Should You Really Convert Your Loft Into A Bedroom?

Pexels. CCO Licensed.

A loft conversion is a popular way of adding an extra bedroom to a home. Converting a loft is typically a lot cheaper than building an extension or upsizing. It could also be a lot less hassle. However, it may not always be the best option depending on your circumstances. Below are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether a loft conversion is right for you.

Can you sacrifice the storage space?

It’s possible that your loft may be full of clutter – and a loft conversion could be a good excuse to get rid of this clutter. However, it’s also possible that there could be items up here that you actually need such as Christmas decorations, suitcases and other seasonal items. If you convert this space into a bedroom, where will you put all these items?

Some people hire storage units as a way of getting around this, while others simply reconfigure their home to relocate extra storage elsewhere. Whatever you choose to do, you need to make sure that it’s feasible and that you don’t end up cluttering your home with items from your loft. 

Can you afford a loft conversion?

The cost of a loft conversion can vary a lot depending on the size of the loft and the amount of renovation work you have to do. If you’ve got a small loft and it’s already fitted with things like lighting and suitable flooring, it may only cost you a few hundred pounds to decorate and furnish it. However, if your loft is large and doesn’t have electrics or suitable flooring or insulation, you could end up spending a lot more. The most expensive loft conversions typically involve adding stairs, raising the roof, adding an en-suite bathroom or adding a skylight – all of which could cost upwards of £60,000. Make sure that you can afford your dream loft conversion. 

Can you benefit from the added value?

A loft conversion could add a lot of value to your home. In fact, in some cases it can boost a home’s value by 20%. On a £300,000 home, this could be an extra £60,000 to your home’s price tag. If you’ve spent £30,000 on the conversion, that’s a profit of £30,000 from converting. 

This could be worthwhile if you plan to sell your home in the near future. However, if it’s your forever home, any added value may not matter much. Consider whether you plan to move soon and whether it’s a worthy investment. 

Is a loft conversion the best way to add an extra bedroom?

If you need an extra bedroom, there are other ways to achieve this, which have been briefly discussed – you could build an extension or you could upsize to a bigger home with more bedrooms. Both are likely to be more expensive than a conversion, however there may be instances where they’re still preferable. 

A downstairs bedroom extension could be much better if you need a room for a family member with mobility issues or if a loft conversion isn’t feasible due to the small size. Meanwhile, moving to a bigger home may be preferable if you’re not happy with other aspects of your home and don’t mind relocating. Of course, if you don’t want to move and extending isn’t an option due to lack of planning permission/lack of available land, you should stick to a loft conversion.

Posted in