Add a New Level: 12 Unusual & Inventive Mezzanine Designs
There's more than one way to do a mezzanine, as these unusual and eye-catching examples show
Dominic Bagnato
28 September 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Director at Bagnato Architects. I have a passion for architecture and building, and I love creating spaces that are well planned and simple, using natural materials to create warmth and luxury.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Director at Bagnato Architects. I have a passion for... More
It’s an odd phenomenon – step inside a home with high ceilings and your eye is immediately drawn upwards with the expectation of seeing something special. From an architect’s and homeowner’s perspective, this opens up all sorts of design possibilities as to how to fill and furnish the space. One solution is to build a mezzanine – an intermediate floor that partly extends over the entire room, allowing for separate functions both above and below.
Contrary to popular assumptions, you don’t necessarily need a vast ceiling height for a mezzanine as they can be designed in a variety of shapes and sizes and to suit different purposes. In fact, with a little imagination just about any nook in your home can be transformed into an eye-catching mezzanine. Here are 12 clever and unusual designs you might not have considered.
Contrary to popular assumptions, you don’t necessarily need a vast ceiling height for a mezzanine as they can be designed in a variety of shapes and sizes and to suit different purposes. In fact, with a little imagination just about any nook in your home can be transformed into an eye-catching mezzanine. Here are 12 clever and unusual designs you might not have considered.
1. An open-plan mezzanine
If you want your mezzanine level to feel part of your home’s main space, position the access staircase so it comes directly into the main volume of the room. This will allow the two separate spaces to merge seamlessly into one another, while giving you the opportunity to interact freely with everyone from both above and below.
Tip: Choosing open stairs and a transparent balustrade will minimise the visual obstruction of the staircase and maximise the sense of space.
If you want your mezzanine level to feel part of your home’s main space, position the access staircase so it comes directly into the main volume of the room. This will allow the two separate spaces to merge seamlessly into one another, while giving you the opportunity to interact freely with everyone from both above and below.
Tip: Choosing open stairs and a transparent balustrade will minimise the visual obstruction of the staircase and maximise the sense of space.
2. A private mezzanine
Create a private mezzanine that still maintains its visual connection to the room below with an elevated space that is completely sealed with fixed, transparent glazing. From inside the private space you can see everyone below, but you can expect far less interaction than you would in an open-plan mezzanine, and you’re still given the opportunity to appreciate the vastness of the room.
Tip: To create a truly transparent link that gives you an unfettered view of the space below, take your glazing from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. Also, place your staircase away from the double-height space so that it doesn’t intrude into the room below.
Create a private mezzanine that still maintains its visual connection to the room below with an elevated space that is completely sealed with fixed, transparent glazing. From inside the private space you can see everyone below, but you can expect far less interaction than you would in an open-plan mezzanine, and you’re still given the opportunity to appreciate the vastness of the room.
Tip: To create a truly transparent link that gives you an unfettered view of the space below, take your glazing from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. Also, place your staircase away from the double-height space so that it doesn’t intrude into the room below.
3. An open-plan and private mezzanine combo
If you can’t decide whether your mezzanine should be a public or private space, why not hedge your bets and create a wall of glass that provides both a fixed balustrade and an openable section of windows. This gives you both privacy and the ability to merge the spaces into one.
Tip: Use opaque or translucent glazing for the windows beneath the balustrade for added privacy. For the windows above the balustrade, opt for transparent glazing and your choice of window styles – casement, sliding, double-hung or stacking ones that will disappear into a side cavity and completely open up the space.
If you can’t decide whether your mezzanine should be a public or private space, why not hedge your bets and create a wall of glass that provides both a fixed balustrade and an openable section of windows. This gives you both privacy and the ability to merge the spaces into one.
Tip: Use opaque or translucent glazing for the windows beneath the balustrade for added privacy. For the windows above the balustrade, opt for transparent glazing and your choice of window styles – casement, sliding, double-hung or stacking ones that will disappear into a side cavity and completely open up the space.
