Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hello,

What's the difference between a "loft" and an "attic", if any? As far as I remember, they both refer to the room under the roof.

Thank you.

Nawee

[Suzanne]

Hello, Nawee,

You are correct, both "attic" and "loft" refer to the area under the roof. But there are some differences that will help you know when to use each:

Attic: this word is used more to describe the area or room directly below the roof in a house.

Loft: while a loft is like an attic, the purpose can be different:
1. A loft can be the upper level, or gallery, used for a special purpose. Examples are a choir loft in a church, or a hay loft in a barn.
2. The term "loft" has become quite popular in describing a living or work area, especially in cities. Loft apartments are often created from old warehouses or buildings; they have high ceilings and open spaces. Loft spaces are also used for artists' studios or art galleries.

I'm not sure which word you are looking for, so I hope this helps!

[nawee]

I read somewhere that when we talk about an attic, you picture a room under the roof that is used for storage where as a loft is an attic that has been converted for other purposes (such as the ones in your explanation). Is it necessarily the case?

[Suzanne]

Hi!

Your comment is a good one--that's an easy way to tell the difference.

Have a good weekend!