1 - Balance
Lofts naturally come with a variety of hard elements
such as cement, brick, large glass windows, etc. De-
ciding on the level of warmth you prefer will help you in
future decisions. Do you want your loft to be complete-
ly contemporary, thereby embracing its cooler elements,
or do you want a more urban elegant loft, one that
brings in textures and warm elements? These could
furniture with soft lines, warmer colors or overstuffed
style upholstery?
Knowing this, as you begin the
process, will help direct you in making better design
choices.
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2 - Defining your space
If your loft is a blank slate with no defined space (other
than kitchen and bathrooms), we recommend spending
time in the blank space and begin to think through op-
tions. As you begin to decide on the bedroom space,
dining, etc., use painters tape to mark off these areas.
This will help you keep your perspective of how the
space is evolving.
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If you are not using the services of a professional de-
signer, we recommend that you bring a few friends
along as they may point out a few things you might
overlook. Once you decide on the lay out, sketch a
map to help you keep track as the decorating process
begins.
3 - Dividing the Space
Once you have defined your space, there are a few
tricks to divide it. This can be done with furniture pieces
like bookcases or tables that will act as walls or borders
for different rooms.
Furniture arranged in various
groupings can divide a large space as well. Screens,
room dividers, and plants are perfect accessories for loft
living.
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4 - Choosing a Color Palette
Don't be afraid of color! Adding bold hues to a neutral
palette can add interest and highlight special art pieces.
You can also add interest with painting effects, such as
a single wall of broad stripes that alternate gloss and flat
paint of the same hue, or by using bold wallpaper, such
as grass cloth or metallic pattern, as a perfect juxtaposi-
tion to an adjacent cement wall.
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5 - Furnishing the Loft
Choose some rich wood pieces for the living room area
and offset this with sleek, metal-bar stools at the
kitchen island. Add a couple of furniture pieces on
wheels that offer greater versatility, like a table or desk
which can be easily moved from one space to another.
Natural fabrics are generally used in loft decorating, and
can include sophisticated leather, rich wool, gauzy cot-
ton, crisp linen, as well as luxurious silk.