Supersize your home

A home’s real value lies in its space. Sarah shows how you can make yours work harder while adding value for the future

Make the most of the space you have, says Sarah Beeny

TURN THE GARAGE INTO A HOBBY SPACE

Unless you’re a classic car enthusiast, you may not actually need a garage. Nowadays, people are likely to store a few bikes, an old chest of drawers and possibly a lawnmower in this large, valuable square footage. Do yourself a favour: get a small shed for the mower, build a bike shelter and convert the garage into a properly insulated, usable space. You’ll find it makes a perfect playroom for kids, home office or hobby space. Craft room, anyone? When you come to sell, this extra space will reap dividends in terms of return on your investment.

CREATE SUPERSMART STORAGE

It’s really worth using space cleverly for storage solutions, as the less cluttered a room is, the bigger it will feel. Firstly, you need to know what you want to store in the various places to make any space you may have work hard. Write a list of all the things you need to store – shoes, coats, keys, tools – then have a good look around for dead spaces. Assign each item to a set place, such as a cupboard or a hook for keys, for example. That way, you’ll not only end up with lots of storage but also a really good system for using it. The result? A streamlined (and calmer!) home.

THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT OPEN-PLAN ZONES

Knocking down walls to make a bigger area, especially where you have poky rooms, is the obvious answer. But I don’t think there’s much benefit to making rooms completely open plan. However, creating a lovely flow will add value. Knocking down the middle of a wall and leaving the sides, for example, is an effective way to create the feeling of space while still being able to use both rooms for different things.

It’s also worth thinking creatively about painting open-plan living areas in contrasting colours or zoning spaces with large storage units.

CONVERT THE LOFT

Building upwards is always worth considering. If you have the head height in your loft (at the highest point) to do a proper conversion, it should be a straightforward process. If you don’t, you may need to drop the ceiling of the floor below. If you’re going to do a loft conversion, I’d recommend you find the extra cash and do a dormer window extension at the same time, as the extra space it will give you will be substantial.

ADD A USEFUL EXTENSION

Adding space by extending outwards is by far the cheapest option that will give you a good return on your investment. However, you need to make sure you’re not ruining your outdoor area – creating extra living space but having no garden may make your home trickier to sell. Be clever with an extension by trying to use any areas that are dark and forgotten. And don’t think that a new extension has to be a room in itself – you may find blending a new extension into your existing space works better and will give you loads of valuable, well-organised space.

TRANSFORM YOUR KITCHEN

Don’t get too obsessed by your kitchen’s size – work with what you have. To me, a galley kitchen leading through to a living area can look stunning and spacious for not too much outlay – and without eating into your home’s existing living space. A blend of pale-coloured units, sleek worktops, smart handles and good flooring will do the trick. If you did want to blow the budget, a well-made and well-planned kitchen in a classic design will stand the test of time and, while you may occasionally want to freshen up the colour with a coat of paint, it should last you a lifetime.