According to the Housing Industry Australia’s latest report, nearly half (48 per cent) of home buyers are now looking for homes where there’s spaces such as home offices or study nooks for them to work from home, and another 28 per cent have a preference for additional living spaces. It’s also true that about one fifth of people in Australia live in a “multi-generational household”, and more than 40 per cent of children in their early 20s – and almost 20 per cent in their late 20s – are still living at home, or have returned home because they can’t afford to live elsewhere.
There are many ways homeowners can turn a forgotten area into a space worth spending time in, including home extensions, attic conversions, reclaiming unused space in or above a garage, as well as simply changing the function of an existing unused room, or thinking of smart options with furnishings to allow more space.
Here are some helpful tips to consider when looking to adapt your home to accommodate life’s daily activities:
Convert a wasted space
A well-designed attic room will create extra habitable space to help free up a busy household and introduce extra living space into your home. Depending on the space you have to utilise, you can also make it self-sufficient by adding a lounge, bathroom, bed and a small kitchen. It's a really clever alternative to an extension that could increase your property's value, and is perfect for guests, grandparents or as a teen’s retreat.
To ensure the conversion not only looks great, but feels comfortable and can stand up to the knocks of everyday living, it’s important to think about the building materials you choose, with impact and sound resistant benefits front of mind. Gyprock Superchek plasterboard offers sound dampening, acoustic qualities that reduce noise transfer within the home, as a noisy ‘upper level’ is the last thing you want. Supercheck is also three times tougher than standard plasterboard with enhanced resistance to dents, scuffs and scrapes meaning less maintenance in the longer term.
Let there be light
To bring new life into a dark or drab room, think about whether you can add windows or skylights. Taking time to think about the size and position of your windows is an important aspect of a renovation or attic conversion design. As a general rule, glazing should make up 20 per cent of the roof area if you're keen to maximise natural light. The position of the windows will often be dictated by the shape of the roof; however, skylights can easily and quickly be installed in both flat and pitched roofs. Skylights in raked and sloping ceilings can offer a stylish yet unobtrusive design element as well as allowing an abundance of natural light into the room.
Gyprock Superceil plasterboard sets the standard for plasterboard on ceilings. Designed specifically for use in ceilings and for all conditions, the lightweight plasterboard made with fibreglass to increase strength, prevent sag and reduce glaring light issues is a good choice for creating show-stopping ceilings with standout skylights.
Other tricks to help make a room feel lighter and larger include choosing paint colours and furnishings with a light-coloured scheme. Try to pair lighter colours with warm woods and the occasional soft furnishing in a deeper shade to ensure the room feels cosy and welcoming.
If you don’t have a car or can rely on street parking, converting your garage into a spare room or home gym can make a big difference. Garages often provide ample space for a generously sized extra bedroom, ensuite and kitchenette to create a self- contained studio or granny flat. As an added bonus, bumping up your bedroom count might also increase the value of your property.
If you don’t want a permanent transformation then a home gym is easy to install and remove and provides an additional personal space for family members and can add value to the work life balance.
Rethink your rooms
Many homeowners who have formal living and dining rooms rarely use them. Similarly, breakfast nooks, and spare bedrooms go underused - space wasted most or all of the year.
Rethinking and rearranging your rooms to live more comfortably makes sense. Consider changing a formal dining room into an office. Having one room in the house with well-arranged desks, lighting, seating, monitors and office supplies, where family members can contain their work helps promote calm in the rest of the home.
An unused bedroom could be converted into a playroom or games room, offering an area for kids to enjoy some time out without disturbing the rest of the family.
For renovations that require a tradesman, it’s important you work closely with your builder to develop solutions and choose building materials that allows for versatility in your home as the initial room plan may not serve that same purpose a few years down the track.
Gyprock is made in Australia and available at Gyprock Trade stores, Gyprock resellers and Bunnings nationwide. For more information on Gyprock, visit www.gyprock.com.au.
Till next time... repurpose that under-utilised space in your home!
For renovations that require a tradesman, it’s important you work closely with your builder to develop solutions and choose building materials that allows for versatility in your home as the initial room plan may not serve that same purpose a few years down the track.
Gyprock is made in Australia and available at Gyprock Trade stores, Gyprock resellers and Bunnings nationwide. For more information on Gyprock, visit www.gyprock.com.au.
Till next time... repurpose that under-utilised space in your home!
xox
Rani
About Gyprock
Australia's leading manufacturer of gypsum-based products, CSR Gyprock has been Australian for plasterboard; since 1947, transforming the building industry with the introduction of paper-faced plasterboard, further advancing lightweight construction methods. The most reputable producer of plasterboard and cornice, as well as compounds, adhesives, specialty plasters and associated finishing materials and accessories, Gyprock supplies a comprehensive range of high-performance products and systems for many applications to meet fire, acoustic and thermal requirements across all segments of the construction industry.
Gyprock actively supports plasterboard recycling both to help the environment by reducing waste going to landfill and also because it is often a great way for builders to save on waste tipping fees and site clean-up costs as well as improve site safety with better resource management. Proudly made in Australia for Australian homes.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share Your Thoughts...