Creating a beautiful loggia or balcony in the apartment will help turn the previously dull place of storing unnecessary trash into a functional and useful space. Here you can arrange a room for any purpose (kitchen, dining room, conservatory, wardrobe, etc.), as well as implement your own ideas for decorating the interior.
The history of loggia design
In the Soviet years, small balconies and loggias were used mainly for storing food in the winter months or old and unnecessary things, such as the attic. However, after many residents glazed, it became possible to create additional living space, especially in small apartments, where every square meter counts.
The first step was to transform the balcony into a kind of relaxation area: a room with a table and chair, a small cupboard and flowers in pots. Gradually, the idea of decorating the balcony from the inside began to develop, enriching itself by borrowing photos from designer magazines. Each owner tried to come up with something of his own, complementing the finished plan with his own original details and decor items.
Functionality Ideas
As experience has accumulated, several areas of targeted use of the space of loggias and balconies have been formed, which allow each owner to choose what is necessary to his taste or to think for himself how to beautifully repair the loggia:
- the combination of the space of the room and the loggia in one zone (dining room, guest room, etc.);
- a study in a small area, consisting of a table, chair and computer, or the arrangement of a creative workshop, a beauty salon for women;
- relaxation zone - will allow family members to retire and relax from the TV and computer in silence among pleasant plants;
- a winter garden - for gardeners who can not only relax, but also combine this with the process of caring for plants;
- wardrobe for storing things;
- children's play area (will require work to organize the safety of the child);
- the kitchen area will allow you to install a refrigerator, washing machine, oven for cooking, especially with a large and wide area of the loggia.
Non-standard solutions for using the loggia are also possible:
- a gym, for which it will be necessary to strengthen the floor, walls and ceiling and put exercise equipment;
- personal sauna (an area of 1 sq. m is sufficient for it) with a stove-heater and a wooden bench;
- room for a pet, especially a large dog.
Preparatory work
The purpose of registration of the loggia depends not only on the desire of the owner, but also on the shape, area of the room, orientation to the cardinal points. Before you start designing a beautiful loggia in your apartment, you should find out a few rules:
- the selection of materials for flooring is not only for practical reasons, but also visual appeal and combination with others;
- the main rule of the interior is simplicity and aesthetics without piling up unnecessary parts and objects;
- furniture for the loggia is selected lightweight, compact, convenient to use and care;
- fresh flowers will become the best decoration of the interior;
- furniture and decorative trifles (textiles, lamps, vases, etc.) are selected taking into account the style direction of the room;
- Before starting repairs, you should consider not only the issue of warming the balcony, but also equipping it with electricity (wiring, sockets, switches).
We make beautiful balconies and loggias ourselves
In apartment buildings, narrow and long loggias are most often made, passing along the perimeter of the house along the room and the kitchen. The main task of finishing balconies with a small width is to visually expand the space. For this, light tones of materials for decorating walls and ceilings, wallpaper with a horizontal pattern, a wooden floor with a transverse arrangement of boards, etc. are suitable.
Interior styles are suitable for any: romance, country, high-tech, minimalism. The loggia in length can be divided into several zones, arrange furniture (table and chairs, a mini-sofa), on the side walls to arrange racks or cabinets. On the windowsill decorative flowers in pots will look great.
One of the original ideas is the device of the bar counter on the windowsill along the window with a width of 30-40 cm, and the built-in side cabinets are suitable for placing the necessary items and trifles.
A table in a small space is best done folding, which is fixed to the wall and folds if necessary.
Recreation area and winter garden
For the arrangement of a recreation area with a winter garden, it is recommended to pre-insulate the walls and put special phytolamps. Side walls are ideal for installing racks under pots. Hooks are made on the ceiling to hang a flower pot with climbing plants, and floor or wall flowerpots will look good.
Brickwork, wallpaper with imitation of stone texture, decorative tile with a pattern can become an ideal beautiful decoration for a loggia with a winter garden.
To protect from bright sunlight, curtains are hung on glazed windows. For a narrow balcony, it is preferable to use Roman or roll, which take up little space, bamboo or plastic blinds. To save space, you can tint glass with a special film. For a more spacious loggia, fabric curtains are also suitable.
Lighting can be brought in several versions: ceiling, wall or built-in. Furniture for the loggia should satisfy several requirements: not wide, light, preferably angular or built-in.
Most of the space will be occupied by plants in pots, tubs or crates. For gardeners, you may need a table with a chair that will provide convenience when transplanting plants or preparing seedlings.
Cabinet in the loggia
Using the balcony as a work area is one of the most common ideas. This is especially true for residents who work at a computer most of the time at home. The interior of a beautiful loggia, acting as an office, should be bright and spacious.
Depending on the area, it is possible to make a division into a work area and a recreation area. The owner of the cabinet should choose the style on his own, according to his taste. Mandatory elements are a table for a computer and a chair, hanging shelves for books and little things.
The working area for a woman, for example, for a needlewoman, involves the installation of a sewing machine and shelves for accessories. Beautiful wardrobes on the loggia will become not only a design solution that allows you to visually reduce the length of the room, but also allow you to use them to store things.
If possible, then on the loggia you can arrange a sports corner, putting exercise equipment, a Swedish wall and other accessories.
