What do rooms with sloping ceilings have in common with classic cars? A charm that’s easy to fall for. Unfortunately, in both cases, this love at first sight often turns to chagrin. With the car, you could pay for a holiday with the money spent on repairs, whilst the sloping ceiling makes it difficult to decorate and furnish the attic space. Classic car owners will have to find their own way to come to terms with the costs. But there’s good news for people who want to make their attic space feel like home.
When decorating and furnishing an attic space, rule number one is to make the best use possible of the space beneath the sloping ceiling. The best way to do this is to turn it into storage space. But finding off-the-shelf furniture fit for this task is easier said than done. Although square or rectangular boxes are available that can be stacked like steps in the corners, this solution generally does not completely fill the space. You are still left with blind spaces that are good for nothing more than gathering dust. The answer is purpose-built storage cupboards, which can be tailor made by a carpenter. Some furniture manufacturers, however, specialise in producing individual cupboard systems. These make use of elegant sliding doors that reveal book shelves or wardrobes, and that cover the corner precisely.
Ideas for the knee wall
Another problem area alongside the sloping ceiling is the knee wall. This is sometimes so low, it is only possible to move forwards when bent over or even on your hands and knees. This is less of a problem when seated, with the space in front of the knee wall providing plenty of room for a desk, for example. When not in use, you could also hide the office area behind a purpose-built sliding door.
Another idea for the bedroom: place your bed with the front side against the knee wall. Leave a small space free between the wall and the headboard. Add a few pillows or a narrow mattress to make a cosy den for the kids where they can come to hide from the monster under the bed at night.
If using the attic space for a bathroom, try to place the bathtub next to the knee wall if possible. A ceiling window above will let you enjoy a romantic bath under the stars. Instead of the bathtub, you could also easily fit a rolling container or low set of shelves to use as storage space.
Low furniture emphasises room height
Emphasising the height of the room can really give your attic space an elegant and lavish look. To achieve this, choose low tables, dressers and sofas to optically stretch the height of the space, whilst also making it appear airier. The knee wall is also the ideal place for a flat-screen TV.
Tip: Use colour smartly
Clever use of wall paint is especially important beneath sloping ceilings. Bright colours make a room look bigger, which can have a huge influence in tight spaces like an attic. Use bolder colours, however, if you want to create a warm and cosy feel or counter extremely high ceilings. When choosing decoration and accessories, the rule of using touches of colour to draw attention applies especially so in attic spaces.
More info: haro.co.nz
The space beneath the sloping ceiling is ideal for an office area. Once the work is done, the desk can be simply hidden behind a sliding door from raumplus. (Copyright: raumplus)
The sliding door hides plenty of space for a dining area. (Copyright: raumplus)
The red wall colour creates a comforting atmosphere in this children's bedroom, while the low bean bags and furniture make the room look larger. (Copyright: Alpina Farben)
Clothes below, space for occasionally used utensils above. The perfect use for the space beneath the sloping ceiling. (Copyright: CABINET Schranksysteme AG)
