A bedroom addition is one of the most impactful ways to remodel your home.
A new bedroom, especially a primary one, can improve comfort and daily quality of life. Kids can benefit from a renovation to give them their own room, and visitors can feel more at home in a new guest room. At the same time, a bedroom addition can greatly increase the value of your home.
In this post, we’ll review the most important questions that can shape your remodeling plans. We’ll also cover some of the best ideas for ways to design and build a high-quality bedroom addition.
Key Considerations for Your Bedroom Addition
There are many ways to add a new bedroom to your home. Going through a series of questions about the new bedroom can help you design and scale the project appropriately.
- Who will use the bedroom?: The size, layout, and placement of a new bedroom are all influenced by who you expect to use the room. You’ll approach the design process differently if you’re adding a primary suite, a guest room, or a room for kids.
- How often will it be used?: A bedroom that will be used every day needs certain features, such as ample closet space, that aren’t a requirement in a bedroom that’s only used sporadically. Thinking about how often a bedroom will be used can also help you decide how much money to put toward the budget for the renovation.
- Do you need an ensuite bathroom?: If you want to create a master suite, your bedroom addition will need an attached bathroom. However, this may require you to spend more on certain aspects of construction, such as plumbing work to install water connections.
- Do you need independent access?: A door that connects directly outside is essential if you want to enable access without having to go through your existing space. The need for separate access can also determine the best location for a new bedroom. In addition to having outside access, you must also have an interior bedroom door.
- Does the project require structural remodeling?: Major renovations, such as moving walls or adding a story to your house, can involve changes to weight-bearing structures. As you might expect, this affects the cost and complexity of your project.
- Does the bedroom require heating and cooling?: NYS requires bedrooms to be heated. Conditioned air is not required. Even with great insulation, you’ll probably need to heat your new bedroom in the winter. You may also want air conditioning for the summer. Suppose the addition can’t be connected to your existing heating and cooling systems, you may need to consider other options, such as a ductless mini-split system or a wood-burning fireplace.
- What kind of style do you want to create for the bedroom?: How you want the bedroom to look will vary based on whether it’s for you, your kids, extended family, or guests. Your preferred stylistic sense can guide decisions about carpet and flooring, fixtures, paint, furniture, and other finishing touches.
Ideas for Bedroom Additions
There are multiple ways that you can renovate your home to include a new bedroom. No matter who your bedroom is for, there are bedroom addition ideas that can suit your needs.
Bump-Out Bedroom
A popular type of home addition, a bump-out bedroom expands the footprint of the main floor of your current home. This creates extra space without disrupting the existing floor plan.
A bump-out can be compelling for a master bedroom addition, but the plumbing work to put a master bathroom in the bump-out can increase the cost of the project.
The design, construction, and cost of a bump-out bedroom also depend on your home and lot. If your house is on a hill, for example, you may need more careful planning to make sure that a bump-out is structurally supported, and you must have sufficient lot space to meet zoning requirements.
Dormer Addition
A dormer is a structure with a window that juts out from a slanted roof, opening up interior space and allowing light into an upper-floor room. For many homeowners, adding a dormer is a straightforward way to expand an existing bedroom or add an entirely new one to an underutilized space.
Although the name dormer gives the impression that this type of addition is for a small bedroom, the truth is that many dormers are designed to create a master suite. Especially if there is already a bathroom on that level of your house, your dormer renovation can convert it into a private bathroom attached to a newly redesigned primary bedroom.
Basement Bedroom
A comfortable guest room or additional bedroom can be carved out of your basement space. This is often done as part of a full basement finishing project that includes a new or upgraded bathroom. If you are planning on converting your basement into a finished, livable, space, be sure that the basement will have egress to the outside. This can be achieved by adding a door, an egress window, and/or a window well.
Finishing a basement is generally less expensive than a major structural remodel. This makes it a cost-effective way to add value to a starter home or any house that could use more livable space.
