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Room add on ideas


13 Stunning Home Addition Ideas of All Sizes

By

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/27/21

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

If you need more space in your house, consider an addition rather than searching for a larger home. For many homeowners, it is a smart investment that increases livable square footage while boosting a home's value. Even if you intend to sell your home shortly, you'll likely recoup around 60 percent of your renovation costs, according to Remodeling's 2020 Cost Vs. Value Report.

Additions can be grand, such as building on second additions or two-story spaces, but they don't need to be. From bump-outs to micro-additions, there are plenty of smaller ways that will greatly impact your home's comfort while optimizing your floor plan. For example, enhance an addition with small tricks like installing a glass wall to take an otherwise boxy annex from dark and closed to bright and airy.

Here are 13 small, large, and unexpected home additions to inspire your renovation plans.

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(Image credit: Future / Matthew Williams)

If you love where you live but your home doesn’t meet your needs any longer, home addition ideas are what’s required. They can spare you the search for a new property and the stress of uprooting the family to a new neighborhood.

Additions can transform a home in many ways. An addition could expand an existing kitchen perhaps, so there’s space for an island, create an extra living room, or even add a new level to the house to meet changing needs. Or perhaps you are looking to add an extra story or simply take advantage of sunroom ideas to enjoy the weather and your backyard view from indoors.

To inspire your home addition ideas we’ve put together a selection of fabulous rooms that delivered both extra space and style for the homeowners.

Home addition ideas

Planning a home addition can be a fulfilling project. From smaller additions such as a sunroom to a whole new story, home addition ideas have the potential to vastly improve life at home. 

When you are starting your home renovation, it is also important to know about home addition costs. Whether it’s a small or large addition, it’s essential to have an adequate budget for the project from the start. Take a look at these examples to get you started.

1. Size up for a growing family

(Image credit: Leslie Saul & Associates)

Consider more than one addition to adapt a home to family circumstances. Several additions were made to this 1920s Tudor to fit the lifestyle of a young family by Leslie Saul & Associates . 

‘A primary bedroom and bath were added above the existing garage, the dining room was expanded to the front of the house, and a large family room was added to the back (seen above), styled to match the Tudor original, including a large craftsman stone and stucco fireplace,’ says Leslie Saul.

2. Connect old and new

(Image credit: M Lavender Interiors Photograph: Chris Bradley Photography)

An addition can link the original house with a new area of the home. ‘This addition was the conversion of a screen porch into a year-round sitting room,’ explains Mark Lavender, principal designer of M Lavender Interiors . ‘It provides the transitional connection between the existing historic home and the newly constructed kitchen and family room addition.   

‘It is located immediately off the foyer and is viewed from the living room, foyer and kitchen areas of the home. Our client loves color and we have used vibrant primary and secondary colors throughout the home and felt this space deserved to be a quiet respite for the homeowner. Our client has claimed this room as her own in a house with five boys and her husband. She uses it for her needlepointing and for reading.   

‘This room is one of my favorite rooms in the house. We love the filtered light that streams into the room from the large windows and the surrounding trees. It is such a light and airy space and we chose to enhance that feeling with the neutral sofa and window treatments. We enhanced this with pops of colors on the toss pillows – the fabric of the chinoiserie toss pillows matches the wallcovering in the adjacent foyer and the vibrant blue chair. The rug marries the main colors together in a handsome traditional way.’

3. Expand the kitchen

(Image credit: Rebel Builders Photograph: Freebird)

Popular home addition ideas include boosting the size of the kitchen to make it a space to share with family and friends, and you can do this with a conservatory design.

‘This kitchen was an essential renovation for our clients who craved a space for entertaining, while also making room for their growing family,’ says Diana Pauro, founder of Rebel Builders . ‘This professional kitchen island idea was designed with hydronic radiant floors, custom cabinets, and an enormous island perfect for food prep and gathering. 

‘After studying the exterior and finding the best layout of the windows to align with the existing ones and with the interior requirements, we decided not to have upper cabinets in the main kitchen wall. By choosing open shelving the wall felt lighter and had a better flow connecting existing with the new footprint.

