Do you need to know how to design on a budget?

Well, look no further for your answer on how to design on a budget. If you are soon to embark on a design journey and your purse strings are tight, you can still design your home to be the oasis that you desire.

I started to design my home when I was strapped for cash and working two jobs. I decided to do it because I knew that I needed to do something that would bless me continuously, and that was for me especially as many of my days had been challenging.

Through this experience, I have learned some tips and tricks to help you stay within budget on your design journey.

This post is all about 9 Insanely good tips on How to design on a budget.

Background

I decided that I would design the interior of my home when I was strapped for cash. Every penny was already accounted for two weeks in advance. While I have always been good with money, the tide changed and my finances started to close in on me.  However, I needed this creative and intellectual outlet to heal from trauma and burnout.

So, I decided that I owed it to myself to ensure that the space that I occupied was beautiful, enjoyable, functional, and sustainable. Sometimes in life, we put off the things we enjoy and the things that make us glad because we are waiting on money to experience fullness. I encourage you to find creative ways to pursue your dream life in a way that will not break the bank. That you may experience the glory of self-love before you make the money you desire.

The 9 Best Ways How to Design on a Budget

Know Your Why

Knowing the purpose of your design is an anchor. This will help you to assess how far you need to go financially with your design project. For example, if you are renting out your home, you may want to ensure that all the basics are covered and that there is a neutral palette for renters to work with. Whereas, if you are moving your in-laws in, it may be worthwhile to incorporate more time and consideration into your design project. Consider the purpose for embarking on this design journey and you will be able to understand better the capacity and scope of your project and the implications on your finances it has.

Break it into Smaller Pieces

Don’t try to redo your entire home all at once. If you are on a budget you can break your design project up into smaller pieces by room or task. Dividing this project up will help it feel much more manageable financially. Looking at the expense of an entire home redesign is much different than assessing the cost of your home office space.

Consider your why and determine the tasks or room that would be most central to that purpose. For example, if you are planning to invite a new baby into your home updating the kitchen may be important but not as central as updating the guest room into the nursery. If you plan to entertain this holiday season, it may be your priority to focus on your common spaces like the living room and bathroom as opposed to your bedroom. Knowing your why will help you to determine what to prioritize first.

Save

Another amazing hack is to simply save for your home’s redesign. You can do this by pricing out what it will cost to design your home the way you’d like. Purchasing appliances and other items upfront as opposed to financing them with debt. However, that requires that you have cash upfront. Take some time to price out your expenses for your design project. That way you can start to set aside money to cover the cost upfront to make the purchases more affordable. It also may be helpful to target the higher ticket items like planning or any contract remodeling that will need to be completed.

Repurpose/ Reuse Items

Inventory items that you have already and consider how they can be repurposed. For example, I have an old dresser that has been passed down through my family. While the tattered old dresser has been used to keep folded clothes, I can use this as a runner, tv stand, storage, or desk. I plan to sand and paint this piece of furniture to match the new decor scheme of my house. Taking on this DIY project is much less costly than it would be to purchase a new piece of furniture. Finding ways to repurpose or improve the items you already have can save you money.

By Cheaper

Instead of purchasing the most expensive furnishings, fixtures, etc. from high-end luxury stores, look for similar quality but less expensive buys. It may be helpful to make a list of the dream items you are interested in purchasing and find comparable alternatives that are less expensive. This way, you can achieve an identical look while having thought through cost-effective alternatives.

Learn Skills Instead of Outsourcing

Having your home painted, or having your curtains hemmed could get expensive, but you could learn these skills to reduce cost. However, the exchange you are making is to spend more of your time learning a new skill to do the work yourself. This is a great way to cut costs. Some things should be done by a professional while others can be DIYed. Consider the task you need to complete in order to achieve your interior design goal. Use resources like YouTube and Coursera to develop the skills for the tasks you can complete on your own.

Prioritize Designing in Your Budget

{Related Article: 19 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Your Design Aesthetic}

It is also beneficial to prioritize designing in your budget. That means you may have to rank this project above your entertainment, discretionary, fashion, and other non-essential expenditures for a period. Take some time to review your budget and determine where you can redirect money for the time being. For example, the $150 you dedicated to eating out each month may have to go toward the purchase of the new rug you have been obsessing over.

