Use/Storage of open attic space - Ideas wanted

Above the bathroom on the upper floor, there is an area that we wanted to use as a semi-open storage space for a guest mattress, a nice sleeping spot for children, or something similar (it will not be a cluttered area). The plan was for this entire area to remain open and for the ceiling of the adjacent bathroom to be designed almost like a balcony, so that the storage area would gain some depth (see picture). Now, however, it has turned out as shown in the picture, which so far looks more like a puppet theater or like a wide hole to this room. If we were to close this hole, there would be an entry width of currently 53 cm on the side where the ladder is.

So the question now is whether we should close this OSB wall all the way up in the nice open room and access the storage area on the side via the 53 cm ladder if necessary, or whether we should leave the current large opening (about 160 cm) as it is to easily access the area, but then forego this built-over space. Then the crucial question arises as to how to nicely disguise or design this "hole" so that it no longer looks like a puppet theater. The room itself is open to the gallery and will be nicely furnished, so we do not necessarily want to see an ordinary attic door or something like that up there. We are currently having difficulty resolving this, also because a larger TV will probably hang on this red wall and above it this opening would be there...??? I hope the model pictures with the red wall show the situation well; the picture with the OSB wall and the hole is from today in the original. I am already tired and hope I have described it adequately; otherwise, I will provide more later!

Why is it not as planned?

Why isn’t it as planned?

Good question......next question.... :D :D :D This happened somewhere between the general contractor---carpenter and us, although we are not sure whether the situation as it is might even be used more sensibly; hence the thread. We can use the space as storage for a few things, although we are not collectors, but e.g. guest mattresses, sleeping bags, poinsettia (mandatory here in Saxony), maybe also toys of the growing grandchildren.... It was never intended as actual usable space (sitting/playing etc.) anyway. The room is there and should be used somewhat sensibly. We were a bit lacking in imagination for this area. The carpenter built it this way now and we wonder whether we should have that little bit taken down and endure his complaining, or whether it might even have advantages as a semi-enclosed space.

From a distance, it is difficult to judge, I look at it every day in such cases and try to come up with and imagine 3-5 solutions, this way the desired solution slowly crystallizes, and that's how it is done. Our gallery was also not planned, when a sense of space could form with walls and roof beams, the decision for the gallery was made after the topping-out ceremony. I ask everyone on the construction site (including the children) what their sensible and what their crazy idea would be. Our daughter is still disappointed that there is no swing hanging from the ridge beam into the [Allraum]. :rolleyes:

The housewife in me immediately thinks one thing: How is one supposed to keep the [Staubfängerraum] clean? :D Along the long side, I would install a sliding wall and otherwise close off the room where you currently have the ladder standing. It is then easier to maneuver wide storage items up there than over the narrow side.

The housewife in me immediately thinks of one thing: How are you supposed to keep the dust collector room clean? :D I would install a sliding wall along the long side and otherwise close off the room where you currently have the ladder. It’s easier to maneuver wide storage items in that way than through the narrow side.

You’re probably right; even as a non-housewife I think about that :D. It’s tempting to keep this room open because you can see the open roof structure with the large beam well. On the other hand, we will probably never really use the room, and if it is closed/closable we can store a few things there that are needed at most once a year. We don’t want to close it completely because the room exists and who knows what it might be needed for. The question really is about a nice way to cover it so it doesn’t look like an access to the attic. Two sliding elements would be practical, but what would it look like if something suddenly hung up there... Since it is already a nice, open room without a predetermined use, we have also thought about a floor-to-ceiling wall decoration like wallpaper/mural or similar. Depending on the motif, it could almost look intentionally done :D. Any ideas are therefore welcome; there are no wrong ones! That’s exactly the approach we are pursuing... and over time something individually suitable usually develops.