Feeling the squeeze? You may be able to remodel to make better use of your current space. There are three areas of your home that naturally lend themselves to this: the basement, the garage and the attic.

Basement
If you are lucky enough to have a basement, there’s a lot you can do to remodel it. First, evaluate the space: Does it have any windows? Is the ceiling normal height or is it lower? These factors can determine your course of action. Also, the unique features of a basement can make it more conducive to certain types of usage. For example, since it is probably already dark, it can be a great place for a home theater. And because it may be cooler than the rest of the house, it can be ideal for a partial conversion to a wine cellar. Or it can be a great space for a playroom, teenage hangout or home gym. Just be sure to correct any moisture problems in your basement prior to your remodel. Have a professional come out and evaluate this for you.

Garage
The garage is another great area to remodel for additional space. Provided it is connected to the house, it should be relatively easy to add plumbing, heating and air conditioning. A garage can work well converted to a home office or workshop. Or perhaps it could be turned into a laundry room or mudroom. Another option is to build an addition above the garage, which can become a new bedroom, playroom or rec room. One concern you may have with the idea of remodeling your the garage is the potential loss of storage space. Consider building or buying a small storage shed in the backyard to house some of the items that were previously stored there.

Attic
If you choose to remodel your attic, the choices are almost endless. You can turn it into a guest bedroom or master suite, a home office, a playroom or a rec room. There are some potential problems to consider, however. Insulation, as well as heating and air conditioning, become important issues that may require professional advice or help. Also, the existing flooring may require reinforcement to be sufficient to handle the weight and pressure of remodeling. Finally, you may need to build an access staircase, which will require space of its own and incur extra expense.

When you remodel a basement, garage or attic, you get the advantage of not needing to apply for a variance to increase the size of your home in relation to your lot size. You will, however, still need to make sure your plans meet all other requirements of your local building code.