Things to have in mind when decorating a loft apartment

A style born out of necessity more than fifty years ago now represents one of the most wanted for so many reasons. Loft apartments are usually coveted for their spacious and open layout, but the same features can make them tricky for decorating. Many properties that are loft apartments at the moment, used to be industrial premises, which explains the high ceilings and open-space layout. Turning them into living areas that are warm and cozy might take a bit more effort than expected. Let's mention several things you should have in mind when decorating a loft apartment.

Loft apartment should be proportional

If the ceilings are too high, your entire apartment might appear smaller than it really is. You will need the vertical decor to fill the empty wall space. When it comes to windows, floor-to-ceiling models are great for lighting up the living space, but to pay attention to the scale you will have to put some extremely high and probably over-sized curtains. Be very careful here since you will probably have to pay a lot more than you would for regular ones. You will also need some extra cash for their maintenance, but hey - that is a small price in comparison to the view that you have from up there!

Proportion is one of the things to have in mind when decorating a loft apartment

Wall decorating items also have to be proportional to space. Tiny items will look even smaller if put against or on the big wall. The same goes for lighting sources - you will either have to get some oversized pieces or opt for multiple smaller fixtures. The principle is similar for furniture and carpets.

Lighting is one of the first things to have in mind when decorating a loft apartment

Even though loft apartments usually get a lot of natural light, some artificial sources are always needed. High ceilings call for longer pendants and additional sources of light from the walls, tables, or floor. In loft apartments, it is extremely important than you have layers of light and that space is lighted evenly heightwise. That's why you will need even more sconces, table, and floor lamps than you would in a regular apartment.

Track lighting is very popular nowadays and when combined with brick walls, it creates a modern feel to your loft.

Be careful when choosing art

If you love tall paintings - go for it! Loft apartments are the perfect space to display oversized art pieces. Those can be tricky to handle when moving in though. But if you choose a team of professionals like those from Divine Moving and Storage NYC, you will not have to worry about a thing.

Unusual combinations of art and light could work well in your loft apartment

The upside of a loft apartment is that there is a lot of room for art. Depending on a style you would like to achieve, you can opt for paintings (framed or on canvas - both fit perfectly), photos, or even stickers that are sold as wall art.

When it comes to decorative objects, the rule of thumb for loft apartments is - the simpler the better! Of course, you can always choose some kitschy details if you are a fan, but simple elements will create a better impression.

You can create separate rooms even if there are no walls in your loft apartment

Open space is great for so many things, but it takes a lot of time and effort to keep it tidy and well-organized. Loft apartments need to be functional, especially if more than one person lives in it. Every part of your home has its purpose and some sort of separation is necessary.  You can divide your space even visually by:

•  grouping your furniture and making a dining, sleeping, working zone, etc;
• contrasting colors - you can go as far as to chose a separate color scheme for each of the areas, just make sure that they complement each other and work together in harmony;
• area rugs - you can separate different spaces within your home by playing with your floor plan;
• pieces of furniture - bookshelves and closets can be used to segment the floor area;
• installing interior glass - this is a great option for keeping some spaces, like a bedroom or a home office, private. You can choose the transparency level that fits your needs;
• building partial walls - this can be rather practical, plus it's a great way of decorating a loft apartment. You will probably need a designer to help you out since partial walls can make your space look amazing or make it look like an office. Building walls is one of those home improvements you should never do by yourself.

Raised rooms are great additional space, but they cost a lot

You have probably seen countless photos of raised bedrooms in loft apartments and you might be considering making such an addition to your own space. That can be a great way to add the square footage, but it is, by all means, an expensive investment. Here are some of the ideas you can use the bonus space:

• bedroom (or even more of them if your home square footage allows for them); this project is similar, yet still structurally different from converting your attic to the bedroom;
• home office with a view;
• closet or storage room;
• library or a reading nook;
• game room;

Stairs and ladders are important details in loft apartment design. Make sure that they are safe and practical.

 

Some materials and textures are just perfect for decorating a loft apartment

What are the first materials that come to mind when thinking about lofts? Probably brick and concrete. Due to their original purpose, lofts tend to look great with brick walls, and we are not only talking about the accent walls here. Concrete is a great option for floors but you will also see concrete walls and many decorative items made of the material looking breath-taking. Glass and steel are materials that can add to the aesthetics of a loft apartment. The good news is that these materials are rather durable.

You can do no wrong with brick

Since all the mentioned materials tend to look cold, you might have to try a bit harder to warm up the look of your loft apartment. Avoid too many straight lines and cold colors when choosing furniture and add house plants wherever you can.

We hope you have picked your favorites among our ideas for decorating a loft apartment. Good luck with your project!

Significance of South facing homes – Practical benefits &Vaastu considerations

You have probably noticed that ‘south facing home’ is often highlighted as a feature while selling a home. There is a lot of speculation on what is the best direction for our home that will ensure wellness and prosperity. In that case, south facing homes are the top choice for home buyers as they offer some innumerable benefits.

