Starting repairs in the apartment, many people do not even guess how many problems they may have with the design of the smallest room in the house - the entrance hall. After all, every owner wants to please the modern interior with not only rooms, but also the room with which each house begins.
Many simply don’t know how to design a small corridor in an apartment so that it is functional and stylish. Architects and designers claim that the entrance hall occupies no more than 10-15% of the total area of the apartment. In small houses, this figure is much smaller.
This problem is familiar to many Russians living in panel houses or “Khrushchev”. The design of a very small corridor is not easy to create, but it is possible, although at first glance it seems that it is simply impossible to turn this tiny (and sometimes cluttered) room into a modern and comfortable one. Do not despair, in this article we will reveal to you some simple, but effective design techniques that will help you achieve the desired result.
Hallway Types
Before discussing the design of a small corridor, let's look at what types of hallways are the most difficult to design. According to experts, the most problematic are the corner hallways. They are often found in panel houses. They are inconvenient and poorly functional. Nevertheless, modern designers have developed many solutions that can save the situation.
For all its shortcomings, corner hallways have one indisputable advantage - a niche for furniture. In this case, a custom-made or finished hallway for a small corridor is suitable. The design of the room will benefit from such a solution. In contrast to the narrow corridors of the "Khrushchev" in such a hallway, the issue of furniture is solved more simply.
However, one should not forget that the corner entrance is very small. Therefore, it is necessary to use every centimeter of corners and niches, try to compactly arrange furniture in them. It is still necessary to soften the corners in the corner hallway. This can be achieved with the rounded edges of the furniture.
Narrow small corridor: design
Now we heard how the owners of the Khrushchev sighed sadly. This they got the halls the size of a matchbox. Their main problem is a disastrously small area. Sometimes it does not exceed two square meters.
Despite the fact that such a corridor has the right rectangular shape, there is no way to “turn around" and radically improve something. But this is only at first glance. In reality, such a small corridor can be brought into proper shape. Design (photo you see below), created taking into account the recommendations of experienced professionals, will be able to transform it beyond recognition.
It is not difficult to do this with the help of several design “tricks” and high-quality decoration of the room. You can easily implement this yourself.
Style
Before creating the interior design of a small corridor, you need to choose a design style. Stylistically, the corridor (whatever its size) should not contradict other premises of the apartment. Even the smallest hallway must match it.
Decor
We will not hide the fact that to take into account all the wishes, correctly enter them into the available dimensions and, as a result, to create a modern design for a small corridor is not easy. And yet, it is possible.
The most important thing in this matter is to proceed from what we are working with. Small room? Not scary. Cast aside dreams of a large wardrobe, a huge number of optional pieces of furniture and some additions to the interior (a large vase at the doorstep or a comfortable sofa). With any decisions, it is the size of the hallway that should be the starting point. If you do not forget about how much square meters you have at your disposal, from planning to implementing the project, the result will surely please.
There are simple principles for visually enlarging a small space that you can use to create a small corridor design:
- light finishing materials;
- minimum of furniture;
- built-in storage system;
- the use of mirrors and glossy surfaces.
Floor
Light coatings are great for the floor. With their help, you can visually increase the space. For example, a narrow corridor can be expanded using the transverse installation of a laminate or parquet, and it can be extended with a longitudinal pattern or by laying narrow designer rugs.
Optically expand the space and at the same time create a stunning aesthetic effect of self-leveling floors equipped with built-in lighting.
Ceiling
There are even more interesting solutions for the ceiling. Here are just a few of them:
- smooth, illuminated surface of white (light) color;
- perimeter stepped cornice;
- multilevel wave (if height allows);
- glossy stretch ceiling.
Wallpaper selection
Today, the design of a small corridor can be created using various finishing materials (the benefit is their huge selection). But most owners prefer time-tested wallpapers. This choice is easy to explain: affordable price, the ability to make repairs yourself, a large assortment, the presence of samples that are washable and resistant to mechanical stress. In addition, wallpaper, unlike wall panels, for example, does not steal precious centimeters of area that are so lacking in small hallways.
How to choose the right wallpaper?
Some indicators must be taken into account:
- Practicality. Entrance - the room is small, so contact with the walls is inevitable. And it is very disappointing when recently pasted canvases turn out to be rubbed with outer clothing. Therefore, wallpaper for a small hallway must be durable and resistant to mechanical damage.
- Color. At the beginning of the article, we talked about the fact that the walls of a small hallway should be light or even white. This is really very beautiful, but in this case, the owner should be prepared for an early and frequent update. But this does not mean at all that one should neglect the recommendations of designers for the sake of practicality. Choose sandy, creamy tones. They will look very attractive in the interior.
- Proportionality. Wallpaper with a large color pattern will look ridiculous in a small hallway. Refuse such a choice. At the same time, a small motley drawing can also play a cruel joke and turn the room into a “casket”. Therefore, opt for plain textured wallpaper.
In the "Khrushchev", where the ceilings are very low, you can safely glue wallpaper with vertical stripes. If the ceilings are high - with horizontal.
Lighting
In a small hallway, it is desirable that the main luminous flux is directed upwards. This will visually raise the ceiling. Additionally, you can use LED-lamps, placing them around the perimeter of the ceiling.
Decor
No matter how small the corridor may be, without decor its design will be incomplete. Originality of the room (and without reducing its space) will be given by various art works, paintings, posters. Small decor items arranged on narrow shelves along one wall are no less attractive.
Furniture
Probably, everyone understands that there is no need to talk about the hallway for a room with an area of 2-3 square meters. However, you can not do without furniture. It should be the appropriate size and beaten with color. For example, if you put a small white cabinet with the right lighting in the white hallway, it will be very stylish.
If your hallway is more than three meters, you can assemble a series of several lockers. Today, manufacturers take into account the various wishes of customers and provide them with the opportunity to decide for themselves what a furniture set will look like. Having made accurate measurements of the hallway, you can plan and select modules for the room in the store.
The advantages of modular furniture are that each buyer can satisfy his taste and realize his plans. This option is suitable for people who do not want to order furniture in private workshops or at unknown enterprises.
In conclusion, I would like to advise the owners of small halls not to be afraid to experiment. Undoubtedly, it is necessary to adhere to the general advice and recommendations of specialists, but you should not be afraid to move away from boring standard options.