Design Tips for Loft Conversions

If you've been searching for a way to increase the amount of living space in your home, along with increasing its value, look no further than converting your loft. Loft conversions might sound like a taxing endeavour, but all the time and energy is more than worth it when you can finally relax and enjoy the new room your house never had before.

Some of the most important decisions that need to be made when talking about loft conversions are concerning the design scheme. The new room's purpose will, of course, inform a lot of the choices to be made, but for any perfectionists out there, worries can be laid to rest when you learn how much is possible with a little creativity, even on a budget.

Lighting

During the construction period, it is important to pay attention to how much natural light is being allowed into the new room. Natural light is important for a bedroom, but will also improve concentration, for any loft conversions creating a new study or office. Consider Dormer or Velux windows, which promote brightness in a room.

In the case of electrical lighting, wall lights, rather than a single light on the ceiling, are softer and the room will benefit from a warmer atmosphere. In addition, the lack of a ceiling light avoids the issue a lot of loft conversions have with limited headroom, allowing maximum enjoyment of the available space.

Colour

A highly subjective area, colour schemes should largely be based around a person's own preferences, but there are some helpful guidelines to follow, depending on the room's intended function. For instance, a bedroom would benefit from warmer colours - reds, for example - whilst a personal study could be improved with brighter colours like yellow.

If there's any questioning about which colour schemes might be appropriate, a general basic rule is to use neutral tones for the base colour, with more vibrantly coloured soft furnishings such as curtains, duvets and cushions as an accent. If you follow this configuration and want to change things, it's as easy to replacing fabrics or even dying them to suit new tastes.

Furnishing

Loft conversions can fulfil many different purposes and there are unlimited possibilities available. The main problem most people encounter is lack of space, which means storage options are important to think about. Without a built-in provision, wardrobes and shelving must be carefully considered, or, to maximise space, a divan bed with drawers in the base.

A sofa bed can also help add more options to the new room. Converting from a seat to a bed easily, they can provide multiple ways in which the space can be seen and will be a simple solution to sleeping arrangements for guests. A home office, guest room or child's room would greatly benefit from the ease of manoeuvrability.

Tricks and Tips

Adding tall mirrors to a small room creates a sense of greater space, as well as reflecting natural light should they be placed opposite windows. This makes a room feel warmer and brighter.

To make a room feel more private, try using window blinds. They are good for letting in a lot of light, but there's flexibility in how they're controlled and arranged so they can be perfect for a bedroom or even a child's playroom.