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Dark, dusty and home to ever-accumulating junk, the attic room—that awkward space at the top of the house—was often forgotten. Out of sight, and out of mind. But whether due to the influence of social media and the enviable interiors we often see on it, or the fact we’re all seeking out ways to maximize the space in our homes, the attic room has fast become a hot ticket to interiors heaven. So much so that global Google searches for the term “attic style room” are up over 5,000% in the last month alone.
“The attic was originally a floor reserved for children or, in bygone times, the staff of the house,” says Chloe Willis, associate director at Sibyl Colefax John Fowler. “Not a place for grandeur or formality, the sloped ceilings, skylights and simpler architectural detailing lend a different feel to this floor than the rest of the house, meaning you can do something quite different interior-wise.” Often cozy, comfortable and cocooning, to get it right, it’s wise to lean into its “imperfections,” whether that’s a quirky shape, uneven or sloped ceilings or a small size.
For interior designer, furniture maker and antiques dealer, Max Rollitt, a good attic space “is one that’s treated with as much thought as any other room in the house. You can get away with more daring looks.”
In need of inspiration? Here, the experts share how to give your attic a new lease of life.
Consider the layout
As with any project, it’s always worth considering how you will utilize the space first, deciding which areas lend themselves to different aspects of daily life. For example: “The parts of the room with lower head height should be utilized for tasks that don’t require standing,” advises Tiffany Duggan, interior designer and founder of Studio Duggan. “Maybe that’s a cozy reading corner or a bed. Keep the tallest parts of the room for wardrobes or areas you frequently walk through.”
Envelop the space
Sparse white paint in an attic room only makes the space feel drab. Instead, so say the experts, wrapping either a paint color or wallpaper over the walls and ceiling is the way to go. “Enveloping the space in color or pattern takes the focus off odd angles and edges and makes different surfaces feel part of the whole,” says Rollitt, while Holly Vaughn, interior designer and founder of Vaughan, adds that a characterful ceiling is not to be shied away from: “They offer an instant coziness which are harder to create in other rooms—definitely embrace them.”
For those wanting to itch a wallpaper scratch and haven’t felt they could anywhere else in the house, an attic room is a great place to try to do so—just see Lucy Williams’s much-Instagrammed attic room featuring Living Quarters’s Maidenhair wallpaper on ceilings and walls for inspiration. “Don’t be afraid of color or pattern,” says Willis. “Strong colors or a mass of print disguises the corners of the room, and that small space quickly becomes a jewel box, rather than a box room.” Small-scale patterns are generally easier to pull off than larger ones.
Those really committed to the cause should take inspiration from the incredible tented bedroom that Emma Burns, managing director of Sibyl Colefax John Fowler, masterminded for one client project. “This attic room had no architectural merit, no storage and no charm, and by running a slim rail around the perimeter of the wall beneath the ceiling, we hung simple black and white unlined ticking fabric,” she explains. “A shaped continuous valance, trimmed out in a crisp green poplin covers the track, and we created a tented look on the flat ceiling. Hey presto—it’s the guest room everyone wants to sleep in!” Requiring a skilled installer, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but nonetheless serves as great inspiration for anyone considering their options.
Make good use of space
Eaves storage is often plentiful in attic rooms, so make the most of it—Duggan recommends incorporating tongue-and-groove paneling and a hidden door for a neat, understated appearance. Beyond eaves storage, other bespoke joinery can also be useful, since it’s not as easy to find wardrobes that can slot into an attic’s dimensions; you can also play around with fun designs when you go bespoke. As for other furniture, Vaughan likes to keep it interesting but smaller in size.
Alcove beds
Remember the days of making dens in your parents’ living room? Alcove or built-in beds are the grown-up equivalent, offering all the fun of days gone by but with an infinitely more inviting twist. Unlike the dens of our youth, they do need to be executed well, incorporating “a wall light, bookshelf, well-considered blind, curtain and valance,” says Duggan, as this will create the ultimate “private little sanctuary.”
Lamps and lights
The big light is a no-no in a space like this, so opt for wall lights and plenty of table lamps for a soft glow instead, recommends Duggan. “Low level lighting, alongside quirky furniture and layers of texture and pattern, act as a peaceful distraction from everyday life,” adds Vaughan.
But still keep it simple
While undoubtedly a space to enjoy being creative, be careful not to go too overboard, says Rollitt. “The design choices you make can be bold, but try to limit the number of them so that there aren’t too many visual messages and different elements for the eye to absorb,” he says.