Bedrooms with sloping ceilings: furnishing tips

A sloping ceiling in the bedroom may reduce living space, but it creates a cozy retreat where you can sleep close to the stars. These tips will help you transform your attic bedroom into a haven of comfort and relaxation.

Although we spend most of our time lying down in the bedroom, it's also important to be able to stand and move around comfortably in this space. Depending on the height of the knee wall, however, it's often only possible to stand upright in a bedroom with a sloping ceiling. This makes it all the more important to make optimal use of this lost space while simultaneously emphasizing the room's actual height.

The ideal wall color for a bedroom with a sloping ceiling

While you might advise against painting a sloping wall a dark color in any other room, in the bedroom, it can make us feel like we're sleeping under a starry sky. A dark blue perfectly captures the celestial canopy, and a forest green also promotes relaxation. It becomes even cozier with a kind of alcove under the roof that takes advantage of the sloping ceiling. If that feels too cramped, opt for light colors that visually expand the room. This automatically makes the sloping ceiling less noticeable and less prominent. For a greater sense of depth, consider painting the gable wall in a bold color to visually emphasize it.

Want to take a look at the stars? Absolutely!

What could be better than an unobstructed view of the starry sky? This works best with a bed directly under the skylight. Crucially, choose a low headboard or even omit it altogether. This way, you make the most of the knee wall space and can utilize the gable wall for taller furniture, such as a wardrobe. And on warm summer nights, you'll enjoy a pleasantly cool breeze. Nevertheless, pleated blinds or roller blinds are essential for privacy and sun protection on skylights.

Set up in a reduced configuration at the level of the knee wall.

Unless the sloping roof begins at standard ceiling height, there's already very little space available under the roof, which you should furnish carefully. Consider what you truly need in the bedroom and whether, for example, the large wardrobe could be moved to another room. Often, a sideboard for essential items will suffice. Generally, smaller, more delicate pieces of furniture, ideally matching the height of the knee wall, work better under a sloping roof. Large, bulky furniture can quickly make the room feel cramped. Embracing open space, on the other hand, will pay off. The room will appear more airy and create a pleasant atmosphere for sleeping.

Custom-made furniture for under the sloping roof

While usually significantly more expensive, built-in wardrobes offer a perfectly tailored solution for bedrooms under the roof. They create a great deal of storage space, especially for the wardrobe. Furthermore, sloping ceilings don't have standardized dimensions, and standard wardrobe systems rarely fit underneath. Sideboards, custom-made to fit the knee wall, also focus on the space under the roof, which often goes unused. This leaves more open space for living and sleeping.

For those who want to quickly create their own solution, stepped shelving systems are an option for the bedroom. If storage furniture is available in different heights, it can usually be combined to create a modular unit that rises in height to match the sloping ceiling.

The right lighting under the roof

Especially in the attic, it can quickly feel dark. The perceived confinement under the eaves and the sparse use of skylights allow little light into the bedroom. This can be wonderfully compensated for with ceiling spotlights and indirect lighting from sufficient floor and table lamps. Pendant lights should only be used if the ceiling is high enough; otherwise, they will cast shadows and make the corners of the room appear darker.

But ultimately, nothing beats natural light. Skylights, or even better, floor-to-ceiling windows of an adjoining (French) balcony, allow the most light into the bedroom, making it airy and inviting. Mirrors further reflect incoming light, making the bedroom appear larger.

Decorating ideas for bedrooms with sloping ceilings

When it comes to decoration and coziness, the same secret weapon applies to a bedroom with a sloping ceiling as to any other room: textiles! Rugs, curtains, cushions, and throws bring comfort, color, and an individual touch to the room. They also improve the acoustics by dampening sound.

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