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Loft living

Your attic room might feature awkward shapes and proportions, but it’s time to embrace your period property’s unique space and create a key area that’s inviting and practical.

Article by: Charlotte Barber
Publish date: 5th February 2009

If youre the proud owner of a converted attic space lucky you! From providing extra room to house a guest bedroom, where visitors can relax in privacy during their stay, to functional key areas such as a hard-working kitchen or luxury bathroom, your attic space is a huge asset to your home, and one which shouldnt be undervalued. Sadly, its often the case that converted loft rooms, even though beautifully renovated, are overlooked and end up as a mere dumping ground for storage. Well, nows the time to reclaim the space, decorate your converted attic and transform it into a light, bright and welcoming haven...

Original features
Even with modern technology built into your new space such as insulation and heating and perhaps even the odd contemporary twist here and there a main consideration that you need to keep in mind when decorating your attic is to remain sympathetic to the rest of your period property. Natalie Goalabre, Design Stylist at Roche Bobois, says: Make a feature out of the structural elements such as beams, rafters and brickwork rather than trying to hide them under layers of paint. Exposed brick, on one wall at least, and natural wooden beams with their knots, age marks and cracks, add warmth and character to the space.

Visiting a reclamation centre and sourcing period items will ensure that your new room will blend seamlessly with the rest of your house. Indeed, many attic rooms boast an endless wealth of beams, and even though you might initially feel that they dominate the space, its important to embrace any of these original feature and work them into your decorating scheme.

Shapely proportions
Granted, your attic space might feature slanted walls and a sloping ceiling, but the trick is to work with unusual angles and proportions, instead of fighting against them. Be wary of over-accessorising a loft room the key is to maximise your floor area and ceiling height with minimal clutter and carefully chosen furniture. Natalie Goalabre continues: Part of the charm of attics and lofts comes from the strange slopes, shapes and angles of the actual room, so dont feel obliged to follow any rules about placing furniture.Large pieces will often look better sitting at an angle, rather than being placed flush to the wall itself.

Furniture choices
When it comes to choosing between free-standing and built-in furniture, its largely a matter of personal taste.However, you do need to keep several considerations in mind, such as the size of your room, the extent to which the ceiling and walls slope, the look youre aiming to capture and, of course, what you intend the room to be used for. Free-standing pieces are a popular choice because of their ease of placement, but bespoke items are a great option for awkwardly shaped rooms.

Wardrobes can be built into sloping walls, and desks for home offices can be designed to the rooms exact specifications. Sharon Graham, Designer at Sliderobes, says: The loft space in older houses can often suffer from storage issues and this is where bespoke storage comes into its own. The layout of the room may mean that furniture has to be custom-made to fit around an exposed chimney breast or under sloping ceilings. And you can rest assured that precious old features such as cornices and mouldings can be worked into the design so that you dont lose the fabric and character of the property.

Sweet dreaming
A common use for an attic room is as a guest bedroom, and its easy to see why. Because the space is at the top of the house, boasting a peaceful and restful atmosphere, its a great idea to turn this room into an inviting place for visiting friends and family. A neutral colour palette is ideal for a guest room it has to be suitable for males, females, couples and children after all so by keeping the tone achromatic, youll create a tranquil space that also works well with original features such as beams and studwork. Two single beds set beneath the eaves in a country cottage, for example, will look rustic and charming without losing the sense of height in the centre of the room. Likewise, a luxurious double bed would look striking taking centre stage in a spacious loft area.

Key rooms
Family bathrooms and kitchens might not be usual for the attic space, but plenty of homeowners are choosing to fit this area out for function and practicality. Free-standing bath tubs (often seen in copper to complement beams and woodwork) can provide the ultimate relaxation retreat. Meanwhile, kitchen cabinetry is easily slotted underneath the sloping eaves to use every inch of space without compromising on functionality.

And a central island unit with overhead Batterie de Cuisine would work perfectly under the vaulted ceiling that a loft space provides.

Colour karma
If your attic space has bijou proportions and beautiful overhead beams, a neutral backdrop of ivories and creams will let original features take centre stage whilst keeping the room clutter-free and calm. Thats not to say that colour doesnt play a part in loft conversions, but you have to strike a balance between what is already there and the space you have to work with. Consider adding shades and texture via soft furnishings and accessories and always keep in mind what natural light you have available. If your attic room has enviable roof windows, such a light-filled space is able to carry deeper colours. But if natural light is lacking, be careful not to overcrowd the room with dark tones and heavy furnishings.

Keep in mind a few clever tricks to maximise light if the area has a tendency to be dark, such as using mirrors to bounce light around the room, keeping the floors pale in colour and choosing clever illumination options that combine task, mood and feature lighting.