Loft bedroom height

[HippoJones]

We are in the midst of a big renovation which includes a loft conversion. Our original plans showed a ceiling height in the new loft bedroom/bathroom of 2.2 metres but due to issues with steelwork etc we have now discovered this is only going to be 2.1 metres (6’10”). Room will be about 18 foot long by 14 foot (at its widest) but with sloping walls as it’s a velux conversion - there will also be a full size window at one end of the room. There will be a central section about 6 foot wide down the length of the room with this 2.1 head height and the area around and over the bed will all be full head height too.

If you have a loft conversion with 2.1 metre ceilings how does it feel? Will it be fine for our master bedroom as we have no possibility to lower the ceilings below (they’re only 2.4m) and due to a very complex roof shape and planning troubles we cannot dormer?

Can you make me feel better please Mumsnet property people! I hope so because then I can stop worrying and start a new thread boring you all with a question about my kitchen bin.

Our loft master bedroom has a ceiling height of 2.1 and it's fine. The ceiling is a couple of inches above the door architraves. I don't feel it's claustrophobic at all. We even had to lower the ceilings in the floor below to achieve the minimum of 2.1.

Thank you so much Linus! I feel better already just reading that. Is yours a dormer or velux also? If it’s a velux do the sloping walls still feel ok and not too claustrophobic? Have been really worrying since we found out about the ceiling change as DH is 6 foot and I want it to feel like a proper master bedroom for us both rather than a bit of a hobbit box.

Yep, three velux on the front and dormer to the rear. One word of warning just watch where you put the bed as the person sleeping on the velux side might risk banging their head on the ceiling if too close! It really isn't a problem though and if we thought about it a bit more we could have moved the bed over but that's tricky now as we've placed sockets and wall lights now.

We did think about putting the bed under the velux windows but this would have been quite difficult to get in/out of bed unless it was a mattress on the floor!

Depends how tall you and DH are

My 6ft5 brother would struggle

My 5ft2 auntie would be fine

Posted too soon. The room is very spacious as we've used the whole loft for the master bedroom and a shower en-suite. I don't think your DH will notice as he won't need to duck to get into the room. Of course you won't be able to have any ceiling lights that hang down - we have used spots throughout in bedroom and en-suite.

Make sure your floor coverings won’t reduce the height anymore.

Thanks so much. I think we are 2.1 after floor coverings. Good point about bed. It looks like we’ll have a couple of foot of full head height either side of the bed based on the plans but I’ll definitely check that before we put sockets etc in. Hopefully it should be ok based on your experience Linus. You’ve given me hope that this won’t be a total disaster after all!

If there is a choice about where exactly to place the velux(es) make sure you get them put at the very very top of the roof, and place them strategically where you want more head height (eg maybe at the point where you’d step out of bed).

The velux glass is flush with the outside of the roof but thinner than the roof, so the glass is several inches higher than the ceiling would be iyswim.

Our loft is about 6’10”, although it’s got dormers. I am conscious of the limited height but it’s still very new so I have been obsessing over it during the build, I will probably get used to it. If there is walkable room around the bed you will be fine.

Ours is just under 2m and absolutely fine. I'm 5'9" and DH 6'1". It's recently completed and feels like a proper master bedroom even though all the other bedrooms have higher ceilings. I think it helps to have special features like Juliet balcony.

Also second PPs comments on Velux positioning. You gain a big chunk of extra headroom so put them where you need headroom. You can fit banks of them; have a look at shared flashings.

I think the 6 foot central section sounds a bit limited if you have a double bed there (how wide will bed be?), and no dorma, sorry.
I am on the non dorma side of the bed, I probably have about a 2 ft space before it starts to slope - its fine for me, but I am only 5 ft 2, and I do use the velux space quite a lot. DH would be swearing a lot if he had my side. Try to mock up the space (like a den above your bed or something) so you can feel if it is ok.

I should clarify that ours is a dormer. Sorry that probably is a different prospect