In old-style private houses, old trash was stored in the attic, which was a pity to throw away, carpentry tools, sports equipment, and, in extreme cases, laundry was dried. The modern design of the attic assumes its full use as a place to work, relax, sleep, and practice your favorite hobbies.
Bright interior of a guest room with dormer windows
Attic design in a private house
In European and Western countries it is called the beautiful word “attic”. This additional floor in many houses is luxury housing - it has high ceilings, an open plan, all communications are connected, panoramic windows are equipped with a wonderful view.
But in Russian reality, not every attic can be made residential, especially when it comes to private houses from the middle of the last century. The ceiling height here is most often low - it allows normal walking only in the very middle; the ceilings are not always designed for the installation of massive furniture.
Ceiling beams can not be hidden under the cladding, but, on the contrary, they can be highlighted with dark accents on a light background
Design solutions for this room are used almost the same as for all others. To make it residential, no special documents are required. It is important to make a strong staircase, organize sufficient ventilation, take care of insulation, and provide the necessary communications - light, water, heating.
The walls are finished with plasterboard, wood, covered with wallpaper, the floor requires thermal insulation, the roof is equipped with sound insulation so that the noise of rain, the sounds of bird footsteps, etc. are not heard. The design is predominantly light, reflecting light well.
For small windows, use light colors for decoration
Important: sometimes the arrangement of the attic floor requires strengthening the structure of the entire building.
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Recommendations for finishing
Whatever idea you choose for the attic, the first stage of design will be renovation. As in any other room, you need to solve 3 problems: finishing the ceiling, walls, floor.
Experts advise equipping the floor in the attic with a heated floor system - especially if the room will be used by children. Cover the top with anything, but it is better to choose relatively warm materials: that is, not porcelain stoneware or stone, but boards, parquet, laminate, linoleum.
The photo shows a spacious, bright children's room
The ceiling is an important element of the attic room. Only thanks to its shape it already serves as an accent and attracts attention, so the finishing cannot be of poor quality. Ceiling design options in a private house:
- Drywall. Using gypsum board sheets it is easy to create a smooth surface, hide an insulated roof, wiring and other technical issues. Another advantage is that the material is easy to cut and bend, which means it is suitable for finishing any shape. The sheets are located at a distance of 4-6 mm from each other, the gap helps to avoid creases when the roof moves in harsh climatic conditions. Then the seams are puttied, and the surface is painted or wallpapered.
- Lining. A classic option for home or garden. Wood is a natural, affordable, economical option. Wood, unlike gypsum board, is not afraid of roof movements - it can move a little, shrink and expand under the influence of temperature and humidity. The ceiling is left in the shade of natural wood, covered with protective oil, wax or varnish. Or they paint it in light colors - this is especially true for an attic with low ceilings.
- Plywood. Plywood sheets are easy to install and can be used to achieve both an urban and natural effect. Typically created as a flat, single surface or used in combination with ceiling beams.
- Stretch ceiling. Despite the complexity of the form, professionals will easily and quickly stretch the PVC film - no effort or time will be required from you. The insulation and wiring will be hidden behind it. And the film itself can slightly adjust the geometry: for example, with a glossy surface, a room in the attic will be visually larger.
The last surface is the walls. Their decoration is quite standard: wallpaper, paint, lining, PVC panels. More often they use good old coloring - it’s quick, simple and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, it allows you to implement design solutions: for example, apply drawings or patterns to the walls.
Important! If the main part is occupied by the roof, and the attic walls are short (up to 1.5 m), you can visually raise them using vertical lines. Complex painting, wallpaper with a pattern, or installation of beautiful vertical lining will cope with this.
Interior layout of a room in the attic
Depending on the area of the attic, one or more rooms are equipped here. For large spaces, installing additional partitions is a very labor-intensive task, so zoning is done using screens, light screens, a few pieces of furniture, and curtains.
The main thing is not to clutter the interior with unnecessary details, but to rationally use every corner
The ideal shape for arrangement is a round, five-pitched roof. At the design stage, all measurements are taken; if the configuration is complex, this is also indicated in the plan. The attic rarely occupies the entire attic - a comfortable room height is at least 160-200 cm, which greatly limits the field of activity if the roof is flat. The maximum height is arbitrary, up to the roof ridge - usually 2.5-3.5 meters.
Advice. The attic is quite suitable for organizing a multifunctional space: a study with a library, a bedroom with a dressing room, a living room with a place to sleep.
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Wiring
To correctly lay the electrical cable, you need to do the following:
- Make a project. This is an official document that needs to be approved by the supervisory authorities. The project must include all elements - from junction boxes to switches and sockets;
- Lay out the wiring. It is best to entrust the work to professionals. They will do everything as expected. All cables for safety are located in special corrugations;
- Sewerage and water supply are done according to a similar scheme: first, a project is drawn up and agreed upon, and then installation work is carried out.
