Loft Conversion Ideas – 27 Amazing Projects to Inspire Your Attic Renovation

3. 1960s Bungalow Transformed with a Dormer Loft Conversion

Darren Young undertook a dramatic and lengthy renovation project to transform a 1960s bungalow in South London into a contemporary family home. Darren had a simple brief; he wanted to add a second storey and create a spacious internal layout, with ample natural light and sliding doors that would bring the outside in.

Photo: Immer Architectural Photography

Upon approaching the local authority, his architect, Chris Axon from Craft Architects, was told the existing ridge height and pitch of the property must be retained, so he proposed increasing the scale of the dormer lengthways and wrapping it in modern zinc cladding. The ground floor would be opened up, to create generous, free-flowing living areas.

Photo: Immer Architectural Photography

Photo: Immer Architectural Photography

The work began with the demolition of the original dormer loft and roof. The existing external solid brick walls were retained and insulated internally, to bring them up to current building standards. The new dormer loft was then constructed from timber frame, with a steel support system, and the new flat roof was finished with a single GRP ply membrane. The sloping roof was crafted from the same zinc that wraps the facade. The 293m² bungalow renovation project cost a total of £783,000 (£3,276 per m²).

4. Victorian House Upgraded with a Contemporary Loft Conversion Idea

Inspired by the homeowners’ love of art, design and architecture, this urban terraced home has been revamped with an eye-catching medley of textures, colours and patterns.

Photo: French + Tye

Bradley Van Der Straeten Architects and Optimal Build, the team behind the works, took a fabric-first approach to the renovation, paying attention to the unique thermal properties of the period home.

Photo: French + Tye

The loft extension has been finished with Valchromat cladding, a matt wood fibre material, with a fluted texture. Up and over glazing floods the space with daylight.

5. Zinc-Clad Loft Extension Project in South London

Designed by BetterPAD Architects, this full-house renovation in South London involved a side return extension and loft conversion, opening the house up to the garden and maximising daylight throughout.

Photo: Chris Wharton

Photo: Chris Wharton

The loft space – which now holds two bedrooms and a bathroom – is clad in zinc and features large picture windows to capture the far-reaching city views.

6. Loft Conversion Completed Under Permitted Development

Mulroy Architects helped improve the functionality, design and thermal performance of this family home in Muswell Hill with a striking angled rear extension and a dormer loft conversion.

Photo: Dan Glasser

As the house is not in a protected area, Mulroy Architects were able to make use of permitted development rights (PD) and complete the dormer loft conversion without submitting a formal planning application. Instead, the project was signed off with a certificate of lawful development.

Photo: Dan Glasser

The loft conversion’s exterior has been finished in the same clay roof tiles that cover the existing home to ensure a coherent design that blends with the surrounding architecture. The loft area is flooded with daylight and holds a spacious play area. Glazed doors pull away for fresh air and sit behind a glazed balustrade to ensure safety.

7. Family Home Upgraded with a Dormer Loft Extension

Russian For Fish transformed this urban family home with a L-shaped dormer loft extension and conversion to provide additional living space.

Photo: Jake Seal

The extension was built on the footprint of the existing lean-to, and echoes the pitch of its roof, creating a beautiful, vaulted space that houses a new kitchen and living area. A large picture window that looks onto the garden floods the space with light.