4. Multiple mezzanines levels
If you have a generous loft space that can accommodate several levels, why not create multiple open and closed mezzanine spaces all stacked on top of each other and merging into the main volume of the room.
In this stunning home, the owners have combined transparent staircases and balustrades with fixed glazing to the upper bedroom so that the beautiful shape of the vast interior is not lost.
Tip: To make this look work best, each mezzanine level should be smaller than the one below it – think of the shape of a wedding cake.
If you have a generous loft space that can accommodate several levels, why not create multiple open and closed mezzanine spaces all stacked on top of each other and merging into the main volume of the room.
In this stunning home, the owners have combined transparent staircases and balustrades with fixed glazing to the upper bedroom so that the beautiful shape of the vast interior is not lost.
Tip: To make this look work best, each mezzanine level should be smaller than the one below it – think of the shape of a wedding cake.
5. Mezzanine as linking bridge
A mezzanine acting as a bridge is a great way to link one space with another, effectively creating an elevated thoroughfare and a great vantage point to call out to those below. Its appeal lies in its simple linear structure – it doesn’t need to have any purpose or house any furniture. It’s a brief stopover where the volume of the double-height space reveals itself before you move into the recesses of the home.
Tip: To create a bridge effect, aim to keep it the same width as a hallway. Any wider and its translation as a bridge will be lost and it simply becomes an elevated room.
A mezzanine acting as a bridge is a great way to link one space with another, effectively creating an elevated thoroughfare and a great vantage point to call out to those below. Its appeal lies in its simple linear structure – it doesn’t need to have any purpose or house any furniture. It’s a brief stopover where the volume of the double-height space reveals itself before you move into the recesses of the home.
Tip: To create a bridge effect, aim to keep it the same width as a hallway. Any wider and its translation as a bridge will be lost and it simply becomes an elevated room.
6. A mezzanine that allows you to walk on air
A glass floor that is completely transparent to the room below not only provides drama in a double-height space, it makes for a great talking piece with guests. This transparent bridge heightens the senses and makes you feel the volume of the room, and it creates an ideal spot for shelving.
Tip: Glass floors must be designed to carry the weight of the people walking on them. Stay within budget by keeping the width of the area to a minimum, so you minimise the size of the structure needed to hold the glass in place.
See more storage photos
A glass floor that is completely transparent to the room below not only provides drama in a double-height space, it makes for a great talking piece with guests. This transparent bridge heightens the senses and makes you feel the volume of the room, and it creates an ideal spot for shelving.
Tip: Glass floors must be designed to carry the weight of the people walking on them. Stay within budget by keeping the width of the area to a minimum, so you minimise the size of the structure needed to hold the glass in place.
See more storage photos
7. A floating mezzanine
Mezzanines don’t always have to be constructed from wall to wall in one half of a room, so that you only see one side of the structure. If your double-height room is large enough, consider suspending a mezzanine in a corner of the room so you can see a second side of it. Painting the mezzanine’s support structure the same white as the walls behind it, as the owners have done here, makes the space appear to float.
Tip: The designers here have chosen a spiral staircase as it takes up less space than the traditional stye, and is less obtrusive.
Mezzanines don’t always have to be constructed from wall to wall in one half of a room, so that you only see one side of the structure. If your double-height room is large enough, consider suspending a mezzanine in a corner of the room so you can see a second side of it. Painting the mezzanine’s support structure the same white as the walls behind it, as the owners have done here, makes the space appear to float.
Tip: The designers here have chosen a spiral staircase as it takes up less space than the traditional stye, and is less obtrusive.
8. A mezzanine pod
Looking for a multi-purpose solution? A mezzanine pod can be placed in any part of a double-height room, and will give you an elevated space for a small, private sitting room or extra bedroom, with a concealed staircase and space for a desk and sitting area down below.
Tip: To make a sculptural mezzanine pod stand out, clad it in a different material to the rest of the room and paint the wall behind it a contrasting colour, as the owners have done here.
