We’ve rounded up some of our favourite loft bedrooms shown on NTS, all with different elements that make them unique.
📍Scheeps, Amsterdam
Designer: Koen Fraijaman & Fadime Gökkaya. Images: Rem Berger & Never Too Small
Loft bedrooms take advantage of vertical space that would otherwise go mostly unused, especially in homes with high ceilings. Raising the bedroom up allows for more functional living space on the ground floor, which can be used for a variety of purposes. In Scheeps, a loft bedroom is immediately assessed via a staircase at the entrance. Next to the platform, floor-length mirrored closet doors help expand the space by reflecting natural light from the large windows opposite the bed.
What we love about the design:
- Floor-to-ceiling mirrors beside the bed hiding the wardrobe and amplifying space with reflection in a small loft area
- Curtains that demarcate the sleeping area and help block out sunlight
- A secondhand antique light switch on a remote accessible from either level of the small home
📍Shoji Apartment, London
Architect: Proctor & Shaw. Images: Ståle Eriksen.
Proctor & Shaw turned a cosy loft bedroom into a unique light source by enclosing the Japanese-inspired Shoji Apartment’s ‘sleeping pod’ with a series of translucent screens. With the screens open during the day so that natural light filters through, the bed doubles as a reading nook with views of the street. At night, with the partitions closed, the pod emanates a soft gentle glow throughout the rest of the apartment. The space saved underneath the bedroom is put to good use with a walk-in cupboard providing ample storage space, including room for a second freezer.
What we love about the design:
- Translucent polycarbonate screens surrounding the bedroom, creating a light source inspired by Japanese lanterns
- An alternate tread staircase hidden behind sliding doors — a clever way to provide a steeper angled staircase while maintaining tread depth
- Light bounced off the ceiling to create soft, ambient lighting in the loft
📍Loft Buikslotherham, Amsterdam
Architect: heren5. Images: Leonard Faustle
Instead of adding multiple pillars to support a raised platform for a loft-style bed, architecture firm heren5 made the bold decision to build a custom joinery structure in the middle of Loft Buikslotherham. Designed so the bed would sit on top, the internal structure houses a spacious bathroom, laundry, storage room, and kitchen bench with built-in appliances. This large centrepiece sits beside a hybrid dining/living area, subtly separated with a single step onto a platform.
What we love about the design:
- Floating steps leading up to the bed, adding a sense of spaciousness and allowing for storage space underneath
- Diamond-edged corners for a more sculptural look and to add visual softness
- Plenty of storage space beside the mattress to leave miscellaneous items
📍Jourdain, Paris
Architect & Images: Matthieu Torres.
With high ceilings, there are opportunities to add skylights or discover exposed beams you never knew existed, adding an extra layer of charm and character. After architect Matthieu Torres removed the ceiling in his apartment, Jourdain, he discovered incredible exposed beams, a lot more volume to play with, and the ability to add skylights to bring in precious natural light. The extra height also provided the option for a mezzanine, which houses the compact main bedroom and is easily accessed by a moveable ladder.
What we love about the design:
- French pine plywood chosen as an economical and durable material for the bedroom (and rest of apartment)
- Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves create a balustrade and a bedside shelf
- Skylight above bed to allow natural light into the apartment
📍Tree House, Hong Kong
Architect: Nelson Chow. Images: Dennis Lo.
A loft bedroom, by its very nature, offers a separate and distinct area away from the common living areas; a good separation of the public and private spaces. Architect Nelson Chow built a box-like loft sleeping area with a unique triangular design on the outside, shut off from the rest of the compact Tree House. The enclosed loft bedroom is clad in natural pine, with a narrow window allowing a glimpse of the verdant landscape outside.
What we love about the design:
- Yellow triangular pattern on the exterior made with terracotta tiles by Patricia Urquiola
- Living room under the loft bedroom painted a dark blue, demarcating the two spaces with different colours & materials
- A narrow strip window with a view of the outside forest
For more inspiring bedroom ideas, check out our featured small homes at nevertoosmall.com