‘Because the clients emphasized their need for natural light and connection to their backyard, a total of 11 new windows were also included. The clients’ choice of dark stained wood detailing was influenced by the adjacent dining room wall paneling to help the spaces transition more smoothly. This high contrast color scheme was a must for the clients. We explored many options and decided to have the black windows create a picture frame that would show vignettes of the greenery outside.’

4. Create a spacious primary bedroom

(Image credit: Maggie Griffin Design Photograph: Brian Bieder)

If your main bedroom isn’t living up to its name, home addition ideas might be on the agenda to boost its size. This bedroom addition from Maggie Griffin Design is a luxurious room that’s light filled thanks to its French windows.

A white paneled ceiling also helps keep the addition bright by reflecting the natural light, while floral trail drapes and upholstery link indoors with out.

5. Complement original architecture

(Image credit: Leslie Saul & Associates)

An addition inspired by the architecture of a home can be the perfect choice, as it was for this home located in a historic district in Massachusetts. 

‘A great room addition fits into a saltbox shape, low in the front, so as not to overpower the original colonial house, and high in the back, to provide light and views to the beautiful site,’ says Leslie Saul.

6. Work within the rules

(Image credit: JL Design)

Zoning regulations may affect home addition ideas, but that doesn’t mean boosting a home’s size is out of the question. 

‘This was a home in a historic overlay that required we keep the existing 1940s front elevation,’ says Jessica Davis, owner and principal designer at JL Design . ‘We removed the entire back wall of the existing home and added approximately 2800 square foot to this modern home, in addition to this roughly 500 square foot screened porch. 

‘Our clients wanted the ability to open the interior space to the exterior space which was achieved with an extra wide glass sliding door. The young couple wanted to be able to use the space year round so we added heaters in the ceiling as well as ceiling fans, screen and draperies to keep out the elements when needed. 

‘This couple also loves to entertain so it was important that we provide seating for parties and events. The decor is reflective of the modern interior of the home and an extension of that. ’

7. Retain a home’s character

(Image credit: Rebel Builders Photograph: Freebird)

Additions can substantially increase a home’s size while keeping its existing character. 

‘This was a project for clients who loved the property that they owned,’ explains Diana Pauro. ‘They had access to a lake and they had a supportive community where they were. They didn’t want to leave but their house was too small. So instead of moving out of the amazing property, they decided to build this addition. Ultimately, we ended up doubling the square footage of the house. 

‘We had months of design where we asked ourselves, “how do we create an addition, that keeps the original character of the house, without making it look like we built on an addition?” We played a lot with volumes and proportions to make sure this addition was as smooth as possible. 

‘We put the family room looking over their beautiful backyard to bring the outside in. We created the mudroom and the breakfast nook to alleviate the uses of the kitchen, which was used as an eat-in kitchen/living room previously.  

‘There was no second floor so we created a new staircase with a new main suite. Their vision was a modern and luxurious suite with an office that could also be a guest room when needed. Although the bathroom for the office/guest room is a Jack and Jill style bathroom, this space would be primarily used by the clients, so this wasn’t an issue for them. They also wanted a massive walk-in closet with a vanity for her to get ready at. 

‘We were able to take this humble little house and turn it into this big family modern farmhouse with bold statements such as light flooring, vaulted ceilings, and a gorgeous en suite with crisp colors and textures.’

8. Make a porch all-season

(Image credit: Georgia Zikas Design)

A sunroom can prove a relatively low cost way to increase space in a home. Georgia Zikas of Georgia Zikas Design transformed this 15 x 20 screened-in porch into a four season room with baseboard heat and sliders to outside. The patio was expanded with new blue stone, too, while porcelain tile flooring looks like gray slate. There’s a wood ceiling with sheetrock blue board for moisture, plus painted brick, and the fresh furnishings are all outdoor grade.

‘A sunroom really expands the footprint and adds great square footage, increasing home value,’ says Georgia. ‘A vaulted ceiling (which we did here) is fantastic for adding height to the room.’

9. Add indoors and out

(Image credit: Murray Lampert)

It’s always worth thinking about improving outside space at the same time when planning an addition.

Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel added the left hand wing to this home, creating an en suite that boosts the home’s square footage. But also added was a walking deck, creating useful extra outdoor space to enjoy. 

10. Get a lot from a little

(Image credit: MC Design)

An addition to a room doesn’t have to be sizeable to improve a property by a large measure.

‘In this living room, the wall originally ended where the fireplace wall ends,’ explains Los Angeles-based Megan Dufresne, principal designer at MC Design . ‘We added on to allow a natural flow from one room to another and add on to the living space.

Is it worth it to add on to your house?

It can be worth it to add on to your house, but it will depend on individual circumstances. ‘The return on investment depends on size, comparables and what the market bears in the area,’ says Gregg Cantor, president and CEO of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel .

Keep in mind that adding on to your house will save the costs of moving home as well as the upheaval. It can also improve your quality of life, which can definitely make a well designed addition worthwhile.

Can you build an addition without a foundation?

Generally, you can’t build an addition without a foundation. As an example, ‘In California, the building code requires footings for all exterior walls,’ says Gregg Cantor. Check the building code for your area or speak to a local architect or design and build contractor.

One way of avoiding having to construct a foundation could be to add a second story. There’s a caveat here, though. ‘If you are building up you need to make sure the existing structure beneath can hold the weight,’ says Susan Taylor of Davis Taylor Design .

Another option could be an addition that’s cantilevered off the existing foundation, and this could be an option if you only need to add a small amount of space.  

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

30 Cool Ideas to Decorate a Nursery

Decorating a nursery provides a unique opportunity to try out new colors and patterns. Very often, the final solution is a compromise between what the child wants and what is better financially and practically. The examples below will help you create a bright but consistent nursery.

When we talk about color, walls are the main topic of conversation. For the nursery, as a rule, bright colors are chosen. But as soon as the child grows up, the room ceases to correspond to him and you have to redo it. Here are 30 ideas on how to avoid it. nine0003

Bright décor and lighting

White walls may seem too boring for a nursery, but there are plenty of creative ideas to fix it. White color leaves you more room to maneuver, allowing you to change the style and theme of the room only through decor and lighting. And given how often children's tastes and preferences change, this may be the best solution. Due to the functional and economic advantages, this approach is gaining more and more followers. nine0003

Marine style headboard. Idea for a nursery from Posh Playrooms.

Balloons enliven the nursery interior. Project from Covadonga Canovas.

A teenage girl's room with bright pink decor. Idea from Helene Hollub. Photo by Ken Hayden.

Decor adds color to an eclectic bedroom. Idea for a nursery from Walk Among The Homes.

Start with an unusual bed, or even a headboard, add a nightstand and decor to complete the look. Choose a room color palette and stick to it. Traditionally, lilac and pink colors are chosen for girls, and blue for boys. Against the neutral background of the walls, these bright colors of the decor become more expressive. nine0003

Children's room design that changes with the child's needs.

Bright floral accent in a girl's nursery. Taken from Home Staging — Czech Republic.

Scandinavian nursery decor ideas. Taken from Ninainvorm.

The use of signs in the decor of the nursery. Project by BendikLaura Manning.

Orange decor brings the nursery to life. Idea from alvarez-diaz villalon.

Ideas for adding color to furniture

Shelves and cabinets greatly influence the look of a nursery. Shelving with a workplace is a smart choice. In addition, these cabinets come in different colors. Instead of the ubiquitous pink and blue tones, you can choose yellow, it suits children of both sexes. Orange is suitable for children who are still a year or two before transitional age. If you combine these cheerful colors with black, you get a brighter look. Multi-colored shelves and cabinet doors will suit any style of the room. nine0003

A boy's room with colorful shelving and decor. Nursery by Redtop Architects.

Shelving unit with workstation in different shades of green. Idea for the nursery by Paul Archer Design

Flashy shelves and yellow lamps are the main accents of the room. Nursery by Strauss Design Susan.

Children's workstations in different colors. Project from MATT architecture LLP.

