Have you been wondering how you can put your attic to good use? Check out our tips for painting an attic to convert it into a useful space here!
Attics have a reputation of being messy, cobweb-ridden, dark and unsavoury. It is the last place anybody would think of painting, leave alone transforming into a bedroom.
You can, however, transform the attic by painting it into a cozy space where you can host long-term guests.
You can engage the services of local painters who will provide you with top-notch house painting services.
It is advisable to convert is your attic into a valuable space that can serve as a playroom, home office, gym or bedroom.
The design challenges of the attic such slanted walls and poor lighting makes the space very hard to decorate and paint. The first step in decorating an attic is to paint it. Below are a few tips on how you can go about this.
Primer is Important
Do not be tempted to paint your attic without adding the primer first. It might be tempting to hasten the process of painting, but in the long run, a paint job that was not preceded by priming the surface will not be durable.
Ordinarily, attics are finished with drywall, and therefore if you skip the primer step, the paint will be applied and evenly thereby requiring many coats which prolong the paint job. The primer helps soften the rough texture of drywall.
Choose One Color
Most attics are located just below the home’s roof; they usually feature very odd shapes. They have an angular shape, and thus you will be tempted to paint different colours on different walls to accentuate the distinct shape. Choosing a single shade for both the walls and the ceilings helps the small room appear larger.
If you want any additional colours in the attic, it is better to paint the contrasting shade on the molding.
Choose Bright Colours
Bright colours reflect the sunlight thereby making the small attic appear more bright and airy. You don’t want the already small I take to feel small and cramped up. Ideal colour to paint the attic but cream or shades of beige we’ll also do a wonderful job. For a more modern look, you can use the shades of pastel such as light blue, yellow, peach or green.
You can add the ones of the attic by painting yellow, pink or orange.
Get the Right Finish
You want to keep the pink colour of the artic bright enough to reflect the bouncing light all over the room. Do not go for semi-gloss or gloss finish paints because they are too reflective and end up accentuating every defect, flaw, and dent on the walls and the ceiling.
The best finish for the attic is satin or eggshell paint. These paints are not very shiny and not call attention to the walls that have flaws.
Image source: Flickr by Jimmy_JoeCC BY-ND 2.0
Remove Attention on Long and Skinny
Many attics look like a bowling alley since they ran all along the dimensions of the house. To even out the dimensions of the attic, you will need to paint the shorter walls in darker shades and the longer walls in a brighter colour so that the room can appear larger than it is.
Alternatively, you can place the bed with the headboard against the wall, or if the room is large, you can have the designer place the bed at an angle that breaks the visual distortion of the room. You can also partition the room with a screen into a sitting area and a bedroom if the room is large enough.
Camouflage the Ceiling
One way of camouflage in the ceiling is to paint the walls and ceiling in the same colour so that the ceiling line is not visible. Most attics come with short walls and some slanted ceilings which make them very small.
Alternatively, you can create a floral pattern for both the ceiling and the wall. This removes the attention from the ceiling and the walls to the whole room in general.
Overcompensate for Low the Lighting
The attics rarely get any sunlight. Painting the attic in dark colours such as navy blue, burgundy and chocolate brown makes it very depressing. Choose bright colours such as cream or white to create the lighting in the attic. If you feel that quite will show the dirt and cracks on the wall, you can choose mid-tone colours such as beige.
Use the Knee Walls Optimally
Knee walls are the walls that join the slanted roof line. They’re excellent spots for placing the furniture or the upholstered chairs. You can also put love seats and beds under the knee wall utilise space to the maximum.
Use the Dormer Windows and Skylights Optimally
If you’re lucky to have a dormer window in the attic, you can place the bed opposite the window so that you can get the beautiful views of the morning sun. Alternatively, you can put the bed under the skylight so that as you sleep, you can stare at the stars.
A dormer window is also a great place for sitting. You can place an upholstered chair at the alcove as well as a small reading table and lamp.
Add Texture
There are two ways that you can add texture to your attic. One way is to have some beautiful stonework decorations and an exposed chimney that creates a rustic ambience. The other way is to use textured paints and finishes to add texture with some visual beauty.
Create an Accent Wall
You can draw the eye to the tallest of the slanted ceiling by accenting it in a metallic finish. An accent on the wall removes the need to the whole room in one colour which might make the space look crowded or loud.
Paint a Pattern
Instead of having wall decorations and hangings, you may want to decorate the wall using the full paint. Paint a pattern or a mural on the wall. Alternatively, you can create some floral prints to add sophistication to the room.
