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You invest in every inch of your home with each mortgage payment. Get the most out of your property by converting your attic into a cozy den. You could use it for numerous purposes if it becomes a livable, inviting space.
Check out a few ways to start the transformation and gain a private oasis.
1. Get The Necessary Permits
Although you’re in charge of your home, your city may require permits for attic renovations. Consider what work you’d like to do. Take your home’s detailed plans to a licensed architect or engineer. If they agree that your home is currently up to local codes, you can apply for permits.
You might not need one to replace the pull-down attic access door with a stairwell, but any structural support changes or electrical work requires approval. Get started on this step early, as the paperwork may take a few weeks or months to pass through the right hands.
2. Choose & Install Your Flooring
Unfinished attics have exposed beams along the floor that hold the insulation. You can work with a contractor to install plywood subflooring on top of those beams before applying your flooring of choice.
Laminate floors could be best for withstanding humidity in attic rooms without temperature regulation. However, engineered hardwood could match the rest of your home. Your selection will depend on how integrated your cozy den will look with the floors below.
3. Hire An Electrician
Electricians know how to install wiring safely. It’s crucial to let the professionals handle this work so you don’t risk hospitalization or house fires. A local electrician could quickly run the wiring for things like electrical outlets, lights and ceiling fans. They may also install cable for ethernet connectivity, depending on their training.
It’s worth noting that Statistics Canada estimated a shortage of 5,275 electricians in 2022, which means there are tons of open jobs. People doing electrical renovations need more electricians to contact. The wait between jobs will be longer, so hire one as soon as you get your required permit approval.
4. Insulate & Apply Drywall
Attics with poor insulation will likely have exposed joists. The lack of drywall and flooring means the thin insulation can leak attic air into the walls of your home. It could create excess heat or cold temperatures that make your HVAC unit turn on more frequently.
Talk with a contractor about installing ducts for your HVAC unit that lead to your attic. It would control the room temperature so it’s a cozy den all year. After adding the ductwork and necessary insulation, they can install the drywall to close your walls and ceiling.
Drywall projects cost an average of $5,208, but your project may be more costly if you have a substantial attic. Your contractor can provide a quote before scheduling the work so you have time to adjust your budget as necessary.
5. Pick A Purpose
When the floors and walls are ready, you can transform your attic into a purposeful room. Will you use it as a bedroom, office or guest room? Maybe you want something different to suit your lifestyle. Your attic could become an open space to spar with your swordplay partner or house your pet snakes.
Once you know your attic’s new purpose, you can plan what you’ll buy to finish the room. This is when you can start having fun daydreaming about colour schemes and pinning digital photos to an inspiration board.
6. Choose Inviting Decor
Coziness isn’t just something you can sense in a room. It’s also something you can see and feel. Invoke it in your attic by choosing comforting, sensory decor like soft rugs and plush furniture. You could get an extra pillowy couch for a TV room or a luxury desk chair for your in-home office.
This can be as costly or economical as you need. People spent an average of $52.5 billion on home renovations in 2020, but you can always find essential decor in secondhand stores or online. Make a list of things you’d like for your attic to stay on track if you want to limit your spending.
Don’t forget about using pictures or paintings to fill any empty wall space. People feel cozy in areas that feel lived in. Bare walls indicate an abandoned room. Fill your wall space and hang curtains on any windows for a softer visual touch. Your attic will feel like a natural extension of the rest of your home’s interior decorating theme if the colours and fabrics match other rooms.
Create Your Cozy Attic Den
Use these tips when you’re ready to transform your attic into a cozy den. It will quickly become a place of solace instead of forgotten storage space. All you need to do is make it a livable space and assign it a purpose to start today.
About The Author
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded, where he writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Check out @TModded for regular updates!
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