EXPERT VIEW What to consider before gathering loft conversion ideas Mike Tuck Mike Tuck, founder of east London-based practice Mike Tuck Studio, takes a look at the different factors to bear in mind when designing a loft conversion. Mike studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and the Royal College of Art, and founded Mike Tuck Studio in 2014. What do I need to consider before deciding whether a loft conversion is right for me? First up, you might want to think about if you have adequate space in your loft. You may have enough room to stand up, but once the floor has been reinforced and the roof insulated and strengthened, you’ll find it’s significantly smaller. You will need to check if you live in a conservation area, listed building, or other location with planning restrictions on lofts, because this could impact your project. If in doubt, ask the local planning authority (LPA). It’s possible that you may be able to extend and convert your loft under permitted development rights, meaning you won’t require formal planning permission. Just be mindful that there are technical restrictions on the size of the extension, materials used for external finishes and other details of the design. If the loft space is above an apartment, you should consider if you have the right in your ownership documents to develop it. Do I need an architect for a loft conversion? You don’t need an architect for a loft conversion and there are plenty of very competent companies who will handle the process of designing and building the new space for you. They tend to work according to a generic design for your type of property, though. An architect can create a specific design that takes into account local planning constraints and thinks carefully about common problems, such as solar gain and overheating, and appropriate use of materials. Lofts are usually very complex spaces, so having an architect involved in the design process can help you understand and visualise how it will all come together, as well as the best way to maximise space, before any of the construction work takes place. Do you have any loft conversion ideas for connecting the two storeys? Many homeowners don’t realise that if they add an additional level to a two-storey home, they will usually be required to form what is known as a protected means of escape. This means that all habitable rooms leading onto the stairs will require a certified fire door. If your home’s ground floor already features an open-plan layout, this can cause a problem and needs to be thought about early on in your project’s design process. If you need to sacrifice a room for a staircase up to the loft, you might want to question if the project is actually worthwhile. Also, the staircase generally needs to arrive at the taller part of the new room because you need at least two metres of headroom above each step of the stair to comply with Building Regulations. Your builder also needs to be aware of other rules regarding how steep your stairs can be.

8. Countryside Home Upgraded with a Loft Renovation

This Georgian property in rural Kent has been upgraded with a sympathetic renovation, masterminded by Emrys Architects, restoring the house’s original charming features – such as the vaulted timber ceilings. 

Photo: Alan Williams

The loft area hosts a spacious open-plan living-kitchen area. The stainless steel kitchen cabinets make a contemporary statement set against the rustic timber beams and exposed brick walls. Rooflights overhead ensure a light-filled zone that can be enjoyed throughout all seasons.

9. Sympathetic Loft Conversion Idea for a Victorian Home

Mike Tuck Studio transformed this typical four-bedroom Victorian terraced property with a rear extension and dormer loft conversion.

Photo: Luca Piffaretti

The new additions feature a distinctive, deep rust-coloured corrugated cement board facade, making a contemporary statement set against the traditional period home. The light-filled space boasts unpainted, paddle-brushed lime plaster walls.

Photo: Luca Piffaretti

10. First-Floor Flat with a New Zinc-Clad Loft Conversion

Fraher & Findlay architects were approached by a young client who was looking to transform their first-floor flat and add more space at roof level.

Photo: Chris Wharton

They created a bright, open scheme with the kitchen and dining areas looking out over the rooftops, with the bedrooms positioned underneath. To bring as much light into the landing and living areas as possible, a perforated metal staircase drops through the new space and connects the two storeys.

Photo: Chris Wharton

The loft conversion’s exterior has been clad in red zinc with a sedum roof on top to bring a diverse habitat to the building.

11. Bright & Colourful Dormer Loft Extension Project

Paul Archer Design is behind this contemporary loft conversion and extension to an Edwardian flat in North London. The property’s internal layout was in need of improvement; it was evident that the interior spaces weren’t being maximised to their full potential.

Photo: Andy Stagg

As part of the redesign, the main staircase up to the loft has been relocated to make room for a large open-plan kitchen zone.

Photo: Andy Stagg

The formerly-unused loft, located on the flat’s second floor, has been completely upgraded to create new living areas, with a large standout dormer window to maximise natural light and headroom.

Photo: Andy Stagg

The space holds two bedrooms and a main bathroom with striking terrazzo surfaces. The project cost a total of £2,080 per m².

12. Light-Filled Loft Conversion Idea for an Urban Home

Located in south west London, this maisonette has been completely reconfigured and upgraded with an expansive, light and airy loft conversion, designed by Yard Architects.

Photo: Chris Snook

The newly-converted loft space holds a sleek, free-flowing kitchen-diner, which makes use of integrated storage, minimalist timber finishes and dormer windows to embrace every inch of the compact space.

