Loft apartments are all the rage for those craving a unique, open living space. With their towering ceilings, massive windows, and industrial chic vibe, lofts are a cool twist on traditional apartments. In this article, we’ll reveal what a loft is, explore ten key aspects of loft life, and weigh the pros and cons to help you decide this apartment style is right for you. Whether you’re eyeing a loft apartment in Chicago or checking out rentals in Atlanta, we’ve got all the must-know details for you.
What is a loft?
You’re probably very familiar with standard apartment floor plans. Most comparable to lofts are studio apartments, which have a living area, sleeping space and kitchen, all contained in one room. That is, except for the much-appreciated bathroom door, of course. In short, loft apartments are similar to studios in concept, but not so much in size, scope, and price.
Here’s a little history lesson about loft apartments: loft apartments came about as living spaces in the 1960s in New York City. Artists discovered that abandoned buildings, often with floor-to-ceiling windows, thus excellent light, make great studios. Eventually, others caught onto the charms of these awesome live, work, and play spaces. Now they’re super trendy spacesto call home. Many such lofts are also historically significant, so be sure to find out what the space used to manufacture or house so that you can wow guests with all kinds of anecdotes.
What is considered a loft apartment? Characteristics to look for when searching for one
If you’re considering a loft apartment, here are some key features to look for:
- High ceilings
- Large windows
- Exposed brick or concrete walls
- Visible ductwork and piping
- Minimal interior walls or partitions
- Open floor plans
- Industrial or historical architectural elements
- Abundant natural light
- Flexible, versatile spaces
Hard lofts and soft lofts
Hard lofts are authentic loft spaces converted from historic warehouses or industrial buildings, featuring original elements like exposed beams, ductwork, brick walls, and cement or hardwood floors. These unique architectural features lend a rustic charm and a distinct “cool” factor, often associated with artists and musicians. Due to their historical significance and limited availability, hard lofts are highly sought after and typically more expensive.
To meet the demand for loft living, new constructions called soft lofts mimic the industrial charm of hard lofts. Designed with high ceilings, large windows, and exposed brick from the outset, soft lofts offer modern amenities, upgraded utilities, and features like swimming pools and fitness centers. They are better insulated and provide more storage space, making them a practical and comfortable choice for modern living.
10 things to consider before living in a loft
Wondering about the good, bad and ugly of loft life? Here are some of the things that make these living spaces unique.
1. You need to style a loft
Lofts offer a distinct living experience with their open floor plans and industrial design elements, such as exposed brick, beams, and large windows. However, this blank canvas can feel vast and impersonal without the right touches. Styling a loft allows you to infuse personality and warmth into the space, making it truly your own. There are an endless amount of ways to transform your blank canvas into a stylish living space.
Pro: The open layout provides many possibilities for interior design, allowing you to personalize the space to reflect your style.
Con: The large, open areas can be challenging to furnish and decorate cohesively, and maintaining a clutter-free environment can be more demanding.
2. They’re mostly in urban areas
Lofts are predominantly found in urban areas due to the historical placement of industrial and commercial buildings in cities near transportation hubs. These urban lofts preserve the architectural significance of old, often abandoned buildings while providing unique living spaces. The urban setting enhances their appeal, offering easy access to city amenities and a vibrant lifestyle, making them a popular choice for city dwellers seeking distinctive living spaces.
3. Loft ceilings are nearly sky-high
Studio apartments almost always have standard ceiling heights of nine or so feet. Lofts, however, usually go much higher than that, because of the original building format. These soaring ceilings create an airy, spacious feel and allow for creative design possibilities, such as mezzanines or lofted sleeping areas. The extra vertical space also enhances natural light and ventilation, making a loft apartment feel twice the size (at least) of a similarly laid-out studio.
4. Loft utilities are expensive
Although high ceilings and enormous windows in one expansive room look pretty amazing, it can be a real beast to heat and cool. This is because there’s a lot of unused air space to handle, and also because older buildings are not very energy efficient unless they’ve been totally gutted. Expect higher utility rates, not to mention the occasional draft, thanks to windows that often don’t insulate well from the outside elements.
