Unfortunately, city apartments cannot boast of large sizes. They, unlike private houses, have a typical layout. They can not change the height of the ceilings, the location of the windows, as well as the size of the room itself. However, this does not mean at all that in such apartments it will not work to organize a stylish place for a comfortable stay. Everything is possible if desired! To do this, you only need to study the projects of qualified designers and their recommendations, as well as choose a specific style for design.
The main room in the apartment is the living room. It is this space that is popular with all family members. We can say that it is an active life of the household. As a rule, people here come together to discuss pressing problems, share joyful events, watch a favorite movie or TV show, or hold a celebration. Naturally, the interior of the living room in the apartment should fully correspond to its purpose. In addition, this room is a kind of calling card of the owners. She can influence the formation of the first opinion, as well as indicate the status of people living in it.
How to design a living room so that it looks modern, original and beautiful? This is what will be discussed in this article.
Where to begin?
In order for the interior of the living room in the city apartment to be as harmonious as possible, you need to pay attention to all the moments, even the most insignificant ones. Before proceeding directly to the design, it is important to draw up a project. In it, the owner determines the functional purpose of the room, takes into account the technical parameters of the layout. The latter include the size of the room, the height of the ceilings, the location of door and window openings. Also, having a living room plan, you can divide the room into zones. In each of them to think over arrangement of furniture and household appliances.
In addition to these main points, in the design project, already at the preparation stage, you can choose the color scheme, calculate (approximately) the amount of building materials, decide on decorative accessories.
Layout and dimensions
Designers advise choosing the style of the interior of the living room only taking into account its size. Naturally, the smaller the room, the more difficult it is to create a harmonious space in it. However, at present, even a small room can be cozy and comfortable, if you choose the right style. For example, most people prefer minimalism or hi-tech. Their features will be described a little later. But the interior of the living room in the apartment (18 sq. M.) Allows you not to restrain yourself in fantasies. For its design, any design direction is suitable - classic, provence and others.
But not only the size of the room is taken into account. No less important are other points. These include the following:
- The side on which the windows go and their sizes.
- Location and number of doorways.
- Ceiling height. Depending on this indicator, surface finish is selected. In a room with high ceilings, it is recommended to install multi-level structures, tension or drywall.
- Filling the room with enough light.
Zoning space
Modern living room interiors in an apartment should be both stylish, comfortable, functional and conducive to relaxation. At first glance it may seem that it is impossible to harmoniously combine all this in one room. However, it is not. With the right zoning, the end result will be stunning. You need to start by identifying a place where each family member can feel comfortable. Depending on this, arrange the interior.
What should I look for when dividing a room into zones?
- The method of zoning.
- Choice of finishes.
- Lighting.
- Furnishings.
So, most often in the living room equip three zones. The first is for relaxation. It necessarily installs comfortable upholstered furniture. It can be a sofa or armchairs. To give comfort, it is worth taking care of pillows. The corner is supplemented with a coffee table. As a rule, the emphasis in the recreation area is household appliances. If possible, the owners install a home theater. With a modest income, you can limit yourself to a TV.
The second zone is conditionally called the guest. In the event that the room is small, it can be combined with a place intended for relaxation. It is equipped with a bar (subject to the accession of the kitchen) or set the dining table in a rectangular or round shape. Thanks to this, when hosting guests, you can not only give them a cup of tea, but also treat them with delicious dishes.
And the last third is the zone of intelligence. In this place there are bookcases, shelves, racks. You can also install a computer desk. It is recommended to choose a place near the window for this area, so it will be well lit. The intelligence zone of its kind will become a study.
Combining with a balcony is a great way to expand your living room.
Making small living rooms, owners are faced with certain difficulties. The main one is the lack of square meters. Of course, you can expand the space at the expense of other rooms. However, if they are small, then it becomes unrealistic. Then the designers advise to use the balcony room. To do this, you need to remove the window block. If there is a desire to radically redesign the room, then the partition is also demolished.
By connecting the balcony to the living room, it becomes possible to organize a recreation area, a library, a mini-hall for sports or an office. In any case, what kind of destination the owners would not choose for these square meters, the space will only win.
Lighting
The cozy interior of the living room in the apartment cannot be created without properly selected lighting. It is important to understand that even a small room needs several light sources. The times when it was necessary to be limited only to the central ceiling chandelier are long gone. To date, many beautiful lamps of various types are presented - wall, floor. In order to properly position the light sources, you will need to consider the following points:
- The main lighting is provided by chandeliers or spotlights located on the ceiling. Most often, the latter are mounted in suspended multi-level structures.
- In the recreation area, hidden lighting is used, which will provide a comfortable viewing of the TV.
- In a place reserved for intellectual development, local lighting must be installed. In this case, the lamps are located above the table or near the chair. You can also use the lighting of bookcases.
Textile
Do you want the interior of the living room in the apartment to be as comfortable as possible? Then you should take care of the textiles. It is he who brings notes of warmth into the atmosphere. The first thing to choose is window drapery. It must necessarily correspond to the style of the room. It is also important to choose the right color scheme. Preferring certain curtains, designers recommend paying attention to the size of the room. If it is small, then it is worth stopping at a light transparent material. Conversely, in large areas, dense heavy curtains will look great.
