Attic and Loft Conversion Ideas

A loft conversion or attic extension is a great way to add extra living space and value to your home, whether you crave another bedroom, bathroom, office or playroom for the children, a loft conversion can cater to all your needs, especially for homeowners who are outgrowing their home but don’t want to move.

In recent months, an upward trend in working from home has seen many people convert their loft into home working space whilst others are using this often derelict area to accommodate older children not being able to attend university. It can be anything you want it to be from an additional shower room to a play area, and whilst it may not be practical to put a master bedroom in your attic, particularly if you have very young children, consider turning it into a guest space that once the children are older, you can reclaim.

A loft conversion is estimated to increase your property value by 50% on top of any original outlay. But to be sure it’ll be worth the investment, let our selection of loft conversion ideas inspire your next home renovation.

Peaceful living room

While we all enjoy socializing with family members or friends, time to recharge on our own is valuable. Keep things casual with a classic sofa and mismatched armchair in neutral colours or go for super-cool accessories, such as a pouffe and statement rug to make it your perfect retreat.

Tranquil guest bedroom

Turn bland and boring, to bright and beautiful. A light and airy guest bedroom can be the perfect solution for granny and grandad or for friends to stay over and through sensible design can retain  essential storage. 

Elevate the kitchen

A loft conversion opens up the possibility to completely reconfigure the layout of a home. Create a self-contained flat within the rooms of your existing home, a great idea for teenage children or elderly relatives. A kitchen in the loft could also be ideal for those creating a home office, complete with all the amenities.

Open to a balcony

Add some real wow factor and a more opulent feel to your attic bedroom with a Juliet balcony with double doors. This is especially effective in a roof space where it might be tricky to fit Velux windows or a dormer in the slope of the roof.

Let the structure shine

If you want your loft extension to match the building's heritage features, keep original timbers exposed and paint them white for a really light and airy feel.

Zone the open plan space

The beauty of extending into the loft is the footprint of space to create generous sized rooms. Because of the sloped roofs it’s often beneficial to keep the layout open-plan but with clever zoning you can create multifunctional purposes within the space. 

Boutique hotel vibes

If you’re going to all the effort of creating a dream space, why hold back on the indulgent features. A loft master bedroom feels worthy of a boutique-style hotel finishing so don’t overlook the attention to detail that can elevate your attic bedroom from average to awesome.

Bespoke solutions

‘Make the most of unused loft space with attic wardrobes’ advises Asif Hameed,  South London Refresh Renovations specialist ‘You may think that the areas under the sloping eaves are awkward and a waste of space, but with careful planning and some ingenuity, the space can open up endless possibilities. The key here is to go bespoke. Your loft is a unique space, so ordinary furniture won’t do the trick. Loft wardrobes should be designed to seamlessly fit into the contours of the room, filling every available space.’

Achieve your dream bathroom

We don’t usually have the chance to dream big when it comes to bathrooms – but maybe your loft could change that. By dedicating the whole space to a spa-like retreat, you can really indulge in features like a walk-in shower and sinks for two.

Leave your loft open-plan

Consider the space you have available carefully. Sometimes it’s best to leave an attic open plan to compensate where you can’t include big windows. It could also be that you have a double-height room that would benefit from the impressive feel of a mezzanine level in part of it. It’s a desirable look with plenty of appeal.

Make the most of natural light

Don’t let a seemingly awkward space intimidate you. Walls that have been sympathetically shaped allow as much light through as possible through a dormer window. Dormer windows extend out of the roof and create extra room. There is, however, more work involved and they can be more expensive than a Velux. You’ll need proper staircase access with a dormer design, which can require permission. But the extra expense and work may be worth it with the added value the space will bring.

Do without a staircase

If all you’re looking for is a bit of extra storage space in a compact room, why not add a sturdy ladder for access to the loft above. It’s a great way to make the most of unused space, without having to build a costly staircase.

Turn an angled wall into a feature

Don’t let awkwardly shaped ceilings and tiny spaces put you off. Whether you paint or paper a small panel or a full room, use colour or pattern to create a unique look. Background colour has a big impact on the overall feel of a room – choose deeper, more muted colours in the bedroom for a restful feel, or go bright and bold for the perfect space to wake up in.

Expose your brickwork

Leave one wall unpainted and expose the brickwork to make a stylish feature that looks especially cool in an attic with slanting ceilings. If your bricks aren’t in good condition, there are lots of wallpapers around that will help you create the same effect.

Where do I start?

First, work out your requirements and think about how you will use the space. Do you need another bedroom, bathroom or home office? Once you know, look at the floor plan to determine how best to use the room. Also, remember that most lofts will have angled ceilings, which could restrict the type of furniture you can have.

How much does it cost to convert a loft?

Loft conversions can costs can vary greatly dependant on the square footage and project requirements. These figures will vary depending on your location, the materials used and the size of your loft. Ideally your loft should be 2.2m or higher at the mid-point. If yours 
is lower, you might want to reassess.

A simple Velux loft conversion is often the cheapest solution and, as the roof slope is not altered, will maintain a property’s appearance but may also result in limited height. Alternatively, a dormer loft conversion has vertical windows and doors, which allow full head room and greater possibilities when it comes to staircases.

Mansard loft conversions look less boxy than a dormer, due to the 70-degree slope of the rear wall and raised party wall brickwork, but require planning permission. Prefab loft replacement conversions are another option but they’re more pricey. However, there’s ways you can save, such as swapping a dormer for rooflights.

A good loft conversion can add between 10 and 20 per cent to the value of a home, with no need to sacrifice the garden space required by ground-floor extensions.

Do you need planning permission for a loft conversion?

Converting a loft rarely requires planning permission* unless you’re raising the roofline or changing its structure, but it will need building regulations approval. This ensures that the structural strength of the new floor will be sufficient, and that 
the room and roof will be stable with safely designed stairs etc.

A building control surveyor will visit to make sure that the work meets regulations and issue a completion certificate. 
If your house is semi-detached or terraced, you’ll also be subject to party wall requirements.

It will require planning permission 
if the roof is going to be extended 
or altered and it exceeds specified limits and conditions, or if you 
live in a designated area (such as 
a national park, the Broads, an 
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a conservation area or a World Heritage Site) and the work includes a roof extension. Check the limits and conditions at the government’s Planning Portal site. 

Get in touch!

If you want to find out more about the possibilities of converting your loft into liveable space, get in touch with your local Refresh Renovations Specialist today! 

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