely all the things swarming in your head, freeing up your RAM. Our brain is like a computer, if many tabs are open at the same time, the work of the brain slows down, otherwise it may even freeze, overloaded with ongoing processes.
• Sorting and prioritizing tasks. Everything that can be done in two minutes, we do right now. Tasks that can be delegated are safely delegated.
• We sort the rest of the cases that require action and more time, break them down into steps and decide which ones to do and in what sequence.
• Let’s start doing right now. Properly prioritized and timelined tasks create a clear action plan, allowing you to get things done without too much stress.

The method allows you to concentrate on what is important, correctly prioritize and finish what you started.

Kanban boards

The kanban methodology came to us from the Japanese Toyota plant and in the context of this concept is translated as “signal card”. This method is primarily about visualizing tasks and managing their flow, and is also ideal for multi-stage projects.

The basic rules are simple:

• for a personal kanban, a board (real or virtual) of three columns is enough, which essentially reflect the current status of the tasks located in them: “To do” – tasks that are waiting in line, “In Progress” – what you are doing now and “Done” – completed cases. There can be any number of columns, depending on the stages and specifics of the work. Card tasks are sequentially moved from left to right, passing through all stages, to the final point.
• Kanban, like GTD, requires a limit on the number of tasks in progress. Ideally, this is one thing that is brought to an end, and only then should one proceed to the next.

This system of organizing tasks allows you to see your real workload, the state of affairs at the current moment and track progress in achieving the planned.

Pomodoro Method

This method of increasing productivity came from college student Francesco Cirillo back in the 1980s. The basis is the breakdown of working time into clear time periods during which it is necessary to concentrate and complete tasks, and periods of rest in between. And the method got its name thanks to the kitchen timer in the form of a tomato, which Francesco himself used, setting the time on it to do his work.

Four simple steps:

• Define tasks for the day
• Set the timer to 25 minutes
• Focus on one task from your list
• After doing it, take a five-minute pause. And proceed to the next case

After a cycle of four tasks, take a full break of 15-30 minutes.

Suitable for those who want to learn how to concentrate deeply and end procrastination by setting themselves a clear time frame for completing tasks.

Paper-like

Paper-like is not exactly a method or tool, but rather a feature of some applications. Paper and pen invariably remain an accessible and familiar way for many to organize their time and affairs. Despite the total dominance of gadgets, many people do not want to give up a visual and convenient way of planning. That’s why some developers make their apps look like regular paper planners, whether it’s the look, the layout, or the sound of a writing pencil when you type.

For those who want to plan their business more productively while maintaining a familiar shape and visibility.

Habit trackers

Another useful tool for increasing personal productivity. Allows you to acquire good habits or get rid of unnecessary ones. You just need to select the desired action and add it to your daily schedule, and then simply mark the implementation and monitor your progress towards the goal.

For those who want to improve and consolidate useful actions at the level of habit.

Application overview

Rich in functions and branched applications will suit those who are daily loaded with various tasks, like to meticulously write down everything, mark, structure and put it into folders and boxes, and simpler ones – for those who prefer to spend a minimum of time entering and processing their affairs, lovers clarity and minimalism.

But regardless of the type of scheduler, the main criteria by which applications are selected in this review remain the same: functionality in balance with visibility and intuitiveness of use. From simple to complex.

Method: GTD, paper-like weekly calendar

Complexity: simplicity

Usage: personal and shared use

Available: Web, iPhone, Android feature – only a weekly view, which, according to the developers themselves, is the most visual layout for organizing and planning things.

It’s really convenient, especially in the web version, and most importantly, it’s very simple. You don’t need to delve into and understand Tweek’e, but you can immediately start compiling a to-do list and planning.

A very useful function of automatic transfer of unfinished tasks to the next day allows you to leave only completed tasks in the past; forget or miss the unfinished will not work.

This is what the desktop version of the application

looks like

Ultra-concise design, cute bird-symbol, the name is a little like Twitter, but it’s better for recognition.

At the bottom of the screen there is a place for tasks without a specific due date and random lists. Headings for structuring to-do lists are a bit lacking, but if you are smart, you can easily create them yourself by highlighting the first item in the list with a color.

