Could the inhabitants of half-abandoned warehouses and attics in old factories ever have imagined that their homes would lay the foundation for a new trend in interior design called loft style! The demand for such spaces is now so great that developers have begun to deliberately leave spacious “attics” in new buildings without finishing and sell them as luxury apartments.
Dekorin has already prepared for you an article about the key features of loft design “How to properly design a loft,” but seeing the growing popularity of these interiors, we could not resist and decided to also tell you about the main decorative element that sets them apart and which you can use in your home for creating this unique urban atmosphere - and this is wallpaper in the loft style.
Of course, a real loft will primarily be distinguished by its large area, high ceilings allowing the possibility of creating a second floor, a minimum number of walls between rooms and huge windows. But what if you like the loft style, but you live in an ordinary house or apartment? Then the surest way for you is to properly decorate the walls and ceiling. Next, you will learn about the variety of loft-style wallpapers and how to use them to achieve the effect you want!
What types of wallpaper are there?
For the loft style, you can use various types of wallpaper. For walls, monochromatic and multi-colored coatings, smooth and textured, will look harmonious. In addition, in the interior of one room you can combine different finishing methods or wallpaper companions.
Liquid
Wallpaper is so called because of the external result; it produces a smooth, uniform surface without joints. In fact, initially it is a powder that is diluted and applied to the wall according to the principle of plaster. For a loft-style interior, liquid wallpaper will be an excellent background, and they can also be successfully combined with other finishing methods.
Photo wallpaper
3D wallpaper can imitate any material, such as a brick or concrete wall. A three-dimensional image of a night metropolis or street graffiti will look impressive.
This type of decoration is usually done on one of the walls of the room, focusing attention while preserving space.
Non-woven
Available in two types. Fully non-woven or vinyl coated. In the first case, the wallpaper presents a textured surface similar to plaster.
This type is often used as wallpaper for painting, giving the desired shade and maintaining the relief. The second type is more decorative; a vinyl coating is applied to a non-woven base. As a result, the surface has a beautiful relief pattern.
Vinyl
A two-layer material, the first layer of which consists of non-woven fabric or paper, and the second is vinyl itself. A textured surface on a smooth base can present various patterns. In addition to external qualities, vinyl wallpapers are also practical. They can be washed, they are quite durable and can hide minor defects in the walls.
Color spectrum
White
A classic that will always be relevant. White color will help maximize the space, visually making it larger. White tone can act as a background or primary color in a loft interior.
White wallpaper without a pattern can stand out with an interesting relief, for example, imitating brickwork or an unevenly plastered wall.
The photo shows a compact loft-style bedroom. The decoration is done in white, making the room seem more spacious.
Gray
Gray color has many advantages. The texture and irregularities look gorgeous on it, it can be a laconic background or a bright filling, and is also one of the main tones of the loft style.
A good finishing option would be photo wallpaper in gray color, for example, imitation concrete slabs, plaster or metal looks harmonious with other finishing materials, wallpaper, wood panels or brick.
The photo shows a loft-style living room with gray wall decoration. The interior is filled with bright turquoise and fuchsia details.
Black
Black wallpaper will look good as accents in a loft-style interior. For example, one wall or only part of it is finished in black, and the rest of the decoration is made in a contrasting light shade.
Another option is to highlight several patterns or a drawing on a lighter background in black. It is best to use a dark tone in bright, well-lit rooms.
Brown
Brown color is immediately associated with brick walls; wallpaper imitating them can be made in both light and dark colors. The shade is warm; it will add the coziness that is lacking in the home to the modern style. Another option would be to decorate the walls with wallpaper for painting; in the interior of one room you can combine several shades.
The photo shows a loft-style bedroom. The accent wall is decorated with wood-imitation wallpaper.
Modern wallpaper in loft style
Also read: Stylish studio apartments (40 photos of interiors)
At the end of this article, all we have to do is mention simple plain wallpaper, which, surprisingly, can also make your loft interesting and unique. Create bright accent walls with them or combine them with unusual textures of walls, floors or ceilings - there are and cannot be any limits to your imagination!
Remember that the first lofts served as a refuge for poor artists and other representatives of bohemians, and therefore they are simply obliged by their nature to express the taste and creative vision of their owners. Good luck to you!
Also read: Modern trends: bright wall colors in the interior
Photos in the interior of the rooms
To the kitchen
The loft style kitchen is practical and functional. Modern furniture and appliances are combined with aged wall and floor finishes, exposed ventilation pipes and raw surfaces. The loft style is characterized by high ceilings; in a standard city apartment, the white color of the ceiling will help to visually elongate the room.
The kitchen is most often an extension of the living room; the space is open and united. You can designate zones in the room using a bar counter. In the kitchen, it is more practical to use wallpaper to decorate the dining area and places with the least access to water and cooking. It is better to decorate the work area with tiles, protective glass or a wall panel.
To the bedroom
A loft-style bedroom is very minimalist; there is no overload of furniture and details. In a bright room, the main object is the bed, which can be complemented only by the necessary pieces of furniture and decorative elements.