Bargains Hunting

This is an important skill that I learned as a youngin’ shopping alongside my mom. Finding the bargain is essential to saving money and ensuring that you are getting value. You can bargain hunt by checking out discount stores, shopping online, purchasing at garage sales, and consignment shops. Taking the time to find deals is huge when you are on a budget. You may also find it advantageous to plan around seasonal holidays that come along with big sales like after Christmas and Black Friday. You could also consider if there are any stores that are closing near you. This is an excellent way to find items at a discounted rate.

Second-Hand Purchasing

Finally, purchasing gently used items is another way you can save during your redesign project. Visit sites like Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark to search for resale items that could suit your design scheme. Another great resource is to check in with friends and family. Simply sharing about your design project, color scheme, and concept may prompt them to share some of the items they’ve had tucked away for some time. When purchasing second-hand items be sure to inspect the product well to ensure its stability and longevity. 

What are the most essential questions to ask yourself before buying a loft?

Have you recently considered purchasing a loft? It’s youthful, chic, and sexy! I agree. Loft living is something to be appreciated and cherished.

However, there are some things that you should think about before you say yes to your first loft.

After purchasing my condo I learned a few tough lessons that I wish I would have known before. Keep reading if you want the inside scoop on the key insights I gained as a first-time loft owner.

The Top 21 Considerations Before Purchasing a Loft

Back Story

There are three types of homes that I dreamed of living in. One of those homes is a loft. As a young girl, I always dreamed of living in a loft. I was inspired to live in a loft from watching movies like Hitch and visiting close relatives. The industrial style felt chic and elevated in a way that was creative and grungy like my young self.

I was able to purchase my first home in 2022 which came chock-full of surprises, mountains, valleys, and lessons. At one point, I was saddened because I couldn’t afford to decorate my home the way I dreamed. Encouraged by the resilience and creativity of my ancestors I decided to figure it out! As an act of healing and self-love, I decided to embark on a journey to decorate and design the home that I dreamed of. This led me here, to share my journey and story with you, in hopes to inspire you to find ways to build sustainable, functional, and beautiful spaces that capture your dreams regardless of your budget.

The best advice before you buy or rent a loft.

What is the purpose of your home?

Identifying why you want to purchase a home or move into a loft is critical to ensuring that you are making a decision that is aligned with your ultimate goals. For example, I knew that I wanted to purchase my home, enjoy it for some time, and then rent it out for extra income. Knowing this guided me as I made decisions about layout, purchase price, amenities, and even location. Understanding your why will help you navigate your process, your priorities, and non-negotiables. Take some time to consider what you want the purpose of your home to be.

Is the total cost well below your means?

I am a fierce advocate for living well below your means. I have done it before and was able to amass a healthy saving while still enjoying my life. I have also been in situations when I lived well above my means and the economic pressure was mountainous. Never exact your budget or savings. If you find that you are pushing yourself to the edge financially, it is too expensive. I often rely on the New York rule when considering housing costs – your monthly income should be about 4 times your rent or mortgage payment. This is a good starting place to ensure you have enough room in your income to manage housing cost.

Are there any assessment fees?

I had no idea about assessment fees when purchasing my loft condo. These costs fall outside of the regular HOA fee and are typically used to support capital projects for the community like building repairs and improvements. These fees can be hefty and long-lasting. Many buyers do not realize this is added to their regular HOAs as an installment or lump sum requirement until after the property is purchased! Be sure to ask if there are any additional fees before you say, yes.

What is the average monthly energy usage and consumption?

Assessing the square footage, elevation, layout, and materials used in the home can help you gauge what the monthly energy cost will be. On my initial walk-through of my current home, I realized the thermostat sits right in front of the window. When the sun moves west toward the middle of the day, the thermostat will read warmer because it is in direct sunlight, raising its temperature. That meant, my HVAC would run more at a certain time of day in the summer if not mitigated. Inspect your home for ways your energy consumption may be impacted to price your energy requirement.