How to get more with mezzanines
Looking for a multi-purpose solution? A mezzanine pod can be placed in any part of a double-height room, and will give you an elevated space for a small, private sitting room or extra bedroom, with a concealed staircase and space for a desk and sitting area down below.
Tip: To make a sculptural mezzanine pod stand out, clad it in a different material to the rest of the room and paint the wall behind it a contrasting colour, as the owners have done here.
How to get more with mezzanines
9. A mezzanine nook
You don’t need an enormous space or a double-height ceiling to have an elevated mezzanine. If you have a spare corner in a room, consider building a cosy mezzanine that houses a sleeping or reading platform.
Tip: In a room without a high ceiling, allocate uses for the area below the mezzanine that don’t need much ceiling height, such as storage, a laundry cupboard or a built-in desk.
You don’t need an enormous space or a double-height ceiling to have an elevated mezzanine. If you have a spare corner in a room, consider building a cosy mezzanine that houses a sleeping or reading platform.
Tip: In a room without a high ceiling, allocate uses for the area below the mezzanine that don’t need much ceiling height, such as storage, a laundry cupboard or a built-in desk.
10. A mezzanine platform
You can incorporate a mezzanine platform into the smallest of spots, such as at the peak of a ceiling – a great solution if you’re short on space. Save even more space by replacing a traditional staircase with a ladder.
Tip: Make your ladder portable and not fixed into position so that it can be moved out of the way when required. You can even design it to fold away inside the platform, clearing floor space below.
You can incorporate a mezzanine platform into the smallest of spots, such as at the peak of a ceiling – a great solution if you’re short on space. Save even more space by replacing a traditional staircase with a ladder.
Tip: Make your ladder portable and not fixed into position so that it can be moved out of the way when required. You can even design it to fold away inside the platform, clearing floor space below.
11. A piccolo mezzanine
If you only have a ‘piccolo’ or small space, a raised platform with a small footprint that is barely off the floor can provide much-needed extra storage. This frees up the space on top for other uses, such as a spot for a bed.
Tip: With deep storage such as this, drawers work far better than hinged doors as they pull out towards you rather than you having to dig around inside cavernous spaces.
If you only have a ‘piccolo’ or small space, a raised platform with a small footprint that is barely off the floor can provide much-needed extra storage. This frees up the space on top for other uses, such as a spot for a bed.
Tip: With deep storage such as this, drawers work far better than hinged doors as they pull out towards you rather than you having to dig around inside cavernous spaces.
12. A bedroom mezzanine
Kids love the idea of having multiple spaces within their bedroom, and a loft-style sleeping platform such as this one is sure to make them feel grown up. As an added bonus, it also creates additional storage or desk space underneath.
Kids love the idea of having multiple spaces within their bedroom, and a loft-style sleeping platform such as this one is sure to make them feel grown up. As an added bonus, it also creates additional storage or desk space underneath.
You could boost your storage space further still by turning the steps to your little mezzanine into extra cupboards and drawers – perfect for concealing kiddie clutter.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Shoebox SoHo Apartment Gets a Mezzanine
Pune Houzz: A Terrace Becomes an Extension of the Home as a Library
Tell us:
Do you love a mezzanine? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it, save the photos or share it.
Houzz Tour: A Shoebox SoHo Apartment Gets a Mezzanine
Pune Houzz: A Terrace Becomes an Extension of the Home as a Library
Tell us:
Do you love a mezzanine? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it, save the photos or share it.
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Yes, I would love a mezzanine, a tiny house, a simple tree house, but our regulations are prohibitive. I need to get a structural engineer to OK footings for a deck extension - it's less than a meter off the ground! (quote from structural engineer for this - $1500)
brilliant ideas
I really admire a mezzanine that holds a library of books in it, they seem to be extremely popular in the United States and Europe. I honesty have not seen many ideas like this in Australia homes as building trends and regulations are quite different here.