The very first room we enter at the entrance to the apartment is, of course, the entrance hall. And, as you know, the theater begins with a hanger. So the first idea of the tastes of the owner and of himself can be gleaned from this room. A modern open hallway can tell about the impeccable taste of the property owner.
But what kind of room should this be so that guests can appreciate the situation? Since we do not live in a cave, therefore, it is worth using a modern style, which has its own characteristics. We’ll talk about this.
The taste and color ...
What does modern style mean in relation to the whole house, apartment or single room? It is impossible to unequivocally answer this question. Since there are no clear boundaries or any boundaries. The word "modern" itself can be perceived as "ordinary", that is - here and now. The main feature of this style is that it was, is and always will be.
Over time, more and more new and improved materials, technologies, tastes and preferences will appear, but the modern style is immortal, as it always corresponds to its time period. Once upon a time, many owners decorated their premises, including open hallways, with heavy curtains, furniture walls and rugs with rugs of enormous size. All this was also part of the modern style, but what is now very popular?
It is only worth clarifying one equally important point. "Modern" is not only everything that is used at a given moment in time. First of all, this is beauty, bordering on fashion, which is to the taste of every person.
Corridor Space Design
The design of the corridor should set in a friendly mood from the moment you step beyond the threshold of the apartment. However, the reality is that often there is simply not enough space and therefore the atmosphere of many halls is not ergonomic. Of course, this does not mean that the owners do not express a desire to make their corridor beautiful and cozy. It is quite natural and doable.
The design of an open hallway should be based on ease of use and convenience, and then you need to take into account the appearance. At the same time, it is necessary not to ignore the following factors:
- Ergonomics.
- Furniture
- Lighting.
Without this, it is impossible to create the necessary comfort in the main room of any apartment or private house. In addition, everything should be felt simplicity, lightness, elegance, convenience and practicality. Do not “litter” the entire corridor with things and caps, and the presence of a certain number of decorative elements, on the contrary, will improve perception.
Ergonomics
No matter how beautiful the hallway may be, if it causes inconvenience to both the owners and guests, what kind of functionality can we talk about? In an uncomfortable corridor, you can look for clothes for a long time, which usually leads to being late for work. And returning in the evening, it may simply not be enough 30 minutes to lay out their things.
The entire space of the open hallway should be distributed harmoniously, and for this it is necessary to determine the optimal location of all functional areas. What does each of us do when he returns home from work or after a long absence? Almost all of us do the following:
- we put packages or bags;
- put the hat on the shelf;
- take off your shoes;
- take off our clothes and broadcast them on a hanger.
When leaving the apartment, at home, the same procedure is performed in the reverse order. Therefore, it is important to preserve the entire sequence of actions in order to avoid unnecessary activity. Scientists have proved that excess body movements contribute to fatigue, which significantly reduces the human performance. Therefore, all areas need to be given increased attention.
The place where the shoes are stored is preferably located near the front door. Nearby, approximately at arm's length, there should be a dressing room with hangers and a couple of open shelves. When leaving the house, in such hallways open for shoes, it is more convenient and faster to take outer clothing in accordance with the weather. This is especially important in the morning when collecting for work. And from the shelves it is very convenient to take along the necessary attributes, accessories and other little things: keys, handbags, purses, coins, including tokens on the subway.
Furniture
As already clear, the hallway must meet the main requirements:
- Functionality.
- Practicality.
- Convenience.
All this is feasible provided the right selection of furniture. At the same time, each element must fulfill its specific tasks, but it is not worth it to fill up its hall with unnecessary objects. The main goal of any modern corridor is convenience with a minimum of effort.
For the shoe zone, a small locker will be appropriate, but sufficient to store shoes, sneakers and other shoes for everyday wear in it. A banquet, ottoman or small stool is also useful, so you can sit down. After all, you need to calmly and slowly rush to put on shoes. In this case, do not use tall and soft furniture. Let them be a little stiff and low. After all, the entrance hall with a cupboard and an open part is not a place for long gatherings.
Modular design
In furniture stores you can find modular systems that combine several of the necessary elements. In addition, this will help to solve the question of which option is better to choose, since manufacturers have already included everything that is necessary. This is a wardrobe, a shoe cabinet, a small ottoman, as well as a stand for various little things. Moreover, you can find both luxurious and "voluminous" options, as well as dimensional solutions that will be appropriate in a small hallway.
Modular furniture, as well as any other, is made from various kinds of materials. By virtue of its properties, natural raw materials endow environmental objects with a long service life, beauty and practicality. But this requires considerable investments, and for those who are constrained in the means, cheaper analogues from materials imitating natural shades are provided. In beauty, this option is not inferior to furniture made from natural materials.
Closet
The entrance hall with a sliding wardrobe and an open part is a profitable solution that allows you to rationally use the already small corridor space without losing sophistication. Sliding doors do not need much space. In addition, they are very convenient when opening.