Curtains can be both an addition to the interior, and provide contrast. In the first case, their color matches the tone of the wall decoration, but in the second - you can experiment. For example, the room is decorated in white, and the drapery of the windows is bright blue. Such curtains will fulfill the role of accent. However, you will need to use this color in other elements so that it blends harmoniously into the interior, and does not look like a simple stain. To do this, it is recommended to supplement the living room with blue furniture covers or the same pillows. If possible, then use this color for fixtures (for example, fabric lampshade).
Color palette
The choice of colors, in which the interior of the living room in the apartment will be decorated, must be approached very seriously. In this matter, one cannot be limited only to personal preferences. It is important to pay attention to the property of the representatives of the palette. Dark, bright and rich shades will visually reduce space. It is not recommended to decorate large surface areas of walls with them. They should only be used as inserts. These shades are easy to place accents, as well as fill the neutral design with contrasts.
But light colors are great for small living rooms. The fact is that such shades are able to visually increase the room, making it spacious, light and airy. Also, this color scheme is recommended for use in those rooms whose windows face the north side.
Finish
What is the background of the interiors of the living rooms in the apartment? Of course, the main surface. These include the ceiling, walls and floor. The harmony of space will depend on their decoration. What are the most common options?
- Ceiling. As mentioned above, the way it is designed will directly depend on the size of the room. If it is small, then it is better not to use multi-level structures. They not only make the space heavier, but visually reduce it. Most often, light colors are selected for the ceiling. Currently, stretch fabrics are popular. They have a wide range of designs and colors. There are matte and glossy.
- Floor. Choosing a coating for this surface is not a problem right now. The stores have a wide variety of materials - linoleum, carpet, parquet, laminate. As they say, for every taste. However, choosing a floor covering, it is worth paying attention to some points. For example, in order for the interior of the kitchen-living room in the apartment to be not only beautiful, but also practical, it is recommended to use easily washable material. As such, a laminate is perfect. It is not capricious and has a high level of wear resistance.
- Walls. For these surfaces, the type of finish is selected depending on the style. For example, in classic interiors, natural materials will be appropriate, so wooden panels or decorative plaster are often used. In small living rooms, it is better to wallpaper or simply paint the walls. Such a neutral background will be an excellent basis for decoration. If you want to highlight one of the walls, then you can stick on it wall murals.
Interior Styles - A Tribute to the Present
Currently, designers are happy to present different ideas for the interior of the living room in the apartment, which are available to everyone. As a rule, they are created on the basis of a general concept. How to understand this? A certain style harmoniously combines all the elements. These are finishing materials, colors, furniture, accessories. Some styles can only be created in large living rooms. But there are those that are great for small rooms. At present, the following design areas that are ideally fit into the space of typical apartments are popular:
- Classicism.
- Minimalism.
- High tech.
- Provence.
- Modern.
- Art Deco and others.
Let's look at the features of some of them.
Classic - wealth and greatness
The living room interior in the apartment (20 sq. M) can be decorated in a classic style. Such an area will be enough to open all the features of this area.
Classicism has characteristic features. First of all, only natural materials are used in the decoration - stone, wood, leather, velvet. The color scheme is mainly natural tones, bright and “poisonous” shades are not allowed. The classic interior will look exquisite if you fill it with beige, brown, emerald, burgundy colors. Do not forget about silver and gold, because space must demonstrate greatness and wealth.
As a decor, paintings in beautiful frames, porcelain figurines, bronze candlesticks, a wall clock with a pendulum are perfect. Furniture items must be solid, made of natural wood. Best if they are a few tones darker than the main finish. The classic interior can be supplemented with a small electric fireplace.
Minimalism - simplicity and comfort
Owners of small-sized premises should not be upset. They are advised to choose the minimalism style for the interior design of the living room in the apartment (see photo below). Such a space is filled only with the most necessary things, so an oversupply and pressure will not be felt. The name of this design direction speaks for itself - at least in everything. Thanks to this, a room even of a small size becomes light and airy.
A neutral palette is perfect for such a living room. The shape of objects is as simple as possible, devoid of ornate. Finishing materials can be selected various. Minimalism style space is created using a combination of glass, plastic and metal.
Decor is not welcome. However, you should not completely abandon it, as the room may seem very boring. As a rule, in such rooms a beautiful floor lamp is installed near the sofa or armchairs, a bright picture painted in a modern style is hung on one wall, and a large indoor plant, for example, an ornamental palm tree, is placed at the window.
Hi-tech - style for modern people
One of the varieties of minimalism is the hi-tech style. He is chosen by modern people. The fact is that the interior of the living room in the apartment (see photo below), made in this design direction, is built on the use of household appliances. It is technology that acts as accents and flaunts. The color scheme is discreet - gray, silver and white tones prevail in the room. The decoration allowed small bright blotches. As materials, preference is given to metal and glass. The furniture is simple in shape. In space, exact geometry is respected.
Provence - romance, beauty and tenderness
The interior of the living room in the Provence style apartment will be filled with romance, warmth and comfort. It seems to look quite simple, however, this is precisely its charm. The wall decoration is bright, floral ornament can be used. The color scheme is juicy, but at the same time delicate and natural. In order to fully convey the mood of Provence, you will need to pick up furniture with an artificially aged surface. The main thing is to achieve the feeling that it has already served several generations.
Owners will have to completely abandon plastic items, and products with chrome trim are also not allowed. The decor should match the style, so it’s better to use different ceramic things, antique clay dishes. For windows, cotton or linen curtains are suitable.