Turning attics and garages into bedrooms: is it worth the hassle?

I tried to make it into a “bonus room” for my teenager, but between the sloped walls and the draft that never quite goes away, it’s more like a glorified storage closet with a beanbag chair. ...

I totally relate to the “fighting the house itself” bit. My own attempt at turning an attic into a bedroom ended up being a lesson in humility. The sloped ceilings made furniture placement a nightmare, and I never could get rid of that faint musty smell. I tried insulating and adding a vent, but it still felt like a compromise. Honestly, after sinking time and money into it, I sometimes wonder if just rearranging the existing rooms would’ve been smarter. Sometimes, the house just wins.

I hear you on the musty attic smell—mine always had that “old suitcase” vibe no matter what I tried. And the sloped ceilings? I lost count of how many times I whacked my head just trying to make the bed. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth spending all that cash on insulation and drywall when, in the end, it’s still an awkward space. Did anyone actually save money doing this, or does it just turn into a money pit with extra steps?

Turning attics and garages into bedrooms: is it worth the hassle?

I get where you’re coming from—attics can be a pain. I’ve done a couple of these conversions, and here’s what I’ve noticed:

- The musty smell is tough to beat unless you go all-in on sealing and ventilation. Half-measures never really worked for me.
- Sloped ceilings are a design headache, but with some creative built-ins or low furniture, you can make it feel less cramped. Still, I’ve smacked my head more times than I’d like to admit.
- On costs: the first time, I definitely underestimated how much insulation and drywall would run me. Ended up spending more than I thought, but resale value jumped quite a bit—buyers love “extra bedrooms” on paper.
- If you’re handy or willing to DIY some of it, you can save a chunk. If you’re hiring out everything, it adds up fast.

Honestly, it’s not always a money pit, but it’s rarely as cheap or easy as those home reno shows make it look. If the space is truly awkward or damp, sometimes it’s better left as storage... unless you’re really set on squeezing every bit of value out of your place.

I hear you on the costs creeping up—been there. Did a garage-to-bedroom conversion last year and, honestly, it was a wild ride. Here’s what stood out for me:

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“If you’re handy or willing to DIY some of it, you can save a chunk.”

If you’re creative with storage and don’t mind some quirks, it can be worth it. Just don’t trust those TV timelines—mine took twice as long as planned.

Turning attics and garages into bedrooms: is it worth the hassle?

Totally hear you on the heating—my converted attic is basically a sauna in July and a fridge in January. Insulation helps, but it’s not magic. I spent way too many evenings crawling around with a staple gun and rolls of that itchy pink stuff... still ended up buying a space heater.

On the DIY front, I tried my hand at drywall. Let’s just say there’s a reason people get paid to do it. The seams are “rustic” (my partner says “lumpy,” but whatever). Permits were another adventure—felt like I was collecting Pokémon cards with all the inspections.

Biggest surprise for me? Storage. You think you have enough until you move in and realize there’s nowhere for, well, anything. Ended up building shelves into every weird angle, which sort of works if you don’t mind your socks living next to your board games.

Took longer than I thought, cost more than I wanted, but having an extra room is pretty sweet. Just don’t expect it to look like those Instagram renos unless you’re way more patient than I am.