LOFT CONVERSION IDEAS
loft bedroom, loft bathroom, loft office, loft kids room, loft music room
Loft Conversion Ideas
Create the perfect retreat in your home with some extra living space in the loft. While we all like to spend time socialising with family members or friends, time to recharge on our own is so valuable. Keep things casual with a classic sofa and mismatched armchair in neutral colours and go for a couple of super-cool accessories, such as the pouffe and rug here, to make it your own.
It may not always be practical to put a master bedroom in your attic, particularly if you have very young children. So instead, why not turn it into a fancy guest space that you can reclaim when the kids are older. Granny and Grandad or friends can then be kept away from your little early risers and enjoy a peaceful night's sleep – even if you don't!
Loft Conversion Golders Green.
Incorporate clever storage solutions
Another wonderful loft conversion idea is using a small nook under the eaves to carve out a dressing area.
LOFT CONVERSION IDEAS
Create a luxurious master bedroom
If you are using your loft conversion for your master bedroom, then make it feel as luxurious as you can.
We love this loft bedroom. The dark grass wallpaper wall creates a wonderful focal point behind the bed and the contrasting pink works beautifully.
The star of the show has to be the bathroom and the amazing slipper bath. By keeping the bathroom open to the bedroom creates a spa like hotel feel. Choosing not to have a door also gives you so much additional space, so it's a great space saver too.
Create a striking velux loft conversion
Incorporate clever storage solutions
Incorporate a stunning Juliet balcony
A Juliet balcony is another great loft conversion idea, which brings more light into the room as well as allowing more ventilation in the summer months. It can be challenging to get planning permission when you are adding a balcony to a loft conversion, particularly if you are overlooking other houses. However a Juliet balcony with no veranda can often be allowed within permitted development, as long as it meets certain criteria within your local area.
Add some drama and light
If you can stretch your budget then give your loft conversion the wow factor and add architectural glazing.
We love this loft conversion idea, where the owners can relax in the bath and look out over the London rooftops - it's such a special addition to this home and gives it a luxurious feel. The space has been opened up further by a skylight in the roof which allows even more light to flood in.
If you are including a bathroom or en-suite as part of your loft conversion, try and locate it as close to the existing soil pipe and plumbing as possible. This would ideally be above an existing bathroom so that the soil pipe can be connected easily.
Kids rooms are perfect in the loft
One of the most challenging things about a loft conversion is not having enough head height to make them entirely practical. If you don't have the 2.2 metres height at the centre then use the loft space as a kids bedroom where height is less of an issue.
This loft conversion below is so bright and makes the most out of a fairly small space, which works perfectly for a baby and toddler.
Loft conversion staircase ideas
Often the staircase can feel narrow leading up to the loft conversion, with little natural light making them feel dull and cramped.
You can make this space much brighter by using simple techniques such as painting the walls in a bright white and using spot lights along the stairs.
One of our favourite loft conversion staircase ideas is fitting a glass balustrade, like this one below, also gives the illusion of space and lets the light flow through. We also adore this stair runner for a perfect finish!
When you are planning your loft conversion, think carefully about where you place the stairs and how much space of your original home they will use. For example, you may end up using a large part of an existing bedroom to create an additional bedroom, which wouldn't help create much more in terms of living space.
To comply with building regulations, you need at least 2 metres of headroom at the centre point over the stairs. It's important that you plan this carefully at the outset.
Maximise your space
One of the trickiest things about a loft conversion is trying to make the most out of what is often a small space. Ideally, you will add both a bedroom and en-suite, adding valuable living space whilst also adding value to your home.
We love this loft conversion idea below, with the sliding door pocket door which separates the en-suite and bedroom without using space for the door to open.
The bed is cleverly placed under the sloping Velux windows and the maximum head height is used for the walk way and the bathroom. They have also maximised the storage under the slope, using every inch of space.
Simple spot lights and walk in shower add to the design and the light flooring and white walls give a sense of space. The look is light and simple, making this small loft conversion appear much bigger than it is.
For a comfortable living space, you need at least 2.2 metres at the highest point, which is normally the centre. So try and keep the highest point for the areas that you use in your day to day living, like they have done here.
What Type of Homes are Cheapest for Loft Conversions?
Bungalows are generally the cheapest properties to convert because most (but not all) have spacious lofts. The taller the building the greater the cost due to all the extra fire-safety work and additional lifts of scaffolding.
What is the Quickest Way to Convert a Loft?
