If you have a growing family or simply want to increase the saleability and value of your property, adding another bedroom can make a huge difference to your home. We look at how you can increase the number of bedrooms in the house and give everyone a little extra living space.
Partition wall
One of the quickest and most affordable ways to add another bedroom is to create two out of one. If you have a large double bedroom, erecting an internal wall will provide two smaller rooms suitable for children. You must ensure that each room has its own window, which is necessary under Building Regulations as a means to escape a fire. Each room will also need an access door so you may need to create this opening in a structural or load-bearing wall. One of the benefits of creating two smaller bedrooms from one larger room is that in the future you can always restore it to its original size by removing the wall and blocking up the second door. Typically, you don’t need planning permission to install a partition wall although it must comply with Building Regulations concerning the thickness of the wall and fire safety.
Move up
A very popular way of increasing the number of bedrooms in a property is to convert the loft. The attic is frequently empty or used to store items such as Christmas decorations or suitcases, so is ripe for conversion into a useful space. There are several different types of loft conversions including rooflight conversions, rear or side dormers, hip-to-gable conversions, mansard and piggyback conversions. Rear dormers are the most popular loft conversion in the UK and offer a good size bedroom and often, an ensuite bathroom as well.
Building a dormer loft conversion can take a few months and does present some disruption to family life for the duration of the work. However, the resulting additional bedroom will not only add value to your property but also alleviate the strain on the original living space in the house.
Extend outwards
If you have space at the rear of your property, a ground-floor extension is a good option for adding an extra bedroom. Smaller extensions can be built under permitted development rights but larger additions will need planning permission. The size of your allowed extension will depend on the type of property you have i.e. terraced, semi-detached or detached. Semi and fully-detached homes have the added benefit of being suitable for a wrap-around extension which is a combination of a side return and rear extension.
Having an extra bedroom on the ground floor and next to the garden is a great addition to your property and very suitable for an elderly relative or as guest accommodation. There are designs and styles to suit any house and a rear extension can add significantly to your property’s value.
Mezzanine bedroom
Depending on your style of property you could incorporate a mezzanine bedroom for additional sleeping space. They work particularly well in barn conversions or self builds and in rooms with a double-height void or vaulted ceiling. As an occasional bedroom which can also be used for other purposes such as a home office, teenage den or hobby room, a mezzanine is a stylish addition to any home. Privacy is often an issue with this type of room but with the right design, you can create a cosy and intimate space. You will need a minimum head height of 2.1 metres to be able to comfortably walk around in a mezzanine bedroom although the size of the room itself will depend on whether it is going to have a single or double bed.
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