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Home addition ideas for increasing your square footage

Mary Ellen Vanaken

Mary Ellen was born and raised in Long Island, New York. After graduating from college, she worked on Wall Street for JP Morgan in New York City...

Mary Ellen was born and raised in Long Island, New York. After graduating from college, she worked on Wall Street for JP Morgan in New York City...

Dec 15 7 minutes read


If you are looking for home addition ideas for increasing your square footage, you have come to the right place. And since you are considering adding more space to your home, we would like to tell you that this is an excellent idea. Home additions are not only a fantastic way to create morel giving space for your family but a worthy investment as well. Such home improvements bring a solid return on investment. In fact, they often provide more ROI than other projects. Of course, that will depend on other factors, such as the market and the addition itself. 

The reasons why people decide to do this project are numerous. Most often, they need an additional room because they have decided to grow their families. Also, the current global situation made remote work prevalent, so a home office has become a necessity for many. Finally, some people want to create a space that will generate some rental income. Of course, you have to explore the rules and regulations regarding this one. And you will need permits for these upgrades as well. 

But before you set about getting the permits and looking for contractors, let's go over some ideas that will inspire you to find a perfect solution for you and your home. 

What is your basement situation?

Let's begin with a renovation project that may not be the simplest but will not require any changes to the exterior of your home. A basement is not only a dingy, stuffy, and cold space under your living area where you keep seasonal items, old furniture, and things you have forgotten about. It is also an area of enormous potential. 

A finished basement is one of the best home addition ideas for increasing your square footage because of the sheer versatility it can provide. You can get so much more than an additional bedroom. You can create a fun play area for your kids, a recreation room, an entertainment space where you can host your friends. Ultimately, you can create an entire apartment, which you can rent. 

How about your attic?

Much like the basement, your attic offers a lot of potential too. You need to make sure there is a stairway connected to the attack and that the ceiling is at least seven feet high over half of the space. If your attic space meets these requirements, you can get yourself a home office, an extra bedroom, a kids' playroom, etc. 

Would an additional floor suffice?

How much more space do you need exactly? If your basement is not an option or you have already exploited its potential to the fullest, you can do the next most obvious thing - build another floor. 

Yes, it is the most extensive home addition project and likely one of the most expensive. However, it also adds considerable square footage and gives you an excellent return on investment. So, if you ever decide to sell your home, it will prove pretty profitable. Still, you have to ensure that your home's foundation and structure can support that extra weight. Also, given that it is a substantial project, it's essential to consult the professionals and understand the ins and outs of such a large-scale remodeling. 

The main advantage of this project is the flexibility it offers. You can design the floor plan any way you want and create something that will fully suit your needs. However, achieving a seamless transition between the old and the new part of the house may be tricky. And if your contractor fails to incorporate the old with the new well, it will harm your home's curb appeal, and consequently, its resale value. 

Can you add more space to your garage?

A garage is another project with a high ROI potential. If you only replace the garage door, you will improve your home's curb appeal, which can positively affect its resale value. Your garage also gives you several options for increasing your square footage. 

If you don't already have a garage on your property, you can attach one or add a detached garage. Alternatively, if you have a garage, you may decide to expand it to accommodate two vehicles. It will provide you with some more storage space. In general, a garage often serves as a storage area for people who lack space in their homes. And that can be fine, but where do you keep your car then? 

Best of all, a garage offers you an opportunity to build an additional room above it. And do so in a much less messy and complicated way. 

A dormer is also an option

A dormer is an addition to your roof that projects from one side of your roof. It is a fantastic solution because it expands your attic, providing more living space. In addition, since dormers come with a built-in window, they bring more natural light, which most attics lack. A bonus perk is improved curb appeal, as dormers make the house appear more prominent. Dormers come in different styles, and you can add more than one. 

How do you feel about bump-out additions?

Bump-outs come to the rescue when you need more space, don't want to buy a bigger home and move, but lack the budget for some substantial upgrades. If you take a good look at your home, the space you have at your disposal, and the funding you can direct to this project, you may realize that a bump-out is the way to go. Granted, it won't give you an additional bedroom or a bathroom, but it will ensure more storage space. And more storage is what we all need. 

The good news is that if planned well and the execution is good, bump-outs will blend perfectly into your home and won't change its exterior much. 

A few more home addition ideas for increasing your square footage

These have been only a few home addition ideas for increasing your square footage. But they can get your imagination running and help you develop creative and functional solutions for your particular situation. In addition to all of the above, you can also enclose your porch and create an incredible sunroom. You can do something similar with your back patio as well. Or you can add a deck and create some beautiful outdoor living space. Finally, you can also consider a modular addition to your home. The possibilities are endless, provided that your budget allows, of course. 

Article via Tanya Douglas with East Coast Haul. Image via Pinterest.

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