If you need more space in your home, or the current layout just isn’t working for you, try considering making an addition your home rather than searching for a new one altogether. Here in The Bay Area, home additions are a popular option of moving due to the lack of inventory and high fees associated with selling real estate. Bay Area homes have their own unique flair and hold their own in a city full of rich history, architecture, and a melting pot of culture and lifestyle. But what home additions are right for you?
Making additions to your home has the ability to elevate the value of your property and add that bit of customization we all hope to find in a home. If you’re looking to make some additions to your home but are at a loss as to what you should do, look no further. Below, we’ve put together 11 home addition ideas to spruce up your Bay Area home and make it a bit more your own.
Add Extra Useable Space with a Finished Attic
One of the most common reasons homeowners make additions to their homes is the lack of space. While Bay Area homes may lack the basement space seen in other parts of the country, we do have attics to work with.
With many attics spanning the length of the house, finishing this area can add a massive boost to your square footage and create a unique and functional space the entire family can enjoy. Whether you need an office, a playroom for your kids, or a quirky bedroom for guest visits, a cramped attic can be transformed into a bright and airy space with a simple renovation.
If your attic space is a bit odd or small, consider adding a dormer so you can utilize the space better.
Create an Enclosed Porch or Sunroom
Bay Area or not, a sunroom or enclosed porch is a great addition to any home. Not only are they a practical and attractive way to add more living space to your home, but they have the ability to liven up a living area with natural lighting and beautiful outdoor views.
There are four different types of sunrooms you can choose from depending on where you live and your individual needs. You’ll want to think about what you plan on doing in the space before committing to a style. Some sunrooms are designed to be used throughout the year, while others don’t have the means to keep out the cold and heat, so they are best for mild weather days.
A sunroom isn’t just limited to an indoor/outdoor space for lounging. With today’s technology, you can install high-quality windows that reflect ultraviolet rays, provide insulation, and don’t shatter on impact. This creates versatility in the room, allowing it to easily be transformed into an office, dining room, or master bedroom.
Put a Room Over the Garage
If you are looking to increase living space—without moving into a new home—adding a room over the garage can be a wonderful solution. Over-the-garage additions have become popular in recent years because they are an easy way to add space without increasing the footprint of the home.
Similar to attic additions, adding a room over the garage can help you create the customizable space that your family has been longing for? Are you in need of a private guest suite? Or maybe a home office? Perhaps you need a space for your teens to hang out without taking over the house?
Creating a bonus room above your garage is a convenient expansion that can grow with you and increase the value of your property.
Incorporate a Mudroom
If you have frustrations with organization and clutter, a mudroom may be just what you need. There are numerous benefits that adding a mudroom to your home will provide: extra storage, entryway organization, and overall cleanliness, to name a few.
The entryway in a house is typically a high-traffic area (for a good reason), which means it’s usually a landing pad for shoes, coats, bags, and all the dirt and debris that comes with entering and exiting a home. A mudroom’s job is to help this space function better by providing a buffer between the outside and the rest of the home.
This is also a great room for extra storage. Many families will store things like cleaning supplies, sports equipment, outdoor toys, and pet food—items that are known to naturally collect dirt but get used often enough to be kept nearby.
Add on to Your Kitchen
Many say that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and if yours isn’t functioning to your liking, it may be time for an addition. Whether it’s a need for more counter space, larger appliances, or that dreamy walk-in pantry, adding on to your kitchen can create a space that works for your everyday needs.
Updating your kitchen can also increase the home’s value and improve efficiency to save water and energy. If your family is growing or your kitchen just doesn’t fit your style, a kitchen remodels with an addition can make it the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of.
If you’re feeling tight on space, consider building into the dining room. Many homes have a separate dining area with more space than is usually necessary. Taking down the wall can provide the space for a kitchen expansion and give you a more open feel.
