Size matters when it comes to your home

It’s no secret that British homes are known for being a little on the small side. Our European neighbours would shudder to think about life in some of the new builds we see being erected around the country. In contrast to their open plan kitchen/diners and lavish double bedrooms, many homeowners in the UK are bumping elbows when brushing their teeth and tripping over one another to get to the kettle in the morning.

According to research from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), average one bedroom properties are now only 46 square metres.

Staggeringly, this is the size of a London Underground carriage and falls short of the recommended 50sqm space. With the extra 4sqm there’s enough room for a single bed or perhaps a sofa, desk and chair.

In fact, this shortfall in space has been felt across the board and family homes are some 8sqm short of the recommended size, at just 88sqm.

What does this mean for you? Well the chances are you probably want a little more space around the home, whether it’s for storage or to cater for a growing family. With relocating becoming more expensive because of the costs and fees associated with the big move, a more popular option is to improve the home in some way.
LoftCon200x300
As it stands we now have the smallest homes in Western Europe; not exactly the best statistic to be attached to the UK. New flats are now on par with those normally seen in the heavily urbanised areas of Tokyo and Manhattan. To counter this, homeowners are extending their properties with extensions and conservatories, whilst some are even converting lofts or basements into extra bedrooms.

Some of the more popular space gaining home improvements include:

  • Conservatories
  • Orangeries
  • House extensions
  • Garage conversions
  • Loft conversions
  • Basement conversions

With the importance of having more space you can choose to either improve your home or relocate. Think carefully about your decision and ensure to go through all the options available.