Bungalows are typically seen as retirement homes as all the rooms are on one floor and easy to access. But bungalows also tend to be built on good-sized plots, meaning there’s lots of outside space. So, they can be a good option for families.
However, bungalows don’t always come with enough bedrooms or family-sized kitchens, so you may need to make a few tweaks to turn one into the ideal home. If you’re wondering what steps you might need to take and what options you might have to do this, here’s a few suggestions, along with their costs.
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Double your space with a loft conversion
With a loft conversion, you can effectively double your bungalow’s floorspace. This option enables you to fit in more bedrooms and an extra bathroom and potentially free a bit of room up downstairs to give you more living space.
Most bungalow conversions can be done under permitted development rules, so long as there are no local restrictions and you ensure the total volume is within the 40-50m³ limit. And costs such as scaffolding and fire safety measures are going to be less than that of a typical loft conversion in a house. That’s why the average bungalow loft conversion cost lies at around £35,000. So, there are plenty of plus points.
Push out to the side with an L-shape extension
If your family home needs to stay accessible, you needn’t go up into the loft to create more space. The great thing about bungalows is their generous plot size, so you can usually extend outwards without sacrificing all of your garden. That means there should still be plenty of space for playing and entertaining.
An L-shaped extension can also double the size of your floorspace and should leave a nice, open square of garden to use. Typically, bungalow extensions cost from £2,000 per m², so you will need to bear in mind that the bigger the extension, the higher your total spend will be.
Build a light-filled orangery
A much simpler way to extend a bungalow is to add an orangery. Again this can go on one end, so you still effectively create an L-shaped layout. The beauty of this option is the glazing, which helps light to flood into your living space. And having this extra room not only helps to increase your accommodation to suit your family’s needs but it also gives you a good view of the garden. So, you can keep an eye on your children playing whilst you’re busy indoors.
A small orangery can be built for as little as £10,000, but a large orangery with a high-end finish can cost three times that. However, a decent-sized orangery can make a great second reception room or can create an airy kitchen-diner – giving you options to convert your existing kitchen or dining room into an extra bedroom, playroom, bathroom or utility room without the expense of a full extension.
Go with open plan living
Most of the time, the walls inside a bungalow are simply stud walls and aren’t load-bearing. This makes it fairly straightforward to go open plan. This is a great way to maximise the family space, as kitchens in bungalows can be on the small side. And as bungalows do tend to come with separate living and dining rooms, going open plan can create a larger, more usable space for your whole family.
Of course, you can still go open plan when walls are load-bearing, there’ll just be a few extra costs involved. A structural engineer will cost between £300 and £500 while the safe removal of a wall will cost from around £1,700. Whether you have load-bearing walls or not, it’s a good idea to engage an architect to help you plan out your space. So, it’s worth factoring in this cost too.
Raise the ceiling
If you’re sticking with small rooms inside your bungalow and not extending into the loft, you can still make these rooms feel bigger by raising the height of the ceiling. You may be able to go right into the space above and create vaulted ceilings and even add in roof glazing. As bungalows can often feel a little dark and enclosed in places, this would be the ideal solution – especially in family spaces such as the kitchen-diner.
If you’re doing this, you’ll need to ensure your roof has a good level of insulation, so your family home stays nice and warm without spending more on your energy bills. Plus, it’s a good idea to get the advice of an architect and structural engineer before you start, to make sure your bungalow is suitable and to get the best result.
