House Bump Out Ideas On a Budget

Trying to create more space in your home on a budget is quite a challenge. On the one hand, you can use some decluttering and room organization techniques to open up a bit of space. On the other hand, there are physical limitations to your property that may not allow for this. Your walls won’t extend simply because you moved the couch to a different location. Adding a room to your house or even an auxiliary dwelling unit could grant you that space you’ve been looking for, but these are very expensive and time-consuming projects.

Your best bet would be a bump-out addition, which are small extensions to your home that are a budget-friendly way to increase interior space. These modular home extensions have been used by homeowners for decades as a fantastic alternative to building a room or creating an ADU. So, if you’ve been having trouble making space at home, then a few house bump out ideas are what you need. 

What Is a Bump Out Addition?

What Different Types of Bump Outs Can You Use?

Before getting into prices and the other nitty-gritty details of bump outs, it’s first important to understand what they are and how you can differentiate them from other home additions. Building new rooms or outdoor living spaces such as patios or porches can take a lot of time and money. Bump outs are far more doable for individuals working with smaller budgets and on a tight schedule.

Bump outs can be categorized into two major types: full room and expansion. A full room bumpout is one that can function as its own separate small room, even if the extension is not particularly big. This typically means that the bump out has walls and a door that separates it from the main room itself. A smaller bump out can act as a room expansion and serves to make the space larger, as opposed to being a room entirely on its own. These can be anything small, from a bay window in your bathroom to something bigger such as an entire closed-off entryway. 

Bump Out Addition Costs and Permits

How Much You Can Expect to Pay for a House Bump Out

The idea of expanding a room or creating an entirely new one does sound pleasant, but if you’re working on a budget, you should know how much bump-outs will cost you before hiring a home addition designer.

The price of your bump out project largely depends on how much space you’ll be adding. While the prices will vary depending on what materials you use, where the bump out will be located (i.e. first or second floor), and how it’s going to function, there are nationwide averages that should give you a general idea of how much you can expect to pay.

A 2 by 10 foot bump out costs $15,000 to $20,000 to build. A slightly bigger one that is 4 by 10 feet will cost around $30,000. Then there are the specialized bump out prices that differ depending on what kind of extension you’re looking for and for which room. For example, a kitchen extension could go for as little as $5,000, whereas a bathroom extension with all the necessary plumbing installed could be upwards of $35,000.

You can also expand your building to create a fully functioning, four-season sunroom, which can cost upwards of $80,000. That is definitely quite pricy, however, by cutting a few corners (i.e. making it a three-season sunroom) and not using the absolute best materials on the market, you can reduce the sunroom addition cost between $4,000 to $10,000.

As far as bump out permits are concerned you will need to speak with your local governing body and apply to them for all the requisite paperwork. The fundamental permit you will need for any type of bump out project is the one that allows you to open up the side of your house. Even if you don’t have the bump out connected to an HVAC or electrical system, you will still be required to get this permit from your local governing body. Additionally, you will also need separate permits for any utilities you would like to install. For example, if your expansion is a bathtub alcove in your bathroom, then you will need to speak with a plumber that has the right permits to make the necessary installations. 

Ideas for Bump Out Extensions

A Few Ideas for Your Next Bump Out Project

Bump out additions are very versatile. They come in all shapes and sizes depending on the structure of your home, foundation, exterior, the layout of the rooms, and the size of your landscape. Here are just a few types of bump out ideas, though there are plenty more ways to get creative with the designs and layouts. 

Bump Out Window Sill

The Bump Out Window Expansion That Opens Up Room

While bump out window sills don’t add too much room to the interior, the little alcove does provide extra seating, as well as more natural light. The added glass panes allow for more sunlight to brighten up the room, opening up interior space both physically and visually. Bump out windows can be installed on just about any type of exterior wall, as well as on any floor of the building. 

Bump Out Entryway 

Creating a More Spacious Entryway with a Bump Out

If you don’t want mud being tracked by dirty shoes onto your floor, a bump out entryway could be a fantastic option if you don’t have a mudroom. Even small houses have porticos, which are the roofs that are installed above the front door. This makes the entryway the perfect place to create a bump out extension as you don’t have to worry about building a roof. All you have to do is have walls built around the entrance, under the portico, then move your front door to the new threshold.

Glass Room Addition

The Perfect Sunroom Without the Hassle

A glass room or sunroom bump out is also very popular with homeowners looking to bring a little extra natural light into their homes. There are many benefits to having sunrooms, from the aforementioned additional natural light to the extra living space that we all need from time to time. But what makes sunrooms truly special is that they are a golden middle between an indoor and outdoor living space.

Not only do you get all the natural light your body desires, but you also have a beautiful panoramic view of the outdoors, something that the smaller windows of your home are unable to provide. Bump out sunrooms come in many types, but most people generally focus on whether they are three or four-season. This refers to when they can be used throughout the year.

A sunroom that is not connected to the HVAC system and doesn’t get heating is a three-season one, whereas one that can be warmed up in the winter is considered to be a four-season sunroom. While you can build a sunroom on the higher floors, most of them are built into the side of your home’s ground level, either constructed onto a deck or on top of a solid concrete foundation.