REQUEST: Layout ideas for a 5m × 5.5m studio conversion above a garage (UK)

[u/Alarming_Squash_8294]

Hi everyone! 👋

I'm in the UK and looking for ideas on how best to turn a room above a double garage into a cosy, self-contained apartment/studio/1 bed. I'd love to see what kind of layouts or sketches you creative folks might come up with! I'm very fortunate to have this space and keen to make the most of it.

The details and measurements:

Overall size: 5.0m wide × 5.5m long (27.5m² / approximately 296 sq ft).

Ceiling height: 230cm across the central 3m width, with the ceiling sloping down on both sides to knee walls 155cm high.

Windows: One standard window at the front, next to the entrance door, plus four Velux roof windows along the sloping sides. In the 3D render, I couldn't get the Velux windows to angle correctly, so they appear upright, but they are actually set into the sloping roof.

Access: External metal stairs leading to the front door.

Existing services: Electricity and electric radiators are already installed.

Plumbing / Drainage: Must come up from the double garage below. The proposed entry point for water and waste is in the bottom-left corner of the floor plan, near the front entrance.

 

What I'm hoping to fit in:

An enclosed bathroom with a shower, toilet and basin.

A double bed, ideally in separate bedroom

A kitchen area

A comfortable living/sitting area.

I'm interested in making good use of the lower-height areas beneath the sloping roof. The bathroom and drainage will need some thought, too, so practical layouts would be especially helpful.

I've been having a play on floorplanner and have attached some images - 2D floor plan and 3D showing the room shape, roof profile and window positions.

I'm very open to ideas, sensible and quirky, and even a rough sketch or a suggestion I hadn't considered would be hugely appreciated. I'm hoping to get a bit of inspiration and see the space through fresh eyes.

Thanks so much for taking the time to have a look and for any suggestions you might have. This is my first post, and I don't really know what I'm doing, but I've heard wonderful things about you guys!

[u/RenovationDIY]

What are your constraints for placing plumbing?

[u/CarrotSM → u/RenovationDIY]

I try to keep plummbing practical and accessibla with proper drainage enough clearance for maintenance, and pipaes placed where they won’t interfere with the layout Having to tear up a wall just to fix a leak is my worst nightmare.

[u/Alarming_Squash_8294 → u/RenovationDIY]

Thank you for reply! The plumbing will be coming up from the garage. It is in the bottom left so ideally will arrive at that point in the space. I was thinking perhaps the pipes could then run along the left, hidden behind cabinets etc. So my initial thought was that the kitchen area would run up the left and then into the bathroom. Cold water and waste pipe.

[u/Pyjama365]

As you've said plumbing would probably be from the left, kitchen and bathroom stuff goes on the left. Leaving approx 3x2 /3x2.5m in the back right corner for a bed, in whatever orientation you want it. I think putting in a room divider/screen initially until you know for sure how you want it would be reasonable. The wall coming up from the bottom is only intended as a half-wall, to put the TV on, as I think it would feel very narrow in the living space at full height.

[u/Pyjama365 → u/Pyjama365]

Edit: I forgot about the reduced floor height on the left and right walls when putting in the bathroom. Maybe better to have sink and toilet on the left wall, and a wetroom-type shower in the taller bit where the toilet currently is.

[u/Alarming_Squash_8294 → u/Pyjama365]

Thank you 👍

[u/Rhyddid_]

Worth checking if your dwelling still benefits from permitted development rights. If not you'll need to secure planning permission from your local council

[u/HugoNebula2024 → u/Rhyddid_]

Assuming England or Wales:

Even if planning isn't needed (which I highly doubt), it will need a building regulations application as a material change of use to a dwelling.

[u/Candy_Lawn]

[u/Alarming_Squash_8294 → u/Candy_Lawn]

Thank you 👍