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Extension Guides
Explore the different ways to extend your home
A well-designed extension can transform the way a home works.
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It may create a brighter kitchen and dining space, provide room for a growing family, improve access to the garden, add a home office or create more flexible living space for the years ahead.
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However, not every extension suits every property.
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The right solution will depend on the type of house, the available space, the planning position, the budget and the way you intend to use the new room.
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APN Extensions has created a series of practical homeowner guides covering the most common types of house extension.
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Use the guides below to explore the options and understand which approach may be best suited to your home.
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Rear Extensions
Rear extensions are one of the most popular ways to improve a home.
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They can create a larger kitchen, dining area or family room while providing better access to the garden. They work well on many different types of property, from terraced houses and semi-detached homes to bungalows and detached houses.
A modest rear extension can often make a major difference when combined with a thoughtful internal layout.
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Side-Return Extensions
Side-return extensions are particularly popular on Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties.
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They make use of the narrow strip of land beside the existing rear addition, often allowing a cramped kitchen to become a much brighter and more practical space.
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A side-return extension may not add a huge amount of floor area, but the impact on the layout can be substantial.
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Explore Side-Return Extensions →
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Wraparound Extensions
A wraparound extension combines a rear extension with a side-return addition.
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This can create a much larger kitchen, dining and family room with improved natural light and a better relationship with the garden.
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Wraparound extensions are especially effective on period terraced and semi-detached homes where the existing layout feels narrow or fragmented.
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Explore Wraparound Extensions →
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Double-Storey Extensions
A double-storey extension can provide valuable additional space on both the ground and first floors.
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It may allow for a larger kitchen and living area downstairs while adding a bedroom, bathroom or home office upstairs.
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These extensions need careful planning and good proportions so that the finished design complements the original house rather than overwhelming it.
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Explore Double-Storey Extensions →
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Full-Width Extensions
A full-width extension spans most or all of the rear elevation of the property.
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This approach can work particularly well where the homeowner wants to create a generous open-plan kitchen, dining and family space with wide garden doors and plenty of natural light.
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The layout needs to be carefully planned so that the new room feels balanced and practical rather than simply large.
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Bungalow Extensions
Bungalows often provide excellent opportunities for extension.
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A well-planned addition can create a larger kitchen and dining space, an additional bedroom, a garden-facing living room or a more practical layout for long-term living.
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Because bungalows vary considerably in size and style, the design should respond carefully to the roof shape, available garden space and existing accommodation.
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Kitchen and Diner Extensions
Many homeowners extend primarily to create a better kitchen and dining space.
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A successful kitchen-diner extension should feel bright, sociable and practical. It should provide enough room for cooking, storage, family meals and entertaining without losing a comfortable relationship with the rest of the home.
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The best designs also consider utility space, lighting, garden access and the position of furniture from the outset.
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Explore Kitchen and Diner Extensions →
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Side Extensions
Side extensions can be particularly useful for semi-detached, end-of-terrace, detached and bungalow properties with space beside the house.
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They may provide a home office, utility room, ground-floor bedroom, en-suite bathroom, family room or semi-independent space for an older relative or teenager.
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The design needs to be carefully proportioned so that the extension sits comfortably with the original property and does not appear squeezed into the site.
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Orangery Extensions
An orangery can create one of the most elegant rooms in the home.
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These extensions often include a central roof lantern, refined glazing, French doors and a strong connection with the patio and garden.
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They work particularly well as dining rooms or entertaining spaces and are best suited to homes with enough scale and garden space to carry the design properly.
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Conservatory Extensions
Modern conservatory extensions have improved significantly.
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Better glazing, insulated frames, solar-control glass and a wider range of roof options mean that a well-designed conservatory can provide a bright and practical garden-facing room.
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They can offer an attractive alternative where the homeowner wants additional dining, sitting or entertaining space without committing to a full brick-built extension.
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Explore Conservatory Extensions →
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Extensions and Loft Conversions
Some homeowners choose to extend at ground-floor level while also converting the loft.
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This can be an effective way to improve the entire property, creating a larger kitchen and family space downstairs while adding bedrooms, a bathroom or a home office above.
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The two projects should be considered together so that the overall budget, planning strategy, staircase position and internal layout are coordinated properly.
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Explore Extensions and Loft Conversions →
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Choosing the right extension
The largest extension is not always the best extension.
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A good design should make the property work better, improve the quality of the space and add long-term value without overdeveloping the site.
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Before deciding which route to take, consider:
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The type and character of the property;
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The amount of garden space available;
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The existing internal layout;
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The way you want to use the new room;
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The likely planning constraints;
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The overall project budget;
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The professional and construction work required.
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A modest extension with a well-planned layout can often provide better value than a much larger scheme that has not been carefully considered.
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Tell Us About Your Extension
Still deciding which type of extension would suit your home?
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Tell us a little about your property, the space you would like to create and the stage you have reached.
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APN Extensions can help you understand the next steps and, where appropriate, connect you with suitable extension professionals.