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SAN JOSE — As our life circumstances change, we sometimes find that our homes no longer meet our needs. Whether due to a growing family, kids moving out, senior parents moving in or planning for our own aging in place, the size and design of our homes may not provide the amount of space we need to accommodate these altered conditions. In such scenarios, rather than moving out, it often makes more sense to find new ways of augmenting space in our homes. Here are four ways this can be done:
- Improve organization. In many cases, a lack of space is merely a matter of poor organization. Fortunately, there are numerous products that can help you better organize your closets, kitchen, bathrooms and living areas. Another good measure is to add more lighting to these areas, as increased visibility can make seldom-used or forgotten spaces more functional and accessible.
- Reconfigure existing space. Another way to augment space in your home is to alter the existing layout of a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. For example, if you have a large kitchen, a design/build contractor can help you reallocate the space to expand your pantry. The same goes for a large bedroom, where space can be reallocated to create a walk-in closet or expand the master bathroom.
- Convert unused or hybrid space. Whether converting your attic or basement into a finished space or adding a dormer or bump-out to an existing room, there are several options for capturing space that wasn’t properly utilized before. Even better, converting an unused or hybrid space is typically one-third of the cost of a home addition.
- Add new space. The most expensive but most direct way to augment space in your home is to build an attached (or detached) addition such as a new room or garage. In addition to the substantial cost, your home addition will need to meet your city’s building requirements. However, with the help of a reliable design/build contractor, this measure can effectively provide the additional space your changing circumstances require.