An extra bedroom can be a homeowner’s dream for many reasons. As well as giving a dedicated space for occasional guests, rising housing and care home costs are leading more families to look at ways they can live together permanently across the generations. In this blog, we will explore how adding a self-contained bedroom extension to the downstairs of your home can give your family the flexibility it needs to change and grow and the key design elements you should consider through the project.
Being able to provide visiting family and friends with their own space has obvious benefits— meaning you don’t have to shuffle around existing sleep arrangements or give up your living room. However, adding an additional bedroom space to your ground floor can also be seen as a necessity for many families as they grow and evolve.
Rising house prices have been a common news item for several years and, whilst we may start to see it at least plateau in 2024, house prices are on average 73% higher than ten years before. This can mean it is much more difficult for people to get on the property ladder, resulting in many adults living with their parents for longer. A self-contained bedroom with its own independent access can give more privacy and freedom to everyone in the home, creating a more harmonious living arrangement.
At the other end of the generational scale is the decision to move elderly relatives into the family home, both to provide support for them as they age and to receive support with things like childcare. As well as being practically and financially aspirational, a survey by Legal & General found that multigenerational living also fosters a closer family bond, much more than people originally perceive, and can combat loneliness. In fact, overall, 4 in 5 of survey respondents who had lived in a multigenerational home believed they were better off for having done so.
Whilst previously, these family changes may have triggered a new house hunt, the stress and rocketing costs of moving home can be prohibitive for many and exploring the possibilities of a home extension can be more cost effective. They can also increase the value and desirability of your home overall.
A downstairs bedroom can be added on to any part of the house where there is adequate outside space and access. However, they are commonly set away from the smells and noise of the kitchen or utility. If independent access is important, then ensuring that there is a clear path that can be well-lit to and from the extension will be key. Similarly, size will be very much dictated by the external footprint you are working with. However, space for a double bed and some level of storage is usually important.
Our Certified Installers will support you through the design and construction process to ensure you get the functionality you need within the space you have available and that your extension meets the correct standards. However, there are some key factors that are worth bearing in mind as you work through the process, such as:
Where do the services need to go? Making some general decisions about how you want the space to be laid out can help define where heating pipes, sockets and lighting need to be added.
Where do I want the doors and windows to go? This may seem like a simple consideration but, as the room will be on the ground floor, it is important to consider both access and privacy, as well as providing adequate light and air to the space. Double doors leading to the garden provide a connection to the outdoors, whilst providing independent access. Velux rooflights are also a common addition to these kinds of extensions as they are perfect for introducing daylight and fresh air without the need for ground-level windows that look out on main access ways such as a garden path. In addition to ensuring more privacy, these also allow for more wall space for storage and decoration. These rooflights can also be designed with solar or electric opening and blind mechanisms, allowing them to be easily controlled.
What is the extension being built on? Different soils require different foundations. Our Certified Installers can assess this, but we have written a blog for homeowners with more information.
What thermal performance does it need to achieve? Bedrooms need to be cosy in the winter and cool in the summer to ensure a good night’s sleep. Therefore, ensuring the extension is well insulated and uses energy efficiently is a key priority. Learn more about thermal performance in our dedicated blog on the topic.
What is your ideal project timeline? In addition to making sure your home is ready to accommodate any changing family dynamics in good time (no one wants to be stuck on the sofa for months on end!) undertaking any home improvement project can have a knock on effect on the rest of your home. Having an idea of when you want the works to take place can help limit the disruption as far as possible. Learn more about the build speed of extensions in our blog.
The design of your downstairs bedroom will largely be dictated by how it is going to be used and by who. For example, spaces that will be used for occasional guests can be configured to also provide additional living space when it is just you at home. Interior stylist, writer, author and consultant Joanna Thornhill explains that “opting for a sofabed or a double daybed means the space can function as a second living room. Also look for furniture which doesn’t obviously scream ‘bedroom’, to aid the versatility of the space. For example, low cabinet wardrobes, which incorporate a single hanging rail for tops and folded-over bottoms and dresses, look like everyday living room storage but function just as well as a standard wardrobe.”
Where it needs to function as a bedroom on a more permanent basis, you can include features such as built-in wardrobes to help keep the space well organised and prevent belongings spreading into the main house.
In both cases, it makes sense to make the most of the direct connection to the garden with comforting green or blue colour palettes complimented with natural materials such as wood-effect flooring or jute rugs— whose hardwearing and easy clean properties also make them ideal where the bedroom is being accessed directly from the outside. Clusters of mirrors can also be used to reflect the view, taking the place of artwork whilst also being very functional.
Whilst glazed windows, rooflights and doors are key for creating a bright and airy space in the day, privacy and light reduction are imperative in sleeping spaces. Joanna advises that “windows and rooflights are equipped with blackout blinds whilst thick, full-length curtains across double doors will also aid privacy, warmth and provide a soft, cocooning feel.”
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Guardian Home Extension: Rest+ page or download our brochure.
