Dormer Ideas for a Hip Roof

Measure the Dormer

• Pay tribute to French architect Francois Mansart when you start your project — he’s the guy who came up with the idea to morph traditional roof elevations into the signature hip roof dormer you’re going to reinvent. Measure the dimensions of the dormer to draw an accurate picture of the room’s varying heights, including the slopes in the room that will serve as focal points when you begin your project. Indicate where fixed, casement or double-hung sash windows are located when you commit the measurements to paper as a layout.

Build a Window Seat

• Build a window seat into the hip-roof dormer that doubles as storage. Use 2-by-4s to frame up the rectangular base. Nail sheets of precut wainscoting to the sides to give the seat personality, and add hinges to the plywood seat to allow you access to the storage area ready for towels, blankets and off-season clothing. Sew or purchase a colorful cushion for the window seat and add throw pillows that match your decor. Forget about curtains. You’re high up and that window bench is the perfect place to watch the stars.

Mount Wall Shelves

• Mount uniform or floating shelves against the wall beneath the flat (hip) portion of the roof. Screw bookshelf runners to the wall and insert shelf support brackets to hold them if you plan to use the shelving for books. Or take a more artistic approach and hang floating shelves at various levels to create a display area for a seashell collection, travel souvenirs or family photos. Thread strings of white lights amid the shelves to add a touch of light to illuminate your dormer when there’s no need for lamps.

Built-in Dining Table

• Make a dining room table that mimics a Murphy bed/pull-down ironing board. Construct this space-friendly unit by removing the legs from a small, rectangular table so all that’s left is the top. Fill holes left by the legs and/or frame with wood putty. Mount two new legs fitted with sliders that retract them when the table isn’t in use. Refinish both sides of the tabletop before attaching large hinges to the roof to allow the tabletop to move up and down. Hook-and-eye hardware will hold the tabletop against the roof section when it's not in use.

Hanging Lights

• Avoid having to buy side tables to hold lamps beside your bed and/or couch by hanging decorative hanging light fixtures rather than taking up more valuable floor space. Mount ceiling hooks to hold the hanging fixture in place and then secure the cord against the wall using a staple gun. Hang a small floating shelf on either side of the couch or bed so you have a place for glasses, books or photos.