Looking for home addition ideas? Whether you’re expanding your living space for yourself or adding rooms to be desirable to home buyers, increasing your home’s square footage can increase your home’s value and functionality! But before you start adding an addition to your home, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure to consult with a builder before starting your project.
- Check your local zoning ordinances and building codes.
- Take your blueprints and plans to the county assessor.
- Once you’ve completed the additions, report them to the county assessor.
Ready to add more space to your home? Check out these top home additions that increase square footage.
The first part of planning a home addition is finding inspiration. Below are some home addition ideas that can help inspire your next home improvement project!
Plan a Second Story
Photo via @mwconstruction
One of the biggest additions to a home is adding a second story to your house. Home addition cost can vary widely, but depending on the size of your home, adding a second story may cost anywhere between $80,000 – $600,000 while significantly adding square footage and resale value to your home. Talk with your contractor or architect to make sure they’re experienced with this type of project and that your home’s structure and foundation can handle a second-story addition!
Put a Room Over the Garage
Photo via @shoegnome_architects
Creating a bonus room or in-law suite over a garage is a great way to add extra square footage without turning your home into a mess. With the foundation of the garage already in place, all you need are walls and a roof. Once it’s finished, you can rent it out or use it as a guest bedroom or home office. Keep in mind that certain additions like a new roof, Type X fireproof drywall, and vapor barriers will be more expensive than other home addition projects. Costs typically average around $80 to $200 per square foot when building a bonus above-garage room.
Include a Modular Home Addition
Photo via @rochester_homes_inc
A modular home addition is a pre-fabricated room that can be added onto house exteriors to create a second story. They’re popular home expansion projects for single-story buildings like ranch homes. These additions run 10-20% cheaper than conventional house additions and are made off-site, saving you from living in a constant construction zone. Costs vary between $65 to $200 per square foot, depending on the size and complexity of the addition.
Build a Dormer
Photo via @buildingcolwynbay
Dormers not only expand your attic and provide much-needed light, but they also add major curb appeal and make your home look larger. Professional installation for this home improvement project can cost anywhere between $12,000 to $70,000, depending on the size and scope of the renovation. Alternatively, some homeowners choose to install DIY dormers to increase their attic ceiling space for an average cost of $500 to $1,000.
Finish Your Basement
Photo via @p.home_renovations
A finished basement increases the livable square footage in your home, and it gives you additional space you can use for a small apartment, a home theater, or an entertainment room. The average cost to finish a basement is between $2,800 to $34,000 with a return on investment around 70%. Just be sure you include emergency windows or a backyard walkout if you plan to build a basement bedroom.
Add On to Your Kitchen
Photo via @jbmarchitect
Remodeling your kitchen—even on a minor scale—can provide a great return on investment. Expand your kitchen’s square footage by turning a flex space or bump-out addition into a walk-in pantry or breakfast nook. Kitchen remodel projects typically cost between $15,000 to $40,000 and recoup almost 93% of the cost at resale.
Expand the Bathroom
Photo via @fineandcountrylakedistrict
Increasing bathroom square footage can greatly increase the value of your home. Bathroom remodels have a return on investment of around 50% and the majority of homeowners report satisfaction with this home update. The cost to add or expand a bathroom in your existing space usually ranges from $5,000 to $35,000. Looking for bathroom addition ideas? Try extending your master bathroom to include space for a soaking tub or dual sinks. Or add a half-bath in an underutilized small space like under the stairs, a closet, an attic bonus room, or a basement.
Incorporate a Mudroom
Photo via @jade.lisa.interiors
Adding a mudroom in or near your entryway is a handy way to keep shoes, coats, and backpacks all organized in one space. Installing wall hooks, built-in cabinets, lockers, or cubbies while building a mudroom adds both additional storage and visual appeal. Mudroom additions can cost as little as $4,500 for a minor project and up to $30,000 for a total addition.
Change the Front Porch into a Sunroom
Photo via @michaelkimassociates
If you love spending time in the sun, consider turning your porch into a sunroom! In order for your porch to be considered livable square footage, it needs to have heating and be accessible from the house. Make your sunroom addition feel like a second living room with lamps, comfortable furniture, and plenty of seating. If you live in a state with extreme winters, you may need to consult an architect or builder to make sure the roof and walls are strong enough to support heavy snow. The cost to add a sunroom varies from $15,000 to $22,000 with a 50% return on investment.
Get Creative with the Back Patio
Photo via @lifesabeach.seabrook
Enclosing a back patio can create a cozy outdoor living room! This home addition project can be quite extensive—especially if you extend your roof—so make sure you enlist the help of builders or contractors. Like a sunroom, a patio must be enclosed and accessible from the house in order to count toward livable square footage. Back patio enclosures typically run between $8,000 to $26,000.
Consider a Bump-Out Addition
Photo via @mwconstruction
Cantilevered house bump-outs are small extensions (or micro-additions) of rooms that add square footage to your home. Bump-out additions can be as small as two feet and as large as 10-15 feet. Because bump-outs do not require a roof or foundation work, the cost of bump-out additions can be 15-30% less than a conventional addition. Some bump-out ideas for small rooms include creating a window nook in a living room, building a walk-in closet, adding a space for a bathtub in a bathroom, or increasing the space of a kitchen to allow for counter space.
Finish the Attic
Photo via @arborand.co
As far as home addition projects go, an attic has unlimited potential! For this renovation, make sure at least half of the ceiling reaches seven feet and that the attic connects to a stairway. Once these requirements are met, you can take advantage of that extra square footage and turn it into a guest bedroom, home gym, art studio, or office. Converting an attic into livable space can recover as much as 56% of the value!
Turn an Attached Garage into an Extra Room
Photo via @bonno_brother
If you’re looking for a creative home addition idea, consider repurposing your garage! An attached garage can only be considered additional square footage if you don’t use it as a garage. Instead, consider transforming your garage into a gym, art studio, guest bedroom, or craft room! The average cost of converting a garage into usable living space is between $6,000 and $26,000 with up to an 80% return on investment.
Enhance the Laundry Room
Photo via @brunoandlibby
Is your current laundry area unfinished or too small to be fully functional? Expand and update it to get more square footage! Second-floor laundry rooms are a highly-desired unique home feature, so moving your laundry room from a basement or first level to an upstairs addition can be a worthwhile investment. A laundry room remodel typically costs between $4,000 and $12,000, but if you’d like to save money on this home improvement project, consider converting your laundry room yourself.
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