Recently, the loft style has been in great demand in modest-sized apartments. Why is he so interesting? It turns out that it is attractive because it allows you to use very simple things, which, moreover, look very organic.
And it’s easy to make loft-style furniture with your own hands, and this again means saving money on your home budget. Let's find out what you can do for an interior in this style yourself in a matter of hours, what pieces of furniture can be made even by a novice craftsman?
DIY loft style furniture
A few words about the loft style
Before we present detailed instructions for making homemade loft furniture, we should introduce readers a little directly to the style itself. Why is it so interesting and why, despite the fact that it appeared back in the 40s of the twentieth century, does it still remain popular?
History of the loft style
Loft style furniture
The birthplace of the loft style is the USA . It was in the land of the Statue of Liberty that this simple, but nevertheless attractive style appeared. It originated in New York, in its industrial areas. During that time period, land prices were rising rapidly, and many property owners sold or completely abandoned their industrial premises just because of this. And these same premises gradually began to be used by other people to create residential buildings. Moreover, such housing was inexpensive, and, as a rule, furnished “cheap and cheerful.” But, oddly enough, it turned out tastefully. This is how the loft style was born, which remains popular to this day. Gradually the style reached Russia.
Decoupage furniture in loft style
Moreover, both a living room and an office can be furnished in this style. Nowadays even restaurants or hotels are decorated in this way, and many modern hotels prefer to furnish guest rooms in a loft style.
Loft style interior
In order to embody the loft style in the interior, you do not need to spend money on expensive souvenirs, luxurious armchairs or antique cabinets. It is enough to use what in most cases was previously thrown away.
Loft style does not require large financial expenditures
On a note! Of course, in order to furnish a room in a loft style, it is not necessary to collect “garbage” and do something with your own hands. You can just go to the store and buy everything you need. However, things in the loft style are not cheap.
Beautiful coffee table
Story
The loft style, as an architectural design direction, begins its origins in the first half of the last century. Then the cost of land in the center of New York crept up, the owners of industrial enterprises, one after another, were forced to leave their homes and move production to the outskirts of the city. Empty buildings were taken over by people of art, they were attracted by both the functional characteristics (high ceilings, large areas, lots of natural light) and low rental rates compared to ordinary housing. Lofts were at the peak of popularity by the 1950s, prices soared again, and housing began to be considered elite. Gradually, this style spread far beyond America.
The main features of the loft style
It is easy to determine that a person is looking at a room decorated in this style. It is enough to pay attention to some signs.
- The room should have a lot of free space, and there are usually minimal partitions in it. In general, only the toilet and bathroom can be separated in the apartment. That is why the loft style is often used in studio apartments, where even the sleeping area is located in a common area.
About the characteristic features of the style
- The windows should be large and preferably from floor to ceiling . This is the main source of light in the room. Moreover, curtains are used extremely rarely.
- The presence of various beams in the ceiling area is welcome , the ventilation does not need to be closed, and iron fittings add charm, but do not in any way spoil the appearance of the room.
- You usually cannot see wallpaper or other decorative material on the walls of a loft-style room.. Brickwork or concrete is often imitated or left completely as is. Also, plywood, metal, etc. can be used for finishing. It’s funny, but to achieve the desired effect, sometimes you sometimes have to purchase quite expensive materials.
Typical loft style interior
- Option for the floor - concrete, board or marble . No complex designs or anything pretentious or extravagant.
And the main highlight of the loft is the furniture. It may be somewhat unsightly in appearance, made of simple materials, and does not have any decorations or monograms. Its charm lies in its simplicity and functionality. At the time when the loft was born, everyone had no time for luxury.
Loft bedroom
To make loft furniture, you can use simple boards, iron pipes and some modern materials. It is best if they have a somewhat aged look.
On a note! Those elements that are considered defects in most other styles are welcome in the loft. These could be rust stains, some roughness of the wood, or simplicity of design.
Loft style kitchen
Although, despite the apparent simplicity, to decorate a room in a loft style you need to have a certain taste. In general, with a successful combination of circumstances, a loft can harmoniously combine the incongruous. For example, a brightly colored modern sofa and an antique chest of drawers. So this style can be very, very different.
