ForLook Interior Design

More and more of us are living in smaller and smaller homes, which is ironic given that we are living in a commercial world that encourages us to buy more things all the time. So where do we put all our stuff? Most of us try to utilise every available bit of space in our homes for  storage - but the more storage space we create, the more stuff we buy and the more space  we need again… It’s a vicious circle.

So, what do you do if you’ve just run out of space? Well, you can either move house or extend your home. Many of us don’t even want to go near the idea of an extension - mainly because of the hassle of getting planning permission, not to mention having the builders in for weeks.

Here are a few ways you can create more space without having to apply for planning permission.

1, Open up spaces
Remove the walls between two rooms. This will create the illusion of more space and can open two areas into one (for example a kitchen and a dining room), making the new space more efficient. However, if you want to remove a load-bearing wall, you should consult an architect or a structural engineer.

2, Move up
A loft conversion could create lots of extra space. You don’t need planning permission as long as the actual volume of the house isn’t increased. Also, if you have a terraced house, the new conversion should not exceed 50 cubic metres or 70 cubic metres in other types of houses. Note: although you might not need planning permission, all building works must be carried out according to building regulations.  
Many people forget about fire-escapes or the route of escape in case of fire. Look into this issue before you give the go ahead to the builders - this could affect the layout of the rest of the house.

3, Extension
An extension can add lots of space and value to your house. You don’t need any planning permission for an extension provided that it is not higher than 4m and its volume does not exceed 50 cubic meters in the case of a terraced house or 70 cubic metres for other types of houses.  Again, remember that all building works must be carried out according to the latest building regulations, so it’s worth contacting your local building control officer.

4, Garden room
If you have a reasonable sized garden, you can commission a garden building to be used as your home office or playroom for your kids or summer house. Most of the time you don’t need planning permission as long as the building does not take up more than 50% of your garden , it is more than 1m away from any boundary, it is 5m or more away from the main house and does not exceed 4m high for a pitched roof or 3m for  a flat roof.  If you live in a conservation area, national park or your house is a listed building, you might need to get planning permission. Call your local planning office for advice.

The next article will give you tips as to how to deal with the issue of commissioning the builders.