11th November 2019
One of the main problems with having kids is finding enough space so that they can enjoy themselves and run free; sure, in the summer months they have the great outdoors, but any parent will tell you that the winter months drag, with less daylight hours for kids to play, frustrated kids cooped up inside, playing in their bedrooms, making a racket and getting under their parents feet! If you have been thinking about converting your loft space to create a child’s playroom, it’s actually quite a popular choice.
The loft gives you a chance to not only put your design and creative skills to the test, it can actually give you the space you need to bring up a growing family without moving to a new location.
The big thing that parents worry about, however, is whether the loft is a safe place to create such a new structure. First of all, it’s at the top of the house and, secondly, there are several building regulations to follow.
That’s why it’s important to work with a loft conversion specialist who knows what they are doing and has experience of creating playrooms. Done properly, by a professional loft conversion company, a loft playroom is perfectly safe.
Loft Conversion Access
The first thing that you need to look at is access to your loft playroom. In most cases, the normal access to the loft is via a ladder. With the conversion, you need to install a staircase with a door that meets current building regulations. If you are creating a child’s playroom this might also include putting a lockable gate in place, particularly if you have much younger children.
If low windows are being installed in the conversion, these also need to be lockable so that children can’t access the roof outside.
Designing Your Child’s Playroom
The good news is that there are plenty of options to explore when it comes to creating a brilliant new child’s playroom. The first thing you will need to ascertain is how much space you have. Once the walls and flooring have been put in place it can greatly reduce the amount of area that you have to work with so it’s important to get good advice.
While you may be focused on the colour and facilities, you should also pay attention to using materials that make your loft space safe for the kids. This might include, for example, laying down cork flooring. Cork is not only soft and takes a good impact for children running around, it’s also hypoallergenic and doesn’t attract as much dust. Another option is to use soft rubber flooring.
When designing a kid’s playroom, you have to look at it from their angle. For example, making sure that storage for toys and other playthings is low to the ground and in easy reach means that children won’t be stretching to get stuff and risking their safety.
You also want to make sure that areas like plug sockets are not easily accessible and that getting to and from the loft is relatively easy and safe. The good news is that the sloping walls of a loft conversion won’t present much of a problem for your smaller children.
What you will need to focus on is utilising the space that you have while still making it a safe area for the kids. That’s why it’s essential to get someone professional in to help with the preplanning and design to ensure that you have all the key ingredients in place.
Choosing a Loft Conversion Specialist for Your Children’s Playroom
MPK Lofts will be able to work with you to ensure that all building regulations are met when it comes to converting your space into a playroom. That includes creating suitable access and making sure there are no obvious hazards. We’ll also be able to make suggestions that you may not have thought about to help utilise your loft better.
If you are thinking of converting your loft into a children’s playroom, contact the team at MPK Lofts today to find out how we can help.
11th November 2019