5 unusual loft conversion ideas

After converting their loft into a useable, liveable space, many people like to turn their new room into a cosy bedroom. Recently, as many of us have adopted remote working, there's even been a rise in creating home offices in your loft. But the beauty of creating additional space in your home is that you can use it for anything you like. From hobby rooms to gymnasiums, there are plenty of loft conversion ideas to try! And, not only do they provide unique spaces in your home to relax and be entertained in, but loft conversions can increase the value of your property if you should choose to sell your home in the future. And, having a unique feature loft could convince potential buyers to spend that little bit extra for your home.

Unusual loft conversion ideas

You can use your converted loft for practically anything you like, from additional storage space to a room you can rent out to a tenant. But if you’re looking to do something different, below are five of the most popular unique loft conversion ideas you could try out in your own home.

A gaming loft

Gaming has gone from a relatively niche interest into one of the most popular past times in the UK. More than 46 million of us enjoy sitting down at our computers or booting up our consoles to enjoy a few hours (or more) of our favourite games (Statista), and with a designated games room in your home away from other responsibilities, you can do so in an environment that has been optimised for gaming. This is a concept that works well for tiny or small loft conversions, too!

In addition to having more room for multiple large monitors, PCs, and consoles, you can tailor your gaming room depending on your own style of play and choosing lighting and furniture designed for comfort, as you’ll be sitting for long periods of time. You could even include an area for tabletop games, a refreshment station, or group desk for LAN parties and multiplayer gaming — not to mention a cosy nook to enjoy handheld and mobile gaming in.

A loft cinema room

Home cinemas and movie rooms rose to prominence in the 70s, but they’re actually an ideal addition to a home in the 21^st century too. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ now mean that we have endless movies to enjoy from the comfort of our own home, so why not turn your loft conversion into a small but luxurious media room that’s perfect for private screenings?

To be one of the estimated 6.8 million Brits with a home cinema (Statista), all you’ll need are comfortable reclining seats for your family and friends, a projector or large HD television, and some blackout roller blinds. To really embrace the cinematic theme, you could include cinema room accessories such as a popcorn station, cocktail trolley, ice cream freezer, and a selection of snacks. To up the comfort level, some blankets and cushions can make a movie marathon even more cosy.

Loft gym ideas

After the pandemic, there has not only been a rise in sales of home gym equipment (Statista), but many house hunters are looking specifically for properties with home gyms already installed in them. The urge to workout at home seems to be staying, too, so it could be well worth putting a gym in your loft conversion.

Whether cardio or pilates is your thing, by having a designated space in your home to exercise in, you can be fully focussed and ensure you have everything you need to work out in one place. Weights, mats, towels, and fridge to keep chilled water in can complement your equipment, and a good sound system could motivate you even more.

What’s more, loft conversions with roof windows tend to have some of the best views in the house, so you can position your exercise machines in such as way as to take advantage of this. If you have a small loft, a simple stationary bike is ideal.

A loft man cave

Many men like to turn a space attached to the main family home — often a converted garage or basement — into their own private space to be alone, hang out with other men, and indulge in manly pursuits. But why not consider a man cave loft conversion instead? Loft conversions are very cosy, and with roof windows they get much more natural light than basements. So, you’ll have a more comfortable space to unwind in, and still enjoy the privacy of your own floor.

The great thing about a man cave is that you can decorate it to your taste and fill it whatever you like. Many man caves include pool tables, dart boards, and even a fully stocked bar! But remember that its your personal space to kit out how you like, so focus on your hobbies and how you like to spend your time.

A loft music studio

Whether you’re a professional musician or one of the many of Brits who started learning an instrument for fun during lockdown, what better place to practice than your very own loft music studio? From adding mixing desks and recording equipment to a variety of musical instruments, there are many ways to make your custom music room the perfect place to go and write music, learn your favourite songs, or simply have a jam session with friends.

Being on a separate floor to the rest of the house means that you’re less likely to bother other members of your household when making noise, though you should still consider soundproofing. What’s more, the sloping ceilings in a loft may also be beneficial if you are recording music in there, as they may even help keep echoes and reflections to minimum when compared to more square-shaped rooms!

Unusual loft conversion tips

No matter what kind of area you choose to create in your converted loft, remember to consider the space you have available and take building regulations into account too. Many building regulations for loft conversions are structural and focus on safety and the outward appearance of the structure. But there are a few additional factors you need to take into account, such as soundproofing.

Soundproofing

Gaming rooms, home cinemas, and music studios will likely all require soundproofing, especially if you live in a terraced or semi-detached property and you have neighbours. Every loft conversion needs to be soundproofed to block out noise from footsteps, TV sets, and talking, so it stands to reason that rooms designed for noisy games, movies, and musical instruments will require additional soundproofing to keep noise pollution — and noise complaints — at bay.

It’s best to have any wall and floor soundproofing you require done professionally to ensure its effectiveness and safety — some DIY methods of soundproofing, such as gluing egg boxes to the walls, can actually be a fire risk! Other ways of soundproofing your loft include making sure you have roof windows that fit properly and double or even triple glazing, and that your doors are fire doors that fully close. Not only do these block out noise better, but they’ll increase fire safety too.

Floor strength

Installing heavy equipment such as fitness machines or large units of technology onto any elevated floor comes with risks involved. If your joists and floorboards aren’t designed to take that much weight, you will be required you to strengthen your floors.

Part of the loft conversion process includes turning loft floor boards into sturdy, supportive flooring, so the structural engineer involved in your conversion will be able to inform you of how much weight your new floors can bear.

For added peace of mind, thick rubber gym mats on top of an already fortified floor can help distribute weight and pressure, and it can even provide a springy surface with good traction for your workout too! Other benefits include less damage caused by dropping heavy objects, as well as muffling noise.

Electrics and plumbing

Depending on what you do up there, your loft electrics may need additional electrical outlets and an increased capacity to support your activities — and reduce the risk of electrical fire. From lighting to computer screens, audio equipment, processors, treadmills, and other electrical components, you may find that your power needs add up! Any new electrics in your loft must conform to building regulations, so you should always use a qualified electrician for your own safety, as well as to ensure you have the required legal paperwork.

Your plumbing needs will have to be considered if you plan on installing an en suite in your loft conversion. From toilets to shower rooms, there are plenty of conveniences you can add with the right planning and building work — our guide to loft bathrooms can tell you more. Another option is to just add a sink, perhaps for a pottery studio or small kitchen area, which may require less intrusive building work to take place.

There are many benefits to a loft conversion with roof windows, from having more space in your home to the increased access to natural light. But a converted loft also presents the opportunity to create a unique room in your home to pursue hobbies, entertain, and relax in.

At RW4Y, we can provide you with all the roof windows you need for your conversion, including skylights and lantern roofs. With over 27 years of experience in innovating and designing products, we know a thing or two about producing high-quality fittings that not only do the job well but look great while they’re doing it. Want to speak to someone? We love giving advice and talking you through our fantastic options, so get in touch or give us a ring on 0333 600 9090

We also have plenty of advice and design inspo for you to read in our Knowledge Hub, so check out the rest of our handy guides today.