4 smart ways to grow your home alongside your kids

(This is a partnered post) If there is one constant in life, it’s change. Our lives develop, our circumstances shift and our families expand. And somehow, the places we live need to expand too. Suddenly, the house that seemed perfect with a baby on the way is filled to the rafters with their siblings and all of the many possessions kids have – and space is suddenly at a premium.

Before you start scanning property websites, consider whether you might be better off avoiding all the stress and upheaval of a house move by redesigning and renovating the home you already know and love.

Expand your floor space

Depending on the design and layout of your current home, there are many different options available for expanding the current footprint – and increasing the square footage not only makes your home more usable for you in the here and now, it also future proofs it. Plus, expanding the house is one of the only ways to add significant value if you did come to sell the house. If you work with a good Architectural Practice they should be able to suggest the best solution for your house, needs and budget. From expanding up into the loft or down to a basement conversion, adding an extension to the property, or even looking into other solutions, such as adding a freestanding garden studio, there are many ways you can create extra space which don’t have to involve a move.

Go open plan

Sometimes it isn’t so much that we don’t have decent space, it’s more that we aren’t using it to its full potential. A warren of smaller, closed rooms in a layout can mean feeling more cramped in some areas, and others going unused. Removing some or all of the walls to create a modern, open plan layout can radically transform the space and how you use it and make your home much more family-friendly. Adding an open kitchen/family room area with doors out into the garden is a very popular addition to older houses, and there’s a reason why – it creates a space where everyone can be together, while also pursuing different activities. Plus, it makes an amazing area for socialising and entertaining.

Add in a bathroom

One of the major stress points in a house can be the bathrooms – or lack of. If you’re operating with just one family bathroom, space can soon begin to feel at a premium, especially in the morning rush hour. Adding an ensuite bathroom is usually fairly simple, and there are plenty of ingenious designs which can be fitted in very small spaces. Adding extra bathrooms gives a lot more privacy and eases stress.

Sort out your storage

Most families would admit to having too much clutter, and having kids doesn’t exactly fit well with a minimalist lifestyle. But you can get the clutter under control by adding in some smart storage solutions. Try looking for modular sofas with storage in the base – they are a great idea for packing away toys, sports equipment or extra towels easily, while maintaining a sleek, sophisticated look. Adding a shed to store bikes and muddy boots in can also work really well. Take a look at everything you have to store which is currently cluttering up your home and find out the best storage solution for those items – you’ll instantly feel like you have so much more space!

We trust you like these ideas for expanding the home, without having to endure a move. Something that perhaps should be avoided when you have kids….! If you like this content, perhaps you would like to take a look at some of the other interior content we have on the site including:

• Ideas to keep the house spick and span without the pain factor; some tips and tricks that make laminate flooring a must for a family home
• Some ideas for creating a really imaginative space for the kids bedroom,
• Using Pinterest to get some inspiration for those kids rooms, and finally
• How about getting the kids involved with some activities for them to try including designing their own room!

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It has been a pleasure having you come and visit the site, and do come back again until next time.

Helen

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