The loft style originated in the mid-40s in America. At that time, the cost of land rose sharply, and large enterprises began to move their production to the outskirts of cities. The buildings they previously occupied were converted into housing. The resulting apartments looked like factories, with brick walls and high ceilings. Surprisingly, the laconic and somewhat rough design was highly appreciated by users, attracting more and more fans of minimalism every year. The central element when creating an industrial interior is loft furniture - uncomplicated, massive, non-standard, but at the same time incredibly stylish. As for the room itself, it should be without partitions or ceilings. Decor - pipes, columns, ventilation and beams.
Style Features
Loft furniture is characterized by certain features. It is stylish, laconic, discreet, created in the spirit of minimalism. We can say that this setting has a masculine character. All the furniture has a simple geometry, the products are made from natural materials, completely devoid of processing (or it is minimal), which does not detract from their ease of use.
Loft style furniture is divided into subtypes:
- Industrial - rough, bright and interesting design. The furniture looks deliberately unfinished. It is made of natural materials (the basis of the design) with a large number of metal elements.
- Boho. Such products look original and exotic. Painted in warm, rich colors: orange, red, blue, ruby, saffron. Furniture is often made from wood with the addition of textile elements.
- Glamor. The furnishings in this style look impressive and as luxurious as possible. Armchairs, stools and other interior items are made from high-quality, mostly natural materials, and decorated with tacky prints.
The conceptual idea of loft style furniture is emphasized comfort without unnecessary details, convenience without frills. Design features - interesting, simple geometry combined with natural, high-quality materials. The products turn out to be rough in appearance, but they are convenient, functional and practical to use. Those who really like this appearance are wondering where to buy loft-style furniture to realize their ideas.
boho
Glamor
Varieties
Loft style furniture is conventionally divided into three types: for home, office, cafes and restaurants. These can be sofas, ottomans, benches, racks, tables, chests of drawers. In one room it is permissible to place furniture items that differ in texture, color, and material of manufacture.
For home
Loft style furniture for the home - sets for the kitchen, living room, bedroom. For example, in the dining room there may be massive tables or counters made of natural wood with a natural structure, chairs with high backs, and open shelves for dishes.
In the living room, loft-style furniture includes massive sofas with leather, velvet and textile upholstery, coffee tables, long-pile carpets, and a fireplace. Armchairs and ottomans usually have wooden or metal parts (legs, armrests). The bedroom can have a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a bed, bedside tables - each product is made in the spirit of minimalism. Furniture is often decorated with forged elements, although the main material used is wood.
The loft style implies a no-frills environment.
For office
When choosing loft-style furniture for an office, you should pay attention to products made of glass (transparent or frosted), metal, rough-finished wood, and forged elements. The furnishings should not look new; they can be artificially aged.
Distinctive features of Italian furniture, the best designs and manufacturers
Furniture in the loft style is almost always simple geometric shapes, with clear lines. The tabletops are massive, the chairs are impressive. There should be no doors on cabinets and cabinets; open shelves and racks are welcome. Boxes and crates can be used to store documents. The furniture should not have carvings, decorative fittings, mosaics or enamel inserts.
For cafes and restaurants
Loft design involves the use of rough furniture, with a touch of brutality and unfinishedness. These should be functional, spacious and practical products. For the bar area it is worth choosing laconic, “old” high chairs and ottomans, counters. For the dining part of the cafe there are the same tables, sofas, and armchairs.
Screw stools with roughly hewn benches made of natural wood look good. Bar stools with metal legs look great next to cozy upholstered armchairs. The same open shelves and racks are appropriate.
Loft cafe furniture is mostly made from natural materials, it is made in calm colors and does not include decor.
Characteristic structures and design
Loft upholstered furniture and other furnishings have the following characteristic features:
- the most simple designs;
- reliable fastenings;
- massiveness, brutality of products.
Furniture is often made on the basis of other products not intended for these purposes. For example, a table leg can be a loom, sofas and beds are made from pallets, bar counters are made from metal barrels, ottomans are made from old suitcases, and wooden cable spools are an excellent base for coffee tables. In general, all loft products can be divided into types:
- Cabinet furniture made of metal, wood, plastic, glass. These are tables, shelves, chests of drawers, chairs. Some of them are compact and do not take up much space, others are bulky and huge.
- Upholstered furniture is most often covered with genuine leather or rough textiles. Products include sofas, couches, armchairs, and ottomans.
