For those wanting to itch a wallpaper scratch and haven’t felt they could anywhere else in the house, an attic room is a great place to try to do so—just see Lucy Williams’s much-Instagrammed attic room featuring Living Quarters’s Maidenhair wallpaper on ceilings and walls for inspiration. “Don’t be afraid of color or pattern,” says Willis. “Strong colors or a mass of print disguises the corners of the room, and that small space quickly becomes a jewel box, rather than a box room.” Small-scale patterns are generally easier to pull off than larger ones.

Those really committed to the cause should take inspiration from the incredible tented bedroom that Emma Burns, managing director of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, masterminded for one client project. “This attic room had no architectural merit, no storage and no charm, and by running a slim rail around the perimeter of the wall beneath the ceiling, we hung simple black and white unlined ticking fabric,” she explains. “A shaped continuous valance, trimmed out in a crisp green poplin covers the track, and we created a tented look on the flat ceiling. Hey presto—it’s the guest room everyone wants to sleep in!” Requiring a skilled installer, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but nonetheless serves as great inspiration for anyone considering their options.

A tented attic room designed by Emma Burns for Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler.

Photo: Courtesy of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler

Make good use of space

Eaves storage is often plentiful in attic rooms, so make the most of it—Duggan recommends incorporating tongue-and-groove paneling and a hidden door for a neat, understated appearance. Beyond eaves storage, other bespoke joinery can also be useful, since it’s not as easy to find wardrobes that can slot into an attic’s dimensions; you can also play around with fun designs when you go bespoke. As for other furniture, Vaughan likes to keep it interesting but smaller in size.