Get the New York look without breaking the bank

Natural finishes

Exposed structural beams, polished concrete floors and bare brickwork walls are the markings of an inner-city New York loft-style apartment. Polishing the framework of your house back to its former glory is an inexpensive DIY exercise which will set the tone for your home.

Before you begin a demolition project, test the walls or floor that you want to expose. Older homes typically have brick beneath their plaster, which makes them ideal for a loft DIY. Once the brick or cement is exposed, apply a sealant to finish the area.

If a larger remodelling project is out of the question, consider covering a section of your walls in an industrial-feel wallpaper. With improved technologies, wallpaper can now be made in metal finishes as well as hemp or bamboo.

Industrial hardware

The loft style was born from renovating urban industrial buildings into residential spaces. Exposed hardware such as heating or air ducts were often left untouched to frame the ceiling space.

You can emulate the industrial look by selecting finishes that mimic the loft’s urban roots. Choose aged finishes over highly reflective ones for plumbing fixtures, as well as other design statements such as statement splashbacks in the kitchen, industrial hanging lights in the living room or weathered doorknobs and handles. Consider materials such as chrome, rubbed bronze or stainless steel.

Modern furniture with vintage accents

New York lofts are airy and open because they borrow a number of features from the minimalist design movement. Choose a few large, clean pieces of contemporary furniture to fill your space.

While ultra-modern furniture is an obvious choice, don’t shy away from standout vintage pieces such as art nouveau chairs, an antique cabinet or an unusual coffee table. Part of the personality of the loft space is the marriage of old and new, and the expected and unexpected.

Multistorey living

Capitalising on the high-ceiling characteristic of lofts, many New York spaces are designed as multiple-level or split-level apartments.

If you only have a one-storey apartment, you can mirror this in your home by creating unique storage solutions. Using reclaimed wood from old shipping pallets, you can create a compartmentalised wall of storage spaces. This draws your eye upwards and makes use of otherwise dead space.

If you do have a multiple-storey home, but can’t fit in a mezzanine, make use of your existing staircase. Use your stairwell for a wall-lined floor-to-ceiling bookcase, seamlessly weaving together the living space from the first and second floor.

Accentuate light

Traditional loft spaces have the benefit of being bathed in light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Without the budget for such a feature, consider how to make use of the available natural light in your home.

Use lamps to give off a soft glow for the darker hours. Table lamps and floor lamps which stretch over your lounge will do perfectly.

Consider that the colours you use in your home will affect light levels. Darker colours bring the loft-like attitude to a place, but whites and neutrals will make your home glow, accentuating the light in your home.

While there’s no fixed formula to recreate the New York loft style, these decor tips will help you whole-heartedly embrace industrial chic.