How to Transform Any Attic Into a Dreamy Escape, According to Designers
Not your average crawl space.
Attics can be so much more than dusty storage units or unused space. With the right insulations and updates, the attic has the potential to be the loveliest room in the house. Something about those low, sloped ceilings and gabled rooflines just sets the tone for intimate, enchanted living quarters. Not to mention, finishing your attic can actually have a major financial payoff: "We added more insulation to an attic, reducing the cost of heating by 20 percent a year," says designer Tammy Randall Wood.
On top of temperature regulation, a habitable attic creates extra square footage for you, your guests, and future owners more room to roam, sleep, and store your stuff in style. When figuring out what to do with your newly liveable attic space, start by doing an inventory of what your home already has, and then think about what functional needs aren't being met. Do you need a catch-all place to store files, somewhere to curl up and read or meditate, or are is your family growing? If you need a little inspiration before embarking on our own attic makeover, keep reading for 30 attic room ideas to unlock your little nook's full potential, from guest bedrooms to extra bathrooms and even a writer's retreat. Your very own attic retreat awaits!
Add a Bonus Bathroom
This whimsical guest bathroom in an attic designed by Emma Ainscough plays up the quirky angles with pastel blue and white stripes and pale coral checkerboard floors. The arched entrance to the shower and corresponding shower tiles make it even more circus-like. Along with plumbing, you'll need good ventilation in an attic bathroom.
Layer on Pattern for a Primary Bedroom
Designer Elizabeth Hay embraces the unique millwork in this bedroom by playing up the farmhouse whimsy with tons of patterns and color. “We used a lot of wallpapers in the bedrooms to make them feel cozy and add color and pattern without making any structural changes,” says Hay. Here, she installed Aleta Pise wallpaper.
Find Space for a Dressing Room
Attics are a popular place to store out-of-season clothing, so swap plastic bins for proper drawers and even a full-on walk-in dressing room. In this lovely sophisticated take on a storage attic, designer Pamela Shamshiri disguised beams and angles that didn't align with a pretty paint color.
Stage a Sitting Room
Designed by Kylee Shintaffer, this bonus sitting room is perfect for reading and enjoying a morning cup of coffee. The cushions, built-ins, and low furniture are ideal for an attic that's only accessible via a tight staircase since it can all fit or be assembled on-site (craning things in from above is another option, albeit more expensive).
Build a Bunk Room
Designer Martha Mulholland turned the attic of style influencer Jacey Duprie into a "magical retreat for children" by adding bed nooks reminiscent of boat bunkers and natural lanterns. The built-in beds each have little shelves with their own night lights and space for water, books, and whatever else.
Complete a Guest Suite
Designer Tim Clarke turned the eaves of his attic into functional closet space. Half-height closets fit into the eaves. "Because my bedroom, bath, and closet are in the attic of my house, space is at a premium," says Clarke. But that didn't stop him from making it work. "I utilized the angled areas under the eaves and installed hanging bars and pullout shelves. It's all perfectly hidden behind tongue-and-groove paneling with invisible touch-latch doors. I sleep in my closet!"
Turn a Turret Into a TV Room
This space decorated by Reath Design looks like more like a treehouse portal to a magical realm than a mere sitting room. Designer Frances Merrill played up the dark, mysterious energy of the wood shiplap with a burnt orange pendant and shaggy faux fur carpet but then asserted a sense of whimsy with pink and purple gingham and floral prints. It's also well-advised to customize a sectional that encourages conversation and enhances the architectural structure.
Play With Scale in a Reading Nook
Design illusions are your best friend when it comes to decorating a room with low ceilings. Opt for lower furniture and scaled artwork to create the visual effect of higher ceilings. If you want to make your attic space a quiet room to lounge in, bring in a settee, lounger, or upholstered bench, a small side table, and a reading light.
Make it a Guest Room
An extra bedroom will always come in handy, especially if you host visitors frequently. Two twin beds creates a nice symmetrical look, but if the room is long enough, try three. Lined up in a row, the repetition creates a unique aesthetic. The blue prints throughout this space add a dreamy feel, too.
Take Advantage of Every Nook and Cranny
Doesn't this look like the tree-house hideout you always dreamed of having as a kid? This built-in reading nook is the perfect place to curl up with a good book, and it hardly takes up any space at all. Style it with throw pillows, cushions, and a blanket to make it extra cozy.
Make it a Studio
If the attic in your home is big enough, transform it into a studio apartment complete with its own bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. This will make your guests feel independent and at home. Plus, you can turn a profit if you rent it out as an apartment or on Airbnb. Take style notes from designer Brian Patrick Flynn's tiny but bold kitchen in Iceland.
Create a Cocoon
There's a certain ethereal feel to attics because of the unique architectural lines. The way the light pours into this room is just divine—we'd never want to leave this little cocoon. If you decide to transform yours into a bedroom, embrace that vibe with loose linens and a netted pendant light.
Add an Extra Bathroom
When you have extra space you don't know what to do with, another bathroom is never a bad idea. Not only will an extra bathroom increase the value of your home, but you'll also have somewhere to send guests or family members who keep hogging the main bathroom in the house. We love how this room has the tub inside of the shower space: space-saving and versatile.
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