Could An Annex Be The Answer?

It’s always a shame to have an unused space. So much so, that if you know there’s somewhere around the home that you’re really not using, you should think about doing something about it. In this day and age, space is everything. Especially with a growing family. And so, you really don’t have any reason for why you should leave a space unused. Sure, when you’re faced with the battle of coming up with ideas, putting the work in, and transforming that tired old space, it can seem pretty overwhelming. So much so, that you never really allow yourself to get to work. So, you may find that incentivising yourself can really help. When you’re creating a room with purpose and you’re looking to bring it to life, it can be way more exciting for you – especially when you’re faced with a really big job. So, what will it be?

If you have an old, unused outside space, an abandoned garage, or even an annex, this could seem like a lot of work to some people. So much so, that you get put off doing anything with it. But now that you’re approaching this with a new mindset, it doesn’t scare you, does it? Instead, it motivates you. Because now, instead of seeing this as such a big job, it’s a project. A fun project that you can work on to get yourself a little mecca. A home office, a reading room, a snug, even a little staycation space for family and friends! Let’s take a look at exactly how you’re going to do it.

Assess The Space

Now, before you dive on in to the project here, you have to approach this in the right way. And this will always involve assessing the space to begin with. You’ll want to ensure that you know where its weaknesses lie, and what it could potentially become. Even knowing if it has electricity or a water supply can help you to make the right choice here.

Decide What You’re Doing

But having a better idea of what you’re trying to do here is really just the start. You’ve looked at the space, you’ve considered the potential, and now all that’s left for you to do is decide exactly what you’re going to do with what garden annex! Will it be a home office? A sort of additional snug? Or even a self-contained apartment for guests to stay in or parents to move into?

Look For Ideas

And now that you’ve got a firm idea of what you’re trying to create in your mind, you might want to think about the different ways that this might look. Don’t just struggle to have a vision yourself. Instead, make sure that you’re looking for different ideas for garden rooms or annex designs that inspire you. Look at how others have created these spaces, and pick out what you do and don’t like, to come up with your own design.

Consider Getting Help

Then, you’ll want to work out how this is going to go. Will you be doing it all yourself, or do you want to hire some help? Maybe you need a skilled electrician or plumber? If so, it’s important to source these contacts early, so you can bring them in when need-be.

Invest In The Big Work

Now, if you are making a lot of big changes, then you really might want to invest here. If you’re looking to change an old outbuilding into a little annex for a parent or two, or a little self-contained apartment for whatever else, it may be a complex job and therefore best left to the experts. So, you’ll want to invest in a good contractor here. Yes, there are times when you can save on home projects, but something like this just isn’t one of them.

Make It A Family Affair

Remember when you we’re a little worried that this was going to be a big job? And that you put off projects because you didn’t want all of the onus on you? Well, you have to also then remember that this is a family-friendly project, so why not make it a family affair? There’s no reason why your spouse or little ones won’t be able to join in on the fun! You can all paint or decorate, so make this a family project and enjoy it as much as you can.

Spruce It Up

Then it’s fun to do all of the design stuff. Getting the gorgeous paint colors and flooring, and finishing touches too. We all like to beautiful, so definitely relish in this part of the process and enjoy picking it all and applying it all!

Bring In The Necessities

From here, you then need to make sure that you’re bringing in all of the key essentials for the space. So make sure that you know what you want. Get online to look at options, on sites such as Oven Shopper, that work with the style of room you want. You could even plan the space visually with a form of vision board or some design software, if you’re keen to get a really accurate idea of what it will look like.

Host A Grand Opening

Finally, because this has been such a fun project and you’re able to enjoy it as a family, why not finish it in such a dramatic and enjoyable way too? Sure, you can sometimes feel as if you just want to dive on in and use it, but making a fuss can be really great for the kids. Hang a bow and let the kids cut the ribbon, toast, invite a few friends over as an excuse to together. But whatever you do, just make sure that you get in there and enjoy the space as soon as you can. After all, you worked so hard to create it!

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I'm Hayley and this is us; working parents to three tiny wild ones. Whether it's travel, food, lifestyle or just a healthy dose of parenting reality, there's something for everyone here. So sit back, get comfy and start scrolling!

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