Furnishing an attic apartment: tips and ideas

Living at the highest point in the house offers complete privacy. However, furnishing an attic apartment isn't always easy. With the right furniture, the right color, and a few helpful tips, it can be done.

Use the knee wall

Living rooms and reading nooks need not only sufficient light but also ample storage space. In attic apartments, the knee wall—the wall above which the sloping ceiling begins—is ideal for this purpose. With sufficient ceiling height, a fitted bookcase becomes a true storage marvel and a decorative focal point.

Five tips for furnishing an attic apartment

1. Low Furniture:

Large, bulky wardrobes and shelves often do not fit in attic apartments. Ideal storage solutions are chests of drawers , sideboards, or lowboards, which ideally correspond to the height of the knee wall (the wall above which the slope begins). Low furniture is generally advantageous under the roof: flat sofas, airy shelves, and minimalist wardrobes create a light and airy feel. The gable wall (the end wall) is suitable for larger pieces of furniture; otherwise, custom-made built-in wardrobes under the sloping roof are a good option.

2. Appropriate Lighting

To counteract the perceived confinement under the gable, always emphasize the room's height – this can be achieved, for example, with ceiling spotlights. Pendant lights  are only suitable if the room has sufficient height; otherwise, they create shadows in the corners. Additional floor and table lamps are helpful here. Skylights provide more daylight. The incoming light is reflected off light-colored walls, visually opening up the room.

3. Colored Walls:

An attic apartment appears larger when the sloping ceilings recede into the background and the gable wall is brought into focus, for example, with a bolder wall color. For sloping ceilings, opt for lighter colors. A natural white makes the room appear wider and more open. Depending on how the room is used, the sloping ceilings can also be painted in bold colors – ideal for a cozy reading nook under the roof. 

4. The Right Temperature

: What's a clear advantage in winter can become a disadvantage in summer: attic apartments heat up very quickly. It's beneficial if the skylights are positioned opposite each other, allowing the air to circulate effectively. Blinds, pleated shades, or special thermal roller blinds protect against excessive sunlight and also provide privacy.

5. Take advantage of the benefits

Despite the smaller living space, attic apartments offer unique features that should be utilized. Areas under sloping roofs are usually not very high, but offer the ideal space for a small home office, a bathtub, a seating area, or a bed. Rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms feel particularly cozy under the roof and are usually protected from the neighbors' view.

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