Attic insulation
A room intended for living at any time of the year must be insulated. Warm air tends to rise, the insulation will not allow it to “escape”. The material for insulation is selected:
- fireproof;
- vapor permeable;
- environmentally friendly;
- thickness from 10 cm.
Many people prefer mineral wool
Sufficient thermal insulation will allow you to significantly save on heating costs. For the roof and floor, polystyrene foam and mineral wool are suitable. The ideal solution is a combination of rigid, semi-rigid insulation, which is placed between the external wall and the internal finishing material: lining, plasterboard, plywood.
Advice. If desired, heated floors can be installed in the attic.
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Stages of work
Many owners of private houses want to know how to make the attic habitable, but do not know where to start. The first stage in such a situation is planning. Before work, the purpose of the future room is determined; if there is a workshop there, then it is necessary to take care of natural lighting; if it is a living room, attention is paid to insulation.
The main stages of work on arranging the attic include:
- space planning;
- insulation of the roof and floor;
- design.
After drawing up a plan for the future premises, you need to make a list of the necessary materials and tools.
Note! In addition to the costs of insulation and roofing work, you will have to spend money on finishing and decorative materials.
Installation of windows, entrance
Windows allow you to save on lighting during the day. They are made at the ends or directly on the roof. The size of windows is made at least 10-15% of the entire attic area. In summer it will be very hot here, so you should definitely install air conditioning.
There will be much more light if you install roof windows between the rafters
Windows need to be supplemented with roller blinds
The staircase should not be too steep; a slope of 35-45 degrees is preferable. It happens:
- marching straight or with a turn;
- curvilinear;
- screw.
It is installed along the wall, sometimes in a niche. On the second floor, the opening is closed with a hatch and fenced with railings, which is necessary as a safety measure. Sometimes a PVC window acts as a hatch. The staircase is made outside the house, along the outer wall, if there is not enough space inside. The material for a staircase indoors is glass, wood; outdoors it is appropriate to make a staircase made of stone, concrete, with wrought iron railings. For very tight spaces, an attached, folding one is used.
Classic single-flight staircase made of natural wood
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Output equipment
First you need to make an exit to the attic from the house, the main recommendations are as follows:
- A hole is made for the exit. If you have not previously had a hatch from your home, then you need to cut an opening in a suitable place. To strengthen the structure, a strong box is made of 50 mm thick boards around the perimeter. The size of the opening should be such as to ensure comfortable movement.
- The simplest version of the stairs. This design is placed against the wall, with railings attached to one side. The angle is usually quite steep to save space. The mount can be made on the wall, as in the photo, then, if necessary, you can remove the structure for a while. Staircase with a turn. A more complex, but also more attractive option that does not take up much space, but still provides ease of movement.
- Special hatch to the attic with a ladder. An excellent solution for those who do not have space for a stationary structure. You can install the structure yourself; the delivery kit includes detailed instructions with assembly diagrams.
What style should you use to decorate the space?
The stylistic design of an attic space largely depends on its area and purpose. A cramped attic in the loft or baroque style does not look very good, but minimalism and modernity will be appropriate. A small room is decorated in light, warm colors, especially if it is not possible to have large windows. The spacious room with a high ceiling is finished in cooler, darker tones.
The interior of the attic room can be decorated in any style
The most commonly used styles are:
- Minimalism - there is a lot of space, little furniture. A folding sofa of a strict geometric shape, a small table, large windows. A maximum of two colors are used at the same time, one of which is white, and there are practically no accessories.
- Loft - open plan, exposed wooden beams on the ceiling, brick-like walls, metal accessories. The windows are very large, without curtains. The furniture is antique, artificially aged, made of dark wood.
- Ecological - wooden trim, furniture, often indoor plants, a whole winter garden. Natural colors, natural fabrics - linen, cotton, silk.
- Scandinavian – stylish plain furniture, bleached wood, laminate, metal. The colors are mostly light, individual color accents are acceptable, and there are not many accessories.
- Provence – pastel colors, floral prints on textiles and wallpaper. Light, light furniture, “cozy” accessories - rugs, pillows, trunks.
- Eastern - a low table, bed or sofa is a mattress on a podium. Light photo wallpaper with hieroglyphs, cherry blossoms, a lot of light.
Scandinavian minimalism will allow you to create a cozy and calm room with a homely atmosphere, using a minimum of funds
Rafters and supporting racks are ideal for interior design in the loft style
A classic design will require a lot of money, but it will only look good in a fairly spacious room
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What room to make in the attic
The attic floor is used to arrange both one room and a full-fledged apartment, if there is enough space. It is advisable to think about the purpose of the room at the planning stage in order to know what communications to carry out.
