Home Addition Ideas To Add Space To Your House

Whether you’re planning to add a second story, finish your basement, add a new bathroom, change your garage, or expand one of your rooms, there are a range of home addition ideas that can help you increase the value of your house and accommodate new family living conditions.

Before you go ahead with a home addition project, though, you need to plan your extension, research the proper building permits and codes, and follow inspection procedures. Below, we share our top home addition ideas and talk you through the steps involved in adding space to your house.

The type of home addition you opt for will depend on your home's location, the amount of property you have, and the functionality of creating a new space. So, here’s a list of possible home addition ideas and their benefits to help you choose the right one for your needs.

A nice and simple home addition idea is a sunroom. These add a beautiful leisurely component to any room in your home. It’s important to note that sunrooms need building codes based on county or state, so be sure you have a site plan ready to demonstrate that it meets building requirements.

Whether you’d like to build a private space for extended family to stay in long term or want to add a rentable space that can earn you a little extra income, building a small cottage or apartment can be a great investment. These kinds of projects are quite lengthy and technical though, so obtaining a detailed site and 3D plan may be the best solution to help visualize how you can easily construct a mini-house addition seamlessly. 

Converting an attic into a living space is a great home addition idea because it already has a stable structure with flooring and a roof. Electrical wiring and utilities should also be easily accessible.

Before you start, though, be sure to conduct thorough research on roofing permits, especially if you want to extend the attic height. You may also want to add or change flooring material to limit noise transmission.

Remodeling a garage is by no means an easy endeavor. There is a lot to consider, including whether your garage location meets the minimum requirements before redesigning. However, if it meets the requirements, you can proceed with planning for your garage conversion.

Another great home addition idea is a pool. It will create a space for more family entertainment while also increasing the value of your property.

Before you begin, make sure you have the right property landscape and have your questions ready. Also, prepare for having demolition construction workers on your site frequently and limit potential hazards for both you, your property, and their safety. For instance, if a tree could put anyone at risk at the construction site, you may also need to apply for a tree removal permit. This can all be prepared for in advance by creating the right site plan for a pool ! 

Kitchens are the hub of the household where people gather and make food together. As small kitchens can quickly become crowded, making them uncomfortable and unsuited for cooking, expanding your kitchen is a great way to add more space to your home.

Start by taking out one of the walls and extending the space so that you can walk around freely and include an island. You could also add more counter and cabinet space.

Aside from adding a pool, you can enhance the quality of your home’s outdoor experience by constructing an outdoor kitchen or barbeque grilling area that your whole family can enjoy.

Choose between different types of grills, construct a rustic-style outdoor brick oven, or even insert an open flame fire pit to cook over. You can also add solid countertops and plenty of cupboard space. If you want to get really fancy with it, you can even install a sink so you don’t have to haul water from the kitchen.

A finished basement is a great home addition idea that will add a lot of extra living space to your home. With the proper waterproofing techniques and insulation, the basement can be transformed into a great space for the family to spend time together. It can also provide additional storage.

A new floor to your home can create extra space for bedrooms and bathrooms as a person’s family starts to grow.

When adding a floor to your home, you can match the exterior siding or choose a new siding that adds an interesting visual juxtaposition.

If you need an extra room for a bedroom, work space, or storage, add a room on top of the garage. This can work especially well for people who want a space with some privacy from the rest of the house. 

Upgrade your front porch so that you have more space but can still enjoy indoor comforts, like air conditioning. Adding large windows or glass panels will also bring the outdoors in, providing a lot of natural lighting. 

If your home doesn’t already have a back porch or deck, consider adding one to increase the value of your house while providing a nice, relaxing area for your family to enjoy during the summer months.

One of our favorite home addition ideas is the modular — an addition manufactured off-site and delivered to you for easy installation, making it up to 20% cheaper to install than traditional additions.

Modular additions can work well for one-story homes, but they can be installed as a second-story as well. 

Dormers serve many purposes aside from adding extra space to your attic. They also provide a ton of natural lighting and can bring some major curb appeal to your home, making it look much bigger than it actually is.

