Transforming a property when more space is needed has become the preferred choice amongst homeowners, instead of uprooting and selling for the sake of an extra bedroom. One of the best ways to add volume AND value to a property is through the addition of a loft conversion.
Although an attic conversion should be viewed as an investment for your home and not a significant outlay, loft conversion costs do run higher than the average decorating project due to the extensive work that is required to make your attic renovations habitable and structurally sound.
With that said, it is vital that you utilise every precious inch of your loft room and master your loft extension plans the first time around, especially as lofts are notoriously tricky spaces to mould, with angled walls, roofs and many nooks and crannies.
Alvaston Loft Conversions have been in the industry for over 35 years, during which time we have conquered some tips and tricks to maximise the space in your loft conversion plans to create the most functional and practical room possible:
Opt for Fitted Furniture
Making use of fitted or customised furniture in your loft extension plans will help you to make use of every inch of awkward or angular wall and roof space. Customised furniture is particularly advantageous with regards to wardrobes, as the typical ‘off-the-shelf’ wardrobe and its doors are often too large, and rectangular, for practical use in a small loft conversion.
A specially designed wardrobe can contain all of the internal storage solutions that you need, such as accessory storage and shoe shelves, which will eliminate the need for further storage systems around your new loft extension, inevitably saving you considerable floor and wall space.
If you only want to invest in one piece of bespoke furniture for your loft conversion bedroom, we highly endorse that this is a customised wardrobe.
Save Space with a Compact Staircase
The loft conversion stairs that you choose to build into your project can have a significant impact on the amount of usable floor space that in your attic renovation.
If you have ample floor space within your attic conversion, your choice of staircase shouldn’t take much consideration, but for those with limited free space, work with your loft conversion specialist to calculate the most space-saving staircase solution.
Spiral staircases are a popular choice for smaller properties, not only do they save as much space as possible, but they also add a unique design element to any home, but if they are not your thing, an experienced loft conversion company can design an original and functional staircase that doesn’t compromise precious space.
Think Outside the Box… and Inside the Eaves
When working in a confined space and of an angular structure that might not always accommodate standard items of furniture, wise men say that it is beneficial to work with every nook and cranny that the room offers; this includes working with the natural eaves of a basic loft conversion. From the get-go, your loft conversion designs should make intelligent use of all available space to provide maximum storage solutions for minimal floor consumption.
Rather than occupying your floor with freestanding furniture and leaving little room for manoeuvre, fitting specially built cupboards, drawers and cabinets into the eaves and alcoves are one of the smartest uses of your loft space. Your chosen loft specialists can merge these ideas into your initial loft conversion drawings to allow you to visualise your dream loft room.
Use the Space around Fitted Features
In a room where space is sacred, for example, a small loft conversion, every morsel of space needs to be used to its full potential, this includes redundant areas around fitted furniture such as beds, desks or around loft conversion windows.
Wall space around the perimeter of such furniture is usually left neglected and naked with no specific reason. Smart use of this space is to incorporate and include specially designed fittings such as shelves, bookshelves or cabinets, which can amplify storage space while saving floor your space.
Nestled Beneath the Windows
A dormer loft conversion not only adds flair to the interior and exterior aesthetics of your home, but protruding loft conversion windows also create new footprint within your loft room, so if the extra floor space is there, why not use it?
Quite often, homeowners neglect to fully utilise the space created by a dormer loft window, space that is often required extremely useful. The otherwise dead space below your dormer window can house a freestanding dresser, a desk, a cabinet, or the ever-popular window seat that can double up as a storage solution for the loft room.
