Remember Grandma’s attic? There was so much neat stuff up there. Boxes and boxes of old clothes and memorabilia, old furniture, and lots of dust and cobwebs. It was so much fun to spend the day rummaging around up there!
What if I told you that big unused area in your home doesn’t just have to be used as storage, but can be made into an additional living space and that doing so would also increase the value of your home? Whether you are selling your home now, planning to in the future, or are just looking to add another room, you can do so with some relatively simple attic renovations.
One of the most recommended upgrades for attics is finishing the space so that it can be an additional usable and livable area in your home. Doing so can increase the value of your home, giving you an excellent return on investment.
Lots of Options for a Finished Attic
There are many things you can do with a finished attic. Depending on the size and shape of the room you have to work with, a finished attic could act as an additional office, playroom, man cave, sitting area, a home studio, or living room.
Attic Bedroom
Renovating your attic into another bedroom is an excellent way to use the space and get a big return on your investment.
Another finished bedroom is always a perk when it comes to the value of your home, and a creative use of attic space as another bedroom is a great seller.
Efficiency Apartment
If you really want a huge return on your investment, go the extra mile when renovating your attic and add a bathroom and even a kitchenette to the space. In doing so, you are creating a second complete living space that can be used as an efficiency apartment. The extra bathroom and kitchen area will add extra value to your home and is extremely useful as well.
Sitting Room
This attic has been converted into a sitting/conversation room. The light coming in through the nearly wall-sized windows and door brighten the room, and step out onto a small balcony.
Smaller Projects with a Big Payback
If you’re wanting to make some changes to your attic but are not wanting to complete a project as big as finishing the space and making it another living space, or if your attic is not large enough for another room, there are other options.
Attic Insulation
Redoing the insulation in your attic and using Energy Star rated insulation products can increase the efficiency of your home, which can save you a lot of money in heating and cooling costs. The more energy efficient your home is, the more money you save.
Approximately 40% of home energy loss occurs through the roof of your home. You can cut this down exponentially by properly insulating unused attic space. Make sure to add insulation not only along the attic ceiling and walls, but also along the floor to seal off the attic from the living areas of your home.
Attic Fans
Another way to save a lot of money with a small renovation is to add an attic fan for home cooling. These fans circulate and disperse cooled air throughout your home, and in most climates can reduce the need to run your air conditioning systems.
All of these attic renovations can provide you with a large return on your investment. Finishing your attic and converting it into a usable living space can greatly increase the value of your home, and energy saving smaller renovations can save you a lot of money on heating and cooling.