There are several loft style trends
Table. Loft style directions.
| Direction | Characteristic |
| Bohemian | This option is chosen by artists and poets, in a word, creators of beauty. Moreover, they can use the style not only at home, but also when organizing their own personal exhibition or show. Here the walls and ceilings are left almost without decoration, but other interior items or decorations are selected with a special sense of beauty. The walls may be decorated with paintings, there may be musical instruments, some sculptures, etc. in the room. |
| Glamor | This is a rather delicate loft, in which the same iron beams and beautiful chandeliers or sofas in the Baroque style can be perfectly combined. Here, much attention will be paid to lighting and directly to chandeliers and shades. The colors used for decoration will be gentle and pleasant (for example, it could be lilac). |
| Industrial | This is the most popular loft option, as it is the simplest and does not require anything special from the designer. It is enough to create the appearance of a moderately lived-in space. Furniture made by yourself is ideal for this type of loft. Even if it is a little unsuccessful, it will look no worse in almost industrial conditions than furniture from a store. Here any decorations are unnecessary. |
Bedroom in loft style
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.
What materials are suitable?
Loft style furniture is very easy to make, since you don’t even have to worry about selecting materials. This style is ready to “tolerate” plastic, metal, wood, leather, and all kinds of fabrics. If you think through the design wisely, you can use anything. The main thing is that everything fits together in the end.
On a note! It would be great if the room had wide beams and the furniture was equipped with wheels. This will only emphasize the presence of a loft style in the apartment. Moreover, wheels can be on tables and chairs, or on shelves or anything else. Their presence can significantly increase the functionality of most furniture, and this is precisely the quality that is valued in the loft style.
Loft style and its features
When making furniture, you don’t have to worry too much about neatness. Of course, you shouldn’t do everything completely carelessly, but you also don’t need to cling to the slightest drawback. Let this flaw become the highlight of a homemade piece of furniture.
Shelves and tables made using metal pipes or metal profiles look great in this style. The wood may be a little old and the fabric may be worn. Barrels, cable reels, pallets, old window glass - something that can be safely used in creating loft furniture. You just need to put in a little effort and these items can turn into real works of art. You can also use new materials, but it is recommended to artificially age them, giving a slightly careless look. The main thing is that everything must be done carefully and tastefully.
Furniture design in loft style
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
Bed made from pallets
Let's look at how you can make a simple bed from pallets that are used for transporting goods. It will cost mere pennies, or even almost free, which will save a lot of money. Moreover, such a bed will look very harmonious. The biggest expense for creating such a bed will most likely be a mattress, which, like it or not, you will have to buy.
Types of pallets
Step 1. The first thing you need to do is purchase the pallets themselves. You can buy them new, paying only 150-200 rubles per unit, or you can even find them for free by asking around in warehouses or trading companies. Often used pallets can be picked up "for pickup".
Finding pallets is not a problem
Step 2. Old pallets usually require drying. If possible, it is better to leave them outside in the sun for a few days so that they dry out a little.
It is advisable to dry the pallets
Step 3. After drying, the pallets need to be sanded and painted or varnished. Sanding can be done with regular sandpaper, but the work will be faster and easier if you use a special machine. You may also need a timber that will be used as a base; it also needs sanding and painting. However, you can simply put one row of pallets on top of another and thus make the bed higher.
Wood preparation
Step 4. Having chosen the place where the bed will stand, you need to lay either the first row of pallets on the floor, or a beam around the perimeter of the bed, creating a base.
Laying the base of the structure
Step 5. Next, you need to lay a row of pallets on top and secure them to the base using self-tapping screws. It is better to use them, since nails will not make it possible to create a monolithic structure - the joints may become loose.
Pallet stacking
Step 6. The next stage is sheathing. Usually only the top side of the pallets is sheathed with some kind of material. You can attach it to the tree using a construction stapler.
Sheathing material is secured with a stapler
Step 7. Then you need to put a mattress on top of the pallets sheathed with material.
The mattress is being laid
Step 8. The final stage is the selection of bed linen and bedspreads. The bed is ready.
Ready-made pallet bed
Art space
Former industrial buildings with large areas and high ceilings can be converted not only into residential premises, but also for holding various exhibitions, organizing multifunctional concert venues, cafes, restaurants, and offices. Andy Warhol's studio marked the beginning of a trend that captured the whole of America, and then the whole world.
Making a loft chair from a metal profile
Using a square profile and a couple of boards, you can make a very simple and interesting chair that will fit perfectly into a loft style interior. However, this will require a little more effort than when creating a bed, and will also require some welding work.
