(BPT) – A growing family, overnight guests, work-at-home demands and lifestyle changes can make for cramped quarters in any home. If you’re not ready to move to a bigger house or take on a full-scale addition, carve out more space from your home’s current footprint. Renovating an attic, basement or other unused area can add more living space now, provide flexibility for the future and increase your home’s value.
Whether you’re creating a kids’ playroom, extra bedroom or a new home office, here are some tips for getting the most out of a one-room renovation.
Find extra space: the attic. Check out your attic’s current configuration. If it’s an A-shaped space, with the highest point at the top and sloping walls down the side, it may have enough ceiling height to accommodate a bonus room. The lower walls and odd-shaped corners might also provide space to build in some shelving for items such as books or toys.
Lighting considerations. Natural light may be at a premium in the new space. With an attic, you may be able to install windows at either side of the house at the highest point, but a basement is even more limited. Consider supplementing natural light with recessed lighting that maximizes your available ceiling space. Task lighting can also help, while creating a cozy atmosphere.
Reliable heating and cooling. Ensuring year-round comfort can be challenging if the new space is not connected to a ducted heating system. A Trane Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump is an easy, energy efficient solution for areas where installing ductwork may be impractical or too expensive. The compact indoor unit can be mounted on a wall or ceiling, and connects to an outdoor compressor. It comes with a convenient remote control, giving you precise heating and cooling, without the need for ductwork.
Entrances and exits. Whether you’re going up or down with a renovation, it will require using the stairs. This is a good to time make repairs or modifications to the current stairway to ensure safe and easy access. Also be sure to check out your local building codes as to the number of windows and fire exits that are required and plan accordingly.
Create bonus storage with cabinetry. Any renovation also offers the opportunity to squeeze in extra storage, and installing cabinetry is an easy way to do that. Manufacturers offer multiple options for cabinets with built-in storage features, from drawers with built-in organization dividers to cabinets with pull-down shelves that let you pack a lot of items into a small space. These will keep your newly renovated room looking clean, neat and inviting.