A children's room in the place of an old attic - miracles of remodeling will allow you to organize a fabulous space. Safety comes first here. The most environmentally friendly finishing materials are selected. The staircase is as flat as possible, always with strong railings, the hatch to the floor is securely closed. Good lighting is necessary throughout the entire room. An indispensable attribute of a child's room is toys. They are placed on shelves and in drawers.
Children's room in a marine style
Bedroom in the attic - practical, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing. There is a double bed in the center if it is a matrimonial bedroom, two single beds along the walls for a guest bedroom. Storage places for bed linen and other things are made under the bed. The overhead light is soft, diffused, but if you plan to read or work on a laptop in bed, use local bright lighting. The dressing table and wardrobe also have their own local lighting.
Cozy bedroom in a small attic of a country house
The design of a living room in an attic room has its own characteristics. Everything you need for a family holiday and friendly gatherings is located here. Furniture should not be overly bulky, heavy, or tall. The TV is placed on a narrow console, attached to a solid wall, and if there is a good sound system, a home theater is set up. Panoramic windows will allow you to admire the view of a blooming garden, river, and flower beds. A faux fireplace in the living room also looks good.
Large sofas with lots of pillows will be the best place for a friendly pastime
The arrangement of the office requires a well-lit workplace. Additional sound insulation and remoteness of the room from other rooms will allow you to fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. Office equipment will be placed on the table, shelves, the lighting directly above the table is bright.
Natural light is best for a home office
The workshop on the attic floor should have enough storage space for materials and tools. The number of working surfaces depends on the intended activities.
An attic room can be an ideal place to organize a home workshop due to its isolation
The library in the attic includes numerous shelving. The reading corner is located by the window - in the brightest place in the room. Artificial light is made sufficient to find the books you need; reading in the evening should also be comfortable.
The reading area should be well lit
The dressing room is equipped with hangers, rods, pantographs, hooks for belts, ties, umbrella stands, and shoe racks. To store small haberdashery, hanging shelves and a chest of drawers are made. Some things are stored in cardboard boxes and plastic boxes. In addition to clothing, small household appliances that are not often used, an ironing board, and sports equipment are often stored here. Here you can easily use every centimeter of attic space.
Ceiling slopes impose certain restrictions on the use of store furniture
A billiard room, a gym, a recreation room in the attic would be very appropriate. Sufficient lighting is installed above the billiard table; to equip the gym, additional structural reinforcement, sound insulation, and ventilation are necessary. A shower will also be very useful.
The atmosphere of the attic room perfectly contributes to the appropriate mood for a measured game of billiards
A kitchen in the attic is rarely done, but its arrangement is quite possible. To do this, you will have to run water and install a powerful hood. Ventilation is also done through the windows, and one of the working surfaces becomes a continuation of the window sill. LED lighting along the top and bottom of the headset will make the interior modern.
Industrial motifs in the design of an attic kitchen
Installing a bathroom or a combined toilet in the attic space is quite possible. It is decorated with moisture-resistant materials, water supply and drainage are organized here. The bathtub itself is often mounted under the slope of the roof; the shower stall is placed closer to the middle of the room, where you can stand up to your full height. Often the bathroom is located next to the kitchen or above it. Panoramic windows will create a unique interior.
In a large family, an additional bathroom will not hurt
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Installation technology
If you have some construction experience, it is quite possible to install and repair attic floors yourself. This operation is performed at the final stage of roofing work. Installation of attic floors is carried out in the following sequence:
- Installation of beams. For a small private house, wooden floors made of timber with a section of 150x150 mm or 200x200 mm are used. They are laid on brick or concrete masonry walls.
- Installation of logs. Perpendicular to the beams, logs are installed on the edge from boards with a section of 150x50 mm in increments of 60 cm.
- Laying thermal insulation material. Insulation is placed between the joists to prevent cold air from entering from the attic.
- Laying rough and finished floors.
- Sheathing beams from below to decorate the ceiling.
Please note that in order to increase the service life of the attic floor, you can use wood treated with an antiseptic. In addition, if you are insulating the attic floor, then you need to provide waterproofing and vapor barrier.
Installation of beams
Floor installation
The highlight of the attic interior
The design of walls, floors, ceilings, contrasting with each other, bright sofa cushions, poufs are quite capable of becoming a kind of “highlight” of the attic interior. A round bed or sofa in the shape of a month, hand-painted walls, and original-shaped hanging chairs look very original. Numerous, diverse light sources, paintings on the walls, photo wallpapers, homemade rugs, draperies on the windows, mirrors - what is best to focus on is decided individually in each case.
Hanging accessories will highlight sloping walls
Bright wallpaper on an accent wall will help revive the interior
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