Photo: Chris Snook

This leads through to the living area at the rear of the property, with full-height glazed doors and a mezzanine balcony, ensuring light and fresh air can travel through the upper storey when required.

13. Playful Loft Conversion Idea Clad with Timber Shingles

Extending upwards or converting your loft is a great way to add extra room if you have limited space at ground floor level. This playful flat roof dormer loft conversion by Office S&M allows for an extra bedroom so each of the owners’ children has their own space.

Photo: French + Tye

The yellow arch windows and rounded cedar shingles give the dormer a unique aesthetic that successfully contrasts the exterior of the existing house.

EXPERT VIEW Design considerations for a loft conversion Louis Hagen Hall, founder of Studio Hagen Hall takes a look at the key design considerations for when developing your loft conversion ideas What planning restrictions are there on the design of a loft conversion? Typically, you will only be allowed to raise the roof height to form a loft at the rear of your house. This is required to maintain the existing ‘ridge line’ as viewed from the street. If the ridge line of your property is too low (you have a shallow pitched roof), then you may not be able to extend into the loft. If your property is listed, or in a conservation area, then you may find it harder to gain permission for a loft conversion. How can you design a loft conversion to blend with the rest of your house’s architecture? If you have a lot of period detailing and character on the floors below, sometimes it’s best to not to try and replicate it in a new loft, especially where you might have sloping roofs, lower ceilings, and modern windows incongruous with period properties. I would suggest squeezing the most out of the new loft space first through extensive planning, rather than focusing on aesthetics. After then, see what characteristics you want to, and are able to, bring up from the floors below. This could be window treatments, joinery, colour schemes, or materials. What are the best design ideas for making a loft conversion feel light and spacious?  Adding dormer windows and mansard extensions are popular methods for bringing in extra light while providing great views. Mansard extensions will also increase the usable square footage of your loft extension – as they’ll raise the pitched roof – but will be more expensive than a dormer window. You could combine a mansard extension with a Juliet Balcony, or use large skylights in sloping roofs. I would also suggest sticking to light paint/material colours that bounce the natural light around! What do you need to consider when designing a staircase for a loft conversion? Firstly, consider the spatial and circulatory relationship between the existing top floor and new loft. Sometimes there may only be one way of continuing the stair upwards, but it can be worth investigating other ways of routing your stairs to create a better or more exciting use of space. Secondly, there is an aesthetic decision to be made. If you are extending a Victorian property, for example, then you may want to carry the period styling from the lower floors up to the new loft. Finding what will complement the style of your home is important before taking any aesthetic risks or trying to switch from the style of the existing stories.

14. 1930s House Upgraded with an Affordable Renovation & Loft Conversion

Nicky and Gemma Kirk were living in a three-bed property in Enfield, but after welcoming their second child, they needed additional space to accommodate their growing family. While the house offered room for improvement, it wasn’t quite right, so the couple began searching for somewhere with more potential. “We began looking around the area and soon found a spacious, 1930s home in a really good location,” says Nicky.

Photo: Agnese Sanvito

With a pebbledash exterior and dated decor, the property hadn’t been touched for decades, but it had great proportions and potential to extend at the rear and convert the loft.

Photo: Agnese Sanvito

The newly-converted attic space benefits from a master suite and bathroom – topped by an entire roof of glass. The interior features an exposed timber and contemporary built-in storage.

15. Statement Loft Conversion Idea

When gathering loft conversion ideas, think carefully about how you can make the most of whatever space you have. The owners of this Victorian property in Stoke Newington decided to entirely redesign and extend their terraced house to upgrade its structural fabric, improve natural brightness and allow for seamless navigation between rooms.

Photo: Yellow Cloud Studio

The architectural team at Yellow Cloud Studio masterminded a stylish modern extension that leads out onto a built-in pergola with sunken concrete seating – blurring the boundaries between inside and out while maximising views.

