How to decorate the interior of a small apartment in the loft style
Whoever says whatever, but even in a limited space you can recreate an interior with a "character."
In the literal sense, the English word "loft" means the top floor, attic, a place under the roof. This style in interior design came to Europe from America. It is characteristic of old abandoned warehouses and similar premises. Initially, people from the lower layers of society lived in premises of this type, but soon wealthy people became interested in such apartments. Old brick houses have found a new life.
the presence of white, visually expanding the available space;
minimum amount of furniture, decor elements and visually heavy parts;
the presence of an interesting "highlight", for example, a bright abstraction on the wall or hand-made;
modern technology - computer, music center, home theater and so on.
To maximize the beat of the loft style in the interior of a small apartment, you can demolish the extra internal partitions or walls that are not load-bearing. The front door should be masked whenever possible and not immediately rush for a look. The best option is a retractable barn type. Unlike swing, it does not take up much space with a narrow corridor.
Loft-style dwellings are bare walls and exposed brickwork. Feel free to use horizontal combination of the surface, leaving a light coating below, and a dark stone below. One of these walls should be opposite the window for visual expansion of the room. You can install a TV on it to save space.
As for the ceilings, it is not necessary to specifically align the existing bumps on its surface. The original move will be the use of beams. You can reduce them to one point, making sure that the wooden bars narrow to the center. So you visually raise the ceiling and add some zest to the interior.
The list of materials ideal for decorating an apartment includes plaster, brick, stone, stainless steel, concrete, wood, glass, crystal, leather, suede, vinyl, aluminum, plastic. To understand how to beat them for different rooms, check out the following list of rooms that make up a standard apartment.
Hallway
It is from this room that guests begin their acquaintance with the apartment, forming an idea of the tastes of the owners. Arranging a small loft-style space is easy. The main principle of the studio is no wall decoration. If reinforced concrete elements are present during the design of the apartment, it is better to rough plaster them.
To lighten the room, use a special mixture of gray and white cements. The ceiling can also be painted white.The floor surface is left the same or is finished with imitation boards - tiles or laminate.
A loft in the interior of a studio apartment should have a minimum of furniture. Their appearance should be simple, antique, without mirror surfaces and elaborate handles. A possible option is a bedside table painted in gray or black and white like a chessboard. As lighting devices, small sconces, spotlights or simple pendant lights are suitable.
Living room
Leave some corner or one of the walls of the room in the so-called "pristine" form, covering the remaining surfaces with paint or plaster. If you wish, you can imitate masonry through decorative panels or paint. Remember to seal the joints between the tiles on the ceiling and paint it with water-based material.
Put wooden window blocks with double-glazed windows. Replace all studio textile curtains with compact blinds. As for the interior elements, here you have complete freedom of action in the design of the apartment. In the available space, use objects with a variety of dimensions and colors. Place the sofa in the center, surrounding it with several soft ottomans instead of massive armchairs. Photos in frames and panels will well complement the overall picture.
Kitchen
The principles of arranging a kitchen within a small apartment practically do not differ from the requirements for other rooms. All modern household appliances (microwave, dishwasher and so on) can be easily placed on the niches of the kitchen set. Do not forget that the loft style, among other things, characterizes the presence of a large number of various miniature shelves where you can arrange all the utensils used.
Place a range hood above the stove without hiding the branch pipes - they will give the room a special flavor that resembles the interior of industrial buildings.In some areas, make spotlights, conditionally dividing even a small space into separate zones - for cooking and consumption of cooked food. In addition, you can do this with a small bar counter with shelves and glasses hanging on it.
Bedroom
You can separate the bed from the rest of the areas of a studio apartment through a folding screen. If your small apartment still has a separate room for sleeping, its design is maintained in the general style. For small bedrooms, “loft beds” with a lot of roomy drawers, which make it possible to make the most rational use of the available space, are especially popular. Well, if the bed - the main element of the interior - will be wooden, however, the presence of metal parts on it is quite acceptable. If desired, the material of construction may be artificially aged.
Remember that all bedding and bedspreads should be plain. If you do not want to install blinds on the windows, as in the living room, hang a translucent tulle or Roman curtains that can be easily rolled up. Taking into account the specifics of this room, you have every right to somewhat depart from the standards usual for a loft. For example, you can paste wallpaper on the walls of the bedroom. The only restriction is the ban on a variety of landscapes with flower fields, waterfalls and the like. The main guidelines for choosing should be strict lines and plain colors.
Children
So that this room in the interior of a small apartment does not become too gray and gloomy, dilute the dark palette with bright splashes - colorful posters on the walls, unusual armchairs, multi-colored rugs. Nevertheless, try not to overdo it with iridescent shades. If possible, mount a two-story bed above the child’s desk.
To pay tribute to the classics, hang on the wall an integral part of industrial street culture - a bicycle. An active child who loves to study everything around will definitely appreciate this idea, which helps to save space in a small apartment.
Bathroom
Try to put the maximum of your imagination into this room. No matter how small this room is, it is always possible to fit in it a designer bathtub on elegant legs in retro style. Walls and floors must be covered with ceramic or plastic tiles. A good option is imitation wood. In addition, you can experiment with a combination of metal and glass on the example of plumbing, chrome accessories, mirrors.
Balcony
Here the matter is somewhat more complicated than it would be with the loggia. The latter could be insulated and made part of the room by tearing down the wall. The best option for a balcony is warming and installing the largest possible windows. The purpose and functionality of this place of the apartment is determined solely by the owners. The balcony can serve as an office, and a recreation area, and a place for children's games.