What is the history of the building’s management?

Find out who your management company is, read their reviews, and check out other properties they manage! That will give you a sense of their customer service, and management quality. If you have the opportunity to research to learn about the history of the management company, your building, board, and association, do so. Determine what the relationship has been like between these entities. Has there been any recent transitions, why? How long have the current parties served in their positions? What are the main projects and priorities?

Are there any major issues in the building how are these issues being addressed?

Questions, questions, and more questions. While I love my apartment, I purchased it from a seller who did not disclose that my unit and building had significant issues with water leakage. Be sure to specifically inquire about water, electrical, structural, plumbing, and roofing issues. Beyond the seller, talk with the leasing office, management company, and other residents to gain deeper insight into your unit’s and building’s history.

Are there any property tax adjustments?

Typically when you purchase a home your taxes are uncapped and the value of the property is reassessed to provide an updated property tax value. If your property has not been assessed for some time and the neighborhood has experienced economic shifts your property taxes may be impacted. This caused a significant swing in my property tax value once I purchased my home. My property taxes increased by over 500% for the summer taxes alone. That had huge implications for affordability as these costs are factored into my monthly escrow – a fund paid to the lender that covers expenses like property taxes and homeowners insurance.

What updates will you need to make?

Whether you are purchasing or renting you want to make sure your home is enjoyable and offers you the amenities that allow you to feel comfortable. When you are touring your potential loft take note of the appliance or any other items that you would like to upgrade and research the cost.

Does the building have a list of recommended contractors?

If you want your upgrades done there may be restrictions based on your HOA agreement. A recommended vendor list can help you mitigate any violations of the HOA rules. My apartment features older fixtures and appliances, so, it was very important for me to identify people with familiarity working with the materials and appliances unique to this building. While, it is still important for me to know the HOA requirements, working with vendors who frequent the build smooths the process.

What does the assessment report reveal?

Make sure you get an assessment before deciding to purchase or rent a home. An assessment report gives you a comprehensive scan of your unit and building detailing any major flags. While I would have liked for this to have been a catch all for any issues, it was not. Nonetheless, it provided me with an overview of the quality of my property and some fixes I could make to increase the value of the property.

Do you have enough money saved to pursue legal action if warranted?

When you purchase a home you may come to realize that things are not as they were when the contract was signed or as the contract designates. Have some money set aside in case you need to use legal services to help you advocate or have the issues corrected? Legal fees are expensive, oftentimes people get stuck in a property with more problems than they bargained for because they can’t afford to pursue legal action. 

Is the area walkable?

Walkability is huge on my list and I think it should be on everyone’s list. How walkable is the neighborhood you are looking to live in. That will have huge implications for your well-being and your ability to have access to free recreation. Consider if there are major highways or busy roads near your home, if so, the neighborhood may not be as walkable. Are the properties around well kept, are there local businesses, and inviting green spaces, that put a check next to the walkability mark?

What shopping centers are you near?

If you ever had to drive 30 minutes for a Wal-mart you may understand the necessity of asking this question. Depending on your mobility a 30-minute drive to Walmart may not be feasible. If you live in a metropolis taking 2-3 trains to access a decent grocery store is not a good look either. While finding the perfect property is rare, these items are worth considering so that you can have the most convenient arrangement.

What take-out restaurants are available in your area?

Similar to sourcing grocery stores near you, you want to know if the area you’re in offers a variety of good takeout. There will be times that you have worked all day and can’t imagine cooking. Having a variety of quality options close to you will prevent you from ordering pizza for the 34th time. Also, could you imagine how inconvenient it will be to have to drive 20 minutes to a decent restaurant after a long day’s work? Make it easier on yourself and solve for convenience. 

What storage space is available to you in your home?

Wherever you are moving you are most likely bringing stuff with you. My general rule of thumb is that you should have leftover storage after moving everything in. That will then give you enough space to grow. There are two ways of approaching this. You can either downsize and shed some of the things you have, or you could go for a place that has more storage than you need. I think it’s best to do a bit of both.

Do you have existing pieces of furniture that you want to bring in? 

