Owners of private homes often face the problem of lack of free space. They have to constantly step on children's toys scattered everywhere and argue with family about the organization of personal space. Solving these and many other problems will allow the arrangement of the attic space. For a private home, it will be a great place for a comfortable stay in seclusion. The performance of these works will allow the owners of summer cottages to turn their structure, in which there is a constant lack of space, into a comfortable family nest.
Of course, it is most convenient to deal with the installation of an attic at the stage of building a house. This is a wonderful moment, allowing you to pre-design the room, completing its decoration with the same materials that were purchased for the house. It also makes it possible to initially calculate the foundation, which is necessary for a certain volume of a residential attic.
In the event that such a room will be operated continuously, the owners of the house will have to face some technical difficulties. In this case, it will be necessary to strengthen the floors, provide effective thermal insulation, as well as carry out some other necessary measures.
Types of attics
Today, during the construction of houses, roofs of various types are equipped. The under-roof space formed under them is used for household or residential purposes. If the pitched roofs are made with an attic, then it, in turn, by its design can be cold or warm.
Often the free space formed under the roof is used for a wide variety of household needs. Nevertheless, the most rational and practical option will be the one when living rooms will be equipped under the ramps. Moreover, the greater the slope of the rafters in the structure of the attic, the less space will be. In other words, the useful volume of the future room depends on the shape of the roof.
First stage
Anyone who decides to make the attic living space needs to familiarize themselves with building codes regarding the performance of such work. First of all, you need to take measurements of the future room. The main indicator of compliance will be the height of the attic. It should be the same as in all living rooms of the house, and at the same time at least 2 meters. For the attic, such a requirement must be fulfilled on 50% of its area.
You will need to calculate the parameters of the future room. Its area should be from 6.5 square meters. m. Only if the attic room meets all the criteria will it be possible to start work. But it is worth bearing in mind that such construction requires obtaining permission from the city authorities. Of course, this paragraph can be ignored, but in case of sale of the home, the owners will certainly have trouble with the law. So it is better to get the necessary documents in advance.
In the case when the height of the attic does not comply with the above building standards, experts recommend building the walls of the house up to 1 m. This will allow to raise the roof and realize the plan.
Floor plan
Before you begin work on arranging an attic in a private house, you will need to determine the purpose of the future room. Here you can arrange additional space or equip autonomous housing. When choosing the latter option, you should evaluate the degree of suitability of the attic, not only in terms of its size. The possibility of installing a bathroom, toilet and kitchen on it should be considered.
When planning an additional room, it is important to consider the features of the attic configuration and its architectural nuances. Competently beat the available space will help a professional who should be entrusted with the preparation of drawings. Performing an attic space project on your own for many owners can be very difficult due to the limited area of space and its specific volume.
Window
It is impossible to imagine a residential attic without natural light. Outline the exact location of the opening is necessary at the stage of preparation of the project.
For a window in the attic located directly on the roof, you will need to mount a wooden frame. Subsequently, a frame should be inserted into it. The frame is necessary due to the additional weight of the window and the precipitation falling on it. It is this mass of such a design that has to withstand.
After arranging the window, heat-insulating measures should be carried out. They are necessary in order to close the gap between the opening and the wall. Otherwise, heat will penetrate into the street through it.
Cleaning
In order to make the attic residential, you will need to take out all the old things from it, which are often stored here. They will need to be thrown out or transferred to another place. When cleaning, you should be careful, because in the roof frame of the attic there may not be clogged tips of nails.
Floors and ceilings
The design of these surfaces, according to experts, is a rather serious moment when carrying out work on arranging an attic. Before proceeding with the decoration of the ceiling and floor, you will need to carefully examine the roof structures and the roof lathing. If any problems are found in them, they should be eliminated without fail.
Warming of the attic begins with the floor. The easiest option for this will be expanded clay. Use this material for the arrangement of both residential and non-residential premises. Expanded clay needs to be scattered on roofing material with a layer about 15 cm thick. For living space on top of expanded clay make a flooring from chipboard or screed. It is advisable to finish the floor with a material of the smallest possible thickness. This will maximize the available height.
Door
After it became clear that all the attic structures are in satisfactory condition, it is possible to carry out work on arranging the doorway. To do this, a hole is formed in a place predetermined by the project, having the desired width and height. In the future, it will become an opening through which you can climb to the attic.
Stairs
In the attic located in a private house, you must somehow rise. That is why the owners should think about how to equip the stairs.
The most optimal place for its placement is a corridor or an entrance hall. What material is it best made of? From the one that:
- easy to clean;
- durable
- possesses aesthetic qualities that allow the staircase to fit into the interior.
All of the above requirements have wood. It is used to make durable and high-quality staircases that have excellent characteristics from both a functional and aesthetic point of view.
Communications
In the process of carrying out construction work, they perform installation work on the installation of heating, water supply and electricity. It is only necessary to study the project and consider where the input of engineering communications is located.
There are two ways to heat attic spaces. One of them is to connect to the centralized system of the house, and the second - in the device of autonomous heating.
