Living Room in Loft Style

 All of this coexists with deliberately rough brick or concrete walls, ceilings with protruding beam slabs. Nevertheless, such a strange interior has found its followers, and today it is not uncommon to encounter living rooms in the loft style, kitchens, hallways, and even bedrooms.

History of the Loft Style

The origin of this direction is the United States. In the 1940s, «loft» referred to various warehouses, attics and similar spaces. At the same time, housing costs sharply increased, and factories and workshops moved beyond the city limits. As a result, many empty warehouses were occupied by low-income citizens: mostly young people and creative individuals. Over time, loft became a distinct stylistic direction.

Recommendations from Architect Nikita Morozov

Characteristics of the Loft Style

The main idea in this direction is creative freedom, rejection of classical pompous elements of decoration and expensive items. Often, several styles coexist on the same territory at once: for example, modern and country. The uniqueness of loft is that it does not involve the use of expensive finishing materials: decoration in this direction will «stretch» even on a modest budget. The main features of the style:

• presence of many objects made from metals and glass;
  
• coexistence of vintage and modern furniture items;
  
• exposed brick masonry (or its imitation);
  
• combination of vintage decor elements with modern ones;
  
• combining the living room with the kitchen or bedroom;
  
• plenty of free space.
  

There are other features in the form of some unfinished work. These may include traces of plaster, unmasked utilities (including ventilation systems), slabs in the form of concrete or wooden beams.

Design: Olga Borovikova and Irina Nikolaeva

Zone Division in Loft Style: Kitchen-Living Room

Here, solid walls are not welcome: the best solution for zone division will be a glass partition or bar counter. Metal shelves can also be used. It would look good if the kitchen or living room area is highlighted by color or floor covering material. Lay ceramic tiles in the cooking area and laminate that imitates wooden flooring in the relaxation area.

Design: Olga Borovikova and Irina Nikolaeva

Living Room Decoration in Loft Style

Remember that in everything, there should be a sense of incompleteness. Based on this, choose appropriate materials.

1. Walls. The «classic» option is brick masonry or its imitation (for example, photo wallpaper). But it is also possible to use regular paint on a plastered surface. Another variant, distinguished by particular expressiveness, is concrete walls with exposed cracks and chips. Wallpapers that imitate unplaned boards or natural stone can also be used.
   
2. Ceiling. There are three ways to finish the ceiling: monochromatic painting, using wooden planks or wallpapering. In any case, there should be no decorations: any kind of moldings or cornices. It will look natural to show exposed utilities - pipes and ventilation ducts. A standard white plastered ceiling also looks good in this style. Very striking is the use of wooden or concrete beams. Paint the trim in the same color as the walls to mask the transition from one surface to another.
   
3. Floor. It should remind of a warehouse, so it is better to use wooden flooring made of planks (apply transparent varnish). Another option is a concrete floor, leveled and polished. Laminate or linoleum that imitates natural stone or the same wooden floor can also be used. Sometimes, artificially aged tiles are used for zoning purposes.
   
   

Lighting that accentuates the style of a living room in the loft style is made from metal, on long suspension chains. Simple filament bulbs hanging directly on wires can also be used. As for windows, it is better if they are large, like in factory workshops: the style implies an abundance of light.

Design: Sergey Bakharev, Studio «One-Flat»

Color Palette

In this sense, loft is quite democratic: the choice of shades is not limited in any way. You can decorate a living room in a monochromatic style, or create a real color fireworks where seemingly incompatible tones interact with each other. Nevertheless, most homeowners do not seek to experiment and use proven «alliances» of shades:

• brown plus ochre;
  
• gray and beige;
  
• white with black.
  

Gray with white, deep blue or burgundy tones are often used together. The main emphasis is placed on more or less calm tones, with bright colors reserved for accent elements. Interesting to look at in the room are prints with images of zebras, Dalmatians or cats from the cat family: leopards, tigers. Graffiti on the walls also fits well.

Design: Make Design Studio

Furniture in Loft Style

A large sofa with leather upholstery is usually placed in the center of the room, with several cushions. Numerous chairs, footstools and oversized armchairs (they can be wicker) are welcome. The upholstery of soft furniture in the loft style tends towards calm, uniform tones. Accent elements will help arrange the sofa cushions, carpets and other decorative details. A small coffee table can be made in the form of an exclusive designer creation. But this is not a rule: a minimalist, simple piece of furniture characteristic of minimalism will also work. It is better if the table is made of glass.

Shelves made of metal are suitable in a living room and can replace traditional cabinets. The material of manufacture can be either chrome-plated, shiny, or with reddish corrosion traces. The room's interior will be completed by a bright carpet and an ultra-modern plasma panel with an audio system. The general requirement for furniture is some deliberate roughness.

Lighting in Loft Style

The main requirement for lighting fixtures is functionality. The most common type of living room in the loft style is equipped with pendant lights. Their advantage is not only their originality. A pendant light can be easily raised or lowered to the desired height. Today, the selection of pendant lights is extremely wide: you can buy a chandelier in the form of a barrel, an old kerosene lamp or a street lamp. The materials for manufacturing the lights are also diverse: metal, plastic, glass, leather or wood.

Do not forget about floor-standing fixtures. This refers to a table lamp. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to create warmth in any, even seemingly unsuitable for living spaces, room. Loft is no exception. The height of the table lamp should be comparable to the average human height. The shade does not have to be classic. A table lamp in the form of a photo lamp or railway spotlight looks good in the setting. The material for the shade is metal, glass or textile.

Design: ToTaste Studio

There is another interesting way to light a living room in the loft style. This is a rail system. What does it mean here? Lights are mounted on metal cables to special rails fixed to the ceiling. This type of lighting is diffused and well emphasizes brick masonry or graffiti-style inscriptions.

A good effect is achieved with LED backlighting. It visually makes some interior elements lighter: this can be a staircase to the second floor or a kitchen island. In addition, this type of lighting visually expands the space, which is relevant for small rooms.

Decoration Ideas

In a living room, it is appropriate to combine ultra-modern and antique items. If you want to surprise your friends and acquaintances, do not be afraid to decorate the room with unusual objects. For example, gilded columns or an antique telescope. Wall clocks in the form of a cuckoo clock or, conversely, modern style clocks will suit well. It is also appropriate to use textiles in the loft style, which is stereotyped as incompatible with this style. A light monochrome curtain will only add lightness and air to the room's atmosphere. It would also not be out of place in the interior to have an electric fireplace. You can also confidently add:

• any art objects;
  
• abstract figurines;
  
• old chests;
  
• gramophone or record player;
  
• wall paintings.
  

That is, the decor can be any: from antique candelabras to posters and Soviet film billboards or even road signs. Each detail will only emphasize your individuality.

When decorating a living room in the loft style, it is important not to overdo it with overly bright colors and a large number of decorative elements. Otherwise, you risk turning the room into a confusing space. Following moderation will help you create a cozy atmosphere that brings positive energy into the home.

Examples of Living Room Interior in Loft Style