Consider the large pieces of furniture you already have. Is there anything that stands out? Make sure that these new pieces fit into your new home both physically and aesthetically. Measure the furniture and make a note of it on your phone. As you are house hunting keep a tape measure with you so that you can measure your entry ways. For many people, this many not be a deal breaker, however, it is worth consideration.

How is the home heated and cooled?

Make sure you understand how the HVAC works, which may have huge implications for any additional costs that are associated with your home. Make sure that you understand the components of the heating system and what is needed to keep it working properly.

What are other tenants saying?

If you have an opportunity to connect with other residents within your building. Ask them how they feel about the health of the building, their property value, the responsiveness of the management company, the responsiveness of the board, the consistency of HOA Fees, and the culture of the building. This will give you insight into how things may function in the building which will directly impact your experience. If you don’t come across any current residents you can talk to directly, think about sharing with close friends about where you are looking to move, you will be surprised at the network of people you can leverage to have your questions answered.

What amenities are offered?

Understand the amenities that are offered in this living space. It may also be helpful to find out what amenities are available in other properties in the area. This is a great way to pressure test the value you are getting for what you are paying. Research what other properties offer and compare with the amenities that are offered in your potential living space. This will help you to have a fairer evaluation of the property you are viewing.

What do you want to use your home for?

This is incredibly important and should be on of the first things you consider as you are searching for a home. A dream home that you want to raise your family in is much different from an investment property, which is much different from your first apartment. Consider the way that you intend to use your space. Are you interested in entertaining, will you host family members for an extended period? Do you want this to be your hide away palace? Understanding how long you will stay in your home can also help you decide to purchase or rent.

How do you feel when you think about your home? 

Many folks suggest that when you stumble across the property that is meant to be yours, your intuition speaks to you. While I do believe that prioritizing logic is essential when making a decision of this magnitude, it is also important to acknowledge, explore, and listen to what your intuition is sharing with you. This helps you to truly be satisfied with your home and enjoy your purchase. When you listen to your intuition and it aligns with your research you are all the more confident in your purchase and proud of this accomplishment.

This post describes the 21 things you should consider before you purchase a loft.

Do you know the 19 most essential questions to ask to find your design aesthetic?

Figuring out your design aesthetic? No Problem! Have you ever tried to figure out how to decorate your bedroom, put together an outfit, or even style your makeup?

If so, you know firsthand how difficult it can be to settle on a style you like and to bring the vision in your head to life.

Not to worry, I have organized the list of questions and considerations I used to help me discover the interior design style that best reflected my personality and met my needs as a busy and budgeting professional.

19 questions you can ask yourself to find your design aesthetic.

Back Story

I purchased my first home in 2023 and left my full-time job 5 months later. While I had a healthy savings to hold me over, I did not land employment that paid me nearly the amount I was accustomed to making. So, I decided to pick up extra work to meet my ends and begin to rebuild my savings!

As a result, I held off on decorating my home because I didn’t have the money I thought I needed to create the space I wanted. This frustrated me tremendously. I want to enjoy this space! With a bit of elbow grease and home-grown creativity, I am excited to embark on this journey of designing the space I need and want.

That’s right—I am the head interior designer who will achieve the aesthetics of my dream city loft! My budget, time, and experience are limited, but what does that matter in the face of determination?

It was only a few days ago that I landed on a design concept that matches my personality and captures the exact aesthetic I am working to recreate. Check out these questions I explored to land on my design aesthetic for my city Loft that is stylish, functional, and sustainable. 

The Best Questions to Ask to Find Your Design Aesthetic

What movies and books stand out to you?

Answering this can give you insight into the designs and moods that are most captivating to you. Think about the movies you love and the scenes that you wish you could experience. Rewatch that portion of the film and consider if there are design elements that draw you in. Consider the colors, materials, components, arrangement, and spacing displayed on the screen. The movies that influenced my interior design style are Hitch and Harry Potter. I’ve always loved bookcases, candles, gothic arches, and dark wood grains featured in academia while equally admiring the rustic, sleek brick and cement exposure of a styled industrial home.

What Pinterest pictures of home designs catch your attention?

