With 52% of people under the age of 30 living with their parents and a housing shortage to boot, many US homeowners are finding themselves a little pressed for space.
Building an ADU is one way to accommodate extra family members, but it’s a costly one. You can find a cheaper way to increase your home’s livable area by casting your eyes upward – and it’s not for divine intervention.
Your attic might be the ideal candidate for the loft design that saves the day and restores family harmony. Check out how to go about discovering your ideal space-sharing solution.
Work With The Loft Design Constraints You Have
Most attic conversions are on the smaller side, so you’ll need to get creative when you design loft interiors. You can opt for one larger room, but two smaller ones often work better to create a cozy feel in this unusual space.
Look on the lighter side of the spectrum when it comes to choosing paint colors.
White helps make any room feel lighter and larger, but remember you must balance it with colorful accents. Too much white paint looks sterile and clinical.
You can also opt for apple pastel tints, light browns, and grays. Work with the natural shadows in the room to create interest or focal points.
Other considerations include your budget. You need to know how much does a loft cost when built to your specifications.
Remember, there may be extra charges involved for permitting. Most neighborhoods have strict rules regarding home alterations, so always check first.
If you want to use your loft as a bedroom, or another occupied area, you must install a fixed staircase per building code specifications.
When you have a general idea about what’s possible within your budget and space constraints, you can consider some of these loft design ideas.
Creating a Great Bedroom Space
Designing an extra bedroom is the best use of the space inside your roof. If you’re using it to create temporary space for a family member, you can always repurpose it into a guest bedroom when they move out.
Introducing light into a loft is a top priority. You can use dormer windows, skylights, or even a balcony extension to let the sunshine in.
Next up, consider creative storage options. The low sides of the loft are ideal for creating shelves, shallow drawers, and cabinets for books, knickknacks, and some clothing.
When desingning your loft bedroom, ottoman beds can be a savvy choice for maximizing storage in a space with limited square footage. These beds typically feature built-in storage compartments beneath the mattress, offering a convenient solution for stowing away extra bedding, clothing, or seasonal items. Moreover, incorporating versatile furniture pieces like ottoman beds allows you to optimize functionality without sacrificing style.
You can build a closet across the room in place of a wall to divide the room in two, and even conceal an en-suite bathroom beyond it.
It pays to splurge on top-quality flooring and ceiling for your loft, after all, these are the main focal areas. Waterproof laminate or vinyl flooring works well, and wood ceilings are an attractive option, although they might not suit every design.
Don’t skimp on your decor and linen, either. When you’re decorating such a small space, you can afford to go all out with luxury finishes.
If you have a rustic-looking attic with wooden floors and eaves, some tongue-in-cheek opulent furniture will pop in this space i.e. a glitzy bed frame and ornate chairs.
Pops of color and eclectic touches help bring life and light into what can easily become a dreary space. Play around with color combinations and ideas to see what works best in your space.
You can also use one end of the roof as a feature wall to add charm to your attic space. Leaving a bare brick facade or placing some quirky wallpaper works well to frame a window or as a backdrop to the bed.
Designing a Studio Loft
As work-from-home becomes a permanent reality for many employees across the world, many workers are looking to upgrade their home offices. Creating an office in your attic gives you the space and solitude you need to focus on the tasks at hand.
A home office needs plenty of light, so don’t skimp on the windows or skylights. Task lighting is a must for working after hours, and you’ll need to consider storage ideas for your paperwork.
Remember, you can claim a home office deduction from your tax when you go this route, too. Deductions are great since they reduce your overall taxable income. Therefore, if you fall into the upper tax brackets for 2023, that means that less of your income is ultimately taxed.
Another great use for an attic is as a yoga or art studio. It’s a secluded place where you can escape to practice mindfulness or create your next masterpiece.
Using Your Loft for Storage
Everyone knows that an untidy attic is a scary place. After all, it’s a common feature in thriller movies.
The first step toward taking the chill out of your loft space is installing some light. Not only will this take some of the terror out of searching for something in this isolated space, but it’s a lot easier to find what you’re looking for when there’s light.
Step two is getting organized. Invest in sealable storage boxes and mark them clearly before you stow them away. Avoid using cardboard boxes for storing things, they attract cockroaches and silverfish and can’t resist moisture or mold.
The third alternative involves installing built-in cabinets in your loft. This helps keep items dust-free and organized.
A well-organized loft for storage helps decrease clutter inside your home, adding comfort and convenience to your living spaces.
You can opt for a retractable loft ladder installation if you don’t intend to use your loft as a living area.
Making the Most of Your Home
It’s important to take your time researching all the loft design options available to you. Otherwise, you’ll end up missing out on maximizing this versatile area that can add so much more space to your home.
Would you like some more tips for boosting your interiors? Browse our website for all the best hacks about managing your home life.