Loft living
Wiving in cramped dwellings with an expanding family and no immediate means to move to more spacious habitats? Or alone in a studio apartment?
Perhaps, you’re simply scouting for novel ways to spice up your snoozing space? There’s one exciting answer to all these problems – the loft bedroom! True, lofts initially signified makeshift homes that writers, artists and even businessmen both lived in and worked out of. But, today, combining fashion and economy, a house with an open floor plan and loft bedroom is trendy.
A loft bedroom in a home or an apartment is an open area at an elevated level accessible from the ground floor level by a permanent ladder or staircase. The loft is an upper storey or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Irrespective of whether your roof is flat or having an A-shaped frame, or whether the building you’ve purchased already consists of a loft or you intend to convert/create one, loft bedrooms are a feasible option for space-saving and cost-cutting extensions. A loft bedroom could be for a couple or for siblings sharing the same bedroom. For the latter, specially-crafted loft beds, which are akin to bunk beds with the lower bunk removed, are usually used. If the entire house has two levels, utilise the lower level for living spaces and kitchen spaces and the upper level for sleeping. Ladders age quickly, but staircases are expensive, besides being space-gobblers.
Shoji screens, curtains or foldable room dividers help conceal your loft bedroom when you want to change or sleep. At other times, retain the open, airy look. Let the screens remain discrete. As for storage space, select beds with drawers and also supplement with ottomans and plain steel racks to place wicker baskets on. Don’t ruin the contemporary look with conventional, heavy furniture. Skylights can help bring the natural light inside. Supplement with accent lighting in contemporary style. But, clutter plays spoilsport. Because it’s an open floor plan, visibility is high and retaining a clean and organised room is essential.
You can also accommodate a work or study space and a bathroom alongside the bedroom. These extra facilities are especially advantageous if the family’s bulging. Demarcate the study and sleeping areas using throw rugs and appropriate furniture. Remember, lining the furniture along the walls only makes the room appear cramped. Rather, arrange them in groups. If you’ve picked a loft bed, use low furniture like bean bags for seats underneath. For normal cots, select those with tall headboards. Else, paint the wall behind the headboard with a colour that strikingly contrasts with the general loft colour. Light, soft or neutral colours are recommended for the latter for imparting a roomier feel. If carving a loft out of an existing building, check beforehand if the overall height is adequate to accommodate the two levels. Make arrangements for prevention of rainwater seepage from the roof. If incorporating an en suite bathroom, ensure the existing structure can withstand the additional plumbing demands. If not, create a separate system. Also remember, pumping water to the house’s highest point can adversely affect water pressure throughout the house.