Pinterest is a huge search engine that many bloggers, designers, and artists use to share their creativity and to be inspired by others. Searching designs and design elements on Pinterest can help you craft your vision and find details that make it achievable. I recommend creating a mood board for your home and each room you want to design. Begin to search for different designs and save the pictures to the corresponding board. Then review your mood boards and list out what resonates with you. This will help you notice colors, placements, furniture pieces, shapes, and patterns that will bring your vision to life.

What do you want to communicate about yourself and your home?

Another important thing to consider is what you want to communicate about yourself and your home. The design elements of your home are an extension of you. How might your home be an expression of your most prominent desires and deepest values? For example, I love to learn, so, displaying books on the subjects that I am most passionate about helps me to express my love for learning through interior design. What are the things that you want to express about yourself through your design?

What features and elements already exist in your home?

Identifying what features your home currently will guide you when deciding on your design aesthetic. The layout, materials, lighting, color schemes, furniture, etc. used in your home can be a map to the capacity you have to create the look you want. Take into consideration the features your home already has and lean into what is already available.

{Related Post: Why Loft Living is an Absolute Yes!}

How much money do you have to spend on this project?

Understanding your budget will give you an idea of the capacity you have to create the aesthetic you want, or how you want to approach achieving your desired aesthetic. If you have an unlimited budget you can hire someone to design and install your interior for you. With budget constraints, you still can choose whatever design you want, however, your budget will help you to decide how you will go about achieving your interior design.

What is your personal style?

Identifying your personal style can also help you to find the design aesthetic that resonates with you. Your personal style is an expression of who you are and what you like. Examining your personal style is a great way to reflect upon the aesthetics you feel most comfortable and confident in. This will give you insight into how you want to experience your home and the elements of your personal styles you’d like to include in your interior design. For me, I love to wear neutral colors and I desire a similar palette for my home’s interior because neutral colors make me feel calm, put together, and elegant.

How will I use my space/ home?

This may be the most important question you will ask yourself when determining your interior design aesthetic. Think about the ways you intend to use your space. First, you may ponder how you envision using your space, then you may consider the ways that you currently use your space. This will help you to determine the key functions of your home. When you know how you intend to use your home, you can think about how to design functionality into your home. Consider what interior design styles already have elements to support how you want to use your home.

What colors am I most drawn to?

What are your favorite colors and color schemes? Identifying and naming the kinds of colors you feel most drawn to will provide incredible insight into the type of moods you enjoy, when you feel your best, and even how you define luxury. Some people like bold colors and patterns while others enjoy earth tones. You may find that some like muted colors and others prefer jewel tones. Understanding this is the springboard to finding your design aesthetic. I suggest trying the app Colours to review a variety of color palettes and identify the ones that stand out to you most or create your own color palette as a guide to keep with you as you begin designing your home’s interior.

What design style am I most drawn to?

Research interior design styles and take an interior design quiz. Check out this interior design quiz by Rebecca Robeson. It took some time to identify the actual names of the styles that I wanted to capture because there were so many that incorporated many of the elements that I was drawn to. However, none captured them all. I started attempting a rustic farmhouse theme with Victorian accents. This design theme captured the natural elements that I was looking for but lacked the sleek and contemporary feel I envisioned. As I continued my research I realized that industrial interior design and academia were more of what I was looking for. I was able to find this language by recognizing that I wasn’t completely satisfied with the original styles I explored. Continuing my research allowed me to identify other styles that are more closely aligned with my vision.

What do I value?

Sustainability, style, and functionality are key components of my approach. I do not want to compromise doing what is good for the environment, what works best for me, or what looks good to me. Ensuring the harmony of these elements is a priority. Think about the design styles that most naturally capture your values. Things like simplicity, tranquility, and self-expression are some values that I have heard often. For example, a huge component of industrial design is the display of raw materials. This allows me to be creative with recycled wood and metals for my design pieces fostering a sense of sustainability.

Antique and/or Contemporary?