The photo shows a loft-style bedroom with different types of wall decoration, paintable wallpaper, imitation brickwork and vinyl wallpaper.
In order not to deprive the bedroom of coziness, it is better to use a warm color scheme; white, terracotta, sand and gray will cope with this perfectly.
The loft style will look impressive in a bedroom with large floor-to-ceiling windows; if there are none, you can use straight white tulle curtains to decorate the windows.
To the living room
In the living room you can fully reveal the direction of the loft style, combining different finishing methods, colors and textures. If the height of the room allows, then the ceiling can be decorated with a complex structure of ventilation pipes, painted in a bold color or simply chrome-plated. The flooring can be tile, stone, laminate or wood. Add a touch of warmth to this loft style composition with a small rug.
The walls can be decorated with wallpaper with different textures and colors. For example, an accent wall above a TV or sofa is decorated with bright-colored wallpaper, a clearly defined texture or 3D image, while the rest of the living room is decorated in a calmer palette.
Into the corridor
A loft-style hallway can be decorated with liquid wallpaper, paintable or photo wallpaper. For a small room it is better to use a light color scheme, for example white, beige, gray. You can also visually enlarge the space with the help of mirrors and abundant light.
Open, well-lit hallways and hallways can be decorated in a bolder shade, such as terracotta or taupe.
Design options
Under the brick
The first thing the loft style is associated with is brick walls. The surface can be untreated or refined with paint. Wallpaper with imitation brickwork will help save money and time spent on finishing. A variety of textures and colors provide more choice for decorating the interior of a loft-style room.
The photo shows a living room combined with a dining room in a loft style. Brick-like photo wallpaper designates the TV area and separates it from the rest of the space.
The brick finish will look harmonious in any room of the house; it also goes well with liquid and non-woven wallpaper.
Under concrete
Ordinary concrete can have completely different patterns and textures, with irregularities, interspersed with small pebbles and clearly defined slab joints.
The usual color of concrete is gray, the shade can be cold or warm, despite this the interior design turns out to be quite cool. This type of decoration will look harmonious in a spacious, well-lit room.
Under the stone
Natural stone masonry is a rather expensive and labor-intensive type of finishing. In addition, the material is heavy and massive, which means it will “eat up” the space of the room. Wallpaper will be a great alternative.
Photo wallpaper completely recreates the image of a stone wall down to the smallest detail. The stone is in harmony with plaster, plain and multi-colored wallpaper. Finishing with imitation stone masonry will successfully decorate a living room, kitchen or hallway.
Under plaster
The most neutral way of finishing, but not the most boring. The plaster can be uniform or with noticeable unevenness, cracked, with careless strokes. In addition to the usual gray color, wallpaper with imitation plaster allows you to choose any shade.
The finish will look good in any room and combines well with other finishing materials such as stone, metal or wood.
Boards
The eco theme has been at the peak of its popularity for many years. Wood has countless patterns, shades and textures. Wallpaper with a wooden plank pattern will make the interior of a stiletto loft unique and convey all the beauty of real wood.
The color scheme can be completely different, ranging from bleached oak to black-painted wood. The board adds coziness to the loft style design, and it can also be combined with other materials.
Metal look
Metal is a fairly cold material; in the interior of a loft-style house it is better to combine it with other finishing methods. Wallpaper, unlike metal sheets, is not so cold, and also does not heat up in the sun.
Metal fully conveys the features of the loft style, just like other materials, the texture and color may be different.
Materials
In order to create a loft style in the interior, concrete walls are most often used. But since gray concrete hardly contributes to coziness, it is painted in different shades - light and dark, giving different textures. Skilled hands can create incredibly beautiful modern design combinations using concrete. It is not necessary to make completely concrete walls, you can make only one. This material looks more expressive with classic skirting boards or ceiling moldings.
The brickwork of the walls creates an interesting design. Wood trim looks no less textured. The combination of brick and wood elements is ideal for creating the desired look. The loft style involves the use of metal, but not in large quantities as in the high-tech style. You can add some metal objects such as pipes, beams, frames. In order to emphasize the interior design, it is better to use plaster. Glass modern walls or partitions are used to separate some large rooms from the kitchen and bathroom.
There are 3 directions of loft style:
- Bohemian;
- glamorous;
- industrial.
In a bohemian vein, apartments most closely resemble abandoned large industrial premises. The decoration amazes with its imagination, which is so inherent in all creative people. Old furniture with history breaks up the industrial feel. Modern paintings or photographs can serve as wall decorations. In the furnishings of the apartment you can also find sculptures, ikebana, and musical instruments.
Glamorous designs are more distinctive and suit everyone. It is dominated by pastel colors, but in a rather unusual manner. The gray color of the walls can be combined with lilac. A variety of lighting elements, such as lampshades and floor lamps, create interesting accents. The too rough industrial atmosphere of the room is diluted with something elegant, such as baroque chairs.
Industrial design has become more widespread. An ordinary residential interior is filled with signs of an industrial space. The apartment is decorated with pipes, chains, and windings of wires. To create an industrial environment, strict geometric furniture designs are chosen.
