Extra living space is the holy grail for all homeowners, and the good news is that you don’t always need to move to find it. If your plot is big enough and you don’t live in a conservation area, one of the easiest ways of increasing your space is by adding an extension.

The first step is to find an architect whose work you admire, talk to them about what you need and be open to ideas – architects are skilled at making the most of space. Any extensions will need to comply with planning permission and building regulations, so once you’ve worked out what you need, your architect will draw up plans and submit these to your local authority.

Visit the Planning Portal’s site for information on rules and regulations. Be sure not to sacrifice too much of your garden, as when you come to sell, buyers won’t warm to a family house with loads of living space but only a tiny garden. Expect to pay from around £20,000 for a simple, single-storey extension.

Words: Justine Roffey and Trish Lorenz  Image: Sean Myers