Design tips for your room addition

by Gabby Hyman

Moving up doesn't have to mean moving. Room additions open up space for a growing family while letting you stay put. Whether it's a new bathroom to accommodate houseguests or additional family members, a new family room that can double as a den or dining area, or an expanded kitchen, a room expansion can make your house more comfortable over the long haul. It can also build immediate value if you plan to put your home on the market.

The obvious first step in creating any room addition plans--even before calculating your budget--is to determine why you want or need the room. Have children crowded you out of the bathroom? Looking for peace and serenity in a den, home office, or crafts room? Do you finally have the means to build the entertaining or recreation room you've always wanted? Would an extra pantry in the kitchen along with a nook expansion make meals a dream?

Steps to Expansion Success
Once you know why you need the room and who will occupy it, begin exploring room addition plans. You can create your own, copy one that has been prepared for others, buy a model plan, or have one specifically customized for you by a designer. Include any decorative features, furnishings, appliances, or electronics hardware that will fill the room. This would be an excellent time to let your budgetary capabilities govern the scale of the addition. Remember to plan for exterior, interior, functional, and decorative aspects of the expansion. If the room expansion affects the outside landscaping, advance planning may save your plants. Will there be a new foundation, additional electrical wiring or plumbing fixtures? Ensuring that the room addition reflects or complements the existing design of your home is critical for increasing resale value.

Sweating the Details
Even if you're planning on hiring a contractor to perform all the work, it helps to educate yourself in the plan-filing process, state or local building permit requirements, and portions of the local building code that can impact your expansion project. Missing deadlines or failing inspections can seriously delay a room addition.

About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.