How to Share a Loft Apartment with a Roommate

Sharing any kind of apartment with a roommate requires some thought and compromise, but sharing a loft apartment presents an even more unique set of challenges. Because the flow and division of space in a loft is different than a traditional apartment with a distinct set of rooms, you and your loft roommate will have to think beyond the standard agreements about bathroom usage and chore division and onto the use of upstairs and downstairs space and storage, among other things.

Who Sleeps Upstairs?

Chances are you and your roommate have had at least some discussion about how you plan on dividing the loft’s space after you signed the lease. Not all lofts are the same—some have an open loft space on the top floor with a traditional bedroom, complete with a door, on the first floor. In such a case, one of you probably has a preference for the closed off room and the other probably prefers the loft space. If there is no preference, the louder person should take the room with a door. Noise will carry from the open loft space.

If there isn’t a traditional bedroom with a door on the first floor, you might want to flip a coin to decide who sleeps in the upstairs area and who creates a bedroom downstairs with curtains or screens as a wall. The size of the downstairs bedroom is really up to you and your roommate. Figure out a fair solution. While the bedroom shouldn’t overtake the common space, the person on the first floor shouldn’t be confined to a small corner, either.

Creating Boundaries and Sharing Space

You and your roommate should share common spaces equally. You’ll want to make sure you’re each considerate of one another’s needs. Especially in the case of watching television, be mindful of the volume and time of night when watching. The lack of walls will create noise issues. The dining area shouldn’t be as big of an issue. Sharing the space should be easy—it’s always nice to sit down to a meal with somebody else!

Storage Issues

You can’t escape the storage issue no matter what size or type of apartment you live in. The person who creates a bedroom on the first floor will undoubtedly have less bedroom closet space—if any at all! If the person using the loft space as a bedroom has access to a closet upstairs, the person on the first floor should be allowed to use the downstairs coat closet for his or her clothing. It’s only fair that each person have at least one closet. You’ll both have to be creative in storing all other belongings. Look to shelves and decorative storage pieces, like armoires, to keep out infrequently used items out of sight.

Obviously, living with a roommate, loft or no loft, means discussing basic shared living issues as well. Be sure you both have a clear idea as to what the expectations are concerning cleaning the apartment, sharing the shower and having overnight guests.

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Rachael Weiner: I’m a communications professional for a non-profit, which financially necessitates my status as an apartment dweller. Constantly “on-the-go,” I’ve resided in five different apartments across the United States over the past five years. Roommate issues, budgeting, organizing and handling problem neighbors are my specialty.