What is a California Room?
A hot new trend in home improvement that's currently sweeping the nation brings the living room outdoors. These outdoor areas boast indoor amenities and are starting to appear as a popular feature throughout homes situated in warmer climates. Gaining traction in California as a more posh alternative to a traditional patio, the California room is one part room and one part porch. Since they're technically classified as outdoor spaces, this additional home amenity isn't factored into the home's square footage, however it does offer protection from the elements. Unlike sunrooms, which are enclosed on all sides with windows and connected to the home, California rooms are covered by a roof and are open open to the outdoors on one or more sides and don't necessarily have to be connected to the home.
However, contrary to the name, these spaces didn't originate in California. These outdoor living spaces owe their beginnings to Southern Europe, where residents of Italy, Greece, and Spain have been adding open-air living spaces to their homes for centuries. About 20 years ago, these structures first made their way to the United States appearing first in Florida and making their way across the U.S. to take Southern California by storm.
Costs and Benefits
Thinking about adding this amenity to your property? The cost will greatly depend on the available space you have available to build it in. So, prices for the addition of a California room to your home will greatly depend on construction costs in your area, and also the type of amenities you'll build into the space. For instance, some California room's include a cooking space, along with a large seating area and outdoor fire place. They can be as elaborate or as simple as your own personal taste desires. According to a homebuilding company based in Newport Beach, the average cost of adding a California room starts at $15,000 and goes up from there.
However, when done correctly, this amenity can sky rocket the value of your home and is a great way to attract buyers looking to spend extra for a place to enjoy outdoor life without soaking in the heat of the sun or suffering through the rain. This could lead to anywhere from a 60 to 80 percent increase in the value of your home. Which, in retrospect, could make the investment now worth more in the future.
A Moving Must-Have
For some Southern California natives, this new room could become a future must-have amenity. Especially considering the increased demand for upgraded outdoor living spaces. If you're thinking about selling your home, but want to make some upgrades to add to the overall value and create a unique property listing this could be an addition to consider. Learn more about this new home trend here.