With a home addition, you get the benefit of adding finished living space to an existing house. Whether your family is growing or you simply want more space, a home addition could be the perfect solution for your situation. As a remodeling contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, we can help you transform your house into the home you’ve always wanted.
Here are the top 10 types of home additions that add value.
Don’t want to change the footprint of your house? Ask your remodeling contractor about an attic or basement conversion instead. While an attic or basement conversion isn’t technically an addition, it does increase the legal living space in your home. A finished basement or attic also increases the value of your house when you’re ready to sell.
An attic or basement remodel is not a DIY project. For this reason, you’ll need to to ensure the space is legal and complies with local building code. They’ll make sure your newly remodeled space meets the proper engineering requirements and structural qualifications.
2. Garage Conversion
If you have an attached garage, it may be tempting to convert this into usable living space. However, it’s important that you nail down your plans for the finished garage before you tackle any project. For example, there will be more work involved if you decide to create a fully functional apartment or in-law suite, complete with its own bathroom and kitchen. Likewise, less work is involved if you want to create a family room.
3. Room Addition
Maybe your home is just about perfect, but you’d love an extra bedroom or bathroom. If this describes your situation, consider building a room addition. A room addition may also be used to expand the space of an existing room in your house. For example, it’s common for homeowners to increase the size of their kitchen to accommodate an island, breakfast nook, or other desired feature.
4. Conventional House Addition
A conventional house addition includes several new rooms. Not only does this greatly increase your legal living space, but it revitalizes your home. Your remodeling contractor will work with you as you decide what spaces will add the most value. For example, it’s not uncommon for a to contain a new family room, bedroom, and bathroom. Your contractor will also ensure that the new addition blends in seamlessly with the rest of your home’s design and construction.
5. Sunroom
Sunrooms aren’t intended for year-round use. However, when the weather permits, they’re ideal for enjoying the outdoors while being sheltered from bugs, wind, and rain. Sunrooms are also free from the usual constraints associated with home additions. For example, you can install larger panes of glass to better enjoy the view of your new sunroom. You can also avoid the cost of installing heating or air conditioning.
Under building codes, a sunroom isn’t considered a year-round permanent living structure. However, it can greatly improve your quality of life and reestablish your connection to nature.
6. Home Office or Studio Additions
Do you work from home? Wondering if a home office addition is worth the investment? With the rise of remote work, adding a dedicated home office or studio space has become increasingly popular for creating a productive work environment.
Designing your own office/studio allows you to tailor the space to your specific needs. You can choose the layout, lighting, storage, and overall aesthetic to optimize your workflow or creative process.
7. Mudrooms
Searching for a utilitarian home addition? Adding a dedicated space near an entrance to store shoes, coats, and other outdoor gear can help keep the rest of the house clean. You can also personalize the design of your mudroom to suit your family’s specific needs. Whether it’s adding cubbies, shelves, hooks, or benches, you can tailor the space to accommodate your storage and organizational requirements.
8. Bump-Out Additions
If you’re looking to add just a little more space without the cost of a full-scale addition, a bump-out may be the perfect solution. A bump-out is a small extension of an existing room, often used to expand a kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. It can add a few feet of square footage, which may be just enough to install a soaking tub, create a breakfast nook, or add extra closet space.
Since bump-outs don’t typically require additional HVAC, roofing, or foundation work, they’re often more affordable than full additions. This makes them a great option for homeowners who want noticeable improvement without a major renovation.
9. Second-Story Addition
When expanding outward isn’t feasible, especially on smaller lots, building upward can be a smart solution. A second-story addition can dramatically increase your home’s square footage and resale value. Many homeowners use this space to add extra bedrooms, bathrooms, or even an in-law suite.
This type of addition requires detailed planning and structural assessments to ensure the existing foundation can support the additional load. But with the right remodeling contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, a second-story addition can transform a single-level house into a multi-story home built for growing families or multi-generational living.
10. Detached Guest House or ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)
Detached additions like guest houses or ADUs are becoming increasingly popular—especially for homeowners interested in hosting long-term guests, generating rental income, or providing independent living space for relatives. These self-contained structures often include a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and living area.
While this is one of the more extensive home addition projects, the long-term benefits can be substantial. Not only do ADUs add privacy for occupants, but they also significantly increase your property’s value and flexibility.
Request an Estimate for a Home Addition
Who wouldn’t love to add more square footage to their living space? As a home addition contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, we have plenty of experience helping homeowners achieve just that! If you’re interested in our design and build services for home additions, there’s never been a better time to get started. Call Home Specialists at (616) 453-4552 or fill out our online contact form.