Expand the Master Bedroom
The Bay Area has some beautiful historic homes, but the bedroom sizes aren’t always up to par with what many people are looking for. If you’ve always dreamed of having a luxurious master bedroom, but your property lacks the space, you may benefit from a master bedroom addition.
There are a couple of ways you could go about expanding your master bedroom. For instance, if you have unutilized space in your home, consider taking from that space to add to area to your master suite. You could also add on to the exterior of your home to create the space you are lacking. Bump-outs are an easy way to add extra square footage, and they don’t require a roof or foundation work.
Add Another Bathroom
While it may be possible to function with just one bathroom in a home, adding another one is well worth considering if you’ve got the space for it.
Unless you’re living alone, you’ve likely run into the problem of having to wait for someone else to finish using the bath before you have access to it. A second bathroom addition will make life in the house more convenient and create a greater degree of privacy. This may make things more comfortable when guests are over and will add to the resale value of the property.
A bathroom addition also doesn’t take up much space. In just 25 square feet, you can fit a sink, toilet, and shower, and you’ll need even less space if you opt for a half-bath. If you’ve got unused hallway space or an oversized closet, consider partition off that space for your new bathroom.
Create a Glass Wall
With the beautiful scenery in the Bay Area, it’s a shame to have those views blocked off by a wall. Instead, you may want to consider adding an exterior glass wall to your home. Glass walls bring the outdoors into the house by balancing the use of large panes of glass against the necessary structural need for framing. They can bring light to a room and make it feel spacious while adding a sleek and modern feel with natural beauty.
Glass walls are particularly beneficial for those who love an open concept but lack the space and lighting to really pull it off. Adding floor-to-ceiling windows to an entire wall will really open up and brighten the room.
Not to mention, glass walls are completely customizable, only being limited by the layout and dimensions of your home. You can choose a design and style that is unique to your vision and matches the aesthetic of your home.
Add an In-Law Suite
If you have elderly parents or adult kids living in your home, your space may feel more cramped than it actually is. Adding an in-law suite can create the extra living you need to make your main house feel less crowded while providing your loved ones with a space of their own.
An in-law suite is a private space that is typically attached to or located on the same lot as the main house. These types of dwellings are often seen as stand-alone guest houses, though they can be converted from garages and basements as well.
Make sure to check your local building codes before planning out your in-law suite. You may need separate permits for things like adding a full kitchen or building the unit separate from the main house. You will also have to consider things like water and sewage connections and access the dwelling from the street.
Create a Private Deck Addition
Adding a small private deck off the master bedroom or guestroom can fill otherwise wasted space and provide an outdoor oasis to enjoy the beautiful Bay Area scenery. A private deck or patio is a great spot to enjoy morning coffee, get lost in a book, or find seclusion when working from home.
If you’re looking to add a bit of privacy without blocking the view, consider adding bushy hedges or a trellis to break up the line of sight so that you aren’t out on display. Adding a fountain is also a great way to break up noise coming from the street or surrounding neighbors so you can enjoy your time outside.
Add a Second Floor
When living in the Bay Area, you may not have the space to expand out your home horizontally, but you can always work up by adding a second floor.
While there are several factors to consider when adding another story, this does add significant square footage and resale value to your home. Plus, adding a second floor could give you the living space for extra bedrooms, an office, and storage without relocating.
This job takes a lot of planning, so be sure to work with a builder you trust. Adding a second story requires extensive work to your existing house, such as removing the roof and upgrading the foundation. You may even need to change the layout of your first story depending on where you plan to put the stairs.
Remodeling also produces a lot of dust and noise, so be prepared to live elsewhere while the construction is underway.
Final Thoughts on Making Additions to Your Home
Hopefully, these home additions ideas help you decide how to make the most out of your Bay Area home. Additions to your home are an investment and can take a lot of time and planning. However, know which additions will work best for you can increase the square footage and resale value of your property and improve your home in ways that will last for years to come.
Element Home Remodeling is a Mountain View based home addition contractor that serves the entire Bay Area. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
