These 10 Lofted Bedrooms Are the Blueprint for Small-Space Living

Lofted bedrooms (or simply lofted beds) offer so much extra space in smaller rooms. Usually, these elevated areas are on the smaller side — some people even have to duck to get into the bed — but that doesn’t mean they’re not functional. They’re actually the blueprint for having a bedroom space that only has exactly what you need. 

If the bedroom is lofted, you gain usable living space underneath — almost like getting two rooms in one. People have turned that space below into nurseries, sewing rooms, art studios, guest bedrooms, and so many more useful areas. If you have one of these setups in your home and aren’t sure how to best design it, take inspiration from real renters and homeowners below. 

With the help of a contractor, Shanna Flodstrom designed and created a lofted bedroom for her 375-square-foot studio. She essentially got two rooms in one — a cozy bed nook adorned with custom wallpaper, and a closet-slash-sewing room below. “My loft bed also brings me a lot of joy,” Shanna said at the time of the House Tour. 

Check out the full House Tour to see more of Shanna’s art-filled studio apartment. 

Architects Ana Lebrija and Diego planned to share this 527-square-foot Mexico City one-bedroom apartment. And because the apartment has 11-foot ceilings, the couple wanted to get double usage out of the single bedroom. So they lofted their bed and added a closet underneath. “This intervention maximizes vertical space while maintaining an open and flexible layout,” Ana explained at the time of the House Tour. 

See more of the tricks they used to maximize space in the full House Tour. 

As I mentioned before, lofted bedrooms are typically on the cozier side. However, this design challenge is actually an opportunity to have fun with storage. Take the sleeping area in the mezzanine level of Rosie Dart’s London apartment: She used an unexpected garage staple (a pegboard) as craft supply storage and a spot to display her artwork. 

Visit the full House Tour to see more of Rosie’s multi-level home. 

Unlike most lofted sleeping areas, the ceiling is actually quite tall in Brittainy Newman’s loft apartment in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood. Another rarity? A window! She took advantage of that built-in feature by installing wood shutters from The Home Depot, as they remind her of her grandparents’ Florida home. 

Explore more of Brittainy’s apartment in the full House Tour. 

“Lofting our bed was a game changer for us, but it’s not a typical loft with a ladder; we built a two-tier loft with stairs that lead to the platform below the bedroom window and a step that leads to the bed,” interior decorator Amanda Heald said when Apartment Therapy toured her bohemian Brooklyn apartment. They created a nursery-slash-closet underneath and also built a room with the amenities of a “normal-sized” room, like nightstands, built-in storage, and a projector to watch television in bed.

Take a peek at the rest of the House Tour to see how they made the most out of this space. 

Maite Borén and Genís Fernandez, who are architects, had the unique opportunity to design the interior of their 463-square-foot Barcelona apartment themselves. They gave their son the bedroom on the ground floor. Still, they wanted to create a space for themselves that didn’t block the flood of natural light coming in from either direction. The solution: a lofted bed that is Scandinavian and minimalist in design.

Explore the rest of this gorgeously designed home in the full House Tour. 

When the family moved into this Brooklyn loft, it was up to them to create designated bedrooms for the parents and their two children. They lofted their bedrooms, creating ample horizontal space for each person, but it was challenging vertically. “Our loft bedroom was hard to get used to, as we can’t fully stand up, but the space it saves makes it worth it,” the homeowner said at the time of the House Tour.

Check out the other lofted bedrooms in the full House Tour. 

If the ceiling in the lofted area of your home isn’t tall (read: you have to crawl to access it), don’t give up on it. Rather than leaving it bare, put a simple mattress in the space, like in Bernat and Liliana’s Barcelona apartment. That way, you can have guests stay overnight or for short periods, and you won’t waste the space.

Visit the full House Tour to see how a faux mirror connects the rooms of this small apartment. 

Because lofted bedrooms tend to feel smaller, many homeowners, including Ivangellys, keep it minimal in their lofted bed areas. Focusing on what you really need in a space, like in Ivangellys’ bedroom of her Brooklyn loft apartment, discourages visual clutter (which can quickly make the area feel smaller than it is). 

See more of Ivangellys’ spacious loft (and what she did underneath her sleeping area) in the full House Tour.

If you have a lofted space but want to go against the grain, consider following Chyelle Milgrom’s lead. In her maximalist, art-filled Brooklyn loft, she put her bed underneath the loft and used the upper area as an art studio. No one said you have to follow the rules! 

Explore the rest of this art-filled apartment in the full House Tour. 

The most important part of having a lofted space is making the most of it. Whether you choose to use it as a sleeping area or just a place to sit and collect your thoughts, definitely take advantage of it. You get more home in one.