If you have the budget for a more extensive basement remodel, you can lift a house and lay a new foundation underneath to accommodate higher basement ceilings. This approach can also be part of creating a walkout feature that appeals to many homeowners.
Combining Rooms
Another type of bedroom addition involves taking out a wall that separates two rooms to make one large bedroom.
Strictly speaking, this isn’t an actual room addition, since it reduces the total number of rooms in your home. But it is one idea for dedicating more square footage in your house to bedrooms.
In some homes, this type of project involves joining two small bedrooms into one larger bedroom with a walk-in closet. If there’s an adjacent bathroom, it may even be possible to create a master bedroom suite.
Two-Story Addition
This type of bedroom addition involves adding an extension with two stories, usually at the back of the house.
With this design, there’s often a new kitchen installed on the first floor of the addition and a master suite on the second floor. This requires significant construction, but the work may be less disruptive since it primarily occurs outside your existing living space.
Once completed, a two-story addition can bring a new dimension to your property. It provides a largely independent area for visiting family members, guests, or a college-aged child.
Second Floor Addition
More extensive and expensive, this approach adds another level to a one-story home. It requires a bigger budget because building the second level and a staircase is no simple matter. These projects require careful planning and often need structural reinforcement.
That said, this type of construction project opens the door to numerous room additions. Once you’ve put in the second level, you can add multiple bedrooms, including a master suite, as well as an office, sitting area, storage room, or general flex space to be used as needed.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) is a distinct type of bedroom addition. Sometimes called a mother-in-law suite, an ADU is a space that has its own entry and a living space that is separate from the rest of your home. The most common locations for ADUs are in a basement or above a garage.
A DADU is similar, except the structure is not physically attached. For example, a separate building in your backyard could be a DADU.
An ADU or DADU always includes independent entry and a private bathroom, which may be attached to the master bedroom in a primary suite. Other things in an ADU include a kitchen and usually at least a small living room.
One reason to build an ADU is to create a space for an older family member to age in place. An ADU gives them independence to live their life while remaining close by.
An ADU or DADU can also be an option for building a rental property on your existing lot. In the Ithaca area, there’s still a bit of uncertainty about the laws governing ADUs and DADUs.
For now, Ithaca’s regulations only allow ADUs to be rented out if the owner also lives on the property, but there is active debate about whether to change this requirement.
Enhancing a Master Bedroom Addition
For many people, one of the main reasons for an addition is to put in a new master bedroom. If you’re going to start a construction project, it’s worth investing in upgrades to the style, function, and comfort of your primary bedroom.
Depending on your budget, there are a handful of ideas that can help make the most of a new primary suite.
- Give yourself space: Ensure that you have plenty of room for a large bed, nightstands, and any other furniture you want. Think about adding a sitting area if you want a place to relax without being in bed.
- Design for privacy: Insulate your walls from noise that comes from outside and other parts of the house. Place your windows at a height that limits visibility into your bedroom.
- Don’t skimp on closets: If you can, put in a walk-in closet, or, at the least, a closet with extensive shelving and drawers so that you don’t have to cram your clothes in a small space. You can even account for laundry space within the master bedroom closet or a make-up area.
- Account for energy efficiency: Try to incorporate materials and designs that increase energy efficiency, which can reduce your monthly bills and save you money over the long term.
- Upgrade your bath: Consider using an extra-large shower or a standalone tub. A double vanity can add style and give each person plenty of space to get ready in the morning.
- Add something that feels special: While this can be different for everyone, an example of a special element is a small walk-out balcony, a fireplace, or a bay window with a view. Other examples are a kitchen or coffee bar.
Working with Upscale Remodeling for Your Bedroom Addition
Whatever idea you have for a bedroom addition, we will welcome the opportunity to help make it a reality. We’ve been remodeling homes in the Ithaca area for over 30 years and have experience with all types of bedroom projects.
Contact us today or check out our website to learn more about our team, our process, and our certifications and accolades from groups like the National Association of Homebuilders. Our portfolio also provides examples of prior home and bedroom additions we’ve delivered to our clients.
