According to research from Smart Energy GB, 75 per cent of homeowners have considered reimagining their property to maximise every available square foot. This trend, known as 'space-stretching', involves remodelling existing homes to meet evolving needs rather than moving.
Multi-generational living on the rise
TV interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has split his house into three separate living spaces to accommodate multiple generations of his family. He believes multi-generational arrangements have much to offer, noting that 'it's actually how most families functioned before the 20th century'.
The 61-year-old has installed a smart meter at his home to help everyone, from grandparents to grandkids, track energy use and costs. He says, 'having multiple generations under one roof affects more than just space, it changes how you use energy too'.
Why Brits are choosing to renovate
The increasing cost of moving is a key driver, with 48 per cent citing it as the reason they chose renovating over relocating. Popular projects include creating a multi-purpose guest room and office (35 per cent), converting a loft into additional living space (21 per cent), and adapting a garage into a workspace (17 per cent).
Charlie Shires, 32, from Harrogate, converted her garage into a bakery for her cake business HG1 Bakes after it outgrew their semi-detached home. She uses her smart meter display to monitor energy consumption in near-real time, saying, 'The smart meter helps keep us in control of what we're using'.
Adapting homes for family needs
Dawn and Mick McHugh, 58 and 59, from Wrexham, converted their downstairs living area into a bedroom and wet room for Dawn's mother, who lives with them permanently. This change increased their energy bills, as Dawn explains: 'Having more people in the house is the major impact on our energy use'.
They track consumption on their smart meter display to identify effective energy-saving methods and have installed thermostats on radiators to reduce heating in unused rooms. Smart meters automatically send readings to suppliers, ensuring accurate bills and enabling access to flexible energy tariffs.
