How Not to Decorate an Apartment in Loft Style: 5 Common Mistakes

Mistake #1: Too Many Loft Elements

If you do not want to turn your apartment into a hangar or factory hall, remember about moderation. You don't need to recreate the entire atmosphere of loft – it's enough to make just a few hints, include several elements and features of this style. For example, it's not necessary to build full concrete walls, hang many industrial lights, pour the floor as concrete, leave brick masonry unchanged, or paint the ceiling.

When decorating an apartment in the loft style, be as restrained as possible: you can highlight one wall with brick or plaster mimicking concrete, and paint the rest or use smooth-finish decoration. Industrial-style lights should only be placed above the table, while in other areas, install concealed lighting using built-in light sources. The main task is to emphasize specific elements of the loft style, avoiding overdoing it.

Mistake #2: Using Cheap Brickwork

If you plan to use a brickwork imitation instead of real brick, it's definitely not worth saving money on this. It's better to spend time and money searching for good decorative facing brick from European manufacturers. Don't experiment with plaster or buy cheap brickwork imitation. If you use decorative brick, it should look just as natural and vivid as real brick.

Mistake #3: Low Ceiling Height

In large industrial spaces, ceilings are always high – this is one of the advantages of the loft style. However, in standard apartments, you should not lower the ceiling or install metal or wooden beams. If the ceiling height is less than three meters, it's better not to divide it into different levels. Try to keep the ceiling height as high as possible and paint it white. For styling an apartment in the loft style, the ceiling should be flat and without unnecessary details.

Mistake #4: Overuse of Dark Palette

Enthusiasts of the loft style often choose vintage-style furniture: for example, a sofa made from dark worn leather, a table from aged oak, lights made of black metal, or dark wood in the finishing. However, it's very important not to go too dark. If your walls are made of red brick and the floor is dark wood, to avoid making the space feel smaller, it's necessary to lighten it slightly – for example, use light fabrics on the sofa and in textiles. This rule is especially relevant in standard apartments with small rooms. Follow moderate contrasts: if you have dark furniture, paint the walls and ceiling in light tones. And vice versa.

Mistake #5: Lack of Bold Accents

Loft themes in small standard apartments can sometimes look very cramped and uncomfortable. It's important not to use neutral or monochromatic color schemes in interior design. It's better to create bold color accents. There should be several shades. Even if they are red-blue-yellow combinations. It's important to give the interior some warmth and liveliness so that the atmosphere of black metals, brick, and concrete doesn't weigh on you or make the space feel heavy.

In any case, creating a loft-style interior in a small standard apartment is a challenging task. It's important not to overdo the "loftiness", use concrete, metal, and brick moderately, remember about bright, colorful accents, and avoid being too drawn into the dark color palette. Following these simple rules will help you achieve not only a stylish but also cozy loft.