7 Tips to Convert Your Attic Into an Extra Living Room

If "Keep it down; I'm trying to read!" or fights over the remote are de rigueur, it might be time to turn your attic into a second hangout

Shawn GauthierSeptember 21, 2012

I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.

If you have a growing family, you might find that it's becoming more and more difficult to agree on a living room activity (or a television channel). Appease your family by creating a second space to hang out — a living room attic. Cozy and comfortable, an attic living room provides an additional space where you can kick back or watch your favorite sitcom while everyone else is glued to the football game.

Try a few of these design tips from a Houzz professional to get your transformation going.

User

Get the ceiling in on the act. “Extend paint or wallpaper beyond the walls to the ceiling,” advises designer Heather O’Donovan. This gives sloped walls an even more snug and enclosed feeling.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Cover up the floors. These days it seems rare that homeowners want to forgo hardwood floors, but attics may be the exception. “This is one area I prefer carpet,” says O’Donovan. “It keeps the noise down in whatever rooms are beneath the attic and makes it easy to throw big floor pillows around for additional seating.”

Welcome the sunlight. If you don’t already have windows in the space, consider having one installed. Ample natural light will create a cheerier and more inviting space.

ASHLEY ROI JENKINS DESIGN

Think about a fireplace. Amplify the attic’s natural coziness by adding a fireplace, if possible. Modern ribbon fireplaces are a good choice that take up minimal space.

Birdhouse Design Studio

Don't sell furnishings short. Sloped ceilings tend to impede visual space, but don’t think that equates to the need for tiny furnishings. “Keep furniture low but not small,” says O’Donovan. “Too small and you've got Grandma's attic, not a contemporary lounge for you and your friends.”

MN Builders

Don’t go wild with the television. Keep the television size under control. “Too large, and it can throw off the scale of everything in the room,” says O’Donovan. “I wouldn’t go much larger than a 32-inch."

Jacob Lilley Architects

Create a warm glow. “Chandeliers and low — but again, not small — table lamps give lovely ambient lighting while functioning well,” says O’Donovan. “Once you carve out a cozy reading nook, you want to be able to see your book.”

More: How to convert an attic or basement