Create an en suite

Carving out space from a bedroom for an en suite will give you an extra room without having to add to your home’s footprint. You won’t need a lot of space – from 1x2.6m for a shower room with basin and WC, and from 1.7x2.3m for WC and basin plus bath. Not enough space in the master bedroom? Steal from each of two adjoining bedrooms, or transform a built-in cupboard. A window isn’t essential but ventilation is, and building regs apply to this as well as drainage and electrics. Costs start from about £4,000 depending on the en suite’s position in relation to existing drainage, studwork needed for walls, the type of flooring used and any extras like underfloor heating. The existing boiler needs to produce enough hot water, too – a plumber can advise. ➤