DIY Decorating/Remodeling Other Attic Decorating Tips
Attic Decorating Tips PDF Print E-mail
Written by Tom   

Depending on your attic and your personal DIY decorating skills, your attic could hold a ton of potential. An attic remodel is the best way to use the attic space that may have been overlooked when you originally purchased your home. With some great decorating and a bit of attic furniture, your attic could become the new master bedroom! Attic remodeling basically begins with you finding out how much space you have to work with. From there, you can begin planning out your new attic design.

The Plan

The first step in creating your new attic room is drawing out the basic shape of the attic you have. Once you have the dimensions drawn out, you can begin to add furnishings or walls. By adding a single attic wall, you can make the addition of a bathroom to your new attic master. Figure out where you can build a wall and a door to separate the bathroom from the main attic. Then, with the remainder of the room you can figure out where you want your furniture.

Even before you begin furnishing your attic bedroom, there is some other planning that needs to be done as well. Wallpaper decorating is an easy way to add a bit of color to the space that is probably dull and dark, or you can simply paint the walls white or another light color. The carpet should be a light color as well, to bring as much light as possible into the room, and give the room a warm feeling.

The attic ceiling may also be renovated to improve the lightness of the room. Ceiling decorating involves not only finishing and painting the ceiling, but possibly adding sky lights or windows to bring in natural light. Use the natural design of the ceiling, which is probably sloped, to your advantage as a decorative feature.

Executing the Plan

Attic DIY, or do-it-yourself, is made to be a simple way to increase the value of your home and add an extra room to the house. If you have everything planned out ahead of time, the execution phase should not be difficult at all. If there is construction to be done, or electrical and plumbing work to be done, you will probably have to hire a contractor to do the work, unless you have the skills to do it yourself. Keep your attic cool with proper insulation, which may also require a hired contractor to install. Once the wall is installed, and the outlets and plumbing are functional, have some carpet or tile put in, and it’s time to start your part of the renovation. If you have already picked out a paint color, now is the time to begin painting. Remember to paint the ceiling as well as the walls to eliminate the dark colors normally associated with an attic. Don’t forget to get electrical outlet plates to match the paint.

Attic
Decorating and Furnishing

Your attic finish is completely dependant upon your desires for the room. Once the room is painted, and the foundation is finished, it is time to add decorating lighting, furniture, and a splash of color. Avoid the urge to pack a ton of stuff into this new room. Since the space is probably a little small to begin with, you don’t want the new room to feel cramped.

Most attic furniture you can find is of a rustic style. This may suit what you are going for, but if you are using the new space as a bedroom, you should probably just shop for regular bedroom furniture. If you are going to use the new attic space as a guest bedroom, a rustic look may give the room an “away from home” feel. Keep in mind that all of the furniture you purchase for the room will have to be moved up there, so if it is difficult to get to the attic in the first place, you probably don’t want to buy a bulky bedroom set or entertainment center.

Lighting options are vast, including everything from a hanging ceiling fan or chandelier, to floor lamps or table lamps. If you want to have lights mounted on the wall, you should address this before you have the electrical wires routed to avoid making changes half-way through the process. If there is going to be a nightstand or two in the room, it may be easier to get a couple of table lamps to light the room.

Adding a bit of color is the last step to finishing your new attic room. If there is a bed in the room, buying a few different colors of bedspreads may be all it takes to add the last little splash to the room. If you are putting a family room in the attic, the couch may be the only coloring. If you chose to use wallpaper on the walls, you can accent the colors of the wall paper with the furniture as well. Or, if you left out the color completely, you can always go back and add a colorful border to the top of the room.

 

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