How to turn your attic into a bedroom

How to turn your attic into a bedroom

Looking for some extra space to accommodate guests or a growing family? Converting your attic into a bedroom could be the answer to your problem. Here’s how to do it.

What’s in your attic?

If your answer is anything other than “a gorgeous, bespoke bedroom”, you’re missing out.

For many of us, our loft space is often nothing more than a stuffy afterthought, filled to the brim with boxes, dusty old furniture and long-forgotten possessions. So – if your attic is big enough – why not transform it into something truly special instead?

Whether creating a new guest room or a special den for the kids, converting your attic into a beautiful extra room can create additional living space as well as increase the value of your home. Follow this quick guide to help you get started on your renovation project.

Find the best workers for the job

With the relatively mundane planning sorted, and your mind now buzzing with ideas, it’s time to get stuck in. But, converting a loft can be a complicated process. If you’re determined to go the DIY route, be warned that you may still need experts to help with some of the trickier aspects.

For peace of mind and a job done well, you might want to go the whole hog with a professional instead. Find the best construction workers, engineers and builders for the job by searching online, reading reviews, and asking for recommendations from friends and neighbours (particularly that one at the end of the road whose house has just gotten a storey higher). Make sure you get at least three different quotations, and that they visit your home and take accurate measurements first.

The Amazing Attic Conversion Project To-Do List

Embarking on a massive project without making a long-as-your-arm to-do list? Unheard of! As well as the points above, we’ve got a few more to add to your painstakingly-organised dossier.

• Reinforce joists: make sure your new bedroom is structurally sound for regular use by reinforcing all the joists and beams.

• Insulation: insulate the floor, the wall and the ceiling beneath the roof.

• Plumbing: if you’d like an en-suite, try to locate the bathroom close to the main stack of pipes to reduce the length of the new pipes you’ll need to install.

• Wiring: install electrical wiring across the walls, floor and ceiling, placing at least one outlet on each wall and at least one outlet every 3.6 metres.

• Build the staircase: the new staircase will need to comply with building and fire safety regulations.

• Install flooring: choose whether you’re going for carpet or wooden flooring, and prep and soundproof the floor before installation.

• Install cooling, heating and ventilation: think about both cold-weather and warm-weather solutions to make sure the space is comfortably liveable year-round.

• Fit windows: it’s relatively easy to fit rooflight or skylight windows in the attic, although you could opt for dormer windows if you’re craving more usable space and don’t mind the extra construction work.

• Check for fire safety: you may need to re-plaster the ceiling below the loft, add a fire door and make sure an escape-sized window is easy accessible from the new bedroom.

• Add storage: instead of making your bedside tables do all the work, make use of every extra nook and cranny in your attic bedroom by adding built-in storage and cabinets.