"Loft Living - Making the Most of Converted Spaces"

Loft living began in the artistic neighbourhoods of New York. These early converted spaces could be found in old industrial warehouses - vast, open spaces with exposed brickwork and unparalleled views over the city. Loft conversions have since spread across the world. Of course, turning a damp and dingy attic into a Pinterest-worthy living space is no small feat, and decorating these unusual rooms comes with a set of unique challenges. From sliding doors to pale-wood floors, here are my top design tips for stylish loft conversions. Furniture Placementsource
The majority of loft conversions have sloping walls, which can make it awkward to place furniture. Putting a bed or desk in the center of your new room is perhaps the obvious choice - although this takes up a large proportion of floor space, and can make the room feel cramped. Rather than viewing a loft conversion as a regular room, tucking your furniture into a sloping roof can be a good way to save space. Here, the bed becomes a focal feature without crowding the room. I love how the newly-added wooden frame has been painstakingly matched to the building’s original rustic beams. Space Saving DecorsourceAlthough loft conversions add living space to a home, they also dramatically reduce storage space. Most lofts are crammed with boxes, suitcases, and rarely-used belongings - all of which must be rehomed. A limited amount of storage can be built into the new room. However, this will eat into the living space, and should be kept to a minimum. Hiding possessions in plain sight is an unusual - and stylish - way to reduce clutter. This picture frame-turned-jewellery rack is a practical way to store trinkets, but also makes a beautiful wall hanging. Keep It LightsourceHomeowners often assume that loft conversions will be bright and airy. However, the unusual shape and orientation of many converted rooms often leads to a gloomy atmosphere - even if sunlight is streaming through the window. Dormer conversions are particularly vulnerable, although a poorly-oriented Velux window can also cause problems. To avoid dark corners, keep your base décor as pale as possibleLight walls and floors will support almost any color scheme, while also creating the illusion of open space.Using The Natural Featuressource
When commissioning a loft conversion, you will naturally want to specify exactly how you want the finished room to look. However, as your builder will tell you, some things simply aren’t possible.Depending on the existing structure, certain features - such as chimney stacks or supporting beams - might not be removable. Working with a building’s natural features can throw up some great possibilities. Rather than creating a flat wall in the bedroom above, the niches either side of the chimney have been turned into cute shelving.  

This post was written by Anne Haimes of AH Interiors. Anne is a passionate interior designer with over 20 years’ experience, based in Henley-on-Thames, England.