- Modular loft systems (rarely encountered, imply the possibility of assembling a single structure from different objects).
- Built-in furniture includes wardrobes, chests of drawers, cupboards, and shelves. The facades of products can be decorated with photo printing, sometimes this is appropriate.
All furniture products must meet the main requirement of the loft style - to be functional and laconic. Hangers, tables, chairs, tables can be on wheels to make them easy to move around the room. As for manufacturing materials, preference should be given to wood, leather, plastic, aluminum, steel, and glass inserts. Furniture in the loft style is usually placed along the walls, leaving the main part of the room empty.
It is better to replace tall cabinets with open hangers, pull-out cabinets, chests of drawers, and shelves in niches.
Hull
Soft
Modular
Built-in
Sofas
Loft style involves using a sofa as the central element of the room. Factory-made furniture rarely fits into this direction, but designer products, transformers, U- and L-shaped ones, boat-shaped models and occasionally universal modular designs are suitable.
Loft sofas in the interior can be complemented with unusual details. For example, expensive leather upholstery, a bulky cascade, swivel casters, wooden armrests. This is furniture of impressive dimensions, multifunctional. Useful built-in elements - drawers for storing bed linen, bars, shelves. As for the color choice, any options are appropriate here; sofas can be neutral, calm shades, or flashy, bright colors.
Armchairs
Loft chairs include traditional designs, hanging products, rocking chairs, wicker chairs, computer models, as well as plastic hemispheres. Office options should be installed on a strong metal base with rectangular armrests, covered with expensive genuine leather. Traditional chairs are low, wide, with a frame made of varnished boards. Large soft pillows can lie on top of them. The rocking chair should be on a solid wood base, with rounded armrests, covered with leather in natural colors.
Characteristic features of American furniture, rules of combination with the interior
Hanging products look like plastic hemispheres, but are made of rattan and upholstered in high-quality textiles. They are attached to the ceiling, this allows them to sway in time with human movements, which promotes rest and relaxation.
Wardrobes and chests of drawers
Loft chests of drawers and cabinets can be made of metal, wood, glass. These are real works of art that are brought to life by a designer's idea. Products can be decorated with retro ornaments. Furniture with a worn effect, gilding, and peeling corners is well suited. Bulky models do not always fit into this direction; in some cases, small, compact versions of a closet or chest of drawers are more suitable
Tables
Often designers use loft tables made of pipes, but they can also be made of solid wood, metal (legs) or glass (tabletop). In this style they make magazine, desk, and dining models with minimal decor. The shape can be any - both traditional rectangular or round tables and original models reminiscent of the outline of a guitar or sheet are appropriate.
Chairs
Loft chairs are definitely a bright accent of the interior. They can be made of chipboard, solid wood, plastic, metal, stone. The upholstery can be made of textile or leather. Any color, from pastel tones to bright, unusual ones. The design is original, sometimes provocative - for example, a triangular seat and 3 legs, or even a stone base.
Beds
Loft beds, like any other, can be single or double. As for design features, the models can be quite classic - made of solid wood, on regular legs, or more interesting - in the form of a metal platform. There are mobile products on wheels made from pallets. Floating models can be attached to the ceiling using ropes. A “floating” bed is made using legs located in the center of the frame, they are not visible, and this creates the desired effect.
The trend is for beds made of timber - they look a little careless, but at the same time very original.
As for colors, it is better to choose calm shades: gray, cinnamon, white, and other natural tones. An interesting addition would be a canopy made of plain textiles or any coarse fabric.
Shelves, bookcases, racks
All storage systems are made of solid wood, MDF or laminated chipboard. The frame is most often metal. The product with a black base looks interesting. Some models are equipped with wheels for easy movement around the room. Antique-style furniture looks impressive. In the photo you can see how original the combination of metal and wood shelves in one piece looks.
Loft-style shelving is often used to zone space.
Furniture in Loft interior
The loft style is not characterized by a clutter of furniture, so a large amount of it can oversaturate the room and make it tasteless. You can use both old antique furniture and new modern ones. The main thing is that it should be functional and complement the overall picture of your interior. Furniture can be made of the following materials: leather, wood, glass and metal. For example, for a dining group you can choose a table made of solid wood. Instead of closed cabinets, you can use clothes hangers. And in the bathroom you don’t have to hide the plumbing pipes - this will only complement the interior.
