9 Tips to Turn an Attic Into a Boutique Closet
For everyday dressing luxury or off-season clothing storage, explore your attic's potential
There never seems to be enough closet space in a house — whether it’s simple clothes storage or a spot for holding the kids' swim gear when fall comes. If you’ve exhausted your entire home for potential closet space, there may be one spot you haven’t examined: the attic. Don’t let its unique architecture or its third-floor placement discourage you. Your attic can become a boutique master closet or storage room with plenty of character and functionality. Follow some tips from the pros and watch a fabulous new closet space unfold before your eyes.
Be sure built-ins are tall enough. Sloped ceilings can cause some height issues, so be sure you can access built-ins without bumping your head. “I advise applying the same the code height for doorways, which is 6 feet, 8 inches to 7 feet, when creating built-ins,” says Schold. “This assures safety when walking around and up to drawers, shelves, hanging clothes etc.”
Don’t forget: Energy efficiency is important for attic spaces. The temperature of your space should be comfortable for you and for proper storage of various items. “Calling in the heat and air guys for their opinions, suggestions and bids should be done up front,” says Schold. “Energy-efficient ideas could alter other plans and be costly down the road if not done correctly off the bat.”
Don’t forget: Energy efficiency is important for attic spaces. The temperature of your space should be comfortable for you and for proper storage of various items. “Calling in the heat and air guys for their opinions, suggestions and bids should be done up front,” says Schold. “Energy-efficient ideas could alter other plans and be costly down the road if not done correctly off the bat.”
Brighten with a skylight. When dealing with an attic space that has sloped ceilings, have a professional roofer or a carpenter look at the possibility of adding a skylight. “Even a small skylight added between the rafters will add a dramatic amount of natural daylight to the space, making it feel much more like an extension of the main house,” says Clarke. “Any addition of natural daylight to an attic space or closet will make a big difference to the feel of the room.” But again, don't forget about the energy factor: If you add a skylight, be sure the space is equipped with both heating and cooling systems, as a skylight can affect temperature.
Make your mirrors work double duty. In the funky and often constricted space of attic closets, mirrors can help you coordinate an outfit while also reflecting light to make the space seem larger. “For somewhat dark and odd-shaped spaces, my first thought is to harness and expand any available natural lighting,” says Schold. A mirror placed across from a window or near a skylight will help bounce natural light around the space, helping it to feel airier and larger.
Utilize the entry wall. When you walk into an attic closet, turn around and check out the wall that contains the door: It may have more potential than you think. “It is pretty easy to make the entry wall look like a paneled wall with full-height mirrors as the panels,” says Clarke. “The door can act as one panel while making an adjacent — or even better, a third — panel operable so that you get a multiple-sided dressing mirror without sacrificing hanging or dresser spaces.”
Utilize the entry wall. When you walk into an attic closet, turn around and check out the wall that contains the door: It may have more potential than you think. “It is pretty easy to make the entry wall look like a paneled wall with full-height mirrors as the panels,” says Clarke. “The door can act as one panel while making an adjacent — or even better, a third — panel operable so that you get a multiple-sided dressing mirror without sacrificing hanging or dresser spaces.”
Consider open shelves. If your space is fairly tight, open shelving prevents swinging doors that may end up getting the way. Paint your space a light neutral so that colorful visible clothing feels complementary to the aesthetic instead of clashing with a bold room color.
Accessorize. Treat the room like any other by accessorizing it to create a personal, unique space. “When ceilings are more than 8 feet high, we frequently add a simple chandelier-style light fixture,” says Clarke. “Not only does this provide some nice light for the room, but it enhances that feel of a boutique space.”
Instead of filling every available inch with shelves or shoe racks, save a sliver of wall space for your favorite painting or your kids’ artwork. If you have armoires with clear glass, swap it for decorative glass for a little extra flair. “Touches like these add a little sophistication without a ton of expense,” says Clarke.
Instead of filling every available inch with shelves or shoe racks, save a sliver of wall space for your favorite painting or your kids’ artwork. If you have armoires with clear glass, swap it for decorative glass for a little extra flair. “Touches like these add a little sophistication without a ton of expense,” says Clarke.
Unusual spaces might best benefit from professional help. “There will be more and larger options when you work with, not against, the architectural shapes of the space,” says interior designer Sheree Schold of Interiors Unleashed. “But if you have limited space with angled ceilings, nooks and crannies, it might pay off in the long run to have a professional design and build the closet space for you. There are exceptions, but most of the time, prebuilt or ready-made closet systems are not worth altering to fit into odd-shaped and angled attic spaces.”