13 Loft Decorating Ideas for Every Design Style

Get inspired to decorate every room in your loft, including ideas for kitchens, bedrooms, offices, and living areas.

John Granen
John Granen

When you hear the word loft, perhaps you think of a cool industrial space or an old warehouse-turned-apartment with rustic wood beams, exposed brick walls, and tall windows. Because a loft is a large open space with minimal internal walls, loft decorating ideas often include ways to separate some of the spaces from other parts of the home, for example, creating a quiet sleeping area.

Tall ceilings and plenty of natural light provide the perfect backdrop for stylish living, but furnishing an open floor plan can pose a challenge since living, dining, and work spaces often flow into one another. Below, find our favorite loft decorating ideas and gain inspiration for creating a functional layout while highlighting your home’s architectural features.

Related: Why Lofts Are Often the Most-Wanted Apartment Type

Rustic Loft Decorating Ideas

Ann VanderWiel Wilde
Ann VanderWiel Wilde

Stunning wood beams steal the show in this rustic-style loft. They add warmth and character and serve as a divider between the kitchen and living space. An open floor plan can be tricky to work with, and dividing it into designated areas, such as a living or dining area, is key. Anchor each space with an area rug that not only creates distinction but also adds comfort and texture. This loft features wood elements throughout the architecture, furniture, doors, kitchen island, and floors for continuity.

Related: Pros and Cons of Open Floor Plans: 5 Things to Consider

Loft Home Office

John Bessler
John Bessler

Create a functional office in your loft with built-in shelving that works around slanted walls. This room combines comfort and function with loft decorating ideas that include warm elements, including wood beams, rich dark-brown walls, woven window shades, and plenty of storage for personal items. Instead of pushing your desk against the wall, position it in the center of the room for a more pleasant view while you work.

Neutral Loft Kitchen

John Granen
John Granen

Go light and bright with an all-white kitchen. The ceiling beams in this loft kitchen are painted white to open up the space, while a shiplap wall features a barn door that hides the pantry. A hexagon tile backsplash and a large island with stone countertops are the focal points. Warm up an all-white kitchen with loft decorating ideas, including wood accents like floating shelves, wide-plank floors, and leather barstools. Black accents, including hardware and pendant lighting, add contrast to the neutral color palette, while the glass lampshades and open shelving keep the space light and airy.

Modern Rustic Loft Decorating Ideas

Annie Schlechter
Annie Schlechter

A wood-paneled ceiling, deep leather sofa, and unique oak-barrel coffee table create rustic coziness in this loft living room. The traditional style elements are paired with modern accents, such as wishbone chairs, industrial-style barstools, and sleek black lighting. Incorporate texture with a soft area rug that helps anchor the furniture and defines the space. Plush throw pillows add to the comfy, relaxed atmosphere and are a great way to introduce welcome color and pattern.

Related: 16 Modern Farmhouse Interiors That Showcase the Style Flawlessly

Bright Laundry Room

David Land
David Land

Make wash day less of a chore by turning your laundry room into a space where you want to spend time. Functionality is the priority when it comes to this hard-working room. The benefit of a tall loft ceiling is ample space for vertical storage. Floating shelves hold cleaning supplies and provide visual interest, while a hanging rack holds clothing. A large chalkboard contrasts the otherwise all-white room and provides a spot to jot down a quick shopping list.

Modern pendant lights illuminate a large rolling island that houses various storage baskets and provides a surface to repair and fold laundered garments.

Airy Loft Guesthouse

Julie Soefer
Julie Soefer

This loft with an open floor plan makes for a beautiful yet functional guesthouse, as it has distinct areas for sleeping, dining, and cooking. While an open concept can pose a challenge, embracing a cohesive color palette for loft decorating ideas is the key to making it work. Warm white walls and a shiplap ceiling keep this space airy and open, and light colors and materials help it feel uncluttered and spacious.

