Basement and Attic Conversion Tips

Around the holidays is when everyone feels like they could use extra space. You invited your older adult family, and at the last minute, their teenage or grown-up children decide to join them. This leaves you scrambling over the sleeping arrangements. For so many homeowners across the country, the answer to this problem is lying either above or below. This article takes a look at some top conversion tips when converting either your loft space or basement area.

The Basement Kitchen

Do you have a basement? Well then imagine this was another living space or even an extra permanent bedroom. Sounds great, no? Well, if you have a basement and are into the idea of a basement kitchen, this could be perfect for you.

Alternatively, if you live in an older townhouse, you may have a completely useless, poky little kitchen and be tempted by the idea of a larger basement kitchen. What’s certain is that you’ll want to create a light, spacious feel.

This can be achieved with white walls and light wood or large, lighter-colored tiles on the floor. An island in the kitchen will help break up the room.

Add a cozy and practical touch with a lovely leather armchair in the corner for reading the newspaper with a fresh cup of coffee. You will want LED spotlights on the ceiling as they create great light and are environmentally sound.

You may even have space to convert your basement into a self-contained guest retreat with bedroom, ensuite, and kitchenette. This could turn into a perfect Christmas sanctuary as well as an excellent opportunity for extra income from places like Airbnb.

Will a Conversion Add Value to Your Home

Consider how much the conversion is going to cost and compare it to the value it will add. You should invite a real estate agent to come and assess the value it will add to your home.

Then it’s a case of getting quotes for the conversion and comparing the figures.

Of course, you may have the space to create a self-contained guest sanctuary in your attic space too. And, the same rules apply for the most part.

Can Your Attic Support a Living Space

Before you get that mind whirring on what your attic could become, it is worth establishing whether your home is capable of supporting the conversion in the first place.

You need to check if there is enough headroom, whether you can get building regulations and investigate roof structure and joists. A good builder will be able to assess the situation and give you an answer pretty quickly whether your attic is fit for conversion.

Ladder to Stairs

The chances are your current attic is accessible via a pull-down ladder, or worse still, you have to bring a ladder upstairs and clamber through the hole.

In any case, for any attic conversion, you’ll need a staircase, and you should definitely get any design approved by your building regulations officer before commissioning it.

Let There Be Light

One of the best things about attic conversions is the potential for excellent window light.

This is achieved by installing cottage dormer windows, which offer exceptional light for either a studio or bedroom conversion. If you are lucky enough to have one to write home about, it will really make the most of the view too!