More light and more space in the home; these are features that many families crave most and some will even sell a property where they’re happy living, to get it. However, this may not always be necessary because sometimes we can create more space and light by converting a previously unused area like a dark and dingy attic into a bright and functional space for the family to enjoy. A topic you can read all about in this post.
You may not believe it, but even a dingy space like this can converted into a functional family room.
Strip it back & make it safe
Before you can transform your attic space into a light and function room for the family to enjoy you need to strip it back to the bare bones and make it as safe as possible. Of course, the first thing to do here is to clear the space of any old and unwanted items which can be a significant and time-consuming job.
Luckily, if you contact a business that specialises in household clearance, they’ll be able to help you with this, taking items away and disposing of them in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. Something that can leave you with more energy to install solid floors and check that the room is as safe as possible for when the family comes to use it.
Access
Now, if your attic room conversion is going to be genuinely functional for the family to spend time in, one thing you really need to get right is the access you provide for everyone. After all, many attic rooms only have a straight ladder providing access, but that will not always be suitable for everyone in the family to use.
If you have small children or older relatives with mobility issues, installing a proper staircase, perhaps a spiral one with a hand rail would be the best choice, or even a lift if you home if budget allows for it.
Of course, if part of the appeal of creating an attic room in the first place is to have somewhere where you can escape to without being disturbed, maybe keeping a ladder is the best idea after all!
Windows and skylights
Light is crucial in any room, and attic spaces often create a unique issue here. This is because many only have small windows, and some don’t have any windows at all, meaning natural light can be at a premium. Happily, there’s a smart way sort this, and it’s to get skylights installed, usually by a professional. These are angled windows in the roof that let in plenty of natural light and ventilation.
In fact, many people love the effect that skylight can provide because it gives them an uninterrupted view of the sky which is not only fantastic for watching clouds go by in the day but fantastic for star spotting at night as well.
Paint it
Once you have the basic structures sorted like the flooring and windows, it’s time to paint your attic room. Of course, to be able to do this you need to ensure that the walls have been treated in the right way with either plasterboard or actual plaster, making them insulated and smooth for painting.
In particular, remember, if light is your key concern, then using bright white paint can help even the smallest room with the fewest windows to not look dingy.
Interior decoration
Finally, once everything else is done, it’s time to decorate the interior and add furniture. Of course, the first thing to consider here is what you’ll want to use the attic space for. After all, if you want it to be a reading nook then comfortable chairs, directional lighting, bookshelves and side table for your cup of tea will be needed.
Alternatively, if you’re hoping to make it into a family cinema room then a projector, sofa and maybe even a popcorn machine will be in order!
Do remember a couple of things though, when decorating your attic space. The first is that you’ll be limited on the furniture you can use depending on the size of access to the room.
Secondly, if you want to keep things as light and airy as possible, opt for brighter colours and avoid dark greys and browns at all costs. The reason being, such tones can suck the light from a room and make it look dull and dingy, despite all of your hard work to create the opposite!
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