Pradip Roy, a 42-year-old bank employee was looking for an affordable apartment located in a peaceful neighbourhood in South 24 Parganas after his transfer. He always wanted a south facing home where he would have access to maximum sunshine throughout the day. However, south facing homes in and around a metro city like Kolkata are too expensive.Finally, he came across a 3 BHK south-facing and pond facing apartment near Garia which also came with lush landscape, more than 60% open spaces, plethora of wellness amenities and an in-house Shopping centre. Though he very much liked the position of the apartment, but was not very sure whether he could afford that until he knew the price. To his surprise, the price started from only 37 lacs, including GST and extra charges. South facing homes not only have significant health benefits but they are also very auspicious according to Vaastu.

image:primarc.in/realty/projects/southwinds

Benefits of South Facing apartments:

1.    South side of any house will receive maximum amount of sunshine throughout the day in the Northern Hemisphere. If you like natural light to flood your home for most of the hours, then choose a south facing home. Natural light boosts Vitamin D which is a critical nutrient that prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and various cancers.Natural light wards off seasonal depression and improves sleep.

2.    More sunshine means, more greens can survive in your home. If gardening is your thing, then a south-facing house or garden is generally better for growing a bigger range of plants and flowers. Though the soil might get dry faster and they would need more watering – it will not seem like a tough task comparing to the joy you’ll feel seeing your plants growing rapidly.

3.    A south-facing home can save you a lot of money on utility bills. You will be surprised to see the significant renewable-energy differences that can be gained from it. Homes facing south gather a lot of heat during the day and cool off in the evening, keeping them warm during the cold months of the year.

4.    Installing Solar Panels on the south-west side will prove to be beneficial as they will receive the most Sun to generate power.

5.    The massive magnetic power of earth is responsible for maintaining the balance between everything that exists on the surface of it. South facing plots are auspicious as they receive an end of magnetic forces and energy which create both wealthy and healthy vibrations.

6.    The South direction relates to the fire element which represents security and passion. People involved in the administrative services like police, IAS, and judiciary, armed forces and paramilitary forces will prosper while staying in South-facing homes.

7.     According to Vaastu, South-facing entrances make the energies of the home line up and bring in a huge amount of prosperity and riches to the inhabitants. Master bedrooms in the south-west direction is said to generate positive energy and make the bedroom a relaxing and inviting space.

Summary:

South-facing homes are usually desirable for home buyers for their innumerable health benefits and Vaastu significance. Read on to check out the reasons behind it.

Protect Your Garden: How to Keep It Safe and Orderly

Happiness may be a topmost privilege of cultivating a garden. Apart from that, one also can indulge from other benefits in nutrition, mental and physical health, social interactions, budget and time management also on the environment. However, whether it’s a landscaping Sydney, flower, vegetable or any quite plot; everyone is prone from getting an injury caused by a garden-related accident encounter cause limitless pains and injuries. The foremost common sorts of these misfortunes are administered by most gardening tools like lawnmowers, electric hedge trimmers, spades also as garden forks, canes and sticks.

image:pixabay.com/photos/planting-gardening-flowers-plant-865294

Meanwhile, we don't need to trade our gardening advancements to merely avoid any quite harmful related situation. Fortunately enough for the gardeners, it's of no one’s obligation to endure being affected from it. Here are some effective recommendations on how we could prevent garden accidents from happening:

• Make sure that you are wearing the right gear. Ask any landscaping Sydney professional and he will tell you that before working, it's a compulsory precaution to possess any protective clothing, appropriate sort of shoes and shields for eyes and ears worn. Most of all, an honest pair of gloves shouldn't be demeaned by anyone because gardening involves the usage of our hands above anything. These gears are available handy when doing outdoor furniture’s refurbishing or the other activities that might need extra effort.

• Learn how to safely and effectively use gardening tools. Most accidents involving different tools are caused by irresponsible handling represented by a wrongful act of ignoring the importance of producing instructions because we are so wanting to start trying it out. This practice should take a permanent halt. Without a doubt, reading the manual that come with the product is of utmost importance so make sure to read it.

• Keep the elders, children and pets distant. Gardening is for everybody to enjoy. Although, due to the preceding harms occurred when working in these plots, elders, children and pets shouldn't join gardening if the task requires one to use such radical tools.

• Be extra careful when using electric equipment. Since plants need water, gardens are usually wet during a few of hours during a day. Using some electric-powered lawn tools like cultivators, push mowers and even snow throwers shouldn't be done when the surface is crammed with water. By doing so, we will avoid electric shock together sort of garden-related accident.

• Have ample knowledge regarding poisonous plants. When choosing plants for a garden, one must do an in depth research about these living things to avoid cultivating them. Especially, parts from poisonous plants accidentally eaten can make a victim sick and, worst of all, wrongfully die. Preparedness on the way to overcome related accidents is wise.

• Keep chemicals in a cool and dry storage, and far from the reach of your children. These substances are commonly toxic and may perpetrate extensive injuries to anyone if it’s wrongly used and exposed to a victim. Albeit there are non-toxic pesticides, it’s better to think about storing it in hard to succeed in areas especially since kids have their tendencies to play with these garden necessities.

• Ensure that the area of the garden is structurally safe. Most significantly, allotting enough efforts, time and money to make a garden that encompasses an honest slope and well-maintained components is superb. This is often why it's important to properly arrange the outdoor furniture’s in order that they won't cause any accident or whatsoever.

Furthermore, by storing these tools after gardening in places which are accessed by the gardeners and by conducting a persistent maintenance; further attributions to the most goal of indulging an accident-free environment is possible.

Gardens are intended for nice advancements in life. Applying the fundamentals of safety while gardening could save one from being troubled by these abovementioned unwanted accidents. As observed, most pains and injuries that are acquired by people that clothed as victims of those garden spaces only arrive in such situation because they somehow lack carefulness at that point. Even the simplest tools need proper handling to avoid hurt of any kind.