Thus, this is a huge scope for the development of fantasy, a combination of new and old, natural and artificial. Possessing relatively strict frameworks, it is very economically advantageous. If you really want to live in a loft apartment, you can always find such an opportunity!
Whoever says whatever, but even in a limited space you can recreate an interior with a "character."
In the literal sense, the English word "loft" means the top floor, attic, a place under the roof. This style in interior design came to Europe from America. It is characteristic of old abandoned warehouses and similar premises. Initially, people from the lower layers of society lived in premises of this type, but soon wealthy people became interested in such apartments. Old brick houses have found a new life.
Content
Style features
For a loft are characteristic:
To maximize the beat of the loft style in the interior of a small apartment, you can demolish the extra internal partitions or walls that are not load-bearing. The front door should be masked whenever possible and not immediately rush for a look. The best option is a retractable barn type. Unlike swing, it does not take up much space with a narrow corridor.
Loft-style dwellings are bare walls and exposed brickwork. Feel free to use horizontal combination of the surface, leaving a light coating below, and a dark stone below. One of these walls should be opposite the window for visual expansion of the room. You can install a TV on it to save space.
As for the ceilings, it is not necessary to specifically align the existing bumps on its surface. The original move will be the use of beams. You can reduce them to one point, making sure that the wooden bars narrow to the center. So you visually raise the ceiling and add some zest to the interior.
The list of materials ideal for decorating an apartment includes plaster, brick, stone, stainless steel, concrete, wood, glass, crystal, leather, suede, vinyl, aluminum, plastic. To understand how to beat them for different rooms, check out the following list of rooms that make up a standard apartment.
Hallway
It is from this room that guests begin their acquaintance with the apartment, forming an idea of the tastes of the owners. Arranging a small loft-style space is easy. The main principle of the studio is no wall decoration. If reinforced concrete elements are present during the design of the apartment, it is better to rough plaster them.
To lighten the room, use a special mixture of gray and white cements. The ceiling can also be painted white.The floor surface is left the same or is finished with imitation boards - tiles or laminate.
A loft in the interior of a studio apartment should have a minimum of furniture. Their appearance should be simple, antique, without mirror surfaces and elaborate handles. A possible option is a bedside table painted in gray or black and white like a chessboard. As lighting devices, small sconces, spotlights or simple pendant lights are suitable.
Living room
Leave some corner or one of the walls of the room in the so-called "pristine" form, covering the remaining surfaces with paint or plaster. If you wish, you can imitate masonry through decorative panels or paint. Remember to seal the joints between the tiles on the ceiling and paint it with water-based material.
Put wooden window blocks with double-glazed windows. Replace all studio textile curtains with compact blinds. As for the interior elements, here you have complete freedom of action in the design of the apartment. In the available space, use objects with a variety of dimensions and colors. Place the sofa in the center, surrounding it with several soft ottomans instead of massive armchairs. Photos in frames and panels will well complement the overall picture.
Kitchen
The principles of arranging a kitchen within a small apartment practically do not differ from the requirements for other rooms. All modern household appliances (microwave, dishwasher and so on) can be easily placed on the niches of the kitchen set. Do not forget that the loft style, among other things, characterizes the presence of a large number of various miniature shelves where you can arrange all the utensils used.
Place a range hood above the stove without hiding the branch pipes - they will give the room a special flavor that resembles the interior of industrial buildings.In some areas, make spotlights, conditionally dividing even a small space into separate zones - for cooking and consumption of cooked food. In addition, you can do this with a small bar counter with shelves and glasses hanging on it.
Bedroom
You can separate the bed from the rest of the areas of a studio apartment through a folding screen. If your small apartment still has a separate room for sleeping, its design is maintained in the general style. For small bedrooms, “loft beds” with a lot of roomy drawers, which make it possible to make the most rational use of the available space, are especially popular. Well, if the bed - the main element of the interior - will be wooden, however, the presence of metal parts on it is quite acceptable. If desired, the material of construction may be artificially aged.
Remember that all bedding and bedspreads should be plain. If you do not want to install blinds on the windows, as in the living room, hang a translucent tulle or Roman curtains that can be easily rolled up. Taking into account the specifics of this room, you have every right to somewhat depart from the standards usual for a loft. For example, you can paste wallpaper on the walls of the bedroom. The only restriction is the ban on a variety of landscapes with flower fields, waterfalls and the like. The main guidelines for choosing should be strict lines and plain colors.
Children
So that this room in the interior of a small apartment does not become too gray and gloomy, dilute the dark palette with bright splashes - colorful posters on the walls, unusual armchairs, multi-colored rugs. Nevertheless, try not to overdo it with iridescent shades. If possible, mount a two-story bed above the child’s desk.
To pay tribute to the classics, hang on the wall an integral part of industrial street culture - a bicycle. An active child who loves to study everything around will definitely appreciate this idea, which helps to save space in a small apartment.
Bathroom
Try to put the maximum of your imagination into this room. No matter how small this room is, it is always possible to fit in it a designer bathtub on elegant legs in retro style. Walls and floors must be covered with ceramic or plastic tiles. A good option is imitation wood. In addition, you can experiment with a combination of metal and glass on the example of plumbing, chrome accessories, mirrors.
Balcony
Here the matter is somewhat more complicated than it would be with the loggia. The latter could be insulated and made part of the room by tearing down the wall. The best option for a balcony is warming and installing the largest possible windows. The purpose and functionality of this place of the apartment is determined solely by the owners. The balcony can serve as an office, and a recreation area, and a place for children's games.
Thus, this is a huge scope for the development of fantasy, a combination of new and old, natural and artificial. Possessing relatively strict frameworks, it is very economically advantageous. If you really want to live in a loft apartment, you can always find such an opportunity!