Photo: Yellow Cloud Studio

As part of these works, the top storey of the home was converted to allow a spacious dressing room. This striking, angular new addition has been clad in dark cement board to create a seamless transition between itself and the rest of the rear extension. Its interior features a wow factor pink vaulted ceiling, which is illuminated by two large windows.

16. Loft Conversion Idea with a Balcony

Developing loft conversion ideas shouldn’t just be limited to the interior. If you have the space, incorporate a balcony or roof seating area into you loft conversion ideas to maximise space and create a quiet area for relaxing outdoors. Paul Archer Design transformed this Victorian terraced house with a new outdoor area on the homes previously cramped top storey.

Photo: Ben Blossom

The family were after a home in an urban location to avoid long commutes and help with balancing family-work life. As expected, this resulted in a purchasing a smaller property but with potential to reconfigure the layout for maximum light and usability.

Photo: Ben Blossom

The loft conversion takes lead over the flat roof, with a large glazed sliding door that opens out onto a stepped terrace, featuring planters to connect the above-ground zone to the garden. A seamless glass balustrade wraps around the exterior to avoid disrupting any surrounding views. Inside, the master suite provides a tranquil escape for the parents within a busy city setting.

17. Spacious Victorian Home Loft Conversion

Frank and Paloma Gilks viewed around 30 properties before they found the perfect fit for their next renovation project; this dilapidated Victorian house in west London.

Due to structural issues, caused by the attic water tank exploding, it was considered unmortgageable, “Parts of the roof had rotted and caved in,” Frank explains. Despite this, the property had heaps of potential and the couple were confident that they could improve the structure and transform the home.

Photo: Simon Maxwell

As a result of the pandemic, the couple faced financial setbacks and needed to save money, which meant they chose to complete the loft work as a shell that could be kitted out later.

Photo: Simon Maxwell

The newly formed attic space is now an elegant office, complete with an exposed brick chimney breast and white ceiling beams. There’s also a cellar that Frank and Paloma can renovate at a later date.

18. Bright & Open Attic Conversion with an Ensuite

Clever storage features and planning were key to the success of this loft conversion by Studio Hagen Hall. The space holds a master bedroom that enjoys two large windows within a vaulted ceiling to maximise light, while providing uninterrupted views of London.

Photo: Mariell Lind Hansen

The interior contains built-in invisible timber storage systems throughout, which blend seamlessly with the clay render walls for a minimal yet functional interior.

Photo: Mariell Lind Hansen

A new bathroom boasts luxurious sea-green quartzite surfaces, with a large inset window and mirrored vanity units that bring a light, open feeling to the narrow space. Following the bathroom around a curved wall, a shower is illuminated by a semi-circular rooflight above for sky views and plenty of natural light.

19. Practical Office Loft Conversion Idea

A Bedfordshire house, built around 2016 with a trussed rafters, had its entire roof reinstated from the inside out with timber and steelwork to create a large loft. The addition didn’t need a dormer and surprised the owners by providing enough space for a double bedroom, ensuite with a bath and shower, dressing room and home office.

DJ Moore Lofts was also able to fit in the new staircase with minimal changes to the first floor and designed a bespoke walk-in wardrobe.

20. Timber-Clad Loft Conversion & Rear Extension

Gresford Architects was behind this multi-storey extension of a Victorian terraced property. The existing awkward layout was replaced by smooth-flowing spaces via a wraparound rear addition and roof extension.

Photo: French + Tye

The striking loft conversion and addition is finished with blackened timber, which makes a dramatic statement against the original building’s brickwork.

21. Loft Conversion Ideas for a Bungalow Renovation

When John and Susan Yates were looking to move from the west coast of Scotland to Edinburgh, their initial plan was to find a flat in the centre. However, they became inspired by a bungalow that was under renovation works in the coastal town of Portobello.

Photo: David Barbour

With the help of Chambers McMillan architects, the couple completely transformed this traditional single-storey build with a modern, light-filled zinc clad extension, expansive glazing and a contemporary interior scheme.

Photo: David Barbour

They decided to convert the roof into liveable space as they felt they could benefit more from the solar gain in a living zone instead of a bedroom. “Although the space is small, it opens out onto fabulous sea views over the Firth of Forth, which really lifts the soul,” says John.