You can create several separate calendars in parallel, such as personal and work. They can be shared with other users, colleagues, family and shared on the Internet via a link.

Functionality

Subtasks and color prioritization:

Editing post

You can mark an important task or event with color, as we used to do in the pre-digital era with a bright marker in a paper diary. There is also an option to add notes, subtasks or checklists to the entry.

Reminders:

Reminders come in the form of an email summary, which is convenient for those who start their day by checking emails and do it all the time.

Convenient printed version:

If you still miss paper and pen, you can print the template of your week and fill it out offline; it will look exactly the same on paper as it does on a computer screen.

Dark mode:

Midnighters will appreciate.

Cost

Basic version – free

Premium – $4/month, $34/year

Method: GTD, paper-like weekly calendar

Complexity: simplicity

Usage: personal use

Available for Web, iPhone , iPad, Apple Watch

Description

This is Teuxdeux:

Mobile application

A simple and understandable weekly with a minimalist design, has been in existence for over 10 years, and has its dedicated adherents. The minimum number of features.

Divided into two parts: an expanded week on top and a list of to-do lists below it.

Of the minuses in visibility: the visual layout contains 5 days, while a week is still seven.

At the bottom of the screen is a place to create independent thematic to-do lists: mini-projects, shopping list, books. The number of to-do lists is not limited, you can change the titles and rearrange them in order.

Functionality

In teuxdeux there is no text highlighting, if you want to highlight the task from the crowd – you can use * italic * or ** bolder than **, highlighting the text with one or two asterisks on both sides.

Ability to change application color:

Colors and settings

The color of the header / active text can be changed to any other color by choosing from the RGB palette. A Dark Mode version is also available.

Conveniently implemented function for adding recurring events:

Recurring events

By adding the phrase every day, every month or every year to the task, the event automatically starts repeating on the specified day after the specified time interval.

Flying cat:

Flying cat

A funny detail that can be activated in the settings – a flying cat rushing across the screen at the moment of crossing out the completed task does not make any functional sense, but many people like it.

Reminders are sent to the email at the specified time in the form of a daily list.

Cost

Trial – 1 month

Premium – $3/month, $24/year

Method: paper-like calendar

Difficulty: simplicity

Usage: personal use

Available for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch .

Description

As close as possible to its paper version, the world-famous diary in a moleskin cover. It looks like a regular diary page with a weekly layout. However, the number of days that fit on the screen can be changed from three to ten, as it is clearer to anyone. A monthly view is also available with a convenient gradation of days by color, where it varies depending on the number of tasks per day – the lighter the shade, the busier your day.

Of the minuses – the lists will have to be compiled somewhere else, there is no to-do list function here, it’s a calendar.

Functionality

Looks simple and elegant:

Main view

Moleskine has always been distinguished by the impeccable color code of its diaries, as well as in the electronic version – the color scheme is chosen so that it is impossible to make a mistake when changing the interface. You can even change the color of the app icon to match your chosen theme.

Not quite standard data entry:

Event entry

A new event can be added by dragging the floating button to the required day. It is even more convenient to set the time and date by simply pulling left and right.

Timing:

If you add time and geolocation to an event, the calendar will calculate the route and travel time, and then send a push notification when it’s time to leave to arrive on time. You can choose the method of movement, connect Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Expand your horizons a bit:

By clicking on any empty day, you can read a random curious fact that this day was marked in history. Well, the weather is never bad.

Cost

Trial – 1 week

Premium – $1.99/month, $11.99/year

Method: paper-like to-do list

Difficulty: simplicity

Usage: personal use

Available for iPhone, I Available for iPhone, I and Apple Watch.

Description

A very simple application, yet quite popular. As the creators themselves say – you will not need to learn this application, just follow your instinct. And there is.

Looks like an ordinary lined to-do list, where all your tasks for the near and not so future are added. But the settings allow you to turn it into a full-fledged scheduler.