Loft conversion cost won’t necessarily be the overriding factor for everyone considering extending upward. Speed may be a critical factor, or the need for minimal disruption (particularly with more people now working from home or those with young children).
In these circumstances, a modular loft conversion may be the perfect solution. This type of conversion involves a prefabricated unit being lifted into position by crane, following its manufacture off-site and preliminary roof works being undertaken by your contractor.
The average modular loft conversion will cost around £50k, but it's worth weighing up the cost of installing one against your overall loft conversion budget.
Loft design by Big Loft London.
Designed and handcrafted by Big Loft London.
Will a Loft Conversion Add Value to Your Home?
Converting your loft is often quoted as one of the simplest methods to add value to your home.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) state that a loft conversion could add up to 25% to the value of your property. That’s an uplift of around £44k on a typical £175k home.
Moving house for the purpose of gaining extra space is very costly, with the RICS also stating that the cost of a loft conversion would be a third of the cost of moving home.
Onsite
Why Have Loft Conversion Costs Increased in 2024?
There are several factors behind the increase in the cost of loft conversions over the last 24 months.
Timber is the most used material for a typical loft conversion, and timber prices were at a record 70% high throughout most of 2021, in part due to the slowing down of the construction materials shortage experienced in the ‘lockdown summer’.
Timber supply is still at a record 20-year low in 2022. There are still many other external influences affecting material prices, e.g., log export bans by some timber-producing countries, Brexit port issues, and haulage driver shortages.
Insulation is the other primary material used when converting a loft, mainly in the form of PIR Board. This is used to line the floors, walls and roof of a loft, adding thermal efficiency in the process.
Insulation is an important element to any loft conversion, as more efficient insulation equals lower energy costs, particularly relevant in the face of the current energy price increases. Unfortunately, PIR Board also increased in price by around 10% in 2021, due to the lack of MDI chemicals required to be manufacture it.
The construction industry was showing signs of recovering from the 2021 price hikes, however with rising energy prices and the impacts of the Ukraine war, they're unlikely to drop in 2022.
How Can You Reduce Loft Conversion Costs?
If your budget is tight, you should start by considering whether your space requirements can be achieved with a simple rooflight conversion, this being the most cost-effective type.
Raising a roof can also significantly increase costs. So, if you have enough standing area in your loft to create habitable space, you may be able to save money by limiting any extension ambitions and allowing your loft conversion contractor to work within your loft's current dimensions.
If you are more confident with DIY and/or project management, then you may wish to consider a ‘shell loft conversion’. This is where structural works, i.e., dormer, roof timbers and floor joists, are completed by a builder, leaving an empty shell for other individual trades to be employed directly, or allowing for DIY works to commence.
Adding windows can seem like a necessity, but you may want to consider using more cost-effective solutions to bring in more natural light, such as sun tubes, which are significantly less expensive than dormer windows.
Keeping a tight rein on your budget for finishes can dramatically cut the cost of your loft conversion as well. Bathroom appliances and finishes, for example, often vary hugely in price and can add several thousands of pounds to your project.
It’s essential to shop around when undertaking your loft conversion project, as the same look and quality can usually be achieved at a fraction of the price. Take advantage of seasonal sales, and remember that it’s much easier to upgrade your décor in the future when budget allows, than it is to change any fixed aspects of the conversion.
Other projects
Hampstead, London NW11
Dormer Loft Conversion
New dormer loft conversion, bespoke timber windows and roof lights were added to this top floor master bedroom conversion to add more natural light and liven up the living space. A new staircase was created to maximise the available floor area….
Islington, London N5
L Shaped Loft Conversion
Set in the southern part of Islington this beautiful, grand terraced house was calling out for something special. Having been the family home for more than 10 years. The time had come for a major re-think and re-arrangement, to suit the changing needs of the family. The primary ambition was to increase living space adding 2 loft bedrooms and loft bathroom. The owners wanted to open up the interior space, to create a bright, spacious, modern, family-orientated terraced house.
Finchley Central, London N3
Hip to gable loft conversion
Woodlands Avenue is our loft extension of a Victorian house in Finchley, North London. It was driven by the will and enthusiasm of the owner, Mick, who's desire for a stylish and contemporary family home kept the project focused on achieving his goals. Our design contrasts restored Victorian interiors with a strikingly simple, modern and stylish loft extension. Dormer is clad with slates, Bespoke made timber loft door and sash window accomplish this stunning loft conversion.