Attic Inspiration: Building Your New Favorite Room
Think you’re running out of room in your home?
Things are looking…up! I ran across this clip I had saved of a Fixer Upper remodel a few years back. This has to be the smallest (and most adorable) attic bedroom ever:
“A lot of people would look at a space like this and just think of it as storage…but you can turn a space like this into a functional bedroom where you maximize it well and it will work great for you and your family.”
Joanna Gaines is right. Maximizing your space not only means opening up a world of possibilities for expanding the functionality of your home- it also means adding floor space when it comes time to sell. On average, adding an extra bedroom to your home increases the value by $30-60k.
An attic that’s a good candidate for refinishing? That’s treasure ready to be uncovered.
How Do I Know If My Attic Can Be Refinished?
You’re looking to add more usable space to your home. But when you look at your attic? It’s hard to see how you can transform such a dusty, forgotten storage space into something beautiful
When it comes to imagining the “before” and “after”, where do you even start?
The good news: with the right design, your attic can easily become your new favorite spot.
But before you start a new attic Pinterest board, let’s take a look at what can stand in your way from getting that dream space.
First, ask yourself these questions:
- Is your attic ceiling at least 7’ tall? Most building codes require 7’ of headspace, and 70 sq ft of floor space.
- Will your new room have two exits? Like any room in your house, your attic is required to have two exits in case of an emergency. If you don’t have a window, don’t worry. Your roof might be a good candidate for a dormer.
- How are your electric and HVAC installed? If your HVAC and electric are hidden somewhere else and don’t run through your attic, then your attic is able to be finished without the extra hassle of concealing it.
Ready to convert your attic? Here are three ways your new attic space can make your “at home” life awesome.
Reclaim Your “Grown-Up” Space with the Perfect Playroom
Picture this: You’ve finally found a spot on the schedule to host your friends for dinner. What’s the first thing that happens when they walk in the door? Your 5 year old decides to empty a tub of legos in the foyer.
Sure, they think it’s cute. But you know what’d be even better?
If those legos lived somewhere else. Right?!
We’ve got two little ones running around at the Martin home and let me be the first to say: the words “clutter free” seem like a far-off dream. Every year, the toy collection grows. As soon as one space is clean, another gets dirty.
I understand.
Time for a dream come true: Your new attic playroom.
By turning your attic into a toy room, you’re giving your kids a special place of their own. Plus, when guests come over, you don’t have to worry about clearing the living room of toys. An attic door is a quick way to hide all of the mess.
Does lockdown have your kids just as stir crazy as you are? Give them a space of their own to play and explore in.
Creating a designated space for children to play and explore has advantages beyond organization.
You may not want a bright colored room in your house, but bold colors are perfect for toy rooms. Colors can even improve learning comprehension by as much as 78%. Painting your kid’s room a bold color is the easiest way to encourage your child’s natural desire to create.
A new playroom can also double as a back-up classroom for remote learning. A “school only” space boosts learning and focus.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with the toy room. Make the space both functional and playful with special touches- like a chalkboard accent wall where you can write down important dates, draw silly doodles, and leave encouraging notes for each other.
The Modern Mother-in-law Suite
Have out-of-town guests throughout the summer? Always hosting at Christmas? Attics are perfect for houses in need of more bedrooms.
Sloping walls, built in nooks…these things make any room feel cozy
Another benefit of adding a bedroom to your attic (rather than building on?) Bathroom installation.
Did you know most attics can be retrofitted with a bathroom for much less than other areas of your home? If you can position your attic design to tie-in directly above your current bathroom, you can save thousands over adding a bathroom somewhere else.
Do I even need to mention how great it is to host guests- and still keep your privacy? Not sharing a bathroom will keep everyone happy.
One thing to keep in mind: Your attic probably wasn’t built with bathrooms in mind. Your contractor may need to add structural support to the floor.
And make sure to have your contractor check the building codes before tearing into any walls. (Don’t worry, here at Martin we handle all your permits to make sure every project is code perfect.)
Your Hobby Heaven
Maybe it isn’t the kids who need their craft supplies quarantined….
An attic is the perfect spot to keep your enthusiasm all in one tidy place.
Think of it…
….no more kids getting into your paint supplies…
….no more pets jumping on the table right in the middle of your model project…
…and no more dinners in the living room because the dining table is overtaken with your latest creation.
Any DIYer would love to have a quiet, organized space like this as they write their next best seller:
Or a scrapbooking heaven like this:
Or a quaint office space like this:
You’re spending more time than ever at home, so it’s important to give yourself a space to relax and engage in your hobbies.
This is your space, tailor it to you. Shelving for your sewing notions, a built-in-rack to store your photography backdrops, a cozy writer’s nook complete with an oversized chair…
Ready to add space and value to your home with a finished attic?
We can help!
At Martin, remodeling means more than a quick pass with some drywall and some snap together flooring. Vern and the crew go the extra mile in making sure you’re making the most of your home’s space from start to finish. We work with you to make sure your design is the best fit for your space- and we leave every job looking just perfect at the end.
Click here to book a consult call with Vern (or just give us a ring at 570-345-0406!) We’d love to make your dream come true.
For news and updates, subscribe to our email list below!