Vintage wardrobe with colorful drawers in the nursery. Idea from Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs. nine0003

Bring your walls to life

Not happy with white walls despite bright decor? Instead of worrying about the right paint color, think about a nice accent wall with nice wallpaper. This will not only add color to the room, but also create a mood. Take into account the size of the room and the size of the surface that the wallpaper will need to cover. Too flashy drawing can "suppress" a small room.

Dark blue bedroom with light brown wallpaper by De Gournay. Nursery idea by Scott Weston Architecture Design. nine0003

Drawn map of the world. Idea for a nursery from Spazio Rosso.

Butterfly wallpaper by J&J Design Group.

Geographic maps are a favorite element of the nursery of all time, which helps to satisfy the curiosity of the child. Graffiti on the walls is suitable for older children, and a wall with a slate surface will help him become a great artist himself. Posters, vintage lettering and glowing lettering add charm to the perfect bedroom.

Modern nursery in orange and blue. Nursery idea from Charley's Loft Drapery and Design.

Wallpaper from posters in a teenager's room. Children's room by Go Green Construction.

A map of the world and bright decor bring the nursery to life. Project by Kati Curtis Design.

Graffiti on the wall adds color to the nursery.

Grandiose Ceiling

A colorful ceiling that dramatically changes the look of a room. In a nursery, this provides a unique opportunity to add more than just color to a room — you can decorate the ceiling with anything from stars and planets to your child's favorite superheroes. Pair this with a beautiful chandelier or recessed light fixtures for a mesmerizing, expressive space that is filled with color despite the softer tone walls. nine0003

The design ceiling will impress anyone. Idea for a nursery from Staprans Design.

Stylish combination of pink and orange. Project for a nursery from DKOR Interiors.

Chic teen room with blue ceiling and blinds.

Girl's room with pink details. Taken from Gormans.

Carpets and Windows

If a painted ceiling doesn't inspire you, think of a beautiful carpet, a wonderful floor tile or an original carpet runner. Window blinds and drapes that match the color of the pillows on the bed are another easy approach to decor. He will never let you down. No matter which way you choose to bring color into the interior, make sure that the nursery space is not full of details and is logically thought out. nine0003

Iridescent blinds are eye-catching. Idea for a nursery from All Shutters and Blinds - Adelaide.

A multi-coloured geometric patterned rug sets the mood in the nursery. Project from Stone Creek Builders.

A vibrant rug adds charm to a room. Idea for a nursery from DKOR Interiors.

A birdcage chandelier and a stylish rug are the basis of this room's design. Taken from Alex Findlater.

Colored curtains and bright details on a neutral background. Idea for a nursery from d2 interieurs.

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100 stylish photo ideas - INMYROOM

The arrival of a child in a family is an event so significant and exciting that that it is difficult to describe in words. A newborn when looking into his eyes causes feeling of complete purity and serenity. The desire of responsible parents is to ensure the best conditions for the life of the baby and his growing up, to create a place where he feel comfortable and protected. All these things are necessary for a child could grow up a calm, healthy and balanced person. nine0003

Correct choosing a furnished room for a newborn is of paramount importance. To choose the best option, you need to know some secrets and nuances: the most basic of them are described in this article.

B the room needs to provide for and correctly arrange a lot of things that will be required by the child and parents, places for:

All should be located so as to provide comfort to the newborn and convenience parents caring for him.

Baby rooms for newborns are planned for several years in advance - children grow up very quickly, so you need to anticipate the moments where the table will be for drawing, and then a desk, think over lighting and eyeliner for it, and much more.

Also you need to remember the importance of a suitable climate in the room. The temperature should be comfortable, neither hot nor cold - from 20 to 22 degrees. Humidity - 50-70%. The room must be well ventilated. nine0003

Finishing materials and color

General the requirement here is the environmental friendliness of materials. Traditionally, the best this is a tree; it not only does not cause any harm, but also creates comfort, a feeling "naturalness".

Not it is recommended to use artificial materials in large quantities, and not the use of toxic paints is allowed: any artificial chemical evaporation must be eliminated.