Children's room and other ideas
The creation of a beautiful children's room or play area in the loggia has its own nuances. First of all, you need to think in advance about measures to ensure the safety of the baby. In the decoration they use only natural materials, comfortable furniture without corners.
A carpet or soft rug is placed on the floor so that the child can sit. There must be lockers and shelves with toys. The walls are decorated in a bright flower-toy manner, so that the baby would be interested.
As a non-standard use of a balcony or a loggia, equipment options for your own sauna, wardrobe or personal room for a pet — a large dog — can be used.
Design in combination with the room
The combination of loggias with living rooms in recent years has become a popular option for designing not only small-sized, but also large apartments. This solution during the repair has several advantages:
- increase in usable area, which will make it possible to arrange a large living room or room for receiving guests;
- combination with a balcony will make the space brighter and more illuminated by the sun;
- the design of a beautiful loggia in the apartment will look extraordinary and modern;
- combined rooms are designed in the same style using the same materials and decorative elements.
The disadvantages of this solution are: the dismantling of the wall and the need to obtain a special permit for this, additional insulation of the premises, which will entail considerable financial costs.
Very often, the territory of a balcony or loggia is used to place a dining room or kitchen area, then both rooms fulfill a common functional role. On the balcony you can put a refrigerator, arrange a bar or place a table for guests.
Rules for combined rooms
A few basic rules when planning and repairing combined rooms to create a beautiful loggia:
- the use of finishing materials depends on the choice of zoning: to emphasize another zone, you can use others, but similar to those in the room;
- optimal materials: wood, tile, wallpaper and plaster; the use of plastic or siding is not recommended;
- to separate the zones, you can use the window sill or a functional partition in the form of a decorative curtain, a bookcase, the use of sliding doors is also popular, which will allow you to separate and combine rooms at will;
- In this case, the furniture should be combined with each other: a dressing table is placed near the bedroom, a table and chairs, armchairs, bookcases, etc. are located near the dining room.
Style in the design of the loggia
When deciding how to make a beautiful loggia with your own hands, you must choose a style solution to the space, which will allow you to experiment and make an original design decision.
The most common styles:
- classic - involves the creation of a family idyll: a tea party table with an elegant tablecloth, flower pots arranged symmetrically, crockery made of porcelain, forged elements are present in the interior;
- modern - consists of a coffee table, a cozy couch, spot ceiling lighting, video corner;
- Oriental - allows you to decorate the loggia beautifully, as described in oriental tales: the floor is laid out with stone (tiles), heavy curtains with patterns are hung on the windows, a low sofa or trestle bed is placed, colorful pillows, a hookah and other little things are used;
- Provence - involves the use of wood and stone trim (tiles), flowers and rustic decor, furniture upholstery with flowers or ornaments;
- vintage - always differs by a wooden unpainted floor and ceiling, the walls are whitewashed, from the furniture only a simple table and chairs, from the decor - ficus and other plants planted in a barrel;
- pop art is an affordable style in which paintings are used to decorate windows.
Decoration Materials
To create a beautiful loggia with your own hands will help the optimal selection of finishing materials. Modern finishes will bring to life any original idea.
Materials for the floor:
- linoleum - according to professionals, is the best option because of durability, reliability, it is easy to fit and easy to operate, has good thermal insulation properties. A wide variety of textures, colors and patterns are on sale, which will help to choose it in accordance with the intended style;
- tile and stone - they look expensive and elegant, but have a significant drawback: cold and uncomfortable; such decoration will require additional insulation or heating;
- wood is the most environmentally friendly and comfortable material, perfectly combined with many style decisions.
Wall decoration plays the most important role in the design of a beautiful loggia in an apartment and sets its style:
- decorative plaster - is an original decoration, especially options with unusual reliefs and volumes, it also additionally insulates the wall;
- plastic panels - are popular due to the budget cost and practicality, modern manufacturers produce many options for colors and textures;
- Wallpaper - have a shorter life, so it is recommended to use not paper, but moisture-resistant types.
It should be borne in mind that for loggias facing south, cold colors are chosen in the finish (gray, blue, light pink), for northern ones - warm shades (beige, peach, turquoise, vanilla).
Custom Loggia Design
In the spacious and large loggia, you can apply many styles when choosing design and furniture. However, there are rooms of a non-standard shape: triangular, too narrow, etc. Even in such a space with competent thoughtful planning, it is possible to create a full-fledged living area or a cozy corner for relaxation. You just need to figure out how to make the loggia beautiful and at the same time use its original form.
Before starting repairs, you should consider how you can visually fix the shape of the room. The use of light colors in the decoration, the use of horizontal ornaments or stripes on the walls, tiles laid on the floor with a “checkerboard” will expand the space. Installing mirrors or wall murals will also affect optical perception.
For a triangular loggia, the function of an office or a resting place is best suited. A corner tabletop, sofa or closet will help make the space more “square”. The walls are decorated with lining, decorative plaster or a material that mimics brickwork.
When designing a beautiful loggia in your apartment, you must adhere to the main goal - to create an original space that will help to solve not only the problems of convenience and performance of any functions, but also create aesthetics and harmony in a combination of decoration, furniture and all decorative details.