Tiny House Lofts Unveiled: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Design Hacks
When the tiny house movement began, it was all about the loft bedroom. The houses were really, really tiny so the only place to put a bedroom was in the roof, and usually a cute little pitched roof. This was part of the appeal... it reminded many an adult of their childhood cubby or tree house and the excitement of having a sleep over in a cosy mezzanine space. That's why I wanted a loft in my tiny house. These days the lofts are bigger, the roofs are flatter and the design innovations with walkways and different levels are impressive! Even still, more and more tiny homes are being designed with downstairs bedrooms. So.. what are the pros and cons of a loft bedroom?
After 8 years of sleeping in one, this is my experience:
PROS:
It makes sense design-wise. If you want a house under about 8m you can live in full-time, a loft is somewhat essential (unless you have a lift or murphy bed). For larger tiny homes, incorporating two loft bedrooms means they become a possibility for families.
Lofts can make the whole house feel more spacious, especially if they are open lofts where you see the continuation of the ceiling.
You feel really safe in bed being so high off the ground. I think this is a childhood thing again.
It's wonderful to get some really different views from your loft windows... and if you have trees, you really do feel like you're in a tree house.
It's great having a room that is different from the rest of the house. Sounds silly but when you're in a small space all of the time, going to another room at night with unusual dimensions just makes you happy.
You quickly grow to love having the ceiling so close. I no longer like sleeping in normal bedrooms and having a lot of space above me in bed. I always sleep better in my loft because it's sooo cosy!
You are much more in touch with the elements. When the wind blows, you feel it - and when the rain pours down you feel close to it.
If you have a staircase to get to the loft, this can be a stunning and practical feature, providing huge amounts of storage space and potentially a standing desk.
We designed our stairs so our dog couldn't get up them. It's quite nice having one completely dog-hair free space where we can bend and stretch on a clean floor before bed.
CONS:
Making the bed is slightly more difficult that usual and you need to get a vacuum that can be shortened to accommodate the small space (I recommend Shark Rocket).
You lose a little ceiling height in the downstairs part of the house to accommodate the loft.
You can occasionally bump your head if you keep forgetting about the low ceiling (although I've never bumped mine). Of course this can be avoided with clever full-height walkways.
Hot air rises and you can only put so much insulation in an open roof... so it can get warm upstairs during the day. This is awesome in winter but in summer, you don't want to go in the loft until the evening, when things have cooled down a bit.
Depending on your stair design, getting up and down in the night can be precarious.
Uber Tiny homes have pioneered design and building technology solutions to minimise or solve all of these 'cons'... making loft living even more amazing!
Here are my ultimate LOFT DESIGN TIPS:
Don't skimp on your loft windows. Ventilation is key. Have windows in every direction, if possible, to capture airflow. If not possible, plan for alternative ventilation/air exchange solutions. And... plan enough space for a good floor fan.
Make sure you have one egress window in the loft/second story - a window big enough to exit from, in case of fire.
Walkways are a fantastic solution to loft access. You lose a little storage space below and some floor space around your bed but gain ease and comfort with the extra head height.
If creating a loft without walkways where you'll have to get around on your knees, maybe carpet the floor with plush carpet.
If adding a skylight to view the stars, make sure it has a blind/shutter option so you can close it during the day in summer. The additional heat transfer can be substantial.
If you live in a humid climate, plan to still use a bed base to lift your mattress slightly off the ground to ensure it doesn't suffer from mould.
If you're having a lounge or office loft instead of a bedroom, have an AC in the room to make it comfortable during the day year-round.
Ensure your stairs are well designed and feel comfortable and safe for you.
I absolutely love having a loft bedroom. And I love having all the floor space around the bed. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm slightly concerned about whether I'll still be able to get around in my 80s... but it's a great incentive to do everything I can to stay nimble!
What about you? Do you want a loft bedroom in your tiny house? If yes, why?
At Uber Tiny Homes we have a range of loft bedroom and single story designs and there are more on the way!
