Decorating a loft comes with high expectations—literally.
The high ceilings and open layout offer endless possibilities, but it’s easy to get lost in all that space. Although it’s a popular contemporary living space, it can feature unique design elements like exposed pipes, distressed walls, and support columns.
Finding a way to fill the open space and match the loft style might be a challenge. So what’s the secret to creating modern loft decor that works?
Here are 7 tips to turn your vast expanse of loft space into a cozy living area that you’ll love.
1. Divide Your Space
The first step for decorating a loft is dividing up your space. Since there aren’t any walls or doorways to naturally split the loft into rooms, you’ll have to find another way to differentiate your rooms.
You’ll need to use other furniture pieces like bookcases, tables, or shelves that will act as borders into different rooms.
Screens or other room dividers can also make great accessories to divide up your loft space. You can hang fabric screens or tapestries from the ceiling to act as makeshift walls.
You can also place part of your loft on a raised platform, like your bed. This will keep your loft from looking flat and it can set certain rooms apart. You can look at this page to learn more about how to install a loft ladder to get in and out of your loft.
2. Fill up Blank Space
It isn’t just the large space—the high ceilings can be a challenge too. While open space can add to the sense of modernism and minimalism, you don’t want it to overwhelm the loft and make it feel empty.
Try filling the walls with tall vertical art, tapestries, or wall furniture. Taking up blank space on the wall can help make the room feel cozier.
It isn’t just art or wall decorations. Consider adding tall furniture like bookshelves or high backed dining chairs to help make these walls feel less expansive.
3. Accent the High Ceilings
One of the main draws of loft living is how much space you have to live in–including the expansive ceilings. Take advantage of the height of your ceiling by drawing more attention to it.
Using eye-catching light fixtures can take your loft ceiling to new heights.
Try pendant lights that can hang at a lower height. This will help accentuate your high ceiling while still creating an intimate atmosphere.
You can also use larger lighting fixtures like chandeliers in areas like the living room or dining room to add to the grand, expressive vibe of the space.
4. Get Creative With Storage
Most loft layouts don’t have an excess amount of storage like closets or bookshelves. When deciding the furniture you’re going to use to divide the rooms, think about how you can get creative with storage.
Large shelving units and furniture with drawers are a great way to break up the space and store decorative objects.
This can also lend itself to great wall decoration. Using wall hooks or pegboards can be handy for vertical storage in offices and kitchens. It also breaks up the white space on the walls and keeps your loft from looking empty.
5. Select a Color Palette
Since the loft doesn’t have walls like a traditional house, you’ll need to stick to a common color scheme. This will help keep all the sections coordinated and eye pleasing.
Popular color palettes for lofts include neutral tones, with hues of beige, white, and dark brown throughout.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and add some splashes of bold colors to keep the space lively. You can also spruce up neutral tones with some painting effects, like stripes or textures to keep the space from feeling flat.
6. Warm Up the Floor
The warehouse-style loft flooring can look modern and classy, but it might not feel great first thing in the morning when you’re in bare feet. Hardwood or cement flooring gets cold really fast–and it can look bare and unwelcoming.
Warm up the floor with some area rugs. You can place a rug under the sofa in the living room and one or two in the bedroom to keep the space cozy in the morning and late at night.
Play with textures and add something fuzzy or with long threads–it can help contrast the hard flooring.
7. Make it Cozy
One of the defining features of a loft is its industrial material. Brick, concrete, metal, exposed ducts, and rough textures are often found in a loft style.
Make it a bit more cozy by bringing in items that are softer and more luxurious. Velvet couches or seats, comfy blankets, fluffy rugs, and floor pillows can help warm up the space. You can also bring in natural looking elements like wood or houseplants.
It might seem like a sharp contrast, but this juxtaposition will help soften the harsh industrial textures and neutralize your home.
How to Perfect Your Loft Decor
Urban loft living is a lifestyle that many love, but loft decor can be a challenge. Without the walls of a traditional home, you have a lot of space to fill.
You’ll have to get creative with your furniture, paint styles, and choice of decor to make it work. These tips can take you one step closer to decorating your loft in a way that makes it feel a little more like home.
Looking for more ways to transform your space into the perfect home? Check out our interior design tips and inspiration for more!