Some locals were concerned that the loft conversion’s dormer window would overlook them, but the extension model demonstrated this wouldn’t be the case. The local council were on board with the project and the planning process took just eight weeks.

22. London Home Transformed With Loft Conversion

Andrew Overin turned this loft into a bright and spacious bedroom with ensuite, but he hadn’t realised how much floor-to-ceiling height would be lost after insulation was added. With this in mind, one of his top priorities was to maximise every inch of space, so he managed to convince Build Team that having a long wetroom, rather than an L-shaped bedroom with a larger ensuite, would work better.

This means that the master suite is a regular rectangular shape with no awkward corners; while the ensuite features a walk-in shower and WC.

Copious amounts of light filter into the top storey through floor-to-ceiling bifolds on one side and rooflights opposite. “I love how the evening sun pours into the bedroom,” says Andrew.

23. Attic Upgraded With Picture Window

The owners of this semi-detached, 1930s London home decided it was time for an upgrade. The design, by Selencky Parsons architects, called for a complete internal remodelling of the property.

Photo: Siobhan Doran Photography

This came in the form of a ground floor extension, featuring a three-panel set of IDSystem’s theEDGE2.0 ultra-slim sliding doors in RAL anthracite grey, along with a loft conversion to increase usable space for the family.

Photo: Siobhan Doran Photography

The loft conversion not only boosts the number of bedrooms in the house, but allows the home, built on the side of a hill in West Norwood, to enjoy a stunning panoramic view over the London skyline from the master bedroom, thanks to a large slim picture window, also from IDSystems.

24. Sensitive Edwardian House Renovation with a Bedroom Loft Conversion

Think about how you can retain the character of your home when collecting different loft conversion ideas. Sara Hamilton and Steve McMahon joined their households together under one roof and undertook a major renovation to rework this striking Edwardian villa in Muswell Hill.

Photo: Lyndon Douglas

As part of this process, the couple appointed London based architect Edward McCann. “Ed pushed the boundaries but was very sensitive to the history of the house,” says Sara.

The family initially proposed to remove the stairwell and introduce a new flight that spiralled up through the core of the house. However, these plans didn’t quite materialise. “Early into the building contract a number of large unforeseen works blew the contingency and forced a major revision of the scheme,” says Ed.

Photo: Lyndon Douglas

The team had an open conversation about doing things differently whilst maintaining the character of the house and subsequently rethought the top of the building, which had been a cramped loft conversion.

Rather than introducing a brand new stairwell, the original ones were retained and now reaches the top floor master suite, which has been opened up completely with light pouring in from all directions.

25. Multifunctional Bedroom & Bathroom Loft Conversion Idea

A Victorian terrace in south London had a maximum permitted development allowance of 40m³ to convert the loft, which was achieved with two dormers and a 2m head height, completed by Design and Build company Plus Rooms.

A rear dormer over the main frame of the house created a bedroom with a roof window at the front. Due to the L-shape of the roof, the space steps down to the ensuite with an overhead rooflight.

Here, a second dormer over the rear wing benefits from a large, glazed window. Plus Rooms applied for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) to give the homeowners assurance their extension followed PD rules.

26. Contemporary Mansard Loft Conversion Idea

Life Size Architecture, a Brighton-based team of architectural designers and technologists, designed this stunning rear and side extension and loft conversion to this home located in a conservation area.

The architects commissioned Attic Conversions Ltd to carry out the works of the mansard roof addition, which features bifold door openings and a metal balustrade. The loft conversion has helped to maximise the home within the confines of its plot, all while protecting the original charm of the property with a sleek finish.

27. Light Filled Attic Conversion with Bifold Doors

With the main goal to maximise space and light in this 3-storey mid-terrace urban property, The Simply Construction Group designed and built this front and rear mansard loft conversion.

Their clients were after additional space for relaxing that could include a office space and bright, open terrace. The main living area can be used as a meditation space, artist’s studio, reading room or perfect entertaining area on those warm summer nights in London.

