How to get a bigger house when you can't afford one

Maximising space you are in is something I am passionate about. I did a consultation this week which highlighted several solutions for those who want a bigger house but can't afford one.

Although there are impressive pieces of furniture out there that can serve certain space needs - such as pull down beds or folding desks - sometimes transformable furniture is not enough.

The first step is to identify what works and doesn't work for you. Do you need another room for a growing family, or a spare bedroom for guests? Is your master bedroom sufficient with ensuite? Is a walk-in wardrobe high on your list?

The most common request from homeowners I get is how to get more space for the kitchen and dining area. I often discuss expanding up or out. Some homeowners can expand out to the line of the deck and more often than not this fix can create the perfect house for a growing family.

A follow on would be to create a new deck from that point with steps into the backyard, which would still give ample green space. It’s really about figuring out the wish list, the probability, the compromises and then bringing it back to the budget.

If an extension is out of the question, my second go to is the garage. It is a huge space devoted to making sure cars are safely asleep at night, but it could be transformed into a hang-out space for teens or a guest room. Many garages will already have plumbing, which is a bonus, but you'll need to get consent to turn it into something legally habitable.

My last tip is to look reconfiguring the walls and floor plan of your home. Just because the current walls have been there from the beginning does not mean they provide the optimum living space. Before you go knocking walls down, get professional advice. You don't want to take out a load-bearing wall. But even those can be altered, if you have a clever engineer who is able to redistribute the weight. It may just mean a support column which can be integrated into the new floor plan.

If you have gone through these tips and can implement one of them then you are well on your way to hitting your dream home wish list. The number one thing to remember is to have your priorities, and your budget clearly worked out.

- Laura Heynike is director of Pocketspace Interiors