Your attic can be one of the most overlooked spaces in your home. Perhaps you rarely visit it and only do so when you’re looking for a relic from your childhood, or you’re looking for a place to keep your old shirts in. But your attic has the potential to be more than just a storage space. You can make it into a bedroom, a study, a reading nook, or even a crafts room. Redecorating it is a chance to make the most out of your space and transform it into a productive space. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Have your roof checked
The attic is the room closest to the sky and the most vulnerable to harsh weather conditions, so make sure it’s well-protected. Check if there are any leaks on rainy days – just because the leaks don’t reach you downstairs doesn’t mean they aren’t a problem. Roofs are meant to last many years – decades, even – but you should still have them inspected once a year. This will alert you of any problems that need to be addressed, whether you need a simple repair or a completely new roof installed.
Brighten up the room
Attics are usually dull and dimly lit. Coating the interiors with the right color can make the room look bigger and brighter. Don’t shy away from light colors, even white, as these can brighten up what was once a dark room.
Related: 6 Paint Colors That Make a Room Look Bigger
Dress the skylight properly
Attic windows can be a challenge to cover, especially those that are poised on slanting ceilings. Find the right window treatments that won’t hang down the windows and cover them just right. We recommend this, especially if you’re thinking of making the attic into a bedroom and putting the bed right under the skylight. As romantic as it can be to fall asleep under the stars at night, it won’t be easy to sleep in with the sun in your face.
Make it a storage space – but a stylish one
We’re not trying to encourage hoarding at all, but there are always some things in your house you don’t have the heart to throw away. Maybe these are some clothes or trinkets you won’t need for this season but will need for the next one. Or some childhood toys you’d like to save. Or maybe the attic is where you hide your family’s Christmas presents before putting them under the tree.
Storage trunks have a rustic charm to them that’s somehow perfect for the attic. Take some cues from the March sisters in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women. Each sister had a trunk for their favorite childhood trinkets that their mother kept even when they’d grown up.
You can also consider having customized storage pieces built. These are a great option considering that store-bought furniture pieces might not fit well in the awkward spaces of your attic.
Low furniture
One thing that makes the attic a challenge to decorate and furnish is that the ceilings in this room hang lower than anywhere else in the house. Make sure you pick low furniture. It adds a cozy touch and keeps your head from grazing the ceiling’s lower spots while you’re relaxing in the attic.
Turn it into a crafts room
Your attic is somewhat isolated from the other rooms of the house, so it’s perfect for getting lost in your hobbies. This is something your kids can benefit from too. Place a crafts table with art supplies in the room and craft away.
Bookshelves
Adding bookshelves instantly adds old-fashioned charm to any room. It can help you turn your attic into a reading nook – a cozy little getaway in your home.
Make it a home office
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to start working from home, which has been a big adjustment. One of the reasons you’re having difficulty getting work done at home is because we’re not wired to think of our homes as workspaces – unless you’ve been working from home since before the pandemic hit. Having a designated workspace at home will put your brain into “work mode” and help you focus more. Stop working from the couch or bed; that’s bad for your productivity and sleep hygiene.
Revamping your attic could be just the home makeover you’re looking for. But with its dark lighting and low hanging ceilings, it can be difficult to work with. Brighten up the room with a fresh coat of paint and use low furniture to fill the room. Turn the space into a reading nook, study, bedroom, storage space, or whatever you want it to be.
