Home Plans and Design

If you own your own house, you likely want more space. It seems no matter how big or small our families are, we always need more room. Whether it’s another bedroom or storage space, there are always enough people and enough stuff to fill a house to the brim. But before you start looking through colonial house plans on a mission to build a bigger home, perhaps you should take a step back and look at your existing space. While building a bigger house would certainly solve your space problems, it would also be a big commitment to make monetarily. And with the economy the way it is, it might not be the best idea to increase your expenses. Instead, there may be space hidden throughout your house that you never realized was there.

If you’re looking for another bedroom, you may be able to build your own by finishing off a basement that has an exposed window, or by converting the space above your garage. You can do this work yourself if you’re handy, or contract it out to a professional. Regardless, make sure to follow all local code and regulations. And don’t worry too much about planning where you want the new room, as it really isn’t that hard. It’s not like you’re drawing up log house plans or something. Just think about the dimensions of the room, where you want the door and closet, and where the window should be in the room. Put some tape on the floor to show where the walls would go and try to envision what it would look like when it’s done.

Another way to find extra space in your house is to maximize the space you already have. Putting up shelves in the garage is a great way to create storage you never thought you had. The space under the stairs is another overlooked place. Sure, it’s oddly-shaped, but so are a lot of things that you store. With a little creativity, this can be a great place to store bulky items. Another alternative to drawing up southern living home plans and selling your current house is to build a shed. For a fraction of what a new house costs you can have a place for your lawn and garden equipment, patio furniture, and whatever else you can think of. A shed is also a great place to put your tools, a workbench, and extra building material. You save a ton of space and if you build your shed in the same style as your house, it looks great, too!