This blog post has been updated.
Hear Our Story
With a home addition, you get the benefit of adding finished living space to an existing house. Whether your family is growing or you simply want more space, a home addition could be the perfect solution for your situation. As a remodeling contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, we can help you transform your house into the home you’ve always wanted. Here are the top 10 types of home additions that add value. h2>1. Attic or Basement Conversion Don’t want to change the footprint of your house? Ask your remodeling contractor about an attic or basement conversion instead. While an attic or basement conversion isn’t technically an addition, it does increase the legal living space in your home. A finished basement or attic also increases the value of your house when you’re ready to sell. An attic or basement remodel is not a DIY project. For this reason, you’ll need to hire a remodeling contractor to ensure the space is legal and complies with local building code. They’ll make sure your newly remodeled space meets the proper engineering requirements and structural qualifications. 2. Garage Conversion If you have an attached garage, it may be tempting to convert this into usable living space. However, it’s important that you nail down your plans for the finished garage before you tackle any project. For example, there will be more work involved if you decide to create a fully functional apartment or in-law suite, complete with its own bathroom and kitchen. Likewise, less work is involved if you want to create a family room. 3. Room Addition Maybe your home is just about perfect, but you’d love an extra bedroom or bathroom. If this describes your situation, consider building a room addition. A room addition may also be used to expand the space of an existing room in your house. For example, it’s common for homeowners to increase the size of their kitchen to accommodate an island, breakfast nook, or other desired feature. 4. Conventional House Addition A conventional house addition includes several new rooms. Not only does this greatly increase your legal living space, but it revitalizes your home. Your remodeling contractor will work with you as you decide what spaces will add the most value. For example, it’s not uncommon for a conventional house addition to contain a new family room, bedroom, and bathroom. Your contractor will also ensure that the new addition blends in seamlessly with the rest of your home’s design and construction. 5. Sunroom Sunrooms aren’t intended for year-round use. However, when the weather permits, they’re ideal for enjoying the outdoors while being sheltered from bugs, wind, and rain. Sunrooms are also free from the usual constraints associated with home additions. For example, you can install larger panes of glass to better enjoy the view of your new sunroom. You can also avoid the cost of installing heating or air conditioning. Under building codes, a sunroom isn’t considered a year-round permanent living structure. However, it can greatly improve your quality of life and reestablish your connection to nature. 6. Home Office or Studio Additions Do you work from home? Wondering if a home office addition is worth the investment? With the rise of remote work, adding a dedicated home office or studio space has become increasingly popular for creating a productive work environment. Designing your own office/studio allows you to tailor the space to your specific needs. You can choose the layout, lighting, storage, and overall aesthetic to optimize your workflow or creative process. 7. Mudrooms Searching for a utilitarian home addition? Adding a dedicated space near an entrance to store shoes, coats, and other outdoor gear can help keep the rest of the house clean. You can also personalize the design of your mudroom to suit your family’s specific needs. Whether it’s adding cubbies, shelves, hooks, or benches, you can tailor the space to accommodate your storage and organizational requirements. 8. Bump-Out Additions If you’re looking to add just a little more space without the cost of a full-scale addition, a bump-out may be the perfect solution. A bump-out is a small extension of an existing room, often used to expand a kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. It can add a few feet of square footage, which may be just enough to install a soaking tub, create a breakfast nook, or add extra closet space. Since bump-outs don’t typically require additional HVAC, roofing, or foundation work, they’re often more affordable than full additions. This makes them a great option for homeowners who want noticeable improvement without a major renovation. 9. Second-Story Addition When expanding outward isn’t feasible, especially on smaller lots, building upward can be a smart solution. A second-story addition can dramatically increase your home’s square footage and resale value. Many homeowners use this space to add extra bedrooms, bathrooms, or even an in-law suite. This type of addition requires detailed planning and structural assessments to ensure the existing foundation can support the additional load. But with the right remodeling contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, a second-story addition can transform a single-level house into a multi-story home built for growing families or multi-generational living. 10. Detached Guest House or ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Detached additions like guest houses or ADUs are becoming increasingly popular—especially for homeowners interested in hosting long-term guests, generating rental income, or providing independent living space for relatives. These self-contained structures often include a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and living area. While this is one of the more extensive home addition projects, the long-term benefits can be substantial. Not only do ADUs add privacy for occupants, but they also significantly increase your property’s value and flexibility. Request an Estimate for a Home Addition Who wouldn’t love to add more square footage to their living space? As a home addition contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, we have plenty of experience helping homeowners achieve just that! If you’re interested in our design and build services for home additions, there’s never been a better time to get started. Call ...
