We decorate a balcony and a loft-style loggia

Loft is associated with scale, large open space and eclecticism that is not averse to breaking the rules. Therefore, small rooms and rooms are always dubious from the point of view of turning them into a loft territory. But if this style is about breaking the rules, then it may appear even on the balcony.

The main task is to set the so-called industrial mood in the interior. And two basic colors help with this: muted terracotta and gray. These colors can be divided into shades, for example, gray suggests both light concrete and dark graphite. And the muted terracotta color refers to old brick and wood.

Loft design stands out for other characteristics as well.

• A balance of carelessness and neatness. There is no pedantry and sleekness in this style. He is brutal and does not save emotions. This is a space for living, not for cleaning up after every crumb from your morning croissant that falls on the floor.
• Minimal wall decoration. If there is a brick on the loggia or balcony, it does not need to be revetted with anything. Let it remain, perhaps it will change color or the inter-brick seams will change it, but the brick itself will definitely be the background.
• High quality lighting. Natural - first of all, and if the windows on the balcony are full-length, this only appeals to the style. But you also need to think about artificial lighting, because this is one of the expressive, style-forming links.
• Open communications. For example, exposed wiring or track lights that expose their entire system, rather than hidden under the ceiling like built-in ones.

Large windows are a help to style, its support. If these are the ones on the balcony, it will be easier to organize a convincing loft space. You do not need to cover them with anything, the light should penetrate the loggia freely and naturally. Plastic or wooden frames are not so important, the loft is a compromise in this regard, and does not require reinstalling the windows.

If the color of the frames is dark, this is more in line with the style. A room with gray or terracotta bricks, dark brown frames, deliberate negligence in decoration will increasingly differ from the "smoothed" options for typical balconies and loggias. The mood of the space changes, it becomes an inspiration for those who lack such a freedom-loving style.

Repair can be minimal, and if the balcony is to be finished from scratch, it is even easier to turn it into a loft territory.

As noted, if the wall is brick, you don't need to change it. If the brick is red or closer to brown, it doesn't even need painting. If the brick is white and you can leave it that way, you may need to darken the seams. White color will add elegance, aesthetics to the space, and visually contribute to its expansion. Since the room is initially small, the option with only one brick accent wall is also relevant. The other two walls remain painted, smooth, neutral. Otherwise, the effect of a casket may be created, which is inappropriate on a small balcony.

Beige, cream, gray walls look quite convincing in a balcony loft. It is necessary to make them so that their background role is initially clear.So that there was an opportunity to hang a poster, a playbill or an abstract picture on this wall and not be afraid of the variegation and brightness, the conflict of shades of the background and the image.

An ordinary concrete floor is much easier, and this solution is very suitable for a loft. This is quite industrial, and the necessary coolness is created, which in the loft is opposed to the coziness of the ordered soft styles. But concrete is not the only solution to the floor problem. For example, it can be tiled with a suitable color or pattern. It is both practical (very easy to clean) and consistent with the style, and the visual effect can be dramatic. If you use laminate, then either cold shades, or with the effect of concrete and marble stains. An excellent material for finishing will be porcelain stoneware, which imitates natural stone, aged wood and the same concrete.

Wood flooring will also not be taboo in this loft area. Most likely, dark and deep shades, using a narrow board and dark inter-board space. The floor is varnished. You can paint it in a gradient way, however, not everyone can do it himself. Also, stencils may appear on the wooden floor - inscriptions, stamps, simple drawings and patterns that relate to the aesthetics of the style and become accent details of the space.

A standard concrete ceiling can remain in its original form without any alterations. But if that doesn't seem enough, decorative beams can help transform the space and make it more interesting. Sometimes concrete is coated with an impregnation, which makes it shine or slightly change its shade.

If there is a chandelier or a volumetric lighting system on the ceiling (the same rail lamps), no special finishing is needed, too much will be mixed up on one small plane. If the lighting is delicately built into the ceiling surface, the ceiling itself can be more textured.

There should be no upholstered furniture here at all, or at a minimum. It will interfere and distract from the style. If you really want to install some kind of sofa or its like on the loggia, pallets will help to do this. Furniture from them looks quite matched to the style, it is cheap, especially if you design it yourself. What else is good about the loft, as it is the opportunity to combine modern things with old ones.

Retro chairs, albeit pretty marked by time, look great with a modern laconic table. If it is decided to organize a workplace on the loggia, such a union will not look heterogeneous. A chest of drawers, a curbstone, a rack can be used to store the necessary things. Open shelves will also suit this space. But to force it completely so that pieces of furniture are closely adjacent to each other is not worth it.

If the balcony is used regularly, the lighting should be powerful. Just a desk lamp on a work table or a wall lamp on a wall with insufficient brightness will not be enough. Ceiling lighting suggests itself, because in the evenings you have to work here, communicate, possibly have dinner, and the atmosphere does not imply a subdued intimacy of light. Loft helps to see things as they are, without disguise, because bright light is one of its conditions.

Soffits, lamps on rods, spotlights (what photographic studios usually decorate with) will be an organic addition to the space. They can become the main accent of the balcony, around which its story is twisted. And if a chandelier, as in a retro style, with imitation of incandescent lamps, without shades and unnecessary decoration.Naturally, the color of the light sources should match something in the interior of the balcony or find other points of combination.

Here you can get inspiration from real engineering systems, the elements of which will organically fit into the loft space. These are pipes, ventilation systems, and beams. They can be found at flea markets, restored or changed to the required dimensions and with their help create the individuality of your balcony.

Imitation of animal skins, leather pillows, interesting installations and souvenirs, which, rather, resemble art objects - this is the kind of decor this space gravitates to. Favorite posters or posters can be hung on the wall. Sometimes newspaper spreads, covers of rare records, or even a menu from a Soviet canteen are taken into frames as a captured memory from childhood. In a word, more individuality, a little irony and a readiness for surprises.

Decorating the balcony space or the territory of the loggia is simpler than rooms, capital partitions cannot be made here and a lot of furniture for the arrangement is not needed. But in a minimalistic sense, keeping the style consistent is sometimes even more difficult. And real examples help out, serving as a guide in organizing your own loft zone.

• A typical narrow balcony with nothing superfluous. The wall became the main element of the formation of the style, and a bar counter appeared near the window.

• Homemade furniture is in most cases unique, and this is the very option. Shelves from boxes, armchairs from barrels, and also a chic solution with lighting will fall in love with this atmospheric balcony.

• The case when the loggia becomes a loft-style bar. And here you can see the sunsets not only with a glass, but also with an interesting book.

• An example of the design of one corner with an industrial mood and an old leather sofa that was not thrown away, but given a second life in such a cool space.

• Here it is, pallet furniture that can be made quickly and loved for a long time. Everything else is also designed in a given style.

• A very brutal space for privacy. There is enough space for work alone, creativity, or just gatherings for pleasant philosophizing.

• If you are lucky enough to have such a space on the loggia (or very similar), here is an example of its organic and simple arrangement. In fact, this is a media zone or even a small living room, which has settled in an unusual place.

Good luck with your interior adventure!