How to Create a Loft Without a Designer: 5 Tips

A loft can be minimalist and brutal, or you can add colors and decor to create a cozier atmosphere. Also, such an interior is easy to create on your own without the help of a designer — here are several tips.

If possible, create an open-plan layout

Of course, a typical Khrushchyovka can also be decorated in a loft style, but it works much better on a large area without unnecessary partitions. For example, you can avoid dividing the kitchen, dining room, and living room areas as the designers did in the studio. But remember that this approach is only suitable if your stove is electric — a kitchen with a gas stove must be separated from living spaces.

Another successful solution is glass partitions that zone the space without consuming valuable room area.

Design: Artpartner

Design: Victoria Smelnytskaya

Design: Olga Rayskaya

Design: Marina Bocharova

Design: Dasha Ukhlinova

Focus on material textures

Modern loft is not just red brick. Today, industrial style implies a rich variety of finishes: this can be concrete, micro-cement, textured plaster, stone — especially effective is the combination of several textures.

Design: Daria Avdeenko

Design: Andrey Popov

Of course, using concrete for finishing is quite expensive and labor-intensive: you need to clean and degrease the wall, apply primer. We recommend choosing a cement imitation. For those who like modern loft but want more warmth in the room, we suggest art concrete with a soft touch effect called Volare Loggia. It looks like real concrete but feels soft and not as cold for a living space.

Finish: Loggia Volare

Another modern trend is using art concrete in the bathroom, both for the shower area and the sink. For such finishing, you need original micro-cement Loggia, not an imitation: it should not only be water-resistant but also specially designed for zones where water directly hits. Especially effective is the combination of micro-cement in the bathroom with other materials — tiles, wood, or stone-like finishing.

Design: 2artstudio

Design: Kidz Design

If you prefer brick and have enough space, you can clad the walls with brick. If you need to save square meters, use brick tiles. You can even make a cladding from real antique bricks — it looks very beautiful but is quite expensive.

Budget-friendly option — clad the walls with MDF or PVC panels that look like brick. They are easy to install, hide wall imperfections, and can last up to 15 years. The drawbacks include possible deformation after installation and the release of harmful substances for health, especially in hot rooms.

Affordable and original solution — Loggia Infinito decorative plaster. It is produced in cooperation with MAD (World Association of Top Decorators), easy to use, and allows creating any effects, including brick masonry, granite, concrete blocks, or natural stone.

Finish: Loggia Infinito

Another advantage of such finishing is that you don’t need specialists for it. To learn how to decorate walls using decorative finishes, just attend one free masterclass — Loggia regularly holds such events.

Finish: Loggia Infinito

Design: Dasha Ukhlinova

Finish: Loggia Infinito

Don’t be afraid of vivid tones

The trend of decorating loft interiors solely in dark gray and black tones is already outdated. Organic will look great with bright but complex and deep tones: burgundy, muted blue, pistachio, mustard. Or you can play with contrast: add soft tones to a gray concrete interior — for example, pink.

Design: Alena Gorskaya

Design: Dmitry Boldyrev

Plan the lighting: different scenarios, exposed wiring

Creating several lighting scenarios is a traditional way to zone a loft interior. For example, in the kitchen, place a large pendant over the dining area, several small lights above the work surface, and spotlights around the ceiling perimeter.

By the way, you can choose almost any light fixtures: either with minimalist metal shades or without them, or more classic ones that will contrast beautifully with the brutal atmosphere.

Design: CENS Architects

Design: Andrey Popov

Design: We Create Studio

Another feature that's easy to implement without a designer is not hiding the wiring in the walls, but leaving it exposed — it will serve as decoration.

Design: Evgenia Razuyaveva

Design: Geometrium

Add original decor

A loft doesn’t have to be minimalist. Interesting details, natural fabrics, items with history, and art objects will add individuality to the interior and make it more "lived-in"NaN