Living in a New York style loft is a dream for many of us; the open plans, soaring ceilings, windows the size of billboards, it all seems so sophisticated yet effortless. Decades on from those first warehouse conversions, the allure today is as strong as ever.

As cool as they are, these vast spaces need careful planning to bring light into the spaces and make them functional for living.

And, as much as we covet the original brick walls and industrial bones, a little softening with furniture, art, lighting, window coverings and rugs is needed to make warehouses exceptional spaces to live in.

Despite everything that makes these ex-factory spaces so unique, actually living in one isn’t as simple as just adding a few walls for bathrooms and bedrooms then moving in. Loft spaces can be dark, cold and paradoxically all of the open space can make it hard to live in.

Here are a few ways to embrace industrial style and make a loft-like space lovely and liveable.

LIGHTING

Though often generous in scale, the large, deep floorplans of warehouse spaces can also make them rather challenging to live in. Often, spaces set further back into the building have no windows or skylights so getting natural light into these rooms requires  thoughtful planning. In this family home belonging to Anaïs Marie Gaïd Molé and Nick McDonald, they inserted a playful round window to the bedroom to help borrow light from the kitchen in the next room.

Using mirrors strategically, glass partitions and doors with curtains instead of walls and artificial light (lamps, ceiling lights etc) allow for the spaces within the floorplan to get access to light.

Ceiling lighting should not be a row of nasty fluorescents, instead look at a suspended track light that you can direct light onto artwork or strategically over task areas. And, as these homes generally come with high ceilings, you can soften the spaces with large (and I mean large!) paper pendant shades.

CREATING ZONES

Traditional houses tell us how to place our furniture: the dining table goes in the dining room, and the sofa and armchairs are placed around the fireplace in the lounge room.

But when it comes to an open plan space, those zones are gone. It can be confusing — and intimidating — to work out how to place our furniture.

Although we might want to celebrate the openness, we must avoid pushing the sofa, armchairs to the edges of the space. A big empty space is hard to live in, so instead move the furniture into the middle.

Create a living room for effortless conversation. In fact, imagine that invisible walls are there separating the dining and living rooms and arrange your furniture like zones within the open area.

MAKING IT A HOME

As much as we love the idea of loft living, these spaces can feel cold – like you’re in a factory, because in fact, you are.

These spaces were never intended to live in, so we need to make them more comfortable. I’ve not lived in an ex-factory space however I’ve worked in my fair share of them in Collingwood. And you know they are drafty, freezing or too hot, and noisy.

The first thing is to sort out your heating and cooling. Fans are your friend in these loft spaces. Lay the largest rugs you can afford onto that old wood floor and you’ll have a quieter and softer environment.

In the kitchen, install the rangehood motor somewhere else outside of the open plan space — they’re too noisy. Curtains on the windows help to insulate, and also help soften the space visually (they truly are so transformative).

FINDING WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

Everything that makes these spaces sing; the raw brick walls, open plans and cool bohemian energy can’t be faked. An exposed lightbulb, concrete floors and subway tile does not a chic loft make.

In the 2010s we got swept up with creating ‘industrial style’ (just ask every Melbourne cafe) and it has been thoroughly celebrated and now the party is over. So my disclaimer is that if your space isn’t a former factory or office building, be mindful about how this industrial aesthetic will translate to your home.

A great example is how this Kew apartment has taken cues from an industrial aesthetic by opening up the floorplan and exposed the existing concrete floor yet it still feels authentic.

There is a lot of draw inspiration from in loft living; open plans, large windows and tall ceilings. And honestly, this industrial style, it’s just so undeniably cool.