Loft Conversion Ideas

A loft conversion is a great way of utilising dusty, old attic space whilst adding value to your home.  Converting your loft or attic into a livable space is typically less disruptive than building a house extension, or making alterations to a room that is in constant use.  This is mostly because the renovation work is confined to one area of the house and out of the way.

Dependent on your budget and, ultimately, the shape and size of your house, there are four main loft conversion styles to choose from.  These are:

• Dormer;
• Mansard;
• Velux;
• Hip to Gable

When it comes to the utility and design of your chosen loft conversion, the options are seemingly endless.  HLN Engineering Ltd has many years of loft conversion experience, so we’ve taken the liberty of providing you with a list of our favourite loft conversion ideas-handy if you can’t decide what to go for.

Six of the best Loft Conversion Ideas

#1: Bedroom

Why?

Converting an attic into a bedroom is a cost-effective way for families to obtain more space without the burden of buying a new home.

Best suited to?

Velux loft conversion: the cheapest option of the 4, Velux loft conversions are normally exempt from planning permission which helps to keep costs down even further.  Also, they tend to be the easiest to construct–once the attic space has been cleared, 2 Velux style windows are fitted either side of the roof.

#2 – Living Room

Why?

Picture the scene: the football is about to start (Champions League Final!) and your other half is hell bent on watching Strictly Come Dancing.  It’s a good job you turned your attic into a spare living room…

Best suited to?

Whilst it is possible to transform a Velux loft conversion into a living room, the sloping roof either side may make it difficult to position sofas and a TV.  We recommend a Mansard loft conversion as with this style, one side of the roof is altered so that it is almost vertical-the result is a flat roof, creating more height and space than other styles of loft conversion.  Handy if you’re the type to jump for joy when your team scores a goal…

#3: Games Room

Why?

It’s raining outside and the kids are stuck indoors, bored out of their minds.  Instead of putting up with moping teenagers or hyper-active children, you could turn that empty space under the roof of your house into a games room and banish them to the loft for some much-needed peace and quiet.

Best suited to?

This depends on your audience: if you have small children, a Velux loft conversion will do just fine.  If you’re surrounded by moody teenagers or big kids (i.e. Dad and his drinking buddies), then we recommend either a Dormer or Mansard loft conversion as they create more headroom.

#4: Cinema Room

Why?

A must-have for film buffs and cinephiles, why put up with long queues, noisy teenagers and ever-increasing ticket prices, when you could retire to your very own private cinema room?  As loft conversion ideas go, a cinema room is our all time favourite.

Best suited to?

For that authentic cinema feel, a large projector screen is required.  Therefore, the more-square in shape the space the better, so opt for either a hip to gable or mansard loft conversion.

#5: Home Office

Why?

If you work from home and need peace and quiet to concentrate on what needs to be done, where better a place of respite than the attic?  Out of the way and far from the chaos of family life, converting your attic space into a home office will allow you to focus on work, without taking up much needed living space elsewhere.

Best suited to?

Realistically, you probably won’t need a lot of space – most home offices we’ve seen contain a desk, a computer, a chair and a filing cabinet.  Therefore, a Velux loft conversion should do just fine, although consider one of the other styles of loft conversion if the work you do requires a lot more space.

#6: Bathroom

Why?

If your family is growing, or you’re partial to inviting friends over to stay, then you will agree that there is nothing worse than a locked bathroom right when you need it.  Unsurprisingly, attic bathrooms are increasing in popularity as they help minimise disruption in busy households.  Installing a bathroom in your attic has the added benefit of increasing the re-sale value of your home, as-well.

Best suited to?

If all you require is a shower, a sink and a toilet, a Velux loft conversion will suffice and cost you less.  If you really want to push the boat out and install a bath and other features (i.e. a bidet), consider a dormer or mansard loft conversion.

Top Tip – Check if Your Loft Conversion Idea Requires Planning

Prior to making any sort of alteration to your home, it is always a good idea to check if you require planning permission.  Typically, Velux and Dormer loft conversions are exempt as they fall under permitted development.  However, planning permission is usually required for Mansard and Hip to Gable loft conversion ideas, as substantial roof alterations are involved.

Our list of loft conversion ideas is just a small sample of what’s possible.  HLN Engineering Ltd has designed loft conversions for a wide range of commercial and residential properties – contact us today to discuss how we can help you transform your loft into a useful, habitable space.