How to Address the Problem of Too Much Wasted Space when Decorating a Loft

The loft presents a number of different challenges when it come to decorating that can sometimes create more problems than the aesthetic viability of the design is capable of providing. As if often the case with architectural choices for home living environments, the traditional loft that is seen as the height of desire by many today traces back to a decidedly utilitarian past. Loft apartments were originally an economic construct borne from the necessity of utilizing abandoned inner city warehouses and factories rather than leaving them to rot or tear them down. From this blue collar origin came white collar hipness. The popularity of converted lofts naturally led to living quarters specifically designed to replicate what some might term a waste of space. But therein lies the challenge: how to decorate so that what may seem to be a waste of space becomes an artistic statement.

The Minimalist Approach

One way to decorate so that you get around the issue of space being wasted is to accept that space is going to be wasted in a loft. Loft living quarters are defined by high ceilings and ample wall space. You could spend a fortune covering up that space or you could instead save a lot money by letting the minimalism be your guide throughout the space. Rather than adding accessories and furnishings to cover up the fact that you are wasting enormous areas, jettison existing furniture and accessories to enhance that ambiance. Decorate with furniture on a smaller scale such as a loveseat rather than a sectional sofa. Create and exult in the freedom from clutter and traffic obstructions by being ruthlessly frugal in your décor. The key is to try to create more free space below so that it integrates so fully with the empty space above that even a troglodyte could recognize that the lack of utilization of space is a decorating choice.

Mingle The Old with the New

Especially in the case of a converted loft, but also applicable to buildings created with a loft design in mind is the mingling of the old with the new. Many older lofts feature leftovers from their blue collar origins like bare brick walls, exposed beams and ducts and visible wiring. What you have here is an immediate grasp of the old that can be exploited by adding decorative accessories and furnishings that reflect upon the time period in which the space was used for more industrial purposes. The conversion to a loft cannot help but bring things up to date and you can enhance things by adding contemporary décor items. The choice for how to go about this is up to you: you can go for the contrast accomplished by placing new alongside old or you can separate the old and new distinctly apart from each other.

Partitioning Your Loft

The very concept of portioning the space in a loft is reprehensible for many and completely goes against the very architectural basis. Why buy a loft if what you really want is something more akin to an English cottage? Others recognize the value of partitioning as a means of closing off spaces according to use. You may not want your living room to have an unobstructed view of the buildup of dirty pots, pans and dishes that adorn your kitchen. Or, you may want to take full advantage of the vertical aesthetic of high ceilings while working to redo the horizontal lines so as to increase privacy and segment individual uses. A home office with a high wall that you have turned into an organic part of the workspace through the addition of chalkboard paint, corkboard wall covering, shelves and bookcases can become more enjoyable if it is not also an organic part of your dining room or bedroom. A number of different options are available for partitioning including Oriental screens, glass blocks, movable shelves and even a portable electric fireplace.