Attic conversion: How to make the most of this space?

An attic is a useful extra space in a house that can be turned into many different interiors – from a charming bedroom or children's playroom, through an office, a home library or a games room, all the way to a practical storage area for clothes, shoes or currently unused equipment. It can also serve as a guest room, or even... an independent flat. Some people also decide to adapt the attic into an original bathroom – in this case, however, the work may be more complicated, partly due to the need to run pipes. What the attic becomes depends solely on personal needs – however, when it comes to the type of room, the possibilities are truly endless.

If you're looking for inspiration on how to arrange other spaces in your home, be sure to check out our magazines "How to arrange a child's room?" or "How to furnish a small bathroom?"

When deciding to furnish an attic, it's worth considering first how to arrange the space directly under the sloped ceilings. In this case, it's not possible to place a wardrobe or a bookshelf. If the attic is to become a bedroom, it's best to place the bed in these parts of the room – as long as you can get in and out of it freely, without risking daily head bumps on the ceiling. If, on the other hand, the attic is to serve as some kind of storage, low cupboards with one or two shelves can be placed under the slopes. They will be ideal for storing less frequently used items, hats and scarves, or children's toys that the little ones no longer play with. If you're looking for organisers to help you create an aesthetic and functional space, check out the offerings at FormAdore. You'll find both boho storage baskets, as well as classic cardboard boxes or large plastic containers.

If the attic is to be adapted into a bedroom, home office, or other functional room, it should have an adequate number of windows – natural light is of paramount importance, especially for smaller floor areas. If your attic only has one small window (a chimney sweep's hatch), it's worth considering installing a few additional windows that will properly illuminate the room. These can be classic windows on a vertical wall or a skylight variant. A greater number of windows will visually enlarge the interior and bring invaluable sunlight into it.

In the case of an attic, ordering custom-made furniture may prove advisable. Sloped ceilings and limited space can make it impossible to use classic cupboards, chests of drawers, or shelving units from popular furniture shops. Custom-made items, on the other hand, can be perfectly fitted to the space – almost to the centimetre. In hard-to-reach places, you can opt for pull-out drawers instead of traditional shelves – it will then be much easier to retrieve a specific item. Arranging an attic requires thoughtful steps, but its practical use is absolutely possible. And if you're keen on ready-made furniture, look for low variants or unusual shapes that will fit around beams and sloped ceilings.

When deciding to adapt an attic – whether for a bedroom or office, or for a playroom or storage – it's worth opting for light, minimalist elements. Heavy, dark furniture and a large number of bulky accessories can make the space feel overwhelming – especially since the sloped ceilings themselves take up a lot of space and make the interior much smaller. Simplicity, lightness, and bright colours, on the other hand, will help to visually enlarge it. Scandinavian, modern, or boho design (with a small number of accessories) will therefore work perfectly in an attic. The FormAdore range includes plenty of simple, sleek furnishing elements ideal for this type of arrangement. We're talking about, among other things, functional and light furniture such as the Stories shelving unit from Umage, the Form armchair from Normann Copenhagen, or the Magis table with a chrome frame. You'll also find aesthetic, delicate accessories here – for example, minimalist wall posters, mirrors that will optically enlarge the space, or flower pot covers, which are a must-have in any room.

When furnishing an attic, it's also important to remember about adequate lighting. We've already mentioned that it usually lacks sunlight. If you can't install additional windows, lighting in the form of lamps becomes even more crucial – even if you're turning the attic into a storage space for clothes, toys, or electronics. In addition to a central light source – for example, a pendant lamp in the middle of the room – it's worth equipping the arranged interior with additional table lamps, wall sconces, or floor lamps, e.g., next to the bed or armchair. When choosing lighting for an attic, just like with accessories or furniture, it's best to opt for simple, minimalist designs. At FormAdore, you'll find all sorts of lamps and smaller lights that you can easily match to any decor.

If you're looking to optically enlarge the space, opt for large mirrors, which will also reflect natural light.

If you want to visually enlarge your attic, pay attention not only to forms and shapes, but also to colours. All light colours – white, pastels, or lighter greys – will prove to be a decidedly better choice than graphite, black, or navy blue. You can break up the overall look with one darker wall, but try to keep the rest in light shades. This will make the attic appear larger, and even if you opt for slightly darker furniture, the overall effect won't be too overwhelming. When choosing floor panels, also opt for a light model, preferably one that will reflect light. If, however, you're not a fan of such bright, 'austere' arrangements, you can complement the whole with a colourful curtain at the window or a vibrant bedspread on the bed or armchair (depending on the type of room).

If you wish to separate different parts of the attic and create several distinct interiors, it's better to forego heavy partition walls. Instead, you can opt for light partitioning – for example, the popular slats. Nowadays, there are so many different variants and designs available that it can also serve as a decorative element for the space. Such partitioning will allow you to delineate two rooms, and by combining, for example, several thin strips, it won't optically diminish the space at all. You can also separate rooms by placing one of the furniture items between them, such as a shelving unit or a sofa. Minimalist wooden screens, like the Divide by Hübsch available in our assortment, are also an excellent option. The most important thing is to avoid classic walls, which immediately make a space feel smaller.

Arranging attic space is not the easiest task and requires careful planning – however, it can be transformed into a true kingdom, despite the omnipresent sloped ceilings. You can gain a beautiful, additional space for yourself, a child, or guests – you just need to consider the above tips when furnishing. And if you need furnishing elements for your new office, bedroom, or guest room, at FormAdore you'll find everything you're looking for – from furniture and lighting, through storage boxes, to mirrors and decorative accessories. When deciding to adapt an attic into a bedroom, bathroom, office, or other room, remember about certain regulations. A major renovation involving interference with the very structure and appearance of the house requires adhering to procedures similar to those for new construction – including obtaining a building permit under old rules or reporting changes according to new regulations. The attic must also be assessed by a specialist – and if, due to lack of space, for example, a change in roof structure is necessary, it must be based on the Local Spatial Development Plan.

If you are the lucky owner of an attic, we encourage you to use it in a creative way, as it has great potential as an original and unique interior!