Functionality

This is what Do! looks like:

General view

All scheduled activities are in the main general list. Sorting tasks manually or automatically: by date, color, alphabet, as you like. Sorting by date places events in calendar order, and tasks without a specific due date at the bottom of the sheet.

Grouping:

Case groups

To put things in order and structure, the application has a function of color marking and distribution of tasks into groups. Groups are essentially separate thematic to-do lists or lists.

Appearance:

You can change the application interface, set a font similar to handwriting. Realism is also added by the sound of a writing pencil when typing and crumpled paper when strikethrough.

Cost

Free if you’re willing to put up with unobtrusive ads.

Or – still free, but with a one-time payment of $5.99 for disabling ads.

Method: GTD, Kanban

Complexity: simplicity

Use: for personal and shared use

Available: iPhone, iPad, Android, macOS, Windows

Description

Google Tasks is a task manager that is suitable for those who prefer to plan their tasks and structure tasks in the form of a kanban board. It has an ascetic and intuitive interface.

Google Tasks desktop app

Mobile version of Google Tasks

Mobile version of Google Tasks

Functionality

Editing records:

Editing entries is quite limited – you can set the date of the event, add subtasks and notes. Tasks can be sorted in order or by due date. It’s all. However, the premium version allows you to share content with other users, create multiple separate boards at the same time, highlight lists with neat colored nameplates, and tag tasks.

Integration with Google Calendar and Gmail:

Google Calendar: tasks from Google Tasks have a separate icon in the calendar

It will be more convenient to use Google Tasks for those who use the Google calendar in parallel. All tasks that have a date in Google Tasks will also be displayed in the calendar. It’s also convenient to move important emails to tasks right away using the sidebar in Gmail.

Cost

Basic – Free

Premium – $5.99/month, $39.99/year

Enterprise – $99.99/year

Method: GTD

Difficulty: functional Windows Web.

Description

The former Wunderlist, slightly modified, but just as simple, intuitive and best of all – free. It has all the basic functions of a personal planner, nothing more. Allows you to create tasks with subtasks, sort, prioritize and group.

Functionality

Working area:

Desktop version

Mobile application

It’s simple – all tasks fall into the Tasks section; priority marked with an asterisk are duplicated in Important. Separately, you can create all kinds of lists and sort them into groups.

Structured view by dates – in the Planned section.

View My Day:

List of recommended cases

All tasks dated today are displayed here, and here you can also add any task with one click, even if it is scheduled for next week or is a sub-item of any of your lists.

My Day also offers a list of recommended to-dos based on recently added events and tasks so you can be proactive and start doing tomorrow today.

Outlook integration:

By activating this feature, flagged emails in Outlook will automatically appear in the task list, where they can be managed directly in the application. The maximum number of task letters is 10, with a limitation period of no more than two weeks.

Sharing:

You will not be able to share individual tasks with other users, but you can give access to your lists. You can also send an invitation to join via AirDrop. All lists shared with you are in the Assigned to you section.

Cost

Free

Method: GTD, Kanban, Pomodoro, habit tracker

Difficulty: functional

Usage: personal and shared use

Available: Web, iPhone, Ipad, Apple Watch, Android, macOS, Windows

Description

TickTick is a cross-platform task management application with fairly wide functionality.

Looks simple and clear, tasks are displayed as a list for the day, week or calendar grid. Individual tasks consisting of multiple steps can be displayed as a list or kanban board. The design is ordinary, not distracting, but if you wish, you can install elegant wallpapers with pictures available in the premium version.

Desktop application TickTick

Mobile application TickTick

Functionality

Sorting and structuring:

Task editing panel

Tasks can be collected into lists, sorted by projects and folders, marked with colorful tags and importance levels. Further, you can get even more complicated and break tasks into subtasks, attach attachments, leave comments. You can add other users and monitor the process of activity in completing tasks.

Pomodoro-timer:

To combat procrastination, there is a built-in Pomodoro timer that allows you to set a timer (usually 25 minutes) for any of the tasks. You can vary the time for completing tasks and breaks between them. Statistics available.

Good habit tracker:

Allows you to monitor daily progress in mastering new habits and skills.