Consider if you prefer older styles, more contemporary designs, or a mixture of both. Also, think about what in your home you prefer to look contemporary vs old. For example, I love crown molding, which is typically found in older homes, while I also love modern face bowls and faucet fixtures. My friend and I have completely different visions for home aesthetics. He likes all contemporary design, I think it is too sterile and lacks character. He thinks my love for antique pieces demonstrates a lack of progression or freshness. What do you prefer, and the best part is, you don’t have to choose!

Dark or light?

Another great question to ask yourself is, do I like dark, light, or both? This question can be applied to colors, lighting, textures, placement, mood, etc. Again, I like a mixture of both! While I love ample natural light, I prefer dark white walls, deep grays, black fixtures, and trimming. This has a lot of implications for my design aesthetic. How might your preference for light and/or dark influence how you will design your home?

Glam or Understated?

My sister loves a glamorous look, I on the other hand do not. I have two beautiful jewel-toned, navy-blue couches that I love, that is all the color I can do. Do you like a glamorous style or something a bit more understated? Consider the colors you like and the material you want to display. Are you drawn to more outstanding imagery and elements like crystal or gold? How do they make you feel? Do you prefer muted colors and quiet luxury? Deciding on where you land, will help you to find an aesthetic or elements of an aesthetic that most resonates with you. 

Is there something missing? Or are you sold with your design style?

After you’ve landed on your design aesthetic, color schemes, and mood, think about if you are sold. Is there something missing that is not fully captured? Considering this could lead you to push deeper into research to discover a more encompassing aesthetic. Understand that your unique spin may not ever be fully captured by any description. Give yourself permission to continue to grow and adjust as you go through this process. However, I am not advocating for you to stay in indecision, but listening to your intuition can help you find a scheme that is more aligned to your vision.

What words would you use to express your interior design style?

Take some time to list out all the words you would use to describe the design aesthetic you want for your home. Use these words as a springboard to guide your research. Remember, you are not married to these words. If through experimentation, you discover that the mid-century design no longer describes what your vision is, remove it from your list or replace it with a word or style that better suits what you are attempting to express. Naming and listing the words you want to realize aesthetically takes your vision out of your mind, and codifies it in a way that provides a tangible reference and guide to use and recall when making design decisions. That way your concepts no longer linger as allusive but are concrete and managable.

What patterns and shapes are you most drawn to?

Identifying the patterns and shapes that you are drawn to will also help you to identify a style of interior design. Explore if you prefer straight lines or curves. Think about if you like rounded shapes or pronounced corners. These elements also establish a mood that impacts your scheme.

What materials are you most drawn to?

This question will also help you discover the design aesthetic that suits your style. Think about if you have a preference for raw materials like brick, steel, and concrete. Have you considered softer materials like silk, wicker, cotton, wood, precious metals, stone, etc. Understanding the types of materials that you want in your home will give you an idea of what aesthetic to go for.

Where have you seen this style before?

Beyond your research of movies, think of places like restaurants, hotels, office buildings, and other people’s houses that you have been inspired by. It may be worthwhile to revisit those places and take note of the elements you see, the mood you feel, and what you like and dislike about the design. You may even want to ask the owner or designer what inspired them to make certain choices. This is a great way to begin visualizing how your aesthetic can come to life in your space.

What things do you like and dislike about my current design and decorations?

Grab a notebook and take a walk around your home. Take note of all the design elements that you like and dislike. Review the features of the house, the furniture, lighting, and other elements. What do you love, what do you want to spruce up, what would you like to do away with, and what would you like to add? If possible start to do away with the things that are not what you want, this is a great way to take a meaningful step to move you closer to your dream aesthetic.

Do you want to know why loft living is an absolute yes?

Why loft living? I’ve always dreamed of two-styled dwellings; my first love has always been a city Loft.

For those of us wanting to achieve a sleek and chic dwelling that is characterized, and sexy, a city loft is the most sensible answer.

Fortunately, I have achieved this dream by purchasing my first home—a city loft condo! Now that I’ve lived here for a year, I can tell you exactly why you should say yes to loft living.

This post is all about why loft living is an absolute yes!