For the floor, it is also preferable to use wood or good quality laminate, suitable for environmental standards. Carpet should not be used - dust accumulates in it, microorganisms and harmful bacteria develop. nine0003

For walls it is better to use not paint, but simple paper-based wallpaper or reed - in terms of environmental friendliness, it is also more beneficial. AT arranging the ceiling from the tension option is better to refuse, and choose the finish tree.

For newborn very important colors that will surround him. It's serious in a way affects his psychology and development - it must be remembered that consciousness the baby is an open book in which he figuratively writes down everything that sees, hears and feels. nine0003

For the baby is best suited for a calm range of shades of light colors. It's already in later, during growing up, you need to add brighter colors, but at the beginning peace and harmony are important for a baby in life - this is the best will influence the formation of his character and characteristics of the psyche.

Also the background color is recommended to be selected according to the sex of the child: for girls are more gentle, for boys - more "solid" shades. Great choice will become beige, cream or coffee with milk, as well as blue or pink pastel colors. nine0003

Possible use one or two bright contrasts: for example, multi-colored accessories, toys - for the first time this is enough. But after six months, the introduction bright details in the interior of the room are a must - they will stimulate the development brain, the emergence of new neural connections.

Furniture selection

First the point is to say about the most important thing - the material for the manufacture of furniture. Here the recommendation will be the same - it is better to choose a tree.

B the room for the newborn needs order, everything must be distributed optimally, unnecessary items should simply be removed. Essentially, here is a list of what you need furniture: nine0003

Room for a newborn should be planned based on the principle of least effort, so that everything is "at hand" - within reach, without committing extra movements.

First months of life for a newborn, a baby cradle is suitable, for convenience - on wheels, but the child is growing fast and will soon need more space. nine0003

Dignity cots in front of the baby cradle - its ability to make a place to sleep spacious and grow in size (in the respective models). She must have a high rim, usually with wooden bars, and be away from drafts or sources of heat.

Cot may have wheels or skids for rocking, additional functions for convenient baby care.

At choosing a changing table, you need to know that they are of different types - from overhead, taking up little space to full-fledged dressers with drawers, in which you can store diapers, diapers, gels, etc. Also, they are installed additional lighting. nine0003

B the interior of the room for a newborn is of great importance correct and convenient storage of all things; as already mentioned, you can store them in cabinets and dressers, but there are other options:
1. use of open chests of drawers and shelving;
2. use underbed space;
3. storage through installation on the walls of open shelves, decorative ropes, wall pockets, etc.

Choice feeding places should be based on the convenience of both the mother and the child. They may be spacious armchair with footrest, miniature cushions and comfortable armrests. Nearby there should be a special stand or a small a table where napkins, diapers and other necessary accessories will lie. nine0003

Room for a newborn, the photo of which is presented below, already includes a bed for parents. If the room is not very spacious, then this may be suitable for simple foldout.

Interior styles

Design rooms for a newborn can be chosen according to your taste, especially the offer in in this sense is very broad. An interesting nursery will develop in the child himself sense of taste and originality.

Modern

He distinguished by functionality and modernity, where in the first place are simplicity and comfort. nine0003

Classic

Sophistication and classic beauty are the unique features of this style. Every detail is good thought out, everything looks elegant and luxurious.

English

Feature his is aristocracy, he is somewhat similar to retro, stiff, worthy. Roundness, which can be traced in everything, will make parents well look for the right accessories, as they need to be selected very carefully, in in accordance with style.

Scandinavian

It will be bright and stylish design of the children's room, the interior in an amazing way combines seriousness and tenderness.

Minimalism

He filled with optimal functionality - there is nothing superfluous in it, only what what is necessary. But along with this severity, he is not devoid of beauty and tenderness.

Loft

Stand out competent and clear arrangement of calm light colors with bright contrasts. A child in such a room will be interesting and useful - this is an excellent choice from which you can begin to learn about the world around you. nine0003

Modern

This style means the selection of special things in the decor. Will require additional costs and effort, but the room will turn out to be very beautiful and magical.

Safari

His feature - completely natural materials, unique pastel colors tones and textures. The child will like it very much, along with drawings of cute animals on the walls.

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