As a rule, shelves, niches and rods are located inside, which some models can extend. Such a cabinet is usually large enough to accommodate not only outerwear, but also shoes, hats and various accessories. Of course, the ideal depth of the cabinet is 60 cm, but under certain circumstances 40 cm is enough. In this compartment there is not a longitudinal but a transverse bar.
Mirrors as necessary attributes
The entrance hall should not only be functional, practical, but also beautiful. To do this, it is worth positioning the mirror correctly, perhaps not one, which will make the room multifunctional. Typically, the entrance hall with a sliding wardrobe and an open part already contains these elements, but it will not hurt to buy several mirrors in addition.
Among the variety, several types can be distinguished:
- Wall mirrors - can be the size of the entire wall and be framed. At the same time, a small shelf can be located below.
- Floor - they are always framed and equipped with a stand for tilting.
- Horizontal - visually increase the size of the wall on which they are located. Only in this case can the ceiling "lower" a little.
- Vertical - allow you to look at yourself at full height and visually increase the height of the ceiling.
- A diverse form - triangular mirrors or with irregular shapes are usually design solutions that improve the appearance of any room.
In this case, round mirrors have a special place. Since ancient times, people believed that they have special properties, or rather magic. For a long time, it is believed that a round mirror can protect a person from the evil eye and damage, provide assistance in difficult situations, as well as give a feeling of inner peace. Perhaps for this reason, every lady, regardless of age, carries a round mirror in her purse.
It is worth placing such mirrors, for example, in a corner open hallway and then each awakening will be calm. You can place several small mirrors in any shape on any wall, or hang one, but large size.
Lighting
Typically, windows in other rooms cannot adequately illuminate the hallway in the dark. And here it is important to create the necessary and at the same time comfortable level of lighting. There are many options here. The lack of natural light can be compensated for by hidden spotlights, which are usually hidden in the ceiling or walls. You can place small sconces near the mirror. And so that you do not have to move to the touch in the dark, it is desirable that the switches are located at both ends of the hallway.
Depending on the preferences of the owner of the apartment or house, the lighting can be made bright or dim. The brighter it is, the better the pieces of furniture and the color of the walls look. But the combination of different light sources will be much better. For example, soft light from a sconce will fall on the walls or ceiling. And on the ceiling will be the main bright chandelier. Only turn them on separately.
It is not necessary for a small open hallway with a compartment to buy a large, but beautiful and expensive lamp, because against its background the hallway will become even smaller.
Color perception of design
You must adhere to the correct color scheme. It is desirable that all pieces of furniture are from a single collection. Even at the stage of formation of the design of the hallway, it is worth deciding in advance on the choice of stylist and strictly adhering to it. At the same time, furniture in dark shades is well suited to brightly lit rooms.
Furniture should fit perfectly into the interior. Bright wall decoration blends perfectly with the neutral shades of the elements. This will avoid color noise and at the same time harmonize the whole environment.
Light-colored pieces of furniture look best in a small hallway. For a narrow aisle, a hanger with beige, sand, light gray or any similar color with open shelves in the hallway is ideal.
In this case, you can compensate for the lack of lighting and slightly increase the space of the room. It is hardly worth explaining why it is better not to use snow-white shades in the hallway.
The design works well with a bright color accent. Moreover, this option is suitable for open and spacious hallways, and small rooms. In this case, an element (niche, cabinet doors, etc.) that has a brighter shade is highlighted against the general light background.
Visual increase in space
The play of color allows not only to improve the design of the hallway, but also visually increase its volume. However, there are other methods, among which the use of a mirror surface can be noted. Mirrors not only visually increase the space of the room, but also reflect light, making the hallway even a little brighter. You can either purchase furniture with the appropriate elements, or buy them separately.
Sliding wardrobes with mirrored doors to the full height are very helpful in this regard. Such open hallways, as in the photo below, are becoming more spacious.
There is another equally effective technique - the purchase of furniture with a glossy facade. In this case, the shiny surface will work in tandem with the mirrors, thereby creating a more tangible effect. In very small rooms it is better to use open furniture structures.
They do not take up much space, which is why they do not clutter up the space. But the most radical method is minimalism - just a hanger, mirrors (or one, but large), a couple of chairs and nothing more. As a result, the hallway is completely free from all that is superfluous.
Design harmony
Do not forget that the entrance hall is a connecting link in relation to the rest of the premises of an apartment or private house (cottage, mansion, villa, etc.). In this regard, the interior of the room should be in harmony with the design of the kitchen, room, living room and other rooms. If at the same time all the rooms have different styles, then for the hallway it is better to use neutral shades of design.
This also applies to furniture. For example, it is desirable that the wardrobe with an open entrance hall has a color in the segment between warm and cold tones. Warm shades contribute to the creation of a cozy atmosphere: you just have to step beyond the threshold. While the cool color scheme allows you to quickly adjust yourself to a working mood. It is necessary to observe the measure in everything and not clutter up the room with unnecessary decor - everything is allowed in moderation.