They seriously think about arranging the attic when the question arises about the lack of living space at home. After all, a beautifully, practical and conveniently furnished room can easily become an additional living room.
Features of the
An attic is a room located under a roof. The attic floor differs from the second floor of the house by the presence of a sloped ceiling and walls of different heights. If the roof of the house is gable, then this is the best option for a residential attic. The area of such a room will be larger compared to an attic with a hipped roof, because the number of sloped ceilings and slanting walls will be less.
Also, it will be easier to place furniture under a gable roof and there will be more free space in the center of the room.
An important factor is the height of the walls. For a comfortable stay, the distance from floor to ceiling must be at least 2.2 meters. Based on this, it is necessary to resolve the issue of the presence of a ceiling in the attic. The ceiling will facilitate interior decoration, reduce heat loss, and balance the space.
But even the absence of a ceiling has its advantages - wooden beams and ceilings will add a special touch to the room, because natural materials are always in fashion and are suitable for almost any interior, which is especially important for a country-style country house.
Paying attention to windows
To equip a comfortable space in the attic, you need to take care of natural light. The number of windows and their size depends on the floor area. The optimal ratio of the size of the windows to the area is 1 to 8. At the same time, too small windows will visually reduce the space, and too large ones will lead to high heat loss.
In addition to vertical walls, windows can be positioned anywhere on the roof. Such windows let in much more light than vertical ones.
The roof requires the installation of special skylights. They will completely protect the upper floor from leaks, since they can be installed at any angle. Window glass has increased strength and protection against chipping.
We insulate and soundproof
The difference between an attic and an ordinary roof is insulation, because in winter you simply cannot do without it. Heat loss through the roof of the house in the cold season is great, so it needs to be given special attention. Modern insulating materials will reduce heating costs … Another vulnerability in terms of heat loss in a private house is window slopes.
Sound insulation is just as important as insulation. Sound insulation is especially necessary in a wooden country house, since everything that happens in the attic will be clearly audible below. If there is a partition on the attic floor, it must also be soundproofed. There are many modern and high quality materials for this purpose.
Arrangement options
Living room
In the attic, you can place any room, and you can equip it with your own hands. If the top floor turned out to be comfortable and large, then why not place a living room there? It can be used for watching movies in the evening, receiving guests and even as a dining room.
In the living room you need a sofa, a table, and niches under the sloped ceiling can be equipped with shelving for various useful and beautiful little things.
Built-in furniture is ideal here., because it will best fit into a non-standard space, and will save space in the center of the living room. The furnishings should be functional and include everything you need, but at the same time not clutter up the space. For this, transformers are perfect, which perform various functions, depending on the design. For example, a transforming table can be used as a large dining table, as well as a small magazine option.
Children's
The room located under the roof of the house will be a real fairy tale for children. You just need to put a bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers and think over the play area. For two children, a bunk bed will be relevant, or you can place two beds along the sloping walls. Bright colors will be appropriate here, with which you also cannot overdo it.
When arranging a children's room in the attic, you should think about a high-quality and safe staircase to this floor.
Cabinet
When planning a study on the attic floor, it is best to place the table by the window, and place shelves for documents and books along the sloping walls. You can also put a soft sofa, a table with a tea set and you can receive visitors. The office does not require much space, so this option is suitable even for a small attic.
Calm colors and good lighting will add comfort, besides, work in silence, away from households, will appeal to anyone.
Bedrooms
In this case, the interior of the attic must be well thought out. The color scheme should be in harmony with the entire structure. Soft pastel colors are ideal for the bedroom, and the interior in warm colors can visually enlarge the room.
You need to get creative with the placement of the bed. If you install it with a headboard to a low wall, then the ceiling above it will rise up, which many may like. Niches on the sides of the bed are ideal for placing bedside tables. In some cases, it is more practical to place the bed in the middle of the attic, it all depends on the room and your preferences.
If space allows, then a dressing room can be placed in the bedroom. A great alternative to it would be a large wardrobe with beveled corners.
If the attic room is large enough, then you can place in it a bedroom, an office, and, for example, a cinema room.
In this case, there should not be a large number of partitions, otherwise the room will seem small. It is better to divide the attic into zones with the help of beautiful and at the same time functional shelves, curtains or screens, walls painted in different colors, carpets, curtains and other pleasant little things will also help.
Useful Tips
- Almost always, there is not enough sunlight in the attic, so it is better to refuse dark colors. An excellent option for an attic would be white or light walls, a ceiling and a dark floor. Such a space will visually appear larger.
- The beams cannot be removed, but they can be effectively decorated in the style of the entire room.
- Finishing materials should not weigh down the structure.
- In summer, the roof of the attic can heat up to 80 ° C, so it is worth installing an air conditioner inside.
- In the attic, there is a lot of unused space in the corners. We equip such niches for lockers, equipment and little things.
- If the ceiling turned out to be low, then the absence of legs from the furniture will save the situation.
- To free up space in the center of the attic, sleeping places are best placed along the walls where the slope begins.
- Pillows, carpets, original lamps will add coziness to the room and emphasize your individuality.
- It is best to use airy and light fabrics as curtains, which let in a lot of sun and light into the room. And for tilted windows, roller blinds or blinds are best suited.
- If the ceiling is low, it is better to skip the chandelier. In this case, wall lights or LEDs will help.
- Natural wood is a great option for decoration. Wood has sound-insulating and heat-insulating properties, helps to create a favorable microclimate in the room, and maintains optimal air humidity.
- Decorating the walls using various materials and textures will help to properly zone the space.
If the house has an attic, then it is not difficult to equip a living space on it, but the task requires a creative approach. With smart planning, a dusty attic can create a cozy and functional living room with unique interiors.
For information on how you can equip an attic, see the video.