The desired actions are selected from the proposed list and automatically appear in the list of scheduled tasks.

Cost

Basic – Free

Premium – $2.79/month, $27.99/year

Method: GTD, Kanban

Difficulty: Functionality

Usage: Personal and Shared

Available: Web, iPhone, Ipad , Apple Watch, Android, Wear OS, macOS, Windows, Linux

Description

One of the most popular time and task management applications. Packed with features, like a grandma’s raisin cupcake, but not overloaded.

Inbox interface with all standard functions for adding, editing and sorting tasks. Small tasks in the main list can be supplemented with subtasks, and large ones can be turned into separate projects: structured task lists.

Todoist desktop app

Todoist mobile app

You can collaborate on projects with other users, track activities and progress towards achieving goals.

Functionality

Boards:

Kanban board project

For those who love kanban boards – a tool for visualizing the stages of a task and the process of moving towards a goal. You can go back to the list view, for example, for clarity on the phone screen. Activity Log allows you to track the sequence of activities.

Project templates:

Ready-made list of things for a business trip template

Todoist offers a variety of ready-made project templates to download, where everything is already thought out for you, tasks are structured and sorted out. It remains only to correct, add the necessary steps and proceed with the implementation. You can also create your own template.

Todoist karma:

Visualization and statistics of productivity, progress in completing tasks can be seen in the form of a daily or monthly graph, as well as receive points and badges in the process of honing your productivity skills.

Cost

Basic – Free

Premium – $4/month, $36/year

Team – $6/month, $60/year

Method: GTD, Pomodoro

Complexity: functional (functionality) sharing

Available: Web, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, Wear OS, macOS, Windows, Huawei

Description

Clutter is nothing but postponed decisions, we are reminded by the creators of this application, which has a user-friendly interface and all the necessary functions to organize your affairs and no longer put them off until later.

The working area is almost the same as most applications of this type:

Any.do

Desktop App Appearance

Mobile layout

Tasks are sorted by date/time and displayed as a structured list. Further, if necessary, subtasks, reminders, notes, tags and attachments are added to each task. It is easy to collaborate with other users on your content. To remove all completed tasks from the lists, just shake the phone from side to side.

Functionality

Add tasks from WhatsApp:

Whatsapp Robot Any.do

In addition to the ability to turn emails into tasks, available in some other applications, Any.do is the only one that has a very convenient function to add WhatsApp messages directly to the task list. Available only to premium users, but it’s worth it.

Smart shopping list:

Automatically sorts added items into the appropriate product groups, making shopping easier and saving time. Intuitive text input allows you to quickly select the desired product from the proposed recommendations and immediately add it to your list.

Focus:

One task plus one tree

An analogue of the Pomodoro timer, the function of focusing on completing tasks, but instead of tomatoes there are growing trees and an additional sound option in the form of white noise.

Cost

Basic – free

Premium – $5. 99/month, $26.94/half year, $35.88/year

Method: GTD

Complexity: functional

Use: for personal and shared use

Available: Web, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, Wear OS, macOS, Windows

Description

One of the very first applications that appeared back in 2005 and has been quite popular ever since. A slightly outdated design, but a lot of functions for customizing the application to suit your needs, one of the distinguishing features is an impressive list of shortcuts, which will take time to master, but this will significantly speed up the process of using it in the future.

Remember the Milk work area, desktop version

Mobile application Remember the Milk

Functionality

Adding tasks:

Adding and editing tasks in the mobile version of Remember the Milk

Adding tasks is quite convenient if you like all the attributes to be immediately at hand and displayed in the task. But lovers of minimalism may not come in, this view slightly overloads the interface.

Smart sharing and delegation:

You can share your lists and projects with other people, allowing them to make changes or grant access without the ability to edit your content.

You can also delegate single tasks to other users, for example, remind household members to grab the same milk on the way home. All your contacts have personal cards, where the tasks assigned to them are displayed.

Smart Lists:

Essentially, smart lists are saved search queries that aggregate tasks that have marked criteria. For example, you can create a worksheet that only lists all of your tasks that are due by Friday, dictated via Siri, and have a given keyword.

