In large cities today, the interior design in loft style is becoming more popular. The main reason for this is that loft - an open space without walls - best reflects the desire of modern man for freedom and freedom from all restrictions.

You may ask: how does the loft differ from the studio apartment? The very word "loft" in translation means "loft" and originally in the US it was called dwellings that were equipped on the upper floors of warehouses, shopping centers, as well as abandoned factories, factories etc. In other words, the loft is an industrial premise that has been re-equipped for domestic use. Therefore, in addition to the absence of walls, the following elements are also typical for lofts:

1. high ceilings and huge windows (often the height of the ceiling allows you to create a loft special "second floor");
2. open pipelines and air ducts;
3. concrete walls, floors and columns;
4. steel or wooden beams on walls and ceiling;
5. brick walls etc.

Instead of being considered not very prosperous, such an "unfinished" or "industrial" kind of home suddenly became a real hit, and today, as owners of apartments in new buildings, owners of private houses are eager to achieve this effect.

Of course, the interior in loft style is incredibly fashionable and original. However, those qualities that make it unique, also create unique problems. In this article, we suggest that you learn how to properly plan and design space in the loft style, and also solve typical problems of storage, acoustics and privacy.

Planning housing

Many people lack the walls in the apartment stalled. The first thing you need to do in order to feel yourself at home in the loft, and not in the warehouse, is to visually break it into several zones, which are any house, for example, a living room, a dining room and a bedroom.

Carpets are the easiest way to achieve this goal. So, a rug placed in a recreation area will not only clearly outline its boundaries, but also show where other "rooms" begin.

You can also use various pieces of furniture for this purpose, such as a bookcase, credit, a cupboard, a shelf, a shelf with plants, or solve the problem by building simple platforms (when one or more "rooms" are on a small elevation, and the transition is indicated with steps).

Other options include dividing screens and partitions (for example, Japanese shoji), which can be removed if necessary, hanging fabrics or woven panels (for example, beads), the use of different types of flooring (for example, kitchen tiles and living room parquet) etc.

Where to store things?

The lack of a spacious closet is often a headache for lofters - where in the open space to hang your clothes, add bed linens or just hide the mess? In this matter, we should learn from our grandmothers who, in the absence of large closets, always knew how to distribute unnecessary things on various chests of drawers, cupboards, Chinese lockers, niches in the couch, beds etc. In general, choosing furniture for a loft, give preference to one that has additional storage compartments. It always comes in handy.

If you feel that this way you will not be able to solve the problem, then the best way for you is to purchase suitable shelves and put (or hang them) along one of the walls. In the middle of the same wall, you can place some central coordinating element, such as an old mantelpiece. A beautiful fabric or special thin panels will easily hide the storage. And you can not especially excel and simply build a storage system in the wall or under the stairs, if you provide a loft in the second floor.

Perhaps the following solutions in the photo will serve as inspiration for you:

The problem of acoustics

It is often possible to hear complaints that in the presence of high ceilings and the absence of walls, the sound is freely reflected throughout the loft. This can be unpleasantly annoying, especially during phone conversations, and cause fatigue. Therefore, to design a loft, you will necessarily need various things that can slow down and absorb it - these are fluffy carpets, curtains, upholstered furniture, pillows, tapestries etc. If the problem is serious, then you should consider whether to partially wall the walls with soft panels or install special acoustic mats for wall and / or floor covering.

Furniture size

In any room it is important that the size of the furniture corresponds to the volume of space. Magnificent high ceilings in the loft can make your furniture look like it's from a doll house. At the same time, the loft is the only kind of dwelling in which one does not have to worry about "is not too bulky sofa?" etc. Oversized furniture fits perfectly into your loft, do not even hesitate. In addition, the height of the loft allows you to use in the interior and such large architectural elements as columns.

However, for a room filled with massive furniture, you also need a balance. You do not want to live in a museum setting, do you? Therefore, choosing a huge sofa, take care that he had several bright pillows, and after putting a long dining table, decorate it with table lamps or candlesticks.

