OPEN SPACE LIVING AT ITS BEST: LEARNING FROM LOFTS

OPEN SPACE LIVING AT ITS BEST: LEARNING FROM LOFTS

Loft apartments are spacious, stylish, distinctive, sleek, and absolutely stunning; they can be intimidating to decorate. I’ve always loved lofts and that is why I decided to share a bit of loft inspiration with you.

The original lofts were warehouses or industrial buildings converted to residential use and at times the conversions looked pretty unfinished like a set from Dragons Den;

wires running everywhere, floorboards that creaked and brick walls exposed – but for city denizens squeezed into high rise apartments, loft living became the trend. Areas of London, Lisbon and New York were gentrified by turning former industrial facilities into desirable and highly sought after residences.

Many of the principles I apply to creating attractive loft apartments are relevant to Eastbourne with it’s large number of Victorian Properties with high ceilings and potential for conversion.

A loft is usually seen as a modern area and so contemporary furnishings tend to be the most suitable, equally a more traditional or rustic style will work.

Materials like wood, stone with glass and stainless steel enhance the solid effect and will give you a hip, modern and contemporary look.

As a loft is an open space (and hence a blank canvass) deciding what “room” should go where is vital. Before decorating it is important you determine the future layout – this will help you not having to move furniture around to see if it’s suitable for your loft.

Here are my top 10 tips on loft design ideas:

1. Use rugs to create a separation for themed areas or settings you want to create; they will improve the ambience and add to the warmth of a room, making it feel cosier.
2. Use screens to divide the room or to hide certain areas; i.e. to create privacy in your bedroom space.
3. Use large furniture as walls enabling you to break and create boundaries for different living spaces; i.e. armoires, sofas, tables or bookcases.
4. Use multipurpose furnishings in order to reduce storage space; coffee tables, ottomans or chests are great because these types of furnishings normally comes with hidden storage and can be used as extra seating when needed.
5. Use decorative artwork; you will define the space as well as adding colour to your walls; use a large piece of decorative artwork or various shapes and sizes so it balances your open space while preventing thearea to become lost. The high ceilings make it the perfect canvass for experimenting so, be adventurous.
6. Use tall potted plants especially at the corners of your loft space; it will bring a natural element inside the room while visually making it much more pleasant giving it a homely and warm touch.
7. Use cushions as additional decoration to your sofa and other furniture; they will provide the colour and texture you need to create a softer look.
8.  Accessorise with bright coloured vases and a variety of decorative items; i.e. appliances like kettle, blender and coffee machine, displayed on the kitchen counter can double as accessories.
9.  Hang funky chandeliers, track lighting or pendant lights to highlight specific parts of the loft and meet the lighting challenge of the high ceilings. In addition, add some lower lighting with table, floor lamps and wall fixtures; by layering your lighting scheme you will create a softer and more welcoming atmosphere.
10. Use darker paint shades to camouflage the ceiling features and create an illusion of reduced height. Lofts ceilings tend to be high and usually feature exposed ductwork and metal beams the impact of which you can alter with the right choice of paints.

Follow these tips and turn that huge space into a cosy living environment you will love and enjoy.