Many urbanites seek out loft interior decorating to satisfy their craving for artsy, industrial design. This stylish metropolitan style can be applied to homes in almost any setting.
Lofty Appeal
The most common site for a loft residence is in an old, refurbished building such as a warehouse or factory. These renovated spaces are portioned into apartment size loft dwellings which feature open floor plans and industrial chic décor. The original structure is left mostly intact to showcase the vintage flooring and brickwork. Large windows are another key component in loft spaces, since there is usually a city view.
Loft interior decorating is characterized by open ceilings with visible ducts, pipes, and support beams. These soaring ceilings are sometimes painted in a solid color to conceal such features and make them part of the ceiling. Some loft dwellers like to emphasize the location of these functional items by applying a paint color like red or yellow.
This type of sparse, industrial space works well with a contemporary or modern design style. Therefore, many city lofts are furnished with items made from natural yet sleek materials like stone, wood, stainless steel, and glass. The wide and tall walls in a loft apartment are the perfect backdrops for large paintings and gallery pieces. There is often a wall or two of exposed brick for a rustic contemporary feel.
Loft Interior Decorating Ideas
The typical open floor plan of a loft residence can be a challenge to furnish. The best approach is to form zones for each function needed in the space. This might include a living area, bedroom, home office, or dining room. These specialized areas can be created by using rugs or room dividers as visual anchors. Some popular modern room dividers include shoji screens, open shelving units, and fabric suspended from the ceiling. Furniture pieces like sofas, benches, or tables can also help define these rooms within the open space.
Consider adding storage wherever possible in your loft interior decorating plan. A mix of open and closed storage pieces is the most versatile. An entertainment center with doors and open shelves will give different options for storing and displaying items. Kitchen areas in a loft may be utilitarian and require the addition of cabinetry or pantry areas. Furnishings with dual uses and hidden storage space are another good idea. A wooden trunk can be used as a coffee table and house your board game collection.
The inclusion of funky design furniture can enhance the contemporary vibe of loft interior decorating. These interesting one-of-a-kind pieces come in curvy shapes and bold colors for instant appeal. Sheet metal wall décor is another unique idea which will play off the industrial elements in the loft space. Fill up those oversized walls by painting a canvas in one color, and you will add loads of modern pop without breaking the bank.
5 Steps For Making Your Space Sitcom Appealing
Step One: It’s All About Color
It’s all about color, or the lack thereof. Keep it simple. Your walls and ceiling — unless you have exposed beams, wood slated ceilings or exposed brick wall — should be kept to basic white that encompasses all.
This keeps the focus point to the key feature of the loft, the space and lighting, alive. Let the light bounce off and play on your white walls making it larger than life.
Step Two: Wood Flooring
To cover up that entire precious floor in carpet would be a deep, horrifying shame. Wood elongates a room whereas carpet can often diminish the impression of the size. The bigger a loft, the more imagination and creative flow will ensue. For some contrast against your walls an immediate refinement try using a solid maple flooring stained in near ebony tone or blue grey.
Step Three: Off Center Stage Lighting
Due to a loft being all open, to put your integral hanging light fixture smack dab in the middle can constrict your design element as you normally base how you arrange furniture in proximity to the light. Rather create more than one pendant lighting area above your designated living spaces, or your loft bed. Even with an open floor concept we must to a certain degree envision invisible walls to construct sections for seating or eating.
Once you have laid this plan out, hand your pendants above these areas. For more visual effects, hang them at different heights so as not to collapse the space with even structures like the lamps.
Step Four: The Workspace
A loft is synonymous with starving New York artists. Dedicate a section of your loft, preferably near a window, that will free you inhibitions. Creativity needs to be nurtured and too often we let our doubts and the sneer of our peers dissuade us from pursuing our special talent.
From music, to painting, to poetry and crafting a novel, there are so many aspects that we can build and an apartment that offers physical space should entail creative space and freedom.
Step Five: Window Treatments
Frills and valances, these have no authority to trespass in your apartment. While you need sun blocking advantages as well as privacy assurance, you don’t want to interfere with the spectacular windows of a loft. Solar shades are a great window treatment option as long as you have them all in the same shade and that when rolled up they do not produce a bulky mass atop the window frame. Another idea is hanging a track from the ceiling and having blind that cover portions of the wall as well. This will add dimension and depth, but you must have enough space to compromise this area away.
Take these rudimentary instructions that will help implement the basics of loft living and then give the network channels a run for their money by infusing bursts of color, texture and unique translation of art and lifestyle. This is your loft; it just so happens that every one is dreaming of it as theirs so make it believable and quirky so that the dreams will have many sagas to follow!
