You shopped around until you found your dream home, and when you finally found it, you thought you would be happy in it forever. As your family grows, though, are you finding that your home is no longer as dreamy as you once thought? You may be happy in your area, and love certain aspects of your home, but do you need to move on? Not necessarily. With a little bit of creative thinking, you can find ways to renovate your home and help it accommodate the family you are now just as perfectly as it fit the family you were when you bought it.

Before you get excited about a renovation, make sure that’s the way you want to go. Renovations can be expensive, and they can also be quite an ordeal for a family, so consider the following factors before deciding to start knocking down walls, moving your plumbing, and building on rooms.

• What is your budget? Whether you are doing the renovation yourself or hiring a contractor, it is important to understand the full cost ahead of time. Think about the cost of materials, labor, tools, and décor you will need to finish the job, and build a little extra into the budget in case something unexpected arises.
• Is everyone on board with the renovation? Maybe you want an open floorplan, but your spouse enjoys separate rooms. Maybe you are planning a nursery and need to consider the needs of your older kids. Talk to everyone who will be affected by the renovation and make sure you are all on the same page before you solidify any plans.
• What’s your vision? Before you make any changes, get a clear picture of what you want, drawing each space you want to renovate before making any changes. Each room should have a clear plan, and it should be something that will work for your family for many years to come, so that you do not have to keep renovating.
• Who will do the work? Maybe someone in your family is very handy, able to do plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, and more. This is a great bonus, but think it through all the way before you decide to DIY. Realistically consider the skills and time constraint of the person who will be doing the work. If you have any doubts that this person can see the project through, hire a contractor.
• Can anyone raise objections? If a housing association, local council, or any other entity may be able to weigh in on your renovations, make sure you have cleared your proposed changes before you start your project.

Once you’re sure this is what you want to do, which renovations will you choose? We have some suggestions you might want to consider, to make your home more functional for your family.

• Open up your floorplan. Knocking down walls to create an open kitchen design that connects your kitchen, living, and dining spaces is a great way to make the house feel roomier and give it more flow. By opening your space, you will be brining in more natural light and giving yourself more room to cook, eat, and hang out as a family.
• Transform the attic or basement. Typically used for storage, these spaces can often be turned into functional rooms. By decluttering and remodeling, you can turn the otherwise wasted space in your attic or basement into an extra bedroom, a rec room, an office, a reading loft, or a playroom.
• Remodel the bathroom. When your kids are small, a tub is a necessity for bathing them every night. As they get older, though, you might consider ditching the bathtub to free up room for a walk-in shower. Don’t have enough bathrooms to keep up with your family’s needs? Add one. Sometimes, just the addition of a half bath can make a huge difference in the way your home functions. Another bathroom renovation idea is to renovate or add an en suite bathroom for your primary bedroom. This gives the adults a sanctuary where they can relax and unwind, preferably uninterrupted.
• Add on to the house. Let’s face it: sometimes what your growing family needs is more space. By building on an addition, you can create that space and turn it into extra square footage that functions however you need it to function. Sometimes, even adding some outdoor space can make a big difference. How would your family life change if you had a large front porch, a screened in patio, or a deck perfect for relaxing or entertaining?

When it’s time to renovate your home, Capitol Design Build can help. We’ve been performing custom remodeling since 1989 and building custom, high-end homes in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area for 29 years. We serve businesses and individuals in Virginia, Washington D.C, and Maryland, meeting every need from kitchen renovation and bathroom remodeling to custom home design and building. With experience spanning many disciplines, including engineering, design, remodeling, construction, and customer service, we look forward to working with you. Feel free to shop our website, call us at (703) 436-6919, or contact us online for a free, no-obligation estimate.