Essential Things to Do When Finishing Your Attic

If your house has an attic, you might want to consider finishing it. This will enable you to convert your attic into a stylish bedroom, a playroom, a gym, or a home office. Apart from creating some extra living space, this could also increase your home’s value.

However, this is a complex process that takes time and money, so you shouldn’t dive head-first into it. Take some time to carefully analyze your options and consult with specialists. Because if you don’t do it right, it can decrease your property value. Take a look at some of the essential things to do when finishing your attic.

1 One of the essential things to do when finishing your attic is to make sure you have enough space

Unfortunately, you can’t turn every attic into a living space. Some don’t have enough room for that. Therefore, to ensure you have enough space, you must do some research first. As a general rule, the International Residential Code stipulates that any room should have an area of at least 70 square feet with 7 feet in each direction. Nevertheless, you should consult the local building codes because they can vary from one place to another.

At the same time, you should consider the materials you’ll use for flooring, ceiling, and walls. The main reason for this is that they can reduce the space significantly. And the finished attic is the one that must comply with the measurements required by the building codes. So, if you have any doubts, you should consult a professional.

2 Inspect the structure of your home

It doesn’t matter if you have enough space to finish your attic if your home can’t support the weight. After all, not all houses are designed with a livable attic in mind. Usually, this space is intended for storage purposes. As a result, you should hire a structural engineer to inspect your home’s structure. While you’re at it, you should also hire an electrician to check for common home wiring problems. Otherwise, you risk not being able to properly light your attic.

3 Accesibility is key

One of the essential things to do when finishing your attic is to make sure it’s easily accessible. A very narrow staircase won’t due. Once again, you should consult the local building and fire codes to identify the requirements. Usually, the stairs need to be at least 36 inches wide. And it’s not just about complying with the law, but also about your comfort. Mainly because a narrow staircase increases the risk of accidents. Not to mention that you won’t be able to bring any furniture upstairs to furnish your attic.

Ensuring easy access is one of the essential things to do when finishing your attic.

4 Don’t overlook the insulation

Insulation is essential for finishing your attic. Thus, once you make sure you have enough space to install it, you must carefully choose the right type. After all, attics absorb a lot of heat during the warm season and represent a significant source of heat loss during the cold season. That’s why you must identify the applicable R-value for your area first. This measures the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. Secondly, you should assess your budget. Since high-quality insulation doesn’t come cheap, you might have to settle for a more affordable one.

5 Lightning is crucial

As we all know, attics are usually pretty dark because they rarely have windows. However, if you want to transform this space into a livable area, you have to light it up. Of course, you can do this by installing lots of light fixtures. Nevertheless, natural light is vital as well. For example, if you want to create a home office, relying solely on artificial light will reduce your productivity during the day. Thus, you should opt for some roof windows and/or skylights.

Make sure that your attic benefits from both natural and artificial light.

6 Consider creating a bathroom

If you have enough room to fit a bathroom in your attic, you should do it. This will make the space a lot more comfortable. It doesn’t matter if you’re turning the attic into a home office, playroom, or bedroom, having close access to a bathroom is essential. Still, the costs are pretty steep. So, if you want to lower them a bit, you should position the bathroom directly above a kitchen or a bathroom. This way, you’ll also limit wall damage when installing the pipes.

7 Choose the right colours

Colours are crucial for interior design. Not to mention that they have a significant impact on your mood. As a result, you should choose them wisely. Firstly, since attics are smaller and darker than other rooms in your house, you should opt for light, warm colours. This will make the space seem airier and more prominent. Secondly, note that being too matchy-matchy doesn’t make a good impression. You should try to combine different colours to give the space more character.

Use light colours to make your attic appear larger.

8 Furnish it properly

The last stage of finishing your attic is furnishing it. Of course, the furnishings you choose depend on the type of room you want to create. However, since you’ll have to carry everything upstairs, you should research lifting techniques for moving heavy furniture and boxes. This will ensure that you do it the right way and don’t get hurt in the process.

At the same time, regardless of the room’s purpose, you should think of clever ways to maximize the space. For example, you can use built-in cabinets that function both as storage space and as window seats. Or you can carve part of a wall out to create a bookshelf. And make sure you install shelves in every cranny and nook.

Final thoughts

Converting your attic into a living space is a great way to create more room. And it can even increase your home’s value. Nevertheless, it can have the opposite effect if you’re not careful. As you’ve seen, there are many essential things to do when finishing your attic. So, before taking on a significant remodelling project, ensure you do your homework and assess every option carefully.

By Mary Aspen Richardson

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