Privacy

In the loft there are no public or private places, like a traditional house. The only door that can be inside such a dwelling is the door to the bathroom. Therefore, if you are going to live in such an apartment, you will have to accept that every morning after the ascent you will neatly tidy up your bed.

A great way to create a private space in a loft is to build a niche or alcove where you can retire and do personal things. Also, it can be beaten with furniture or dividing walls, which do not necessarily have to reach the ceiling (they can have a height of about a human height). Often they are made of wood or plasterboard.

Other options include the use of folding partitions or curtains that hang from the ceiling or slide apart like slides. Do not underestimate them as a decorative element: many interesting partitions today are made of non-traditional materials in the form of architectural doors or frames covered with copper or galvanized steel. And how do you like folding shoji from Japanese paper washi in this role?

The range of materials and styles is one of the main features of the loft. You can simply attach a series of plastic blinds to the ceiling, and they will perfectly perform the role of the "wall" when you need it. Unconventional solutions here are only welcome!

Loft style interior decoration

What can and can not be done categorically when decorating a loft?

Let's start with what you can and even need:

1. Mix different styles and color solutions. Due to the "unfinished" nature of the loft, as we told you at the beginning of this article, there are no special decorating rules here. One part of your loft can have a traditional style, the other is ultra-modern, and it will work!

Also in the loft welcome the use of bright and unexpected elements. For example, you can arrange a rest zone in a simple and reserved style, and then - put right in its center avant-garde coffee table or a dazzlingly bright chair!

2. Leave the walls uncoated. A concrete or brick wall can become the main feature of your loft, so instead of covering it with wallpaper or the like, better decorate it with elements such as vintage posters, photo frames or hanging shelves.

Vintage posters, magazine cuttings or announcements will not only revive the walls, but will also give your loft a creative spirit. If you prefer to hang frames with a photo, then know that black and white photographs will give the interior a special complexity and sophistication. And as for the shelves, then you can place CDs, magazines, watches on them or go to the question creatively and put banks filled with buttons or wine stoppers etc.

3. To force the kitchen corner with all utensils. A kettle, a blender, a coffee maker, a spice rack or bottles of wine - when you have a loft, you do not need to hide it all, and even vice versa - they are the main accessories here.

Remember Monica's kitchen from the series "Friends" - this is one of the best examples of how a kitchen should look in a loft. And in general the interiors in most sitcoms, especially American ones, are an excellent guide in how to properly decorate a loft.

4. Use colorful accessories. It's all about the size of the loft and its high ceilings. If in an ordinary apartment one of the rooms is made with colored vases and other ornaments, then as a result we will most likely get an unpleasant picture, even a tart picture. However, in the loft this pattern does not work.

We list some of the most suitable accessories for the loft:

• bright vases of different colors (can be put together, one group);
• transparent vases filled with bamboo sticks, stones or even just grass;
• dishes with limes, lemons, green apples or other;
• designer magazine stands or CD-cases;
• house plants or Zen gardens.

As we have already said, there are no special restrictions in the design of the loft, but there are still a few things that are not recommended:

1. Hang on the wall a large carpet. It just does not fit in with the nature of the loft. Although ... can you know how to beat it correctly?

2. To make windows with plants and / or hang heavy curtains. Large loft windows give a lot of fabulous natural light. Take advantage of this. Not everyone is so lucky.

3. Use the central light source. The luminaire hanging in the center of the room visually compresses the interior around itself and reduces the spectacular design in loft style. Therefore, the best solution is to create several lighting zones - separately for each of the "rooms".

And finally, here is the most important advice in decorating the loft: apply to it a creative approach! It's not for nothing that the loft is associated with beginning American artists - this is a favorite style of interior for artists and many other artists. Therefore, given the wide possibilities for decoration that he offers, the loft is the best place where you can express yourself! Good luck with this!