When toying with the idea of constructing a great room, it is important to consider the traditions and preferences that matter to your family. A great room addition can be a great strategy to make your home more functional and livable given your family’s lifestyle. All living spaces in our homes serve a purpose besides just their aesthetic appeal, as they elevate our life quality and property value. Below we discuss what goes into planning a great room addition and what to consider before building one.

What Is A Great Room Addition?

A great room is generally a large additional space for family gatherings and entertaining guests. Also known as family rooms, they are typically constructed with an open floor plan that connects to the kitchen.

Families have been abandoning traditional floor plans in favor of contemporary and personalized layouts that align with their lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. Modern architecture trends are abuzz with expansive and spacious rooms that serve as entertaining and dining spaces, allowing families to interact more rather than retire into separate rooms.

Typically, adding a great room demands reconstructing the floor plan to create an open layout that merges the dining and living room with the kitchen. A great room will offer ample space to set up a dining nook and a comfortable living room with extensive walking space to facilitate the flow of foot traffic.

Do You Need An Addition or A Remodel?

Deciding whether you need a remodel or great room addition can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with architectural design and home construction. It is wise to reflect on your needs and whether the current layout is serving your lifestyle or not.

A remodel to the floor plan allows you to avoid the expensive cost of adding a full foundation required for a new great room addition. If the living area feels small or if you sense a lack of flow between rooms, you might just need a redesign or perhaps an upgrade to the layout of the floor plan.

Remodeling the layout, adding storage, and upgrading functions like an entertainment center may resolve these issues without requiring additional space.

While a remodel is ideal, some homeowners want the additional space of a whole new room. Constructing a great room addition will generally cost more than a remodel as it requires building a new structure and generally means knocking down walls.

Great Room Addition Ideas

You can explore a wealth of ideas and inspiration when designing a great room to enhance your existing floor plan and layout. For instance, you can add storage solutions to declutter your home, such as cabinetry, shelving units, and wall-mounted racks.

Homeowners wanting to create a grand and refined lounging space to serve as a living room and entertaining area can create high ceilings with wooden beams. Finely crafted wooden beams are an excellent trick to add character and aesthetic depth to a room, creating an opulent setting without overspending.

Most homeowners design their great rooms with high floor-to-ceiling windows to draw in ample sunlight for a well-lit, bright and airy appeal. Stone or wooden fireplaces are other popular trends to give your great room a charming aesthetic with functional utility during the colder seasons.

Planning a Great Room Addition

Planning a great room addition demands extensive consideration and research as you’ll be altering the layout and customizing the floor plan to execute your vision. Read on to explore some crucial aspects to consider during the planning phase.

Purpose

What kind of room are you planning to create, and what purpose will it serve for your family? Do you intend to use it as a family space for dining and lounging? Do you plan to entertain large groups of friends and family for elaborate dinners and parties?

When planning a great room addition, it is important to have a concrete and well-defined aesthetic vision. You need to think about how you will use this space and what kind of value it will add to your property and lifestyle. An aesthetic vision will help finalize your plans regarding the square footage, space layout, and floor plan.

Can Your Property Manage The Addition Of A Great Room

The first step in planning would be to decide where you’re going to construct your new great room. Whether adding off the kitchen or the back of the house, not all properties are designed to allow a room addition or floor plan makeover without demanding massive upheaval and reconstruction.

It is important to examine the existing square footage and other properties in your neighborhood before embarking on an extensive and expensive remodeling commitment.

Constructing Upwards or Outwards?

Choosing between building outwards or upwards is another common conundrum homeowners face while designing their great room addition. You can decide whether you want to extend outward to increase space or build upwards to avoid exceeding the existing square footage.

Typically, upward extensions are more practical and functional as they add another story to the premises. Building beyond the existing square footage can create complications with the neighborhood, homeowner’s association, and city building authorities.

Does Adding A Family Room Add Value?

Modern-day buyers prefer properties with airy and spacious great rooms over traditional layouts. Adding an expansive family room will boost your property’s market value and appeal, as well as enhance your family life quality. A well-constructed great room provides ample space, and if you construct it with a well-defined vision, you can address multiple spacing and storage challenges.

Things To Consider

Budgeting, functional utility, raw materials, and construction-related hiring are the most crucial matters that demand extensive research when planning a great room addition.

Here are some things to consider before jumping into the remodeling process:

  • Devising a comprehensive budget (allocating amount for raw materials, labor, cosmetic upgrades, appliances, etc.).
  • Reflecting on the functional and cosmetic appeal of the space to inspire your artistic vision.
  • Working with an architect to create a well-defined cosmetic and structural design for the great room.
  • Conducting research to hire an experienced contractor who aligns with your budget and design vision.

Call us or contact us online for a free consultation, estimate, or for any related questions related to adding a great room addition to your home!