Materials used
A soft sofa and other loft furniture are made from materials that look distinctly rough in appearance. Leather, leatherette, textiles (tapestry, non-woven fabric) are used for upholstery. Couches, chairs, ottomans cannot be decorated with traditional velor, velvet, silk, or any fabrics that are associated with luxury. Loft is a simpler style than classic, baroque or other similar styles. To create cabinet furniture, solid wood, metal, glass, and plastic are used.
Furniture made from a combination of wood and stone looks interesting.
If interior items are made of wood, glass or metal inserts are welcome. Products made from water pipes have become especially popular. Models made of steel, which are often combined with glass, also look interesting. Countertops are usually made of wood. Cabinets are made of ash, beech, oak, and the outside surface is treated with varnish or wax. A room decorated in a loft style can have furniture of completely different textures. For example, soft armchairs, wooden chairs and an artificially aged metal coffee table.
Features of modern furniture, its decor and color schemes
The fittings often repeat factory motifs; their role is played by chains, hooks, bolts, and staples. Furniture handles can be cast from cement or made from pipes. These are often handmade products.
Color spectrum
Furniture in the loft style for both home and cafe is selected in accordance with the color decoration of the room. If it is designed in a tone close to natural, the products should be in calm shades: beige, brown, gray, white. If the furnishings are intended to become an accent in the interior, attracting attention, the furniture can be painted in deep colors. The rich purple color goes especially organically with this style.
Colored plastic chairs, yellow or red, can become a bright accent in a living room or restaurant hall. They harmoniously combine with upholstered furniture: sofas, poufs, chairs made of wood or metal.
When decorating a room, it is important to remember that in the loft style there should be only one bright accent. An “attic”, industrial interior does not accept an abundance of flashy shades. However, it is permissible to use furniture in rich colors if the decoration of the room is muted and calm. And to give integrity to the interior, it is worth combining bright tables, chairs or sofas with decor of the same color scheme.
How to create a modern loft-style interior
- Open plan.
The loft is characterized by the abandonment of walls and partitions so that the space remains unified. Zoning is carried out using rational and effective techniques.
Of course, some places in the living space need to be fenced off, for example, the bathroom or toilet. But there are interior options suitable for an extraordinary person, where the bath is located openly, provided that he lives alone. Various options have been developed for solving the issue of arranging bathrooms, for example, the equipment of a separate room can be replaced by installing a shower stall with opaque walls.
In loft-style interiors, the main part of the cabinets is hidden in niches or disguised. As a result, you get functionality and free space. Other standard furnishings: a sofa, a table, a shelving unit - are arranged in accordance with their purpose.
To divide the space into separate zones, you can use lightweight mobile partitions; with their help, you can easily transform the space by moving them apart and removing them if necessary. A very practical option is to use transformable furniture:
- Transforming models completely change our idea of furniture; for example, a closet that looks ordinary during the day, when unfolded, can appear as a set of shelves, drawers, and may even have a bed hidden inside.
- The same applies to the TV, which is hidden in an inconspicuous-looking cabinet that opens when necessary, like a box with a secret.
- Shelving can play a variety of roles - it can be a door or a mobile partition separating zones. Several shelving units on wheels can change the space, and the presence of shelves makes them an indispensable piece of furniture.
- Materials and textures.
Industrial style is a union of unique designer items and rough finishing details. The interior must have a play of contrasts, and first of all, a loft can be recognized by the presence of untreated or rough-finished areas. Coatings reminiscent of concrete, brickwork, untreated plaster - these decorative techniques are used most often. Traditional elements should be used in some area, but not on the entire wall or floor space.
Designers quite often leave a piece of wall with untreated or aged bricks as an accent. But in this case, it is necessary to cover them with varnish or special means that protect against infection by mold or mildew. The contrast between areas of high-quality finishing and rough textures gives the very effect that attracts people in a loft.
The latest fashion in design is the use of decorative textures that imitate oxidized metals, which looks very unusual. Various types of self-leveling mixtures have proven themselves in finishing, and when they harden, they look like a factory floor. High ceilings are usually left completely unfinished, and distinctive parts of the interior - floor beams and other structural elements - are varnished or painted. Open communications are played out in various ways: a pipe or air duct can become a part of a staircase, a support or a shelf. Industrial hoods or a lift are transformed into a modern art object.
- Window decoration.
Windows corresponding to the loft style should be large and panoramic. It is absolutely logical that they are not covered with curtains and not decorated. If you need to block out sunlight, you can install simple blinds. A suitable color for the latter would be gray or another neutral shade; bright colors are completely inappropriate.
