11 Tips for Building a Bathroom in the Attic
Turn that dusty storage space into a bright, relaxing bathroom by working with your attic's quirky spaces
Shana Ecker
August 27, 2014
Houzz contributor. I'm a flea market obsessed, peanut butter loving designer, and I strive to help everyone fall in love with their homes, one space at a time.
Houzz contributor. I'm a flea market obsessed, peanut butter loving designer, and... More
Many of us don’t have room to add a luxurious four-piece master bathroom to our homes, unless we sacrifice a spare bedroom or carve into our closet space. (Heaven forbid!) But some savvy designers and homeowners have found a smart solution: an attic renovation. A deep soaking tub tucked under an eave or a pair of pedestal sinks may just fit perfectly. Take cues from these stunning examples of beautiful bathrooms that are all found in this often-overlooked storage space.
1. You’ll want to consult a contractor to determine if your space is structurally sound and would meet local building codes for a spa-like sanctuary. Then, instead of getting frustrated by an attic’s spatial limitations, get creative. Take this room, for example, which has been designed with back-to-back vanities that meet at the peak.
2. The most expensive part of an attic bathroom is often the addition of plumbing. To keep these costs down, try to situate fixtures directly above a kitchen or bathroom on the floor below.
3. Since height is clearly the biggest issue at the pinnacle of a house, it’s best to consider placing a shower right in the center, allowing optimal headroom (most codes mandate a 7-foot minimum). If vertical space remains an issue, talk with your contractor about the possibility of adding dormers.
4. Alternatively, a bathtub would fit comfortably under one of the eaves, since you’ll mostly be reclining there anyway. Before choosing a tub, make sure to determine its weight (when filled with water!) and measure the distance between your existing floor joists to see if your attic will support the heavy load. You can find a span table online to help you calculate this.
5. Custom glass shower enclosures and built-in storage are great solutions for difficult spaces, like this attic with a chimney stack and awkward angles.
6. Skylights (if properly installed) allow for lots of natural light and will give your attic an open and airy feeling. They’ll also give you a few more inches of precious height.
Review local window pros for a successful skylight installation
Review local window pros for a successful skylight installation
7. If skylights aren’t an option, partial walls like this one can make the best of limited light and give the space a loft-like quality.
8. Bright white subway tiles will keep your small space looking fresh. But don’t be afraid of having a little fun up here. Clad a wall in brightly hued tiles, as in this sunny retreat, and you’ll never want to leave.
9. Wallpaper in an attic? Who knew it would look so amazing? Try a textured or small-scale pattern that won’t be overwhelming on an angled wall.
Which wallpaper is right for your room?
Which wallpaper is right for your room?
10. Take advantage of the architecture and give the ceilings an exciting treatment, like this rich wood paneling.
11. Even the tiniest sliver of an attic can be a little jewel-box getaway, like this one.
More:
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14 Tips for Decorating an Attic — Awkward Spots and All
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Lin Johnson, you asked about the bathtub under the eaves. IBC code calls for a tub with a showerhead to have the same head clearance as a shower, but a tub without a shower head is not (supposed) to have these same restrictions. The problem can arise because the IBC does not specifically say that tubs without showers do not need head height only that tubs with showers do. So it can sometimes be up to what side of the bed the inspector got out of that morning.
I converted an attic into a master bedroom and bath. I used an architect and they made recommendations that I would not have thought about. It also helped with getting apples to apples bids from contractors. It was money well spent. I’m getting ready to repeat the process in my new house.