Cost

Basic version – free

Premium – $39.99/year

And finally, a bonus for those who have tried everything and decided to go from the opposite – from complex to simple:

Paper and pen

Paper and pen are always the most accessible tool for planning your time and affairs. And more and more people are returning back to the real world to the physical things, going through all the circles of the virtual in search of the most suitable task scheduler and time.

Bullet Journaling

You can go back to the paper planner, or you can try the Bullet Journal method. All you need is a dotted notebook, writing utensils, and a little time to learn the simple rules of paper planner.

Comparison table of all services

This article was prepared and posted by the author himself.

‎Dietograph: Daily Diet Planner 9 on the App Store0001


Screenshots (iPhone)

Description

Have you always dreamed of an ideal personal diet, varied and made up of simple and healthy products? A dietograph is an accurate and convenient tool for calculating such a diet for you personally for every day or a longer period of time. It allows you to take into account not only calories, but also proteins, fats and carbohydrates in your diet, taking into account your age, weight and physical activity. In real life, it is not always possible to strictly follow a calculated diet, but Dietograph allows you to be very flexible and easily adjust changes in the list of products during the day.

What tasks does the Dietograph solve?

* Complicated equation calculation with calories, proteins, fats and carbohydrates automatically
* Expansion of the food list (not just cottage cheese, eggs and chicken breast)
* Use of your products, not an endless list from the Internet
* Accurate diet calculation ( up to a gram)
* Operational accounting of all your little sins
* Control of what you eat at any moment of the day
* Ability to include your favorite foods in the diet without reducing its effectiveness
* Bringing your nutrition into a transparent and accurate system
* Developing healthy eating habits and lifestyle
* Helping athletes with their regular exercise program
* Helping athletes with weight gain/cutting

Who is the app for?

* For professional athletes
* For those who adhere to a healthy lifestyle
* For personal trainers (diet calculation for clients in a matter of minutes)
* For those who want to eat healthy and varied
* For those who adhere to dietary restrictions
* For those who want to lose or gain weight

Professional athletes, people who exercise their bodies on a regular basis, and healthy lifestyle enthusiasts should appreciate the ease with which the problem of calculating a diet is solved. Personal trainers will be able to plan a diet for their clients in a few minutes. Efficiency lovers will be able to save literally years of hard training and achieve the desired shape as quickly as possible.

Why do I need a diet if I already do sports?

Playing sports is a prerequisite for achieving good shape, but if you do not adjust nutrition, then the results will be very modest or they will not be at all. The main mistake of dieters is that they are starving. At the same time, the body slows down the metabolism and begins to store fats in reserve at any opportunity. It turns out a paradox, in order to lose excess fat, you need to eat often and a lot. The only question is how to eat. If you calculate the number of products “by eye”, then the error can be up to 30-50%, which completely negates the whole point of counting. To achieve maximum performance in sports, the body must be continuously supplied with the right nutrients. Nutrition should be complete, per kilogram of body weight you need up to 2 grams of protein (for muscle growth), about a gram of healthy fats (for proper fat metabolism), as well as carbohydrates (energy and help in the delivery of other useful substances). If there are too few nutrients, then the body begins to destroy the most unnecessary from its point of view – the muscles (for the growth of which so much effort has been spent). If there is too much food, or it is irregular, then the excess will be deposited in the form of fat.

12 Feb. 2015

Version 1.1

The app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Improved iOS8 compatibility.
You can now support authors by viewing ads (free version).

Ratings and reviews


ratings: 53

Very awesome


Guys, I beg you, make the list as wide as possible, the layout is very cool, it helps beginners who are just getting into this whole story with counting kbzhu! Good luck and looking forward to update

Useful but not updated for a long time


Guys, the app is great. update or find an investor to develop the theme.

The hit rolls developer has not disclosed to Apple its privacy policy or data processing practices.

N/A

Developer will be required to provide privacy information when submitting the next app update.

Information

Provider

Misha Malkin

Size

6.3 MB

Category

Food and drink

Age

4+

Copyright

© 2014, HitRolls

Price

Free

• App Support

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