Loft & 1.5 Story House Plans

A loft is one of the easiest ways to add usable space to a small footprint without the cost of a full second story. We call these plans 1.5 story rather than two story, since the loft sits under the roofline rather than on a full-height second floor. That distinction matters for framing cost, ceiling height, and how the space actually feels to live in.

Lofts in this collection are used for a second bedroom, a kids' bunk area, a home office, or simple extra storage. Most of these plans are cabins and cottages in the 500 to 1,600 square foot range, though a few larger farmhouse and barndominium designs use a loft for additional bedrooms above a larger main floor.

Every plan includes a full PDF drawing set plus a material list, so you can price the build with a local contractor before you buy. Most builds in this collection run between $130 and $220 per heated square foot, so a 1,200 square foot 1.5 story home typically costs $156,000 to $264,000 before land, permits, and site work.