A lofty touch to your house

Talk about lofts in an Indian household and what comes to mind is an open space, above cupboards or spaces under the ceilings, meant to store suitcases and other junk. The word ‘loft’ according to architects in India “is the space below the roof of a house”. But, it has different connotations in Western architecture. There it is regarded as more than just a storage area.

The wide-ranging concept of a loft is that of a big open space, with a high ceiling of about at least 17 or more feet, most probably of a building, which is converted into units for residential purpose. It can either be an upper storey or a space under the roof, generally with high ceilings and extra large windows.

The spacious floor is often separated into makeshift rooms with walls. Along with other peculiar features like open kitchens, exposed ducts and pipes in the ceiling, it also has a metal staircase.

In the West, lofts are translated into myriad spaces like loft apartments, loft studios, commercial lofts and loft bedrooms. All these are spaces that make use of huge spaces like an industrial building or commercial space, turned into a residential house with the help of walls, room dividers and partitions. However, in India, many of these concepts like a condominium, are unheard of and usually not compatible with the local culture and architecture.

Best for storage

But the importance of a loft in an Indian house cannot be understated. Till date, its sole purpose remains to be a storage area.

Normally, the distance of loft meant for storage should be seven feet from the floor. Its height can be about three feet.

Ideal spot

While planning the house, one should be sure about where a loft should be located. However, it is advisable to have one in each bedroom.

Mattresses, suitcases, which are useful, but not on the daily basis can really eat away floor space.  Therefore stacking them away in lofts creates more space within rooms and gives them a neat and uncluttered look.

In the kitchen

A typical Indian kitchen without a loft would leave one craving for more space.
Lofts in the kitchen are much needed to stash away things, needed on special occasions like jumbo sized pressure cookers, dinner sets and other kitchen utensils, which otherwise  give a messy look, if kept openly on the counter or shelves.

Showy shutters

Lofts are usually regarded as plain spaces, but they can be made interesting with experiments while designing them. By deviating from usual choice of bland shutters, which can be sliding or hinged, one can use etched mirrors or brightly painted glass framed in solid wood.

If you think glass is fragile and can get damaged easily, you can also opt for wooden polished shutters with Victorian patterns to lend it a grand look. It looks tasteful to conceal a loft with shutters, otherwise, the piled-up stuff can be an eyesore.

Bedroom loft

The concept can lend an impressive touch to the room. Loft bedrooms, with a ladder leading up to it, are meant to be made in houses with high ceilings of at least 12 feet. The height of a loft bedroom has to be at least five feet high to provide enough head room in the sitting position. It should also have proper lighting arrangement.

Since lofts rooms have low ceiling, a floor mattress would be more suitable.
The decor should be created in such a way that it turns out to be an ideal corner for reading and sleeping.

A fancy railing of not more than one feet in height can be put at the edges to complete its look.

The space below a loft bedroom can be used to build wardrobes. Although a loft bedroom may or may not have a window, but it is advisable to have one for the entry of natural light and fresh air.