Loft Living: How To Maximize A Small Space

August 30th, 2011 by Crystal Beran| Posted in Apartment Guide, Apartment Interiors, Apartment Life 2.0, Apartment Living, Apartment Market Info, Apartment Trivia, Apartments Around The World, College Housing, Craigslist, Multifamily, Off Campus Apartments, Resident Life | 1 Comment »

A loft apartment has many advantages over a standard single or multi-level apartment unit. Lofts leave much of the vertical space in a building open which makes the space feel considerably larger than it really is. The tall walls in a loft apartment make it easy to bring in lots of natural light by adding large, multi-story windows. It’s no wonder that lofts are gaining popularity and prestige as people look for ways to conserve space without giving up luxury.

Modern

In this loft, the designer chose a minimalist approach when selecting the accents and furniture pieces. A slim, nearly invisible staircase leads to the loft area above the kitchen, where clean, white and black divider grants privacy to the loft without making it seem like it’s a separate space. Low sitting furniture in the living room make the ceilings tower up even higher above the heads of anyone lounging in this room, an illusion that makes the room it feel quite a bit larger than it really is. The multitude of shapes in the wall-mounted bookcase gives an eclectic feel to the apartment and plenty of places to store books, DVDs and statues.

Zen

In this loft, the outside comes inside to create a feeling of serenity and peace. Windows stretch nearly from the floor to the ceiling, giving an almost unobstructed view of the outdoors from both the downstairs and the loft area. These windows also let in a lot of light, though the apartment owner can shut the long, theatre curtain like drapes whenever they need a little privacy. The use of natural woods, stone art pieces and living plants, as well as simple geometric shapes and clean lines makes this a loft apartment with a clearly Zen touch.

Cozy

In some cases, a loft is used to make a tiny apartment just large enough to live in. Here, a small loft area only big enough for a bed rests atop a tiny kitchen. The loft is accessed by a ladder, so of course some agility is necessary when conquering this space, but it’s also a space that could feel very cozy and secure. Lots of natural light comes into the apartment through the windows opposite the bed, making this a great place to wake up feeling energized. Plants placed on the empty escalating bookshelves on the left would probably enjoy the light and help the space feel more alive.

Comfy

This is a loft that gives off the feeling of being a very comfortable space. The furniture is low set with wide, thick cushions and the kitchen features a couple of barstools, perfect for sitting atop while chatting over a cup of tea or glass of wine. The workspace in the loft upstairs helps separate work from comfort without closing the person in the office off from what’s happening downstairs. Neutral colors are matched to the bricks used in the side of the building and an eclectic pattern on the chair accents the color scheme to make this a livable space and not just one that’s nice to look at. Angling the windows to fit above the stairs allows this apartment to make the best use of light and the renters to get the most out of that five star city scape outside.