Christmas gatherings: what are your options?
The festive season is a wonderful time of the year when friends and family get together to eat, drink and be merry.
Unfortunately, while it’s nice to have guests for Christmas dinner or a stop-over, it can be a challenge working out how to make the most of the limited space that you have.
Questions such as “Where will the kids sleep when they stay?” and “Can we try to fit extra seating at the table if we move it to the main area?” are challenges you might be familiar with.
In this article, we look at how to address the three main issues relating to space in your house (relaxing, eating and sleeping), and what you need to consider.
Adding relaxing areas to your house
Whether it’s sitting down after eating too much or finding space for kids to play with their new toys, there are various options for increasing the space in your home.
Garage conversions offer the best way to turn existing downstairs space into a more useable space. A garage conversion can be used to create an extra playroom for kids to go to, while the grownups relax in the main lounge.
It can also be used as a second lounge or family room for anyone who wants to escape the noise.
Whatever you need in terms of extra space for relaxing, garage conversions are relatively easy to do and have fewer complications in terms of building regulations and planning than home extensions.
Home extensions and loft conversions create more space
If, however, you need more space and have a big enough outdoor space, then a home extension might be a better long-term solution.
Loft conversions are also worth considering for creating a play area that’s away from the kitchen and lounge area.
When it comes to deciding how to optimise your space for relaxing, make sure you are clear on what you want from the new space, and how much space you need. This can impact what you decide to do in terms of home renovations.
Adding more eating areas to your house
Your options are likely to be more restricted when it comes to increasing your dining space.
For most houses, we certainly don’t recommend a loft conversion to increase dining space but you can extend your kitchen with a home extension. Alternatively, if your garage is big enough then a garage conversion can be a way to create a new dining room!
Before deciding, it’s important to consider how you will use the new space throughout the year. If you are looking for dining space for a once-a-year occasion, then you might not want to convert your garage just for that. Instead, extending your kitchen might be a better option.
Adding more sleeping areas to your house
For most people, the preferred option is to create extra sleeping space upstairs, either with an extension or by having a loft conversion.
Loft conversions are a great way to create an extra bedroom and possibly a bathroom as well. If, however, you need more space or have a flat roof then flat roof extensions are ideal.
Flat roofed extensions don’t necessarily need to take up any patio or garden space as they can be built on top of an existing part of your house, such as your kitchen or garage, assuming the foundations are strong enough to cope with the additional weight.
If you are looking for extra sleeping space that’s temporary, then you might want to consider a downstairs garage conversion. The garage can be converted into an extra living space that includes a sofa bed. This allows you to get the best of both worlds - extra living space that becomes an extra sleeping space when people stay over for the night!
Extending your home? Beware of UK building regulations
When deciding what option to take, make sure you are aware of the latest building regulations. For example, having a second floor on a bungalow requires the foundations to be checked while there are planning permission and sustainability requirements when extensions and garage conversions are being built.
At Avanti, we will guide you through the process and discuss what you need to do.
Ready to make your home more Christmas-ready?
If you are looking to increase space in your home for when friends and family visit, we can help. Whether it’s a loft conversion, flat roof extension or something else, give our professional builders in Wiltshire a call today to get started!