Frame mounting
At the next stage of the work on arranging the attic, you will need to nail boards to the wall, placing them in parallel. This is the frame to which the drywall will subsequently be attached. You can use another material for wall cladding. After installing the frame, you will need to install the wiring taking into account the planned location of the switches and sockets. With a large slope of the roof, the frame boards are fixed in increments of not more than 20 cm. In the future, this will prevent the formation of cracks on the surfaces of the ceiling and walls.
Warming
It is known that the largest heat loss occurs through the slopes of the roof. How to fix this problem?
To do this, place two layers of insulation between the rafters. The most popular material for performing these works is mineral wool boards. You can buy for this foam or polyurethane foam.
Room decoration
How can the attic be decorated inside and out? All this will depend on the desire of the owners of the house. The basic rule is to preserve the overall architectural style.
The original decoration can be the roof beams. When placing such elements, you will need to think over the option of decorating them in advance.
The most suitable option for decoration is natural wood. Designers recommend the use of lining. It is mounted on plywood sheets, and after installation is painted or varnished.
When we use the attic, we should visually expand the space. This will allow the use of light material. If the attic is very small, then for its decoration it is advisable to take a lining of fir, ash or maple. Often used for such work and drywall. Subsequently, it is covered with paint or wallpaper.
Arrangement options
Deciding to make a room in the attic, you need to think about its purpose. Previously uninhabited, dusty and cluttered, it may well turn into a living room or bedroom, library, billiard room or greenhouse. The choice of types of attic premises should be made by the owners based on their needs and preferences.
If you have the required area under the roof slopes, you can equip not one but several rooms at once. To do this, you will need to correctly place various zones in the room. Many designers propose to separate them from one another with the help of transparent partitions that allow light to pass through. In this case, for example, a relaxation room and a play area will appear in the attic.
The spacious room under the roof can be divided by capital partitions. Work on their arrangement, of course, is more time-consuming, but nevertheless they will allow you to organize several rooms at once.
Most often, owners of private houses equip a bedroom in the attic. Under the gable roof, it turns out to be very cozy. Nevertheless, comfort in the room will be obtained only if the basic planning rules are observed. So, a double bed should be in the center of the room. Along the walls, designers recommend installing mezzanines, where various household items and bedding will be stored. If you want to put two beds in the attic, it is better to place them in the part where the descending ceilings are located. The center of the room in this case is recommended to be left free. It is possible to equip in the attic:
- gym;
- game corner;
- reading room and library;
- rest area;
- billiard room;
- utility rooms, such as a pantry.
In the event that a shortage of living space is felt in the house, in the attic are:
- living room;
- a bedroom;
- children’s.
Stylistic concept
What work should be carried out after preparing the attic to equip a living room in it? Their completion makes it possible to determine the choice of a stylistic concept, with the design of the room and with the placement of furniture in it.
If the owners wish to arrange a bedroom in the attic, it is recommended to pay attention to folk motifs or choose the currently quite romantic interior styles. No less cozy will be the room, decorated in the style of Provence, chalet or country. Suitable for the bedroom with a classic style. And if the attic has an impressive area, then it is recommended to use the loft style when arranging it.
Decorating the living room, on the advice of designers, you should focus on one of the following types of styles:
- minimalist;
- eclecticism;
- retro style.
Ideal for living rooms and design solutions, which can be traced oriental notes. All this will turn the attic into a comfortable and cozy room.
Color scheme
As mentioned above, in connection with the small area of the attic, it is recommended to design rooms in bright colors. However, at the same time, it is necessary to prevent their fading, which can adversely affect the overall picture of the interior. In such cases, it is recommended to use one of the design techniques. Its main essence is that the inclined walls are painted in light, and vertical - in bright, saturated colors. Today, a very popular solution is to use the same colors of curtains, plaid and walls.
Furniture
Properly selected interior items will allow you to create a full-fledged attic room design. You will also need to optimally arrange the furniture. This will largely allow you to create a cozy and harmonious room.
The design of the attic should not use too massive objects. That is why the bed, bedside tables and dressers made of wood, you need to purchase only compact sizes. What should be the color of the furniture? It is necessary that it matches the tone of the open rafters and beams.
To create a cozy atmosphere in the room, located in the attic, will allow the fireplace. The heat coming from it will warm not only the air, but also the soul. If it is not possible to install it, it is recommended to purchase an electric fireplace. It will also look very stylish and at the same time hide the imperfections of the walls.
If the room in the attic has a large area, then arranging it according to all the rules, you can create a real living room, in which there will be a place for upholstered furniture, a TV, for bookshelves and a coffee table. It is always worth remembering the harmony of materials. To create a cozy atmosphere will allow a light tree, as well as a stone of either light or dark colors. A wonderful addition to them will be living plants in decorative tubs and in pots. The symmetry of the interior must also be respected. With this technique, the room will look more attractive, while maintaining the necessary balance. Symmetrically placed chairs, lamps, sofas having the same upholstery, as well as a large number of domestic plants, will make this possible. All these details together will make it possible to achieve harmony in the attic room, making it also elegant.