How to Initiate Attack in Boring Positions?

I usually play the Italian game, but I noticed in a lot of games, if one of the crazy attacks doesn't happen, then I am stuck in this fully developed position and my opponent is secured and there's no real attack unless my opponent blunders/mistakes.

How do you initiate an attack from this, and what's the main idea and principles here?

This is the only way I know how to attack afterwards. Some don't work at all.

Sorry i say this, but when i read your post i had to laugh a bit ;) You cannot just attack from every position. Patience is the answer, in your example you just weaken your own kingsafety with g4 ??  When you improve you will notice stronger players always play solid games with no real direct/fixed weaknesses and you need to comeup with a long term plan/idea to continue instead of some cheap/quick attack.

In your case you can plan for example to(without calculating anything just ideas) go for more space by pushing b4 or come up with a plan to push d4 or f4 as a break move. Preparing f4 might be a good idea because your Bishop is on c4 pressing f7 so he cannot play f5 as counter directly.

Ofcourse direct b4 and f4 are not good/possible so you need to make a plan to continue. For example first a3 or Rb1 or Nh2(preparing f4). Just look into a game for ideas/theme's what you want to play and from there you think how you can make this a reality.

Short answer: You need to look at pawn breaks. Those open lines and generate play for both sides.

     Yes, in your second diagram you move your g-pawn and h-pawn.  Since you are
both castled kingside that is not really a good idea although bold.
     You can play d4 opening the center or play b4 then b5 to begin a queenside
attack.
     I don't see much kingside.  Good luck.

I think most everyone who has commented on this thread has it right, namely that you can't pull attacks out of thin air without the position calling for them.  I'll only add that when I was taking lessons, my instructor was a positional player who liked a lot of these so-called boring positions, and he always told me that the thing to do was make moves that improve your position when you can't see tactics, or means of attack.  He also said that he would often wait for an opponent to implode his or her own position when an easy attack wasn't visible. 

You can push the pawns infront of your king if the center is locked or under your firm control. It's viable in many cases. In this case probably not because the center can open.

Because it's fun?

Interesting ideas. I especially liked fiveofswords ideas and variations.(plus he made diagram)

I'm guessing you guys thought Nd5 or 12.Bxh6 attack was sort of pointless and premature?

I guess I should be playing more d4. f4 might also be an idea.

Also don't get me wrong, I usually never play g4, when I O-O, I occasionally do because of no visible attack or strategy.

Would the following be an idea for a queenside attack or the center-attack from white's position?

I think black would play an alternate move to 18...Nd8.

I would often sacrafice a piece to gain initiative.

Agreed with the previous poster, White's Rook is hanging, Black can just play Rxa4.

Back to the original position of this thread: you might plan a kingside attack with the wing pawns advancing by first bringing queen knight to e2, then play g4 (if black wants to sacrifice a piece to open your kingside, now you have the knight ready to help the defense, and he will be down in material), then Ng3, then at some point Nf5, either with the knight at g3 or the other knight at f3  via h4, also releasing th f pawn to advance. This is an attacking pattern often used in a very similar position of the Ruy Lopez Orthodox line.

Because you really want to attack, maybe this a nice idea to always play for the attack(opposite castling):

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. d3 Be7 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 7. Be3 Nf6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. g4 Bg6 10. O-O-O