Finding your ideal home and settling down is a dream most of us share, but what if your family continues to grow beyond what your home can handle? Moving to a new home or new area is not something that we ever want to be forced into, and finding ways to make that dream home of yours accommodate your growing family may be challenging, but it may be the best way to have your cake and eat it too.
There are a lot of options out there that can allow you to renovate your existing home to make more room for your kids to play and study, for dad to enjoy his hobbies, or for mum to get in some relaxing reading. Here are some of the best renovation ideas for a growing family.
Key Factors to Consider Before Renovating
Renovating your home can be costly, and adapting to change is not always easy for the whole family, so before knocking down that first wall, you should always consider the following:
Expected Budget
It is vitally important to ensure you have planned every change you wish to make to your home. Carefully calculate an estimated cost of materials such as a one man scaffold tower hire, labor, and even the decor you’ll be putting in the room you renovate to ensure you will not run out of budget.
Dealing with an incomplete renovation for weeks or months is not ideal but coping with the teenage angst of your son or daughter about their unfinished room is an even scarier prospect.
Get Input
Some of us are more creative than others, and while you may appreciate the elegance and intricacies of Victorian design, your partner may be a minimalist. Try to get input from the people who will be sharing the space with you to avoid any family feuds. It would help if you are willing to compromise, too - you can’t have everything your way.
In families with older kids who are welcoming a new baby, it’s always important to consider the needs of the older kids. They are bound to be getting less attention moving forward, so be sure to give them a chance to feel that their input is valued.
Visualize
Try to picture, draw or create digital mockups of each space you renovate before making any changes. You want to have a clear plan for each room to ensure you remain within budget and know that the people occupying the space will be comfortable within it.
Keep in mind that you do not want to renovate every year either, so visualize the renovation in the future to make sure it would still make sense five or ten years from now.
DIY or Not
Your partner may fancy themselves as a jack of all trades who boasts the ability to do plumbing, carpentry, and masonry. You need to realistically determine your ability to complete the renovations on your own. If your partner has a history of building wonky tables and uneven countertops, or if DIY is just not your thing, then it is best to look for an experienced contractor with good references to take on the renovation for you.
Regulations
It is crucial to consider any regulations that may limit your ability to make changes to your home. Housing associations, local councils, or other entities may have a say in this, so be sure to clear any proposed changes before you start building. This could be something as big as getting planning permission for a change you want to make to the property. It could be something that flies under the radar however, such as homeowner association rules dictating that you must look into hiring a dumpster in your area for the project in order to prevent the neighbourhood looking untidy whilst you tear parts of your home apart.
Best Spaces to Renovate
While renovating your entire home may not be within your budget, these are some spaces you can target to create the space you need.
Attack your Attic
Getting rid of those dusty old books, broken furniture, or whatever forgotten items you have stored in the attic and making use of this often-overlooked space is a great way to add that extra room to your home. Lofts are perfect for hobby or reading rooms as they are elevated spaces away from the hustle and bustle downstairs. They also offer so much potential in terms of natural lighting options and can even make a great bedroom space for your older kids.
Beautify your Basement
Like the attic, a basement can be an undervalued yet valuable space that gets overlooked due to its often dark or dull appearance. This space can be an excellent option for your teenage son or daughter’s room; they get the privacy they demand and have a lot of space to leave their dirty laundry lying around too. Speaking of laundry, if you have a laundry room attached to your home, consider moving this to your basement and converting the existing room, freeing up space for a new room upstairs. Adding cheap window air conditioners to the small basement windows can be a great way to improve airflow and make the space more liveable.
Be Open-Minded
When we say open-minded, we mean think about an open-plan kitchen. Knocking down a wall or two and adding some bar counters can be a great way to create the illusion of more space for your family. While preparing dinner, mum and dad can even catch their favorite TV show from the kitchen, and family lunches in the dining room will feel less cramped without those walls surrounding you.
Think Outside the Box
Renovations do not need to be restricted to the inside of your home. Building a large terrace or outdoor kitchen and barbecue area can be a tremendous additional area for kids to burn off some energy without them interrupting your afternoon nap or break from household duties. These spaces are also a great way to add functional beauty to your home’s exterior and an even better way to create space for family activities on weekends.
Conclusion
Having a growing family is a blessing and renovating your home is a great way to create enough space for everyone without moving elsewhere. Remember to get everyone's input. The same way you would open a children's banking account with a debit card to teach your kids financial responsibility. Letting them decide what their room will look like shows you value their individuality and gives them a way to express themselves.
While the renovation is in progress, expect it can be stressful, but once done right, it is a great way to give everyone space while bringing your family closer together.