Second floor in a private house: layout and design options (34 photos)

For many people, a beautiful staircase leading from one floor of a house to another is a kind of work of art and a lifelong dream. Are you planning to build a two-story house? Or have you decided to build on the second floor in a private house where you already live? Congratulations on your choice - building the second floor is economically more profitable than expanding the living space on the first. Firstly, this way you will leave more space on the site where you can equip a garden with a seating area. And secondly, you will reduce the cost of the foundation, which is one of the most expensive stages of construction.

Further in this article, you will receive useful ideas and options for arranging the second floor in a private house, including 10 schemes for planning rooms in two-story houses and 20+ photos of the design of corridors and areas on the 2nd floor.

Second floor add-on in a private house: what you need to know

If you are going to build a private house from scratch, then you can skip this section of our article and go straight to an overview of the types of planning and design of the second floors. Here we will consider what is needed to add a second floor in a private house.

A radical way to add a 2nd floor to a one-story home is to remove the roof, then build a second floor and install a new one. It is used when the shape of the second level does not coincide with the first. If the boundaries of the new floor completely coincide with the old one, then you can carefully remove the existing roof, and after the superstructure put it back on the house. Finally, a second floor can simply be added to a private flat roof house.

For inspiration, we suggest you take a look at these photos of private houses before and after the addition of the second floor.

It should be noted that the construction of the 2nd floor is not an easy task. You will need to find a contractor who has experience in such work, as well as obtain a building permit.

Typically, experienced contractors work with other professionals such as engineers, architects and designers, which can greatly simplify the task. An engineer is required to calculate the weight of the structure and confirm that the existing home will withstand the addition. The designer must develop the design of the second floor and fit it to the first so that they fit well. The architect will help you with the location of the stairs and the position of the windows so that you can enjoy the best views.

An important point that must be taken into account before adding a second floor in a private house: you will need to redo all the laid engineering systems: electricity, heat and water supply, as well as ventilation. Are you still determined to fulfill your dream? Then see how you can make and beautifully decorate the design of the second floor in a private house!

Layout of rooms on the second floor of a private house (projects and schemes)

Of course, the layout of the rooms and the general layout of the second floor in a private house depends, first of all, on its size. For example, when the attic floor is being built on the second floor there may be only one room - a hall (recreation area, gym or playroom with a billiard table), or a bedroom combined with a bathroom and a dressing room. An example of this type of second floors is presented to you in the following projects with diagrams.

If the area of the second floor is not inferior to the first, then there can be much more rooms. Accordingly, the interior layout will be more complicated, and its design will be a corridor or a platform with doors leading from it to different rooms.

Typically, projects of the second floors in small private houses include master, children's and guest bedrooms with proposed bathrooms and dressing rooms. Here are 4 schemes of such two-story houses.

In large private and country houses, the second floors, in addition to bedrooms with bathrooms, can have play and lounge areas, where there are comfortable armchairs, bookcases and other furniture for relaxation and comfortable pastime.

Finally, someone may prefer the layout of the second floor of a private house with a large combined kitchen-living room... Indeed: the view from the second floor is better! Why not enjoy it at an evening reception or breakfast in the morning?

Finishing and design of the second floor in a private house (20 photos)

Now it's time to look at illustrative examples of what the design of a second floor in a private house can be. Consider 3 main options: an attic, a corridor design on the second floor, and a second floor design with a seating area. Save the best photos for yourself!

1. Design of the attic floor (4 options with a photo)

In small private houses, the attic floor is usually one common room. The absence of unnecessary partitions and doors allows you to preserve the original architecture of the attic and enjoy its ceiling with beautiful beams. In the following photos, you are presented with 4 options for how you can arrange an attic floor in a private house:

2. Finishing and design of the corridor on the second floor of a private house

Even if your project of the second floor in a private house is a simple corridor with doors to different rooms, it can still delight you with its unusual design. To do this, you can use:

Saturated color of wallpaper, paint or wall panels;
Bold flooring with patterns or vibrant colors;
Numerous framed paintings and photographs on the walls;
Spectacular ceiling lights and sconces;
Beautiful stair railings, etc.

When the width of the corridor allows, you can also equip it with narrow built-in cupboards, console tables, niches and reading corners.

The next photo shows an interesting design of the second floor in a private house. There is a reading corner by the window at the top of the stairs. The corridor to the right leads to the dressing room, and the corridor to the left leads to the nursery and the bathroom (2 closed doors), after which it ends with a common seating area for the whole family.

3. Design of the landing above the stairs to the second floor

The area around the stairs to the second floor can be quite difficult to design. When the area of a private house allows, an open space is left there with a "balcony" fenced with stair railings.

But it is much more interesting to arrange there a full-fledged recreation area with a built-in library, a bench or reading chairs, a seating area with a TV and small tables, etc. Photos with design examples:

Other options include setting aside the second floor in a private house for a workshop, or leaving the space empty for walking and enjoying the free space.

Second floor in a private house: layout and design options (34 photos) updated: May 3, 2017 by the author: Margarita Glushko