- Lighting.
Proper organization of lighting is one of the important tasks of a designer. A loft-style room is not divided by walls, and in a single space it is quite difficult to install lamps in such a way that the light in one zone does not spread to other parts of the apartment. This is one of the reasons why modern lofts are chosen mainly by bachelors. After all, when one goes to bed and the other needs to work a little more, as often happens in a couple, the light on will be an obstacle to rest.
Usually a single lighting system is developed. Lamps are installed at different levels: the first is several dim sconces throughout the room, which are turned on as you move around the house; the second - central sources on the ceiling to illuminate a separate area; the third is additional floor lamps or lamps for local use.
In modern interiors, lamps that are adjustable in power and intensity are often installed in order to be able to change the illumination.
The organization of the lighting system involves the use of the following techniques:
- Lamps should be chosen in a single stylistic design, preferably with glass or metal shades. Opt for simple shapes and clear geometry, and stick to neutral colors.
- Classic floor lamps have no place here; a more suitable option would be a model with a long adjustable leg. Today, many types are produced that stand on the floor, are attached to the wall or furniture.
- High ceilings of a modern interior with loft elements require the installation of lamps with long pendants. An interesting solution would be to use suspended beams. The set can be supplemented with technological models installed on the floor.
- Light poles, as well as a vertical pipe with lamps attached to it, will look original and practical in the interior. This solution is especially suitable when the room has two levels.
- Decoration and functional equipment of the loft.
Maintaining style is not the only goal for the owners of the premises; it is only a means towards creating a functional and comfortable space for living. Furniture and decorative elements made of glass and metal complement the interior in an original way. A unique poster or installation will stylistically support the bohemian mood.
A loft is a modern way of organizing space and is not alien to practicality and convenience, that is, all necessary household appliances, television systems and other high-tech equipment are installed in residential apartments. All elements of a modern “smart home”, namely its technical equipment with monitoring, control and security systems, are also organically integrated into this style.
Modern designers do not define any strict framework for creating an industrial interior. It is likely that from your own ideas a unique design will be born, incorporating many models and design solutions. Art objects and exotic souvenirs brought from travel will turn your apartment into something special and perfect. Or, on the contrary, without any special frills, you can transform an ordinary studio with large windows and free space into a comfortable and cozy home, equipped with the latest technical innovations and functional furniture.
Lack of restrictions and creativity - these are the pillars on which the modern loft style is based.
Recommended articles on this topic:
- Armchairs in loft style: types, features, photos
- Children's room in loft style: fresh interior solutions
- Loft style sofas - features of choice
Useful tips
The loft style seems simple and understandable only at first glance, but creating an interior that matches it on your own is quite difficult. To select furniture, it is better to use the services of a professional designer who will evaluate all the nuances of the room and select furniture that is truly suitable for it. If you still want to try your hand, it’s worth studying the general rules for combining furniture:
- The room can combine products in classic and modern styles. In order to get a brilliant result, you should stick to one color scheme.
- Furniture, externally unfinished or artificially aged, goes well with real antiques.
- For restaurants, you can choose bright colored chairs or armchairs; they will become the highlight of the interior. But in this case, other furniture should be neutral tones.
- The center of the living rooms is the sofa. Near it you can place a coffee table, ottomans and armchairs.
- Furniture can be large, but at the same time mobile, for example, on wheels. It should be easy to rearrange at will.
- One interior can combine soft products with leather and textile upholstery with tables and chests of drawers with an aged surface.
In order to avoid mistakes when creating a loft interior, you need to consider the furniture, accessories and decoration of the room as a whole, and not separately. There is no need to use a riot of colors; one bright accent is enough. Complex textures are also useless - the simpler the better.
You need to evaluate pieces of furniture not separately, but in tandem with the interior
Do not overuse the variety of colors and complexity of textures
Characteristic colors for loft style
When creating an industrial space, neutral shades dominate with a predominance of natural materials.
- Achromatic tones are considered traditional - white, black, gray, and brown. They emphasize the originality of stone, metal, concrete, wood.
- There are various colors of brick - from dark red to delicate pink. There are also terracotta or time-darkened options.
- Bright, catchy accents appear in separate strokes. Most often these are blue, red, yellow, orange shades. They can be present on the upholstery of upholstered furniture, carpets, in the decoration of a chandelier, or on wall planes when doing graffiti.
Only a real “Loft” is able to combine the incongruous and create an impeccable interior from it