Just because a space is small and serves multiple functions doesn’t mean you can’t mix metals and materials. Juxtaposing the warmth of wood with the softness of white bed linens and cool galvanized dining chairs elevates this guesthouse and adds layers of texture and interest.

Small Loft Kitchen

Jim Franco
Jim Franco

As this kitchen proves, small square footage doesn’t have to mean small visual impact. Vibrant colors, bold patterns, and lots of contrast are loft decorating ideas that bring this space to life, while clever storage solutions add function. Open shelving is an excellent option in a small loft kitchen; it creates a sense of openness and provides a spot to display favorite dishware and everyday items.

Another great trick to maximize space is a freestanding island that doubles as an extendable table. Use it to meal prep, hold a bowl of this week’s farmers market produce, or as a spot to drink your morning coffee. It’s also a clever way to incorporate a new material, like butcher block, and bring warmth and a natural element into the space.

Related: 46 Small Kitchen Decor Ideas for Big Style

Modern Loft Decorating Ideas

Ellie Lillstrom
Ellie Lillstrom

Unique light fixtures, a stunning soapstone backsplash, and vintage area rugs set the scene for this stunning space. The black backsplash serves as a piece of art and provides a stark contrast to minimalist brass sconces and warm white walls and cabinetry. Low-profile midcentury furniture adds warmth, character, and elevated comfort to the room while keeping with the neutral color scheme. The unique overhead lighting instantly dresses up the space.

Exposed Brick Wall

Helen Norman
Helen Norman

Exposed brick adds charm, warmth, and texture to a loft. This red brick wall contrasts a minimalist white buffet that serves as a home bar and a colorful contemporary painting. Contrasting styles, textures, and colors are loft decorating ideas that make a space feel more interesting, lived-in, and collected. If you’re limited on room, use pieces of furniture that serve more than one function, such as this white cabinet that provides storage and a serving and decorative surface.

Metal and Wood Entryway Shelving

<p>John Bessler</p>

John Bessler

An entryway needs to be functional, and this shelving unit made from black pipe fittings and live-edge wood boards provides tons of useful storage space, plus a bench. Use wire and woven baskets to add texture and corral items such as hats and gloves. Install pegs to hang coats and bags, and hang a mirror for a decorative touch and last-minute checks before you leave the house. This custom shelving unit is a loft decorating idea that creates a great first impression, pops against the bright white shiplap wall, and adds a charming touch of industrial style.

Related: How to Build DIY Industrial Shelves on a Budget

Modern Loft Kitchen

Kritsada Panichgul
Kritsada Panichgul

Painted white ceiling beams, suspended floating shelves, and a utilitarian rolling island lend this bright, airy loft a contemporary feel. Open shelving lightens up the space and adds storage while echoing the streamlined, linear elements in the kitchen. Oversized bell-shaped black pendant lights above the island break up all the clean lines of the furniture, beams, and cabinetry. They also provide contrasting color and tie in the black countertops and stove.

Cozy Kids’ Nook

Ellie Lillstrom
Ellie Lillstrom

Give kids a space of their own with a cozy reading nook complete with comfy pillows and soft stuffed animals. A porthole window, coordinating brass sconce, and glossy white shiplap walls create an elegant blank canvas for soft bedding, colorful throw pillows, and a blanket. Neutral walls and fixtures allow the space to grow with your kids and make switching out accessories and decor easier.

Loft Workstation

<p>Jessica Klewicki Glynn</p>

Jessica Klewicki Glynn

Think vertically to create a stylish work-from-home spot. Brighten up an exposed brick wall by painting it white. A large galvanized letter and metal chair add a touch of whimsy to this desk with built-in shelves and the wood and metal pop against the stark brick wall. Whether you use a laptop or desktop computer, a compact ladder desk is a great space-saving option.

Related: 7 Unexpected Ways to Upgrade Your Home Office

Industrial Decorating for Any Space

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