Back Story

I purchased my house in 2023 and left my full-time job 5 months after the purchase. I had savings to hold me over until I found a job, but I did not land employment that paid me nearly the amount I was accustomed to making. Recently, I have decided to work two jobs to meet my ends and begin to rebuild my savings until I can make enough headway to sustain one income.

Over the past few years, I have experienced many hardships and shed many tears. I have decided to decorate my house as an act of self-love and redemption. I held off on decorating my home because I didn’t have the money. Now that I have two jobs and the sheer determination to make my home a beautiful oasis as an ode to the love and the light that I bear, I will decorate.

Also, heads up, I am not an interior designer, I am a beginner, challenging myself to design one of my dream homes in a year or so. My budget is nonexistent ( and I mean ZERO). So, don’t fret we will achieve this chic Industrial look together.

10 Reasons Why Loft Living is, Yes!

Lofts come in all shapes and sizes. With the way furniture and interior design have advanced, there are many ways to replicate this aesthetic even if your base is not a renovated warehouse from the early 1900’s. It’s ok! You can still achieve the look. I’ve researched it!

If you are on the market to purchase a home or you want to figure out which design style to go with, I hope to convince you that loft living is well worth it.

Here’s Why

Natural Light

One of the major features of lofts is the radiant large windows that cast an awesome helping of natural light onto the textures and forms
in your home. These windows set the stage for each act in the day. In the morning your home is the warming castle that lures the sun, in the afternoon it is the bustling embassy, and at night it cools to a sexy onlooker of a California sunset. Hyperbole, sure, but you get the point. The windows allow natural light to guide your home through various characters throughout the day. This feature is unique to loft-like designs that prioritize natural light.

Open Floor Plans

Many lofts feature an open floor plan presenting the illusion of more space. The open floor plans in lofts are pliable. These spaces allow for creativity to take precedence over prescription. It is an opportunity to reimage how you use and organize the spaces you occupy. While some may choose a traditional layout, at least it was a decision made by them and not for them. The flexibility also allows for one to erect a monument to separate the space if desired. Having more autonomy over how you structure your living space is a huge benefit that lofts provide!

High & Low Mix

Versatility is a theme that we will often revisit when it comes to the benefits of loft living. Lofts showcase hi and/or low well! The exposed features, and neutral color palette offer options to experiment with high-end pieces for a newer look or more worn elements for a shabby feel. Even more cool – you can assort and combine these elements of different classes to develop the character you imagine. 

Chic

Chic. That’s it. Lofts are chic. Having an aspirational home in many cases is a far reach for many people, however, this style of home and decor gives you a peak into an upscale well well-designed home that is modern and chic.

Neutrality

Neutral colors are a vibe and a vibe creator! Lofts feature deep grays, whites, blacks, and browns because most of the materials featured are raw industrial materials. This pallet of neutral tones is an amazing canvas to incorporate more neutral tones, and rich colors, or even springboard a new more eclectic color scheme. However, the organic neutral hues provide a calm that easily balances the radiant lighting.

Tall Ceilings

Similar to the open floor plan, tall ceilings give the illusion of space. Tall ceilings being a staple in loft-style homes are also a great way to display fixtures, and art pieces in a grandiose fashion. The tall ceilings are a key factor in the chic aspirational glow of lofts.

View

Not all lofts have this feature but if you are in a city Loft with sprawling windows overlooking the city, country, or any beautiful site, you are winning. Your window becomes the frame of a tapestry of living art. This feature relaxes the rugged industrial interior, inviting the stoic beauty and expansiveness of the outdoors in. 

Floors

Floors in a loft are typically concrete or wood. These floors are great for adding rugs and sectioning your apartment. They are also much easier to clean than carpets! Moreover, you can change the style, decor, and structure of your apartment more easily than you could with carpet.

Exposed pipes and Brick

Exposed pipes, brick, ducts, and vents are the quintessential traits of a loft. These exposed elements give glory to the industrial stage as a model of design that is not only rugged, gritty, and worn, but upscale, sophisticated, and artistic. The imperfections left on display showcase a history of toil, beautifully. Take pride in those elements for they are the details that characterize your dwelling’s story.

This post is all about why loft living is a yes.