This is what Ikea was invented for.

But, if Ikea doesn't work for you, take a look at their Stolmen range online and see if you can recreate a DIY version using regular plumbing pipes.

Rehab an antique wardrobe, perfect opportunity for such a thing.

So, not to harp on the IKEA solution *grin* but...

We moved into a tiny apartment recently, whose saving grace was ten foot ceilings. We have a dresser for some clothing, but used the Ikea Broder posts with height extenders and clothes racks to hang things. We have concrete floors so the industrial look of it works well for us. Also, we had a great big long piece of bus blind, which we put on the wall behind the whole thing, to kind of define the area... it peaks out from behind the clothes. The same thing can be accomplished with a length of fabric hung on the wall, or of course a block of painted color.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/odkins/5082448890/

This isn't a great photo, but you get the idea. Not the right look for every place, but it works for us.

I recently saw an old episode of 'design on a dime' where kelly edwards built in a great walk in closet in a large attic space. it would take some basic diy carpenter skills, but you might find that episode online.

How about the plumbing pipe shelving systems that we're seeing on the blogs these days? Include a couple horizontal pipes at various heights to use as hang bars.

i also moved into a loft just before summer and in my bedroom area i used two large(ish) armoires and faced them backwards about 3 feet from the wall, then put up two thin sheets of wood to cover the back of the armoires and painted it... this acts as my headboard/fake wall that i can walk behind that is my closet space... obviously pictures would help, my apologies... maybe one day i'll have my very own 'apartment therapy house tour' to show... someday.

Ando- this sounds like a great idea! Jason could even combine it with the IKEA suggestions- put 2 IKEA wardrobes facing the wall with space to walk behind to get to the clothes. Use the back side facing into the room as a headboard. It could be covered with wood or padded fabric to look like a really high headboard.

The coolest thing I have seen is cutting off the end of a long room with a series of armoires lined up facing the wall, leaving about five feet to the wall, and open at each end. The back of the armoires worked as the headboard, essentially floating the bed. Then on the wall facing the armoires, wall to wall rods were installed, with two more armoires at each end facing the opening into the closet, so the open rods couldn't be seen from the bedroom. It was like a HUGE walk in closet, just placed at the end of the room.

I lived in an attic loft with some bizarre roof angles and corner nooks and I solved the closetless problem by blocking off one of the windowless corners with a cheap plastic IKEA wardrobe. I covered the side facing my living space with some cheerful fabric, and on the other side I made a small dressing room with some shelves and drawers and a nice fuzzy rug. The space wasn't really liveable for any other purpose due to the roof slope and lack of windows so this solution worked quite well for me & for the space.

On my honeymoon at the four seasons in Bora Bora we had an open changing area behind the bed and I loved it! I can't wait to buy again and do something similar. There was a 42" high cabinet with drawer/shelves backed against the bed as a headboard. On the opposite side of the wall (from the drawers) you could hang clothes, store shoes there was even a bench etc. I wish their website had photos of it.

Plus, if you ever move you could take the headboard/dresser with you.

Christopher Lowell did this a long time ago with the closets lining a wall and another one (or two) backing the bed facing the wall of closets. There were open areas on either side of the bed/headboard to access the new dressing room (or you could have one entrance and a lot more storage). It created a ton of storage and a great look.

Thanks so much for all of the responses. I like the idea of the backwards facing armoire / dresser with the painted back or sheet to cover the ply wood. I'll be sure to post pictures once I'm done!

Cheers and thanks again.
Jason

I have lived in lofts for years and creative storage that doesn't take away from the open space feel is a challenge. In one of our spaces, we created a "room" within the loft that consisted of three soft walls made of out fabric. We hung from the ceiling conduit tubing (in a squared out U shape) to make a support frame. I then sewed three large muslin curtains that hung from the conduit. The soft room became our bedroom consisting of our bed, dresser and clothes racks. What was nice too was on the outward facing side of the room we had three large blank spaces to hang art.

LA Closet Design suggests a bed/wardrobe/room divider concept to solve your closet woes! http://www.laclosetdesign.com/collection/wardrobes_page5.html

With a loft, you definitely have to get creative with your space. In addition to the bed wardrobe, another suggestion is using a wardrobe system, which is more like a furniture piece that can be incorporated seamlessly in the room. The interior layouts and exterior finishes are customizable. http://access.decorati.com/2010/01/31/the-modern-tv-wardrobe/

I don't know how high the ceilings are in yourn loft, but I saw on one design show years ago that a loft was separated using curtains but the curtains hung from hospital style tracks mounted on the ceiling which made it flow better than rings probally would.