5. Lofts have larger floor plans
Lofts are less about efficiency and more about appearance. Because of this, they’re almost always larger than studio apartments. Of course, the square footage is also affected by the original footprint of the building. Loft apartments average anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, which is obviously much larger than the typical 500- or 600-square-foot studio.
6. They have many interesting features
Because lofts are usually in old buildings, they have all kinds of extra features like exposed ductwork, pipes, beams, brick and concrete floors. These industrial bells and whistles pair well with almost any style, making it easy and extremely fun to decorate. They’re so popular, in fact, that more and more new construction buildings incorporate the look, loft-style, or not.
7. They can be noisy
Lofts are noisier than regular apartments unless the renovation company took extra measures to enhance privacy and soundproof the place. That’s because new construction is better insulated. Lofts also lack sound-absorbing carpeting. So, if your upstairs neighbor is an avid tap-dancer, this can spell trouble.
8. Lofts don’t have much storage space
The sheer lack of closets and other storage is another reason that lofts are less practical. In such a space, where you can literally see every square foot with one glance, it’s necessary to furnish it with creative storage options. That is, unless you want all of your business on display all the time.
9. It’s easy for a loft to look messy
This is one peril of an apartment that’s basically one giant room. If any section of it is a disaster area, you can’t simply close the door and pretend it doesn’t exist. So, it’s best to set a regular clutter pick-up and cleaning schedule before things get out of control.
10. Lofts lack extras
If apartment amenities are what you’re after, you might need to keep shopping. Hard lofts rarely have the amenity portfolio that modern apartment communities boast, like a 24-hour gym, swimming pool or community grilling area.
The differences between a loft and an apartment
Traditional apartments typically have defined rooms, standard ceiling heights, and a more conventional residential design. They provide segmented, private living environments with practical layouts suited for everyday living.
- Price: Lofts tend to be more expensive due to their size, historical value, and unique architectural features, while apartments are usually more affordable.
- Size: Lofts are generally much larger than apartments, often offering open, warehouse-like spaces, while apartments have smaller, defined rooms.
Privacy: Apartments offer more privacy with separate rooms, while lofts have an open floor plan with minimal partitions. - Storage: Apartments usually come with built-in closets and storage spaces, whereas lofts often require creative storage solutions due to their open layout.
Living in a apartment with a loft is totally different
An apartment with a loft space and a true loft differ significantly in design, layout, and experience.
- Design: Apartments with loft spaces have a small, elevated area within a traditional layout. True lofts are expansive, open-concept spaces with high ceilings and industrial elements.
- Layout: Apartments with loft spaces include more traditional, segmented rooms, whereas true lofts have minimal interior walls and an open, airy feel.
- Aesthetics: True lofts showcase industrial features like exposed brick and beams. Apartments with loft spaces maintain a conventional residential look.
- Size: Lofts are generally larger, offering a warehouse-like scale. Apartments with loft spaces are smaller with a compact lofted area.
- Historical value: True lofts often come from repurposed industrial buildings, adding historical significance, while apartments with loft spaces are typically modern constructions.
Living in a loft vs a studio
Choosing between a loft and a studio depends on your preferences and needs. Here are some key differences:
- Size: Lofts are generally much larger, often offering a warehouse-like scale, while studios are typically between 400 and 600 square feet.
- Cost: Lofts tend to cost more due to their size, historical value, and unique architectural features, whereas studios are usually more affordable.
- Layout: Lofts have open, airy spaces with high ceilings and minimal partitions, while studios have a single-room layout combining living, sleeping, and kitchen areas.
- Utilities: Heating and cooling a loft can be more costly due to larger spaces and high ceilings. Studios are more energy-efficient and cheaper to maintain.
- Aesthetics: Lofts often feature industrial elements like exposed brick and beams, while studios have a more conventional, residential look.
If you prefer a small, cozy space with lower costs, a studio might be more appealing. However, if you love spacious, industrial-style living, a loft could be worth the extra expense.