Loft apartments traditionally originate in former industrial buildings and are designed as one singular, open space (except for the bathroom of course!). A wonderfully blank canvas, they’re often full of character, with high ceilings, beams, and exposed brick walls.
All these features mean lofts are extremely cool places to live and are bound to impress any visitor. But they come with their design challenges, so it’s important to plan carefully when decorating to ensure you’re getting the best out of your home.
Invest in Clever Storage
Loft apartments may have large proportions but quite often space can be awkward. The lack of internal walls can mean storage space is limited and vaulted ceilings make it impossible to opt for bog-standard solutions. The best solution, therefore, is to make the most of the space available – a great way to do so is by utilising the eaves and finding the perfect fitted wardrobe.
Keep it Cool
High ceilings mean large windows that let in lots of light – a gorgeous feature for most of the year. But all that light will mean an early wake-up, so unless you’re a morning person we’d recommend you invest in blackout blinds. That way you can enjoy the sunlight through the day, but also ensure a solid night’s slumber and even a little lie-in. They’ll come in handy on really warm days too, blocking out the blazing sun and keeping you cool.
Dull the Echo
Vaulted ceilings and few walls certainly look cool but it does mean that sound bounces all around and it can be difficult to do anything quietly. Fortunately, the echo that can occur is easily dulled with clever interior design and decoration. Textiles will help soak up the sound, so litter your apartment with rugs, blankets, cushions, and sofas. You can justify the investment because they won’t just look good, they’ll soften the acoustic edges of the space, too. What’s more, they’ll make it feel cozy – and therefore more like home.
Sound levels aside, there’s a lot of fun to be had when decorating a loft apartment. Go wild with artwork – with high ceilings, tall walls, and lots of light, it won’t overwhelm the space like it might do in more run-of-the-mill properties.
Create Separate Zones
Creating separate “rooms” within the big open-plan space of a loft apartment will help it feel homely and harmonious. Think of the different functions and zone them – you could keep the kitchen muted, but create a bold living area with bright sofas and a large rug. Contrast these with the colors and design of your dining area, and you’re essentially creating a series of rooms, but without the walls. This way, you can enjoy all the benefits of an open-plan space – the shared living, streams of light, the openness – but you’ll also have different areas for different moods.