Step 1. The first step is to draw a diagram of the chair and mark all its dimensions on it.
Scheme of the future chair
Step 2. Then, in accordance with the diagram, you need to apply markings to the profile along which the pipes will be cut.
Markings are applied to the profile
Step 3. Next, you need to cut the part from the square section metal profile to the required length. It is important to understand that not all parts will have straight cuts - they may also be beveled. This is necessary to make it easier to join them when assembling the chair frame.
Metal profile cutting
Step 4. Each section must be processed to remove burrs and other defects.
Sections are carefully processed
Step 5. Next you need to carry out welding work and connect the elements of the chair frame into a single structure.
Carrying out welding work
The parts are connected into a single structure
Step 6. Now the welding areas need to be processed so that they are even and do not stick out. A simple grinding with a grinding wheel is sufficient.
Processing of weld seams
Grinding wheel used
Step 7. After this, you need to assemble the back and seat of the chair from two boards of the same size. They can be immediately connected to each other. Or you can attach it to a chair separately.
You will need 2 boards of the same size
Chair back and seat
Step 8. In the metal frame and in the wooden blanks for the back and seat, you need to drill holes of the same diameter, which must coincide with each other when fitting the same seat to the frame.
Drilling holes in wooden pieces
Drilling metal elements
Step 9. Now you need to sand the wooden elements and varnish them, and the metal frame of the chair needs to be painted. Work cannot be continued until the paint and varnish materials have dried.
Painting the metal frame
Sanding wooden elements
Step 10. All that remains is to assemble the elements together, that is, screw the back and seat to the frame. And the chair is ready, you can use it.
Screwing the backrest
Ready-made chair in loft style
Video - Simple pipe shelving
Functional decor
Loft is not so much about beauty as functionality, so accessories should be useful in everyday life. One of these things will be a stylish dial.
You can make a watch out of anything. Wooden blocks, bicycle wheels and fan parts are used as the base.
There are no strict rules regarding size either. Clocks can be compact bedside or large wall clocks.
In addition to clocks, shelves will also be useful in the interior. You can make them in just a few hours.
Making a table from pallets
From the pallets from which we made the bed above, you can make other furniture. These can be large and small tables, sofas, armchairs and much more. Now we’ll look at the option of creating a simple table with metal legs that will look very organic in a loft-style apartment.
Step 1. First you need to prepare. To create such a table, it will be enough to take one pallet, and you will also need to make or buy 4 metal legs of the same height. You will also need a saw, screws, a screwdriver, a brush and varnish. Sandpaper for sanding or a sanding machine will also come in handy.
Preparing everything you need
Step 2. The pallet needs to be partially disassembled. It is very large, and we are making a small table. Therefore, the excess pallet needs to be sawed off, and several boards need to be detached from the remaining piece of the pallet - they will be needed to create supports for the legs.
The pallet is disassembled
All excess is cut off
Step 3. It is recommended to sand all workpieces with sandpaper so that they are not prickly and dangerous. Next, you need to screw along the right and left ends along the board from those pallets disconnected from the rest. You should get flat platforms to which the legs themselves will be attached.
There should be flat areas
Step 4. To attach the legs to the corners, you need to screw metal corners at a short distance from the edge.
Screwed metal corners
Step 5. The free spaces between the boards on the “front” side of the table need to be filled with other boards from the rest of the pallet. They can be nailed, or they can be screwed onto self-tapping screws. There should be a solid surface.
All voids are covered with boards
Step 6. Next you need to fix the legs on the back of the table.
Metal legs installed
Attention! Don’t forget to varnish the sanded table. Otherwise it won't last long.
The table is varnished
Step 7. When the varnish is dry, the table can be used for its intended purpose. Namely, use it as a coffee table, a small dining room table, or put some things in unique shelves.
Ready-made table in loft style
Advantages of furniture made from pallets
Video – Loft style table
Lighting
Lighting plays a huge role in loft style. Traditionally, spaces in this style are large in size, which means it is necessary to select a considerable number of artificial light sources.
Good for loft:
- floor lamps, floor lamps
- wall sconces
- ceiling lamps, chandeliers (there should be no crystal here)
- tire (track)
- multipoint and string systems
- A spider chandelier will look great
First of all, pay special attention to the design features in the loft style, try not to overdo it with lighting sources. Experience suggests that beauty and balance are created where there is a sense of proportion.
