Loft Space: Ideas To Make It Functional And Fabulous

Image Credit - Pinterest

Are you living in an open planned studio space, looking for loft design ideas? There are enough things to stress you out in life - your home shouldn’t be one of them. Cultivate a space that inspires you as soon as you walk through the door. 

When you hear the word loft, it usually suggests an apartment with a large adaptable open space, often a converted industrial unit or commercial building. Loft living is a distinctive experience providing you with; open floor plans, high ceilings, impressive windows, natural light, and room for imagination and creativity when decorating. However, the features that make these spaces great also pose a few challenges,  creating privacy (or at least the illusion of it), ensuring visual flow, and decorating it so it doesn't feel like you're holed up in a dingy warehouse. 

The first step to making the most of your loft space is to decide how you want it to function. One of the most common challenges when it comes to interior designing and decorating is ‘space’ - and we know all too well studio apartments aren’t known for having ample amounts of foot room. Often, it is creative space-conscious designs that get us past this hurdle, which can make a big difference for you. Don't worry, we've got your loft design woes covered. We’ve put together some tips that will help you take an awkward area and turn it into a space that will have you wondering how you lived without it.

COLOUR DISTINCTION

Image Credit (left to right) - Next Luxury, Medium

Who says a studio apartment should be white? Often, home decor magazines will say that you have to paint your small home in a neutral, light colour scheme, but we disagree! If you're lacking space, you need to pull out every trick in the book to make your room appear larger. Though light walls tend to be the go-to for opening and brightening up smaller living quarters, a dark paint job can do wonders too. Come over to the dark side! You can incorporate colour in many different ways; paint the walls, add colourful furniture, or introduce colourful touches with fabrics and home decor - painting one area a different hue you can give the illusion of a separate zone. 

Ultimately we think colour in home design is very personal, some people like things minimalistic and neutral, and others prefer to make a bold statement. What are the colours that make you happy and want to surround yourself in every day?

PAY ATTENTION TO SCALE

Image Credit (left to right) - Decoholic, Laure Joliet

Designing small spaces can feel like an impossible puzzle. A common mistake when decorating a small space is to assume that everything in it should be equally tiny. It’s time to banish the notion that you can only decorate compact apartments with small-scale furniture - when all your furniture and accents are little, the whole room risks feeling itsy-bitsy. Think bigger: The trick to pulling off a mixed-scale scheme is to splurge on one large statement item and complete the look with smaller pieces that offer balance and visual contrast. 

CREATE SEPARATE "ROOMS"

Image Credit (left to right) - Pinterest

Divide your space into separate zones defined by furniture groupings throughout the loft. This will transform any compact room into one that’s inviting, practical and offers clearly defined areas for living, dining and/or sleeping. Permanent, solid structures, like room dividers, can disturb the airy, open feel of a space, so try using visual tricks including defining different zones with Persian or Oriental rugs, clever furniture placement or portable decorative screens. And remember to resist the temptation to line all of your furniture around your walls so the middle of your room remains free - although you may think it may make your space appear roomier, it will actually create cluttered walls and an area that lacks visual appeal and practicality.

WORK A RUG 

Image Credit (left to right) - Refinery 29, Pinterest

If you thought your ability to make a studio apartment look attractive would be limited, you’re mistaken! You really can do everything in a loft space if you design it thoughtfully. To keep a spacious loft from feeling overly cold and cavernous, make sure you fill it with furnishings and accessories that bring warmth and softness. Rugs are extremely versatile in almost every space; they can draw the eye and enhance the sense of separation between areas. Layering plush Persian or Oriental rugs and rounded items like a table lamp or arched mirror make it feel cosy and inviting. Remember to coordinate the style, texture, and colours of your rugs, and avoid too much conflicting colour. 

Here are a selection of our favourite Persian Rugs for studio apartment design:

Featured rugs (left to right) - RIZ, CYRUS, PETAL