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Loft living is a popular way for many people to live. On one hand, it offers versatility and flexibility within a space but, without clever interior design and use of space, it can be unappealing – after all who wants to live in a cold looking and feeling space?

Creating a warm, open plan living space is easy with a few simple hints and tricks that make the space work in compartments, without necessarily segmenting sections with walls. Balustrade Components are adept at working in interior and exterior spaces, making them the exact kind of space you want and need.

Loft living – what is it?

Once the preserve of artists and bohemians, loft living is now a sought after way of living in a space. Think open plan but with greater magnitude and impact.

In the 70s, many homes were built with this open plan feel. It was an interior design pattern that encouraged the flow of life through a space. Instead of the traditional separate spaces, such as a living room and lounge, the wall was no longer there.

The bricks and mortar interior walls were replaced with room dividers, such as bookcases and so on. The idea was simple – it offered some kind of barrier to a space so that you could denote the separateness of it. These room dividers offered a modicum of privacy in an otherwise open space.

Loft living is about having no divides. The space is open and cavernous. The kitchen is fixed; the bedroom may not be the secluded room you had always thought it should or needed to be. The space is maximised in terms of floor space, and height too in many cases.

Older buildings, abandoned warehouses and dock side buildings, once the hub bub of industry, have now been reclaimed, offering open space to everyone who enjoys living this way.

It is not to everyone’s taste. It can feel too vast, too open, too relaxed and informal. Some people feel safe in the tradition of shutting a door on a space, only entering that space when they want or need to.

For those that love loft living, there are many different additions and design concepts they can add to make their loft apartment truly their own.

Add sparks of interest with focal points

Loft living does not necessarily mean living on the surface of the moon. It doesn’t need to be minimalist, empty and barren. However, even with the biggest sofa in the world in it, if your loft apartment still feels empty and wasted then you need to add a spark of interest.

One way that designers suggest you do this, is to add a focal point (or two). When a space feels empty, it may be because the eye has nothing to fall upon or focus on. There are many ways of doing this:

• Choose a material and make that the design centre piece

Glass, for example, is a versatile material that packs a punch in all situations, both interior and exterior. For loft apartments with more than one level, a glass balustrade for staircases and mezzanine levels is the perfect way of adding structure to a space so that the eye can focus.

Glass does not block light and neither does it create a barrier that is too absolute, like a wall or room dividers such as book cases.

By choosing one material and using it throughout the space, it creates a theme that was missing previously. Glass also fits with traditional or modernist, minimal design and unlike other materials, there is no need to use it sparingly.

• Colour

The biggest advantage of loft living is that the darkest, most dramatic colours work exceptionally well in this space. Some people prefer to keep their loft apartment devoid of colour but, if you feel it lacks warmth and focus, a dramatic feature wall can make all the difference.

Colour, of course, does not have to be for the walls only. The ceiling, if high, can be ‘brought down’ by the addition of colour and you can add plenty of colour to the floor space too. The use of rugs on hard floors is a perfect example.

• Art installations

Many people use sculptures and art to add interest and focus to an otherwise cavernous space. Glass sculptures, with their various colours and form, can allow light to bounce around a space, changing it from an ordinary place to something simply extraordinary.

Is your loft apartment lacking form and structure? Glass balustrades can add form and appeal to any space, but look great in a loft apartment.