HOW TO STAGE A LOFT
Many people move because their home is too small or too large for their stage of life. As a real estate agent, I see a lot of homes. One trend in new construction is a resurgence of the added space commonly referred to as a loft.
Lofts are also referred to as a flex space or a secondary space.
In builder-model homes, the lofts look amazing with a plush rug, the perfect-sized couch, and throw pillows. They are beautiful spaces.
Lofts are an example of secondary space that looks AMAZING in model homes .. until the staging furniture and accessories are removed.
Do you know what I see two years after that staged model home? You know when the family moves in with their furniture?
An open area with no fourth wall that is “staged” with at least one of the following:
- a brown leather couch (they are always brown) from college with …
- rolled, padded arms that could restrain an adult on an amusement ride.
- bean bag chairs
- game stations with a television the size of the … couch
- “Heirloom ” pieces from family members
- Daybeds shoved against a wall to illustrate it could be a guest room
- the land of misfit, discarded toys, baskets, sports memorabilia,
- and a child-size bookcase.
My Realtor friends who subscribe to Everyday Edits are nodding their heads right now!
HOW TO CREATE A PURPOSEFUL LOFT
Lofts, basements, and bedrooms (used as workout rooms) are secondary spaces that get lost between a defined room (kitchen) and a loft or that fifth bedroom on the second floor.
Here are some ideas on how to define a loft. These suggestions work for bonus rooms and that 5th bedroom lovingly referred to as “additional storage.”
Make sure to check your box spring if you have a bed in a loft space.
FRAMED PRINTS
Some rooms need a little help! When our kids were younger, we tweaked this extended hallway for the power homework hour.
My kids (daughter) think this sign states the obvious (translation: it is a future Progressive commercial).
I think it communicates the room’s title and purpose. My goal was to ensure that the room did not turn into an additional laundry room. I am defining the purpose of this oversized hallway so that kids do not leave laundry on the built-in desks.
We have an oversized hallway. It is too small to make into a guest room. It included one long counter, which we removed and created two small built-in desks.
I found these cute signs on Etsy that defined the space. When you get to the top level of our brownstone in the suburbs, it’s like a mini billboard.
RUG
One of the issues with a loft is that it is missing a wall. Rugs are one of the easiest ways to define a space. Rugs let people know they are entering a defined area.
Most rugs have four sides!
This is a popular post on tips before investing in a rug!
You can find an 8×10 rug on Amazon or Costco for under $200.00.
I have this rug in my office.
Looking at this rug as soon as our grandpup, Russell, finds a home.
I helped a seller stage a fifth bedroom that her grandson used when he stayed at her house.
I found a cute rug in the kids’ section at Ikea I found this one online.
We used that rug with some toys to let buyers or friends know the purpose of this fifth room. Signs also define the 5th bedroom where the Christmas trees are stored.
Although we were staging the room to sell it, it was something she recreated in her downsized townhome.
LOFT FURNITURE
We all have house dreams when we move into a new home. But finances, work commitments and Netflix sidetrack our original plans for that undefined space.
If I had to choose one piece of furniture for a loft it would be:
- chaise or a small Ikea size L-shaped couch.
A chaise can be angled and positioned in a way a ” pit couch” cannot. A petite L-shaped couch can “break up” the expansive space in an open loft. Costco has online furniture options for couches, and they deliver.
We found ours at Crate & Barrel, and in a small world story, our son-in-law’s parents have the identical chaise.
What do you think of lofts?
Please share your thoughts in the comments or share this post for others to find!
They do seem like wasted space although I always think they look cool. I’d be afraid they’d become a junk collecting space.
eXACTLT! I Just showed a home with a loft this weekend and it had a random bookcase and this wasted space!