I am a Brooklyn-based writer, who writes about all sorts of DIY ventures like cooking, crafts and decorating. When I'm not on assignment, I can be found dreaming up projects for my home, which I chronicle in my blog The Little House in the City (thelittlehouseinthecityblog.com).
I am a Brooklyn-based writer, who writes about all sorts of DIY ventures... More »
When homeowners start to feel cramped, they don't immediately think of upgrading to a bigger home. Instead, many are looking for ways to maximize the space they have. One area that can provide major square footage without adding on to a home is the attic. If you have an unfinished attic, consider the possibility of turning your unused space into a bedroom.
Not all attics will be suitable for conversion to a living space. Here's what you need to consider first. Is the space easily accessible (are there stairs)? Do you have high enough ceilings for people to walk around comfortably? If the answer to both is yes, call in a contractor to find out if the existing joists can support the weight of a floor and if there are any technical concerns relating to electricity, heating or cooling.
Here are 11 bedrooms under the eaves to inspire you to make over your own attic space.
In this calming room by Aquidneck Properties, the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Quiet Moments in an eggshell finish, while the ceiling has been covered in white-painted beadboard, which adds cottage charm.
Sullivan Building & Design Group made the most of this space with an interior renovation that made a bedroom with built-in beds and book nooks. An all-white palette keeps things from looking cluttered.
A custom bed with built-in drawers and storage makes the most of this small space beneath the eaves. Built-ins and wall-mounted lights are great choices in supertight spaces.
An attic conversion doesn't have to have a country look. This space by Catalin David shows that an attic bedroom can easily take a contemporary turn. The addition of skylights makes the space feel less cramped.
Follow the lead of Gast Architects and treat sloped ceilings like walls by wallpapering them in a pretty, petite print; here the treatment softens the look of the angles.
A strong wall color paired with a crisp, white ceiling and trim accentuates the angle of the roofline in this springlike bedroom. A built-in window seat is a great way to take advantage of a nook beneath the window in a converted attic space.
Two twin beds are tucked under the eaves of this room, decorated by Alix J. Bragg. To make the most of the small space, bedside lighting is wall mounted and under-the-bed baskets offer extra storage.
Don't be afraid to put pattern into a low-ceilinged space. David Howell Design of New York has made this attic bedroom into a cozy retreat with black and white toile wallpaper.
Ceiling height was not an issue in this room, where a canopy and a hanging fixture emphasize the loftiness of the space. This hunting lodge by Johnson Berman was created with reclaimed materials and furnishings to evoke the feel of a rustic yet luxurious 18th-century retreat.
A headboard echoes the lines of the eaves in this sweet bedroom by Meredith Heron. An occasional chair takes advantage of a nook created by a dormer window.
Atlanta's Soorikian Architecture working with Dovetail Craftsmen cleverly renovated this children's bedroom in an attic. A bed with built-in storage drawers is neatly tucked under each eave.
jpimm I was just searching for bedrooms like this the other day on here! Great timing for this post, thank you. One thing I'm completely stumped about: where do they hang their clothes? We have an A-Frame cabin-style house with a loft master bedroom, and I am at a loss. At the moment, I have a railing stretched across one side of the room, but the clothes are picking up dust and I can't stand looking at them all the time.
Any suggestions would be welcomed!
linzy jpimm- I used to live in an A-frame, it was one of my favorite homes of all time! I have seen similar style homes build out the long diagonal walls as cabinetry, to accommodate clothing storage, drawers and even (if built out enough) low-hanging clothing rods. The bonus is that it utilizes space that might otherwise be wasted, AND gives you surfaces to finally hang art on.
Any suggestions would be welcomed!