For owners of compact homes, having a loft or mezzanine is a lovely idea. It’s a simple way to bring more dimension into a house and give it extra storage by maximizing its vertical area. You can have your bedroom above a kitchen or a game room above a work station; having a loft opens your house to limitless possibilities.
And it’s relatively simple, too. A week’s worth of determined work can turn your space into a luxurious-looking flat without breaking your budget. Here’s how you should peg your loft space to look like.
A stunning staircase
The first thing you have to consider when constructing your loft is its height, and thus, your staircase. Creative staircase designs are plenty, and companies such as Ackworth House can provide the best ones for the attic of your dreams. You can build a bespoke staircase for grandeur or a spiral staircase that saves a few square meters. You can even get more storage spaces beneath the stair’s steps.
Take note of building regulations for staircases, though. Domestic staircases 1.8m of headroom at the edge of flight, 1.9m of headroom at the center, and a maximum pitch of 42 degrees. The stair’s width would be up to your desired loft style.
Proportional design
If you’re adding a loft to your pre-designed home, then consistency is key. That is, your upcoming attic must comply with the rest of the house’s overall design.
If your living space has a more modern, neutral design, then your loft should have dynamic metal bars as balcony or dark balusters for the staircase. If it has a rustic look resembling countryside houses, then your attic can have wooden floorings, and exposed timber beams overhead for a stripped-down barn look. The point is to integrate your loft into your overall living space.
Skylight and windows
Have you ever fantasized looking out to the stars above like a quintessential movie character?
Adding a skylight to your loft space makes it dreamier. Not to mention, a skylight improves your loft’s ventilation as well as helps natural light disperse. Adding windows does the same. These adjuncts, however, depend on the size and space permitted by your roof. Lofts usually have top-hinge or center-pivot windows as they’re easy to open and provide more headroom. If your space and budget allow it, you can even have a Juliet balcony that overlooks a garden.
Suitable and scaled furniture
Extra space doesn’t mean extra room for clutter; you have to plan the floor design of your loft as well. If you’re expecting it to be a bedroom, you’d probably have the frame custom-fitted and built into the attic. If you’re expecting it to be somewhat of a dressing room or lounge area, most of your storage will also probably be built-in, like shelves, closets, and wardrobe spaces in bespoke setups.
If you want to maximize space, don’t neglect your eaves space. You can use these extra rooms for books, undergarments, or if you’re planning to have a bath in the loft, towels, and other toiletries.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Finally, a frameless floor-to-ceiling mirror in your loft will help make your tight place look bigger and fuller. This will also help it look brighter, as it reflects natural light from your skylight or windows.
From this point, it’s all about personalizing your loft. In the meantime, you can relax in your attic and enjoy the extra room!