Lowering ceiling height from 2.4m to 2.3m

[Wrighty57]

Hi all,

First post here! It would be great to get some advice on our proposed loft conversion, please.

We have had an architect draw up initial plans for a dormer loft conversion on our 1930s mid terrace. Our hope is to make the loft our master bedroom with an en suite. As it stands, we would have a 2.14m head height once insulation, floors and plastering were all finished - less than we had hoped!

Our first floor rooms, which include 2 large double bedrooms, box room and bathroom, have a standard ceiling height of 2.4m (slightly less than I had hoped - they appear quite spacious!)

DW and I want to lower the first floor ceiling height by 10cm to 2.3m to give us a better master suite but will this give the first floor rooms an oppressive or “odd” feel?

We have discussed lowering the ceiling by less than 10cm, say 6cm instead for a 2.34m first floor to make the master bedroom 2.2m, would this be worth it though? We have a great builder who isn’t charging the earth so our real concern is would lowering our current 2.4m ceilings do more damage than good to the overall property?

Downstairs (living room, kitchen etc) we have high ceilings 2.6m+ So that part of the house does feel light and airy.

Has anyone lowered a 2.4m ceiling and had success or any advice for us please?

Thank you so much in advance!

I reckon it would be bloody expensive for the small gains made. Joists would need to be repositioned which might necessitate work on the walls. Maybe you're trying to cram too much into that loft space, or your architect is trying too hard to impress you with ambitious plans.

It will make a huge difference to the cost and not achieve that much really.

The high costs were my first thought too. However, if you’re in a very expensive area and it wouldn’t be money down the drain, then it might be worth it. Ceilings of 2.3m are still ok but going from 2.14 to 2.24 would be a huge difference.

I had mine done by that amount though this was out of necessity as the 2 new bedrooms would have been too low to be permanent bedrooms otherwise. On the plus side, other than losing 2 cupboards that sat above fitted wardrobes in my bedroom (which sits directly under one of the new bedrooms) .. you would never notice. It doesn't feel odd at all. However the process was pretty disruptive. All forgotten now but my bedroom has to be completely stripped. All carpets taken up, all wallpaper stripped, same in my son's room. It added so much hassle and time to the build and meant only having 1 bedroom for 2 months. Not sure I'd willingly go through that again. But if your main concern is the end result then it looks fantastic now !

I have legal minimum head height in my loft conversion and yes you notice it's a little low but I have it decorated in pale colours and it's very bright and airy and doesn't feel suffocating up there. The only think I guess when I sell it may rule out anyone that's 6'2 plus I guess!

Thanks or all the suggestions and opinions. Really appreciate it and so useful to have a resource like this!

It is a tricky one but I think we might go ahead and lower the 10cm to give the top bedroom a much better head height. At the end of the day, it will be the master bedroom in the loft and the double bedrooms on the 1st floor will be for DC’s (hopefully!), so they won’t necessarily be worried about head height for the next 15-20 years, whereas that will be be!