House bump-outs are small extensions (also known as micro home additions) that can add some extra square footage to a room with the benefit of being much cheaper than other types of home additions. Use them to create a new walk-in closet, a reading nook, a small office space, or an area for a new bathroom tub.

Expanding the square footage of any of your bathrooms can significantly increase your home’s overall value while also providing you with that extra space you’ve been longing for. Consider growing your home’s master bathroom to include space for a dual sink system or a large soaking tub. You can also turn underutilized spaces into new half-baths, like in closets or under your stairs.

While most homes have some form of entryway, taking the time to expand it into a full mudroom can be a great way to add organizational space for storing coats, shoes, backpacks, and more. Built-in cabinets, cubbies, wall hooks, and lockers can also add storage to your home.

Consider expanding your laundry room for some much-needed space, or even consider moving your laundry room to another floor altogether. Second-floor laundry rooms are a unique home feature that is becoming highly desirable in the market and can add significant value to your home.

Sometimes you need to think outside of the box to find the right home addition idea. If your home doesn’t have the space to build a new garage or extend a current one, consider constructing an outdoor carport to protect your vehicles from rain, snow, hail, and more. Carports can also provide a nice covered spot for anyone who may want to develop a small home workshop or maintenance area.

Remove a wall from your home to make it an open concept. Open concept floor plans give the illusion of more space, and make the home flow better. Just be careful not to remove support walls that help hold up the weight of the home.

So you’ve read over our list of home addition ideas and now you’re ready to move forward with your select project. But what happens now? Here’s what you need to do next. 

Once you have chosen what you'd like to add to your home, the next step is to get an approximate budget. Consider the cost of construction materials, glass, flooring, and wall choice, as well as the cost of permits.

With My Site Plan, you can request a custom site plan of what you would like to include in your new home project. We’ll then provide an estimated quote of how much it will cost. 

Before undertaking a home addition project, you will need a site plan to help determine the proper dimensions, which permits to apply for (such as mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits, etc.), and what zoning or building codes you need to adhere to.

You have two options to consider: a certified site plan or a non-certified site plan.

• An accredited site plan is reviewed by a certified architect, engineer, or surveyor to help you reach the most accurate dimensions.

• A non-certified site plan, however, does not need a certified individual. The homeowner, an unlicensed individual, or a company will serve as the organizer of the plan. Depending on the project, you may need only to order a non-certified site plan (generally cheaper than a certified site plan).

My Site Plan can help you with measurement adjustments with the aid of satellite data that's free of charge! However, if your new home addition requires verification from an engineer, for example, be prepared to pay more for the plan. 

My Site Plan offers Basic, Medium, and Detailed site plans, as well as 3D site plans

• Basic - includes lot lines, north arrows, existing building locations, and dimensions. It is not the best service for building permits, but a great choice if you are seeking to renovate a home!

• Medium - includes trees, pools, driveways, and other landscapes, as well as the features from the basic site plan.

• Detailed - offers commercial and residential use and includes all features from the other plan services. Generally, most people use this plan to apply for a demolition permit , pool removal, remodeling, or encroachment issues with neighbors.

• 3D - helps ensure that a project meets the builder's vision and will turn out how the homeowner or property managers expect.

All of these plans can be used when applying for permits; however, be sure to verify that your property or building department does NOT require a plan to be prepared by an engineer, surveyor, or architect to stamp the project.

For a more in-depth understanding of comparing these site plans and determining which is best for you, click here!  

Typically, when making any home renovations, you will most likely follow your county's building regulations and need a permit for your latest changes. These regulations vary from county to county, so you must reach out to your local building officials before you start construction. It may seem tedious at first, but even minor home alterations may need a permit.

Regional inspection offices will ask for a design blueprint before you can move forward. The inspection process is easier to complete with My Site Plan's online services that typically follow up with you in one to two business days so you can proceed with your project. Be prepared to gain signatures from various members of your community (such as a city planner, zoning officer, or local health board member), especially if you’re creating a new home or pool that may require a septic system.

Be sure that every new construction on your home has up-to-date building codes to ensure that all safety measures are met.

Do you need the services of an industry professional to provide you with site or plot plans so you can get the permits you need to complete your dream home? Reach out to the experts at My Site Plan today to learn about everything they can do for you!