Tips for Making Your Home Feel Bigger

In today’s market, it is important to make use of each square foot of your home.  Therefore, making your home feel bigger will be a very nice selling point when you’re ready to move on.  You can make your home feel bigger without actually making it bigger.  For just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars you can live bigger.

Dining room space – Cost $500 to $2,000

If you have a eat-in-kitchen, you probably use the dining room for special occasions only.  This makes the dining room an ideal spot for a multi-tasking room.  You can install doors, add shelves or place a cabinet for supplies.  You can have an office or homework area without giving up the use of this room for a dinner party. 

Your Guest Room -- Cost $100 to $3,000

There’s no need to dedicate a whole room for out of town guests.  Use a decent air mattress, futon or pull out sofa and get rid of the bed so you can use the room for other day to day needs.  Add some furniture and this room could double as a home office or media/game room.

Add a Half Bath – Cost $3,000 to $6,000

Typically the minimum space required by code is 2 ½ feet by 4 ½ feet.  So, you could use a closet to avoid building extra space.  You just need enough space for a small sink and a full size toilet.

A Home Office Closet – Cost $100 to $3,000

Every home needs a place to anchor a wireless Internet system and a place to sit down and write out the bills and keep organized.  All you need is five to six sturdy shelves made from wood that should cost less than $40 at your local home center.  In the closet, set the lowest shelf at 30 inches high so can you sit with your legs under it and continue up.  This will allow for head room and more space for storage of supplies.

Move the Laundry Room Upstairs – Cost $5,000 to $7,000

Trips up and down the steps are no fun and a lot of work.  Therefore, you can move the laundry room upstairs.  Today’s full size high efficiency washers and dryers are stackable, which will make it easier to move them to a new space.  Be sure to include a drain pan to catch overflows or spills.

Open Floor Plan - $2,000 to $4,000

Open up your floor plan by removing doors that aren’t necessary and tear down some interior walls.  Be sure to check with a professional plumber and electrician to make sure you won’t be tearing up pipes or cutting electrical wires.

Built-in Shelving – Cost $4,500 to $6,000

A set of built-in shelving 10 inches deep will hardly take away from your floor space, and a wall full of these will give you much more space than a closet.  You can have built-in shelving custom made, or you can purchase a do it yourself kit for around $500.  This is a great solution if you just turned a closet into a half bath.

Bump it out - $6,000 to $12,000

A bump-out is an addition to the home. If your kitchen is small, you can add an oversized bay window for more space or to form an eat-in-kitchen.  Structurally it can add another three feet or more.  This can cost around $150 a square foot. However, the cost will stay down if you can tuck it under an existing overhang.

Finish the Unfinished - $15,000 to $30,000

You can turn your unfinished basement into a living space for half the expense of building a new addition.  All you will need is a ceiling (drop down is the least expensive), and walls.   This can run $50 to $100 a square foot.  You can also convert your attic space into living space.  This is a great choice for families with older children who want a little separation.

Originally posted at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2752431/tips-for-making-your-home-feel-bigger