Preparing for a loft conversion can be an exciting time! Not only do you finally have an excuse to clear out the piles of rubbish collecting dust in every corner of your attic, but you can also say hello to a brand new room in the house. The best bit about having a loft conversion? You also have the freedom to play around with interior design and decoration! From fitting skylights to laying hardwood floorboards, there are many brilliant ways to take advantage of your attic’s natural beauty.
Once you’ve decided to invest in the conversion of your property’s attic and have taken care of the more practical aspects of the project, it’s time to think about interior design. As with any home extension project, this is the fun part! To help you plan a loft conversion that is full of character and is unique to your property, we’ve listed some of our favourite interior design ideas for loft conversions below. Don’t forget – our team of loft conversion experts also specialise in design and decorating services and are on hand for professional advice!
Go ultra-modern with large glass skylights
Skylights are an extremely popular addition to loft conversions due to their versatility. They can be fitted to sloping roofs to allow natural light to sweep into the attic, creating the illusion of extra space in even the smallest lofts. Large glass skylights can also help to create a contemporary look, especially when paired with other modern features like hardwood floors and plain white walls.
Where you decide to install your new skylights will depend on the type of loft conversion you have and your budget. However, there are many great styles that can truly enhance even the most uninspiring of attic spaces. For example, you might decide to fit skylights that span almost the entire vertical length of a wall. These floor-to-ceiling windows open up the view from your new room and allow lots of natural light to flood in, making them a stunning choice for your new conversion.
Achieve an industrial look with exposed bricks
Exposed bricks are another popular interior design feature for loft conversions, especially amongst homeowners inspired by traditional New York-style lofts. This industrial look is also well-liked because of its minimalist appearance, something lots of people now aspire to achieve. Exposed red bricks look particularly attractive when paired with plain white walls and large skylight windows, or for a warmer look, consider pairing them with a thick carpet and exposed wooden beams.
If exposing a whole brick wall doesn’t appeal to you, how about just leaving the chimney breast unpainted? This can create a striking look that makes for a stunning feature wall. This also creates a beautiful focal point to position a bed, desk or standalone bathtub – depending on how you plan to use your new loft conversion.
Turn your gable wall into a feature wall
Feature walls can capture your attention the minute you walk into a room, so why not take advantage of your loft conversion’s gable wall to create a truly stunning focal point? You could have it painted a bold colour or transformed with patterned wallpaper, depending on your preferences. Even subtle colours and patterns can be enough to draw your eye line to the gable wall if the rest of your attic has an understated design.
There are lots of other great ways to transform your feature wall, too. For example, you could hang a large world map or your favourite family photographs. Alternatively, you could fit an electric fireplace to give the room a warm glow.
Base your interior design around the room’s structure
The beauty of many loft spaces is that they have a unique structure. From sloping walls to exposed wooden beams and joists, lofts often have many distinctive features that are full of character – so why not show them off? Basing your interior design around the room’s structure is a great way to take advantage of what you have. For example, if you have exposed wooden beams, why not leave them unpainted? They will look great juxtaposed against decorated walls and will create an effective contrast between traditional and contemporary features.
Another quirk that you may need to work with is sloping walls. However, while sloping walls may at first seem restrictive, they can be incorporated into your interior design easily and effectively. For example, why not fit built-in shelves and open storage units? Here, decorating with books, potted plants and your favourite piece of art could create a playful look.
Turn awkward spaces into focal features
Sloping walls aren’t the only awkward loft feature you may need to work around! Attics aren’t typically designed as living spaces and so chimney breasts, roof eaves and other unconventional features are common. Arguably though, these quirks are what make loft conversions so full of personality and charm! Additionally, these awkward spaces can also have practical and aesthetic purposes when used properly.
We’ve already talked about the benefits of fitting built-in storage units into the gaps and spaces left underneath sloping walls – but how about fitting a built-in sofa? Or, why not hang an angled clothes rail? Simply fitting unique shelves, such as hexagonal-shaped shelves, could turn the most unusual nooks and crannies into great focal points.
Create a light and airy space with reflective features
Interior design plays a big role in how light and airy a loft conversion is. Every design feature you choose will affect the overall appearance of your loft, including how freely light can travel through the room and illuminate every corner. One simple way to make sure your attic never feels cramped or gloomy is to choose design features with reflective surfaces.
Hardwood floors, glazed ceramic tiles and shiny worktops are all design features with reflective surfaces. They’re also stylish features that can be incorporated into the design of any type of room, whether you’re converting your loft into a guest bedroom or a home office!
Go green with an indoor living wall
In recent years, bringing the outdoors in has become a popular interior design trend for eco-conscious homeowners and people who simply love nature. This interior design movement often includes the use of natural materials, such as timber and bamboo, and of course, flowers and plants. Leafy green plants can create the illusion of extra space while providing many fantastic health benefits (who wouldn’t want cleaner, more purified air in their loft conversion?) and there are many ways to incorporate them into your attic’s interior.
One show-stopping way to use plants in your interior design is to build an indoor living wall. Living walls can act as a brilliant focal point by drawing attention to a particular point in a room. If your loft is particularly small, building a dark green living wall at the far end of the attic will make it appear longer.
Opt for wood panelling to inject warmth into your loft conversion
Using wood in your interior design is a simple trick that can make a room feel much warmer and cosier. When the light bounces off wooden floors and furnishings, it can cast a warm glow across the room – something that’s particularly welcome during the colder months. This glow is especially warm if you opt for lights with yellow bulbs.
There are many great ways to incorporate wooden features into your interior design, but wood panelling is a clear favourite for many people. Wood panelling can be used to draw attention to both gable and sloping walls and can be painted in all different colours to suit your preferences!
Contrast two different wall colours for a unique look
Another simple interior design idea for your loft conversion is to opt for a two-tone colour scheme. This is a simple trick that can make a room look bigger than it is by contrasting lighter and darker tones. You could simply alternate wall colours by painting the sloping walls in your loft one shade and the straight walls another.
If you choose this option, it’s typically recommended that you choose a lighter shade for your sloping walls as darker tones could make them seem imposing. On the other hand, light colours coupled with skylights will help to create the illusion of extra space, especially when juxtaposed with gable walls painted in darker tones.
Don’t forget – if you need professional painting and decorating services for your new loft conversion, the experts at James Dunn Roofing are here for you!
James Dunn Roofing: Bespoke loft conversions and decorating services in Oxford
Planning a loft conversion? Look no further than the home extension experts at James Dunn Roofing! We’ll consider your specific requirements to bring your loft conversion dreams to life – and we can even take care of your painting and decorating needs, too! We’re dedicated to helping clients throughout Oxford transform their properties with our highly-skilled roofing and building services, so no matter what you’re looking for, you can rely on our team of construction professionals.
For more information about our loft conversion services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to making your design dreams a reality!