4 Walls Library - Find the Hidden Space in Your Home

by 4 Walls member Tina Gleisner, My Handyman

When you need more space you have a variety of choices to consider. You can re-purpose existing space which is more cost effective than additions that require excavation, a foundation and roof. You can add visual space by changing the configuration of your walls or you can add more living space (square footage) to your existing home. To help you get started, here are some ideas and there are many good books to identify remodeling options.

• Re-Purpose Existing Space:
• Finish one or more rooms in a basement or attic.
• Shift space from one room to another, i.e. bathrooms can be made larger by incorporating space from an adjoining closet. My Handyman expanded a master bedroom closet by removing 1 wall and building a new wall to capture space from an underutilized guest bedroom.
  
• Find the dead space lost in walls, i.e. under stairs, and make it accessible for added storage.
  
• Create niches for special activities like a home office in the kitchen, a library along one wall of the living room, and the family entertainment area for all electronics including DVDs, CDs, etc. My younger son loved to work with his hands so we created an art center in the dining room with an oak file cabinet (matched dining room furniture) to store all the art supplies.
  
• Find more space in storage constrained areas by de-cluttering. Alternatively you can move things you use once a year or less, to less desirable storage areas such as the garage, attic, etc.
  
• Create More Visual Space:
• Open up walls to create pass throughs. This is often done between kitchens and adjoining living/family rooms or a window with serving ledge from the kitchen to an outside deck with family eating area.
  
• Eliminate walls to combine too small rooms into larger ones, or make open living spaces that integrate former hallways (lost space) with rooms for living that can take advantage of the added space.
  
• Bring the outdoors in with larger windows and/or /doors.
  
• Garden windows add natural light and enable indoor gardening.
  
• Sliding glass doors from the kitchen/family room to the backyard or skylights bring in light and provide more friendly flow between the house and outdoor areas.
  
• Visual space can be gained by raising ceilings and is cost effective when reclaiming unused attic space found in split level homes.
  
• Add more living space
  
• Outdoor living spaces are very popular today as families look for ways to relax and entertain more at home, i.e.  don't require long trips with hefty gas bills.
• The Top Remodeling Projects in 2007 included the following added space:
• Addition of a deck - wood and composite (listed twice)
• Attic bedroom remodel
• Listed in 2006 Top 10 Remodeling Projects was a two story addition returning 81% of investment
  

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