A small home addition is a great way to open up your floor plan and change the functionality of a room. In many cases, all you need is a few extra square feet and your options for transforming your space skyrocket.

Small home additions are a great way to expand your home and create extra space right where you need it the most. While many people think of adding a brand new full room, new functional spaces, or new destinations, a smaller addition approach is centered around expanding the existing space. This sort of expansion can increase the functionality of an existing space and make all the difference in your home.

There are truly unlimited ways to take advantage of smaller additions, but here are a few of the most popular ways homeowners use this strategy to add functional and beautiful features to their homes.

1. Create a more open floor plan

Many homes (especially older homes) have smaller, more closed off rooms. This can be a positive if you prefer more privacy and don’t like listening to noises from the next room, but for some families, this layout just doesn’t fit their lifestyle.

For example, a more open floor plan might be desirable for couples who love to cook together and don’t like constantly having to squeeze past each other just to reach the sink. Open floor plans are also perfect for parents who want to be able to keep an eye on their kids from the next room.

2. Make space for a kitchen island

Kitchen islands are popular for a reason. Not only do they look great, but they also give you:

• Extra counter space

• More storage

• A place to sit in the kitchen

• A surface for extra appliances (like a second sink or range top)

If you would love an island, but don’t quite have the space for it, a kitchen addition may be the perfect solution for you. This is exactly what we did recently for a client in Ann Arbor. By adding a four-foot bump out at the back of their house, we enlarged the kitchen enough for a big central island and extra seating and storage.

3. Improve movement through a space

Small rooms and cramped spaces can make life difficult, especially when multiple people are living in your home. In order to be able to move comfortably throughout your house, you need good circulation routes (an architectural term used to describe the main pathways people take through and around rooms). Basically, you need to be able to quickly and easily get to the places in your home that you use the most, such as your... 

• Front door

• Bathroom

• Kitchen sink

• Computer desk

• Most frequently used sitting area

In many cases, an addition can improve circulation at entry points and workstations, so your home won’t ever feel cramped or over-crowded.

You can even build an addition in order to add a side entrance to your home. This can be done to create a faster route to your driveway or to connect your kitchen to your backyard patio. Not only does this improve circulation, but you also get a new entryway, which can be the perfect spot for coat racks, extra storage, and even a mini mudroom.

4. Incorporate more storage

As you can probably imagine, it’s relatively easy to create much-needed storage space with a home addition. In fact, it’s often possible to add this square footage within the original roof line, which makes the addition simpler and more affordable.

Here are some types of storage spaces that an addition can help you achieve:

• A walk-in pantry

• A bigger laundry room

• Built-in recessed shelving or cabinetry

• An alcove specifically designed for your TV or entertainment center

• A spacious walk-in closet

• Custom storage for your shoes, spare blankets, or your record collection

5. Add seating

When you’re working to incorporate all the features you really want and need in your home remodel, it can be difficult to also plan enough sitting spaces. Having plenty of places to sit in the main rooms of your house makes it feel more homey and encourages people in your family to spend time together in the same areas. It also helps guests feel extra welcome and makes it easier to host large gatherings.

You might opt for a breakfast table in the kitchen, a bench seat in the living room with storage underneath, or a reading nook with soft cushions, blankets, and a lamp. It’s all about what you want to add to your home and your life.

Tips for a successful home addition project

Make sure you get the most out of your addition and your whole remodel project by working with your remodeler to decide which part of your home is best suited to an addition and how to make the best use of this extra square footage. Here’s what we recommend:

• Think about which areas of your home (and your daily routine) create frustration or wasted time in your life.

• Let yourself dream about the new and improved home you really want, and imagine how you would use the new space.

• While you may take resale value into account, most homeowners get the best results when they focus on changes that will improve their daily enjoyment of their homes.

• Consider working with a design-build remodeler who can work with you to plan a gorgeous, functional space that also makes sense from an architectural standpoint.

Learn more about how we build home additions in Ann Arbor

At Forward Design Build, our collaborative design-build process is centered on delivering a fulfilling remodel experience with exceptional results that allow our clients to truly live their best lives in a home they love. Learn more about our approach to home additions and see some of our past projects. Or get in touch with us today and tell us about your project!

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