What Is a Loft? 4 Differences Between Lofts and Apartments

A loft is a living space made inside a former industrial building. Lofts feature open floor plans with concrete floors, high ceilings, and large windows for natural light.

There are two types of lofts: hard and soft. Hard lofts, also known as true lofts, are traditional loft spaces inside renovated commercial buildings with brick walls and exposed ductwork. This style of hard loft grew in popularity with artists in New York City as spaces to live and work.

Soft lofts are a style of new loft apartments designed specifically for residential use. These residential buildings feature apartments with open spaces and higher ceilings that lack some of the industrial interior design elements of true lofts.

Lofts are living areas inside renovated commercial buildings that offer renters more space than apartments at a higher cost. Consider some key differences between lofts and apartments.

1. 1. Size: Lofts typically have more square footage than traditional apartments and studio apartments. Loft buildings commonly feature floor-to-ceiling windows in an open industrial area, while apartments often have less open space.
2. 2. Storage space: Traditional apartments have more storage space than lofts, which rarely have many built-in cabinets or closets.
3. 3. Level of privacy: Apartments have internal walls that separate bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. By contrast, open-concept lofts usually only have internal walls around bathrooms. Roommates in loft spaces can use dividers, which offer little privacy.
4. 4. Price: Lofts are typically more expensive than apartments and come with higher utility bills since larger spaces are more costly to heat and cool.

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