Sleeping Under the Rafters
There's a certain magic to sleeping under the eaves in an attic space - cosy and tucked in, the lines of the roof seem to envelop you even further. As a practical concern though, attic spaces can be enormously tricky to arrange. It's crucial to maximise space, but much of the room is taken up by the problematically sloping ceilings. Many people use these rooms as children's bedrooms, since twin beds are slightly easier to squeeze in in tight spaces (and of course because smaller people are less likely to bump their heads!). Of course they can be pretty main bedrooms and guest bedrooms as well, with clever storage built into the slopes of the walls, and a gorgeously cosy atmosphere. Scroll down to see our favourite ways to make the most of an attic bedroom.
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James Macdonald1/8Bedroom En-suite
Decorator Diana Sieff has converted her attic in to a spare bedroom. Clever division of space is key to this design. A dividing wall creates space for an en-suite and storage, while tongue-and-groove panelling 'weirdly makes the ceiling look higher', says Diana.
Lucas Allen2/8White Attic Bedroom
The attic bedroom in printmaker Cameron Short's restored Georgian house has an austere beauty to it. The whitewashed walls are dissected by exposed beams and the battered wooden floorboards are left uncovered. A wide gauge gingham bedspread adds a touch of country charm.
Sharyn Cairns3/8Twin attic bedroom
This sweet attic bedroom, which belongs to designer and House & Garden contributor Ben Pentreath, can be found at the top of his gently restored Georgian country house. The twin beds sit nicely in the small space and the cream panelling brings light to the room.
Line T Klein4/8Small Attic Bedroom
Two Designer's Guild beds upholstered in 'Brera' linen furnish this small bedroom in the attic a Somerset country house. The calm turquoise and white scheme offers some colour to the room without making the small space feel too busy.
Paul Massey5/8Curtain Bed
Use the slope roof of the attic roof to your advantage, as Todhunter Earle have in this child's bedroom. A bed tucked behind a curtain under the eaves makes for a charming den.
Michael Sinclair6/8Attic Bedroom with Oak Beams
The pale walls, bedding and headboard in this small bedroom are perfect for such a tiny space. Loft conversions always benefit from large windows, such as the one here, to fill the rooms with natural light.
The room is not dull, however, thanks to a patterned headboard and exposed beams, which add interest to the space. As with many of the fabrics, cushions and rugs in her Somerset house, Sophie Hale went to Robert Kime for the floral fabric on the headboard. The 'Susani Yellow' linen is printed to resemble needlework and looks particularly pretty against the unpainted beams and neutral walls. It costs £210 a metre.
Hidden in a Somerset valley, this restored Georgian house was an irresistible challenge for its owners, who put together a team including architect Ptolemy Dean for the painstaking restoration, which won a Georgian Group award in 2015.
Simon Brown7/8Cosy Attic Bedroom
Schooled in matters of taste by her mother, when designer Emma Burns inherited the former stables that her parents had converted as a weekend retreat, she put into practice the principles that now guide her professional work for Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. This cosy bedroom has beamed ceilings, and is furnished mainly with antiques.
8/8Overlapping Bunks
Transforming this small attic room into a children's room for two required some ingenuity. Enter Kate Earle of Todhunter Earle who designed these overlapping bunk beds as a clever space-saving solution.
