Both loft style and industrial style - are extremely popular. Very often the two terms are used interchangeably. Is this correct? Well, not really. Today we will try to give you an idea of the differences between the two.
Industrial style, meaning raw. No question about it. Where does it come from? From pre-war factories. In its role in interiors - it first appeared overseas and in Western Europe. In the 1950s, at the time of the recession, many factories went bust, leaving behind creepy vacant lots. At the very beginning they were inhabited by artists, illegally of course, simply occupying them and creating flats, studios for themselves. This is why Brooklyn or Soho - we know it as synonymous with artistic freedom, unruly characters and spaces. When in any film production - the protagonist lives in a loft, it is certainly a Brooklyn location. And what was it like in Poland? The industrial style made its home in the 1990s. The reason? Very similar. As a result of economic transformations, abandoned factories appeared and, very much like in America - they slowly became flats.
What is the industrial style?
The basic principle here? As little human intervention as possible in the industrial furniture and accessories, making it look authentic… raw. And let's just remind ourselves that this rawness is what it's all about! Wood. Concrete. Metal. These are three elements that are a must in an industrial interior. Why concrete? Of course, it is undoubtedly associated with lofts in abandoned factories. It played a central role there, dominated, was visible and formed the basis of the interior. And the wood? Especially the floors. And furniture, of course. And if it is furniture, then it must be furniture with a soul, original pieces, a combination of old and new.
What role does space play in the industrial style?
Huge! High ceilings and large windows – are the first of the distinctive features. Another? The rooms combine multiple functions. Living room, dining room, kitchen, office, often also bedroom - they form one room. The raw brick, metal elements and soulful furniture fill this space with a feisty character and an original elegance, characteristic of a post-factory atmosphere. Alongside the space, light plays an equally important role. Both the natural light coming in through the large windows and that coming from the lighting elements. Stopping at the lighting, we must emphasise the nature of the solutions often encountered: in the form of light bulbs hanging freely on cables or mobile standing lamps that can be rearranged at will.
Industrial or loft style? What to choose?
Contrary to appearances - they are not the same thing. Loft style is a combination of elements of industrial style and modernism. Here we have both naturalness and simplicity. We also have a larger number of attractive accessories. A completely subdued colour scheme - freely mixed here with bold shades and forms, found in furniture and details. If one wanted to define the loft style in a minimum of words, they would read: warmed and softened industrial style.
The loft style is even made for those interiors that are not characterised by natural austerity. If you don't have a tall, bright room with post-factory features, but instead have a flat in a block of flats to manage - you can introduce the loft style here. And most importantly: it will fit in perfectly here. When choosing loft furniture, we also have much softer forms to choose from than in the case of industrial style. There is plenty of room here for intense colours, soft textures - but also for pastel shades.
Who is industrial style for and who is loft style for?
Much depends on the possibilities of our interiors. If they meet the conditions of an industrial interior - by all means, let's introduce this style. If there are fewer possibilities, but we dream of an interior in a similar climate, we should not hesitate to reach for the loft style. In fact, it is up to us to decide what we want and what we want to pay particular attention to. Is it monochrome austerity? Or perhaps softened with details? An abundance of light and space? Or perhaps space - wrapped in colours and textures?
