4 Tips for Moving into a Loft Apartment

Whether you’re downsizing or making a conscious move to embrace urban living, loft apartments offer a unique environment with potential to make creative use of space. There are some things to remember when you relocate to a loft, which may require different moving techniques than a house or traditional apartment.

1. Get creative with your space and furnishings.

Careful decorating and planning can create the experience of individual rooms within wide open loft spaces. You can combine the functions of certain rooms, like putting a desk in one corner of the living room to become your new office, with a differently colored area rug. Open-ended bookshelves can make attractive room separators. There are also plenty of multipurpose furniture options available, which is especially useful when sacrificing lots of closets in favor of loft-living. Some beds contain built-in drawers. An antique steamer trunk can make a stylish coffee table while also providing storage. Baskets can be placed under an existing family room table for kid’s toys, games, magazines or other items. Add shelves, knife racks or hanging baskets to the kitchen for space-friendly storage.

2. Install a loft bed.

A loft bed makes great use of space and promotes privacy in an open floor plan. When you’re first moving in, it can be hard to get the mattress into a loft—much more up the stairs in the first place. This is one of the reasons you may choose to work with a moving company to relocate. If you’re doing it yourself, using a ladder is a great hack for moving a mattress. Have one person climb up into the loft, lean the ladder against it, tie a rope to the mattress, and slide it along the ladder to the upper level.

3. Check out parking options in advance.

Traffic and parking are one of several unexpected factors that can hang you up on the day of your move, but they are easy enough to check in advance. Is there a convenient place to park near the building’s main access doors? What are the general parking patterns like, and are any special events or road closings scheduled for the day of your move? Regardless of auto traffic, foot traffic in and around the building can lead to blocked entrances and full elevators. Moving in the morning or on weekends may be a way around this. If you’re working with a moving company they may give you advice on the best dates and times to move in your area.

4. Use the freight elevator.

As soon as your moving plans are confirmed, talk to the building manager or superintendent about reserving the freight elevator for the day of your move. Not only is the freight elevator bigger, but you won’t have to compete with the needs of other residents and visitors.

There are pros and cons to moving yourself without the help of a moving company. When it comes to loft living, parking issues, using an elevator, and moving your belongings into the upper levels of the loft space (e.g., a loft bed) are unique challenges that may make more sense to accomplish with the help of a moving company. If you choose to go it on your own, cost is probably a factor in your decision. There are a number of money-saving packing hacks you can use to affordably label, wrap and pack your belongings while also avoiding hiccups along the way.

Want some expert help and advice on moving? Feel free to contact us to set up an estimate and plan your move.