When we moved into our current home we were a family of four. However, my son spends a large amount of time at his dads house so it was usually just the three of us. Fast forward two years and we have six people living in a four bedroomed house. As the kids grow it’s becoming quite clear we don’t have as much space as we’d like and so we have been thinking about ways to increase the space we have in our current home without having to move and undergo all the costs associated with that.
Of course, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. We have plenty of room and a beautiful home however it would be nice if there were a little more room for the kids to play when they’re all indoors or for them all to have their own bedrooms.
We have various options open to us but it really is a matter of weighing up cost vs. the value it might add to the property should we wish to sell in the future.
I’ve always been keen on the idea of a conservatory. With the right design and specification it would allow us to move our dining room out of the family room and free up more space for storage and general movement around the home. Having done a little research I think we could quite easily (with a little help from some friends in the trade) get a DIY conservatory and save a little money on the installation. It sounds scary but if you use a reputable company they will offer support and guidance.
Another option we’ve been looking at is potentially converting our garage into a playroom or perhaps somewhere I could run a small business from. It’s an extra long garage so it really is a decent space and seems wasted as it’s currently filled with old pushchairs, bikes that are too small for the kids and suitcases.
I’m always in two minds about playrooms. Part of me feels like they’re a great idea but part of me also feels like it would just end up looking a mess and would never be tidied because it’s not somewhere I have to spend time. As it currently stands we have to tidy the toys otherwise they’re all over the living room floor when we’re trying to relax in the evening.
The other big change we’ve been looking at is having the garden landscaped, nothing too complicated, but with the addition of artificial grass. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it (when installed correctly) and I’d love to have it down in time for Summer. Now the kids are a little older and don’t rely on my husband or I to get around, I can finally see us being able to enjoy a drink in the garden on some nice furniture whilst the kids play together.
