WWYD with this space?

[NellietheElephantpackedhertrunks]

Inspired by the open plan thread.

House has 4 bedrooms, all upstairs (no utility room so the smallest bedroom has washing machine, dryer and drying racks instead of a bed). There is an open plan kitchen/lounge/diner and a second living room, then a covered walkway leading to the garage.

The (single so not huge) garage is just used for storage but we plan to make it habitable and put in an en-suite.

Would you put the 4th bedroom back to a bedroom/living area and change the garage into a utility room? It’s really messy as a utility room but we don’t actually need a 4th bedroom and I don’t think it would really be used as a general living space. Would like hot tub/sauna but garage couldn’t fit them and be a utility room as not enough space (and could be too restrictive to build things like that in if we ever wanted to sell the house).

Any ideas? 😊🐘

Turn the garage into a utility room. Either restore the “utility bedroom” to a bedroom or convert to a second bathroom if you need it.

Yes absolutely. Using a bedroom as a utility room probably isn't that healthy unless you have fans installed in the walls to remove all the moisture. Long term you will get mold etc. If you're doing an extension you can plan it to work both layout wise and plumb in washing machine/ dryer etc and fans.

Utility downstairs

Upstairs
Study/library quiet space
Music room? ( our room for your hobbies)

Have the garage as the utility room and make the small bedroom a massive cupboard to store the things that used to be in the garage? Room swap essentially.

Convert the smaller room into an ensuite is my preference.

We're half heartedly house hunting at the mo, and converted garages is hugely off putting. Aside from the fact we need a garage for motorbikes, the conversions are usually badly done, poorly insulated etc.

Have you thought through / planned how you'll manage the drainage, sewerage etc from the garage for the bathroom there? Windows, heating etc? Building regs for the whole thing?

Maybe put up a floor plan here.

Thanks all, and it’s just going through planning permission now so it’ll all be as per building regs etc (the second living room and walkway don’t exist yet but they will do). Most of the stuff stored in the garage is furniture which will fit well into the new living room and there will be a bike shed and also a cupboard in the garage extension.

Sounds like it is a no brainer to make the garage into a utility room (I wonder if there is anything else we can add to the room to make it more interesting?). Has anyone got any cool ideas for the 4th bedroom so it doesn’t end up just dead space?

To the PP who mentioned mould, yes there is a bit in the bedroom (partly because of leak from shower in bathroom next to it) so will need to do some remedial work there.

Thanks, second living room will have a bit of a study/library feel.