Loft offices are a great way to separate your work space from your living space at home, and they work just as well in a commercial office building. Often boasting beautiful views, high ceilings, and a sense of privacy or seclusion, it’s no surprise that more and more individuals and businesses are converting their lofts into fully functional offices. Their new popularity has inspired several new trends in loft office design. For inspiration for your own office loft, here are the top 3 emerging trends in loft office design:
Industrial Style Loft Office Design Trend
The industrial aesthetic is one of the most popular trends in office design. More recently, it has become a favorite choice for loft offices due to its unique look and efficient use of space. The industrial trend consists of contrasting wood and metal to create a utilitarian atmosphere. For example, using a metal roof with wood floors creates an eye-catching juxtaposition between industry and nature. Metal roofs combined with brick walls are also a common choice. Additionally, exposed pipes and beams can help create this aesthetic at a lower cost than replacing your entire roof.
Choosing a handful of standout elements such as the floor and ceiling can help create an industrial style without straying too far from the rest of your home or office building’s designs. If you do not want to spend on expensive renovations for your loft, you can still create an industrial appearance with metal desks and wood planter boxes, for example.
Using Concrete Walls in a Loft Office Design
Concrete flooring has been a common low-cost favorite for some time now, but concrete walls in a loft are a popular new trend. Whether you choose to have one concrete wall as an accent feature or utilize all four walls, concrete is a modern trend that can make your office feel more industrial and work-oriented. It also limits distractions since it is rather plain. Alternatively, combining concrete walls with sleek stone or wood floors is a great way to create an industrial aesthetic. Concrete is essentially a blank slate, so it provides the freedom to choose more colorful furniture or art to display your personality or interests.
Maintaining Privacy and Noise Control
Because lofts tend to be above the rest of the office, noise can be a common issue. The open nature of a loft does not provide much natural sound insulation, so a new common trend is to use acoustic mineral wood within the cavity of the floor joints or to use noise-insulating sound mats to help absorb sound from the space below. Soft furnishings such as couches can also break up sound.
To help with privacy, workstations can be made more secluded with dividers or screens between desks. Screen privacy protectors and clip-on desk dividers can be a more cost-effective solution. Alternatively, making conference rooms smaller and farther apart can help distribute noise more evenly and reduce the amount of people present in or below the loft at one time.
Contact Us
Want to modernize your loft office design with one of these trends or your own idea? Contact us for help designing, building, or furnishing your office space. Our team at Key Interiors has years of experience performing office renovations and design projects. Request a free consultation to learn more!