FAQs

Will I need to reinforce my house’s foundations as part of a loft conversion?

Reinforcing your house’s foundations is not very common but may be necessary in certain situations. If your project involves a significant increase in weight – such as the addition of a full-width dormer – a structural engineer will need to assess whether your existing foundations can support the added load. Foundation reinforcement might be required if the original foundations are shallow, of poor quality, there’s evidence of subsidence, or if the soil type poses a risk to stability.

How should I insulate my roof for a comfortable loft conversion space?

Cold roof method This is the most common insulation method for straightforward loft conversions where the roof covering is staying in place. Rigid foam insulation is fitted between the rafters, with a small air gap left behind the insulation for ventilation – this is essential to prevent condensation and damp. You’ll then fix insulation to the underside of the rafters. Most rafters, however, aren’t deep enough to hold both the insulation and air gap, so you’ll likely need to fix timber battens along the rafters to build up their depth.

Warm roof method If you’re stripping the roof or building a dormer, the warm roof method will be best for you. This approach keeps the rafters warm by placing insulation on top of them, which improves energy efficiency and reduces the risk of damp. A warm roof design for a loft conversion involves insulating the roof structure itself, rather than just the loft space above it. This means installing insulation between and above the rafters, effectively creating a warm, insulated roof. This approach ensures the roofing timbers remain insulated, providing a warmer, more energy-efficient loft space and potentially more headroom.

Which heating systems are best for a loft conversion room?

• Radiators They’re easy to install by extending existing central heating pipework, just ensure your current boiler has enough capacity. Choose vertical radiators to maximise space, and thermostatic valves for independent temperature control.
• Electric radiators Electric heaters are ideal where extending central heating isn’t practical. They’re quick to install, don’t require plumbing, and suit smaller loft rooms. Many models include timers and smart controls. Electric heating is typically more expensive to run compared to gas, so it’s best for limited or targeted use.
• Underfloor heating (UFH) This solution adds comfort and frees up wall space. Electric underfloor heating mats are thin and ideal for bathrooms. Wet UFH, connected to your boiler, is energy-efficient but increases floor build up, so sufficient headroom is needed. UFH is more complex to install but provides even, consistent warmth underfoot.
• Upgrading your boiler or hot water system If you’re adding a bathroom, your boiler may need an upgrade. A combi or system boiler with an unvented cylinder is often recommended. Unvented systems run off mains pressure (minimum 1.5 bar) and eliminate the need for loft tanks, saving space and improving water pressure.

What should I factor into a loft conversion budget?

• Location Where you are based in the country will impact how much your project costs. Labour prices vary depending on the region – the south of the country tends to be more expensive than the north, for example.
• Planning applications If your loft conversion requires you to make a full planning application, then you will need to factor this into your budget. It costs £528 to submit a householder planning application. This covers alterations to a single dwellinghouse, including works within a home’s boundary, such as an extension to your home or creating a garden building.
• Who’s doing the work Are you going to be paying trades to fit flooring, paint the walls, install plug sockets etc, or you will you be doing this work yourself? Taking a DIY approach can help you save money.
• Heating & electrics Will you be replacing your boiler or upgrading your existing electrical system? This will impact your budget.
• The purpose What function will your loft conversion serve? Will it be a master suite, a work from home office, or a playroom, for example? What you intend to use the space for will impact the specification.
• Quality of materials Specifying high-quality, luxury bespoke fittings, such as integrated storage systems or custom-made glazing features, will boost your overall project costs. You can keep spending down by sticking to more standard design elements, such as off-the-shelf windows.

Will I need to reinforce the loft’s floors as part of a loft conversion?

You will almost always need to reinforce the floors when converting or extending a loft. The existing ceiling joists were originally designed to support only the ceiling below, not the additional weight of furniture, people and flooring. To meet Building Regulations and ensure safety, new structural floor joists will usually be installed – either alongside or above the current joists. Steel beams (RSJs) may also be required to span longer distances and support the new floor effectively.