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Apartment furniture arrangement


clever ways to arrange your home |

(Image credit: Natalia Miyar / Jonathan Bond)

Devising an apartment layout needs to be done with more forethought than you would apply to a whole house. For one, apartment layout ideas need to include world-class storage that's incredibly stylish, since they are unlikely to be hidden away; color schemes might need to be space-enhancing and will need to work room-to-room as well as across the whole apartment; and, of course, you'll need to ensure that your apartment ideas for each room are carefully defined.

It sounds challenging, and it is. However, with expert interior design advice it's very doable. We have gathered decorating ideas from a range of industry professionals so your apartment layout ideas are second-to-none.

Apartment layout ideas – 10 of the best ways to arrange your space

Practicality is key for apartment ideas, and the layout you select should not only be able to accommodate your lifestyle, but enhance it. These expert apartment layout tips should meet your needs – and make the most of your existing space, no matter the size.

1. Multiple living areas should blend together 

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

'Designing an apartment often means having to incorporate several different living areas into one space, such as placing the dining room in the same space as the living room,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove . 

Robert Burnett of Holloways of Ludlow agrees: 'The main motivation for creating an open-plan living space is to be more sociable. Parents can prepare meals while interacting with their children, perhaps helping them with homework or a project, and monitor TV or internet use.'

2. Create elegance with a neutral scheme 

(Image credit: Emilie Bonaventure/Nicolas Matheus)

'An interior design tip for creating a flow within an apartment is to use whites and neutral tones,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. 'This doesn't mean you can't use pattern – we love the use of this graphic metallic design in Emilie Bonaventure's charming apartment.' Due to its versatility, most colors go with white and beige – it is a neutral after all, which means it will act like a blank canvas on which you can put your mark.

3. Use sliding doors to close off areas

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

If your apartment layout is open plan, having some sliding doors fitted will offer a little privacy and quiet, plus they can be a design feature and focal point to boot. 

'Broken plan spaces are the new, post-pandemic, practical alternative to open plan spaces,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'Broken plan layouts allow you to create a wide range of clever and inspiring ways to make your space work for you,' she adds. 

Paint the space inside a contrasting color for added impact when the doors are open.

4. Place the dining table along one wall

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

It is vital to keep a small apartment looking light, bright and spacious – and color is the best way to maintain an airy feel.  

'In this Kensington apartment, we kept the overall palette of the space light and airy with tonal off whites giving a unified and calming feel, but the use of a beautiful rug subtly defines the apartment living room area, while the oversize pendant and green velvet chairs visually separate the dining area from the rest of the space,' explains Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove . 

5. Help your layout by zoning key spaces 

(Image credit: Neptune)

'For smaller open plan living room spaces, clever zoning can make all the difference,' says George Miller, home designer at Neptune . Simple additions, like a rug and coffee table will help to define your seating area, even if it’s a matter of steps from the dining table. Artwork can be used in a similar way, whether framing a workspace, reading nook or eating area. Just be sure to stick to a clear palette to ensure the space doesn’t end up feeling disparate.'

6. Create drama with contrasting walls and floors

(Image credit: OKA)

'Apartments can be small, so create extra interest by choosing contrasting colors, like this dramatic black parquet flooring and the off white walls and woodwork,' says Andrea Childs, editor, Country Homes & Interiors. 'It makes the overall feel more stylish and contemporary, even though the space has architectural details.'

7. Ensure the apartment flows from room to room

(Image credit: Arte)

When decorating an apartment or smaller home, it’s important to consider the overall design scheme and how you want the rooms to work together. 'If you’re looking for a cohesive feel, where rooms flow naturally into one another, plan your color palette as a whole, layering in different textures or colors to zone key spaces,' says Philippe Desart, managing director at Arte .

'Consider the views between rooms carefully, and if you plan to go bold and add contrasting feature walls, consider how they will be seen through open doorways between spaces. In a smaller apartment keeping elements such as flooring, woodwork and skirting consistent will allow for more freedom to play with your wallpaper color and texture whilst ensuring the overall feel is harmonious and considered.'

8.

Freestanding furniture cleverly divides up space 

(Image credit: Neptune)

While fitted kitchens are unlikely to ever go out of style, there has been a gradual move towards more relaxed-looking kitchens in apartments.

'Freestanding kitchen cabinetry is particularly useful in large kitchen diners,' says George Miller, home designer at Neptune . 'Rather than being confined to one wall or corner of the room, the likes of larders, islands and dressers can happily stand apart to make the very most of the space,'

9. For a light and airy feel use glass 

(Image credit: Emilie Bonaventure/Nicolas Matheus)

'You may only have windows on one side of your apartment – to maximize the light choose inner doors with glass panes and paint walls, woodwork and ceiling in crisp white,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 'And choose a grand traditional chandelier to add sparkle and glamor.'

10. Use the same pop of color throughout the space 

(Image credit: Ikea )

While we usually recommend that you stick to one harmonious color palette when designing an apartment layout, especially if you live in a studio,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'However, color is beautiful way to add intrigue and interest without changing the overall structure. If in doubt, redecorate using a neutral color scheme.'

'We love the use of this zesty orange that can be seen in the foreground of this white apartment. Using color in this way can help an apartment flow, note the use of the stripe rugs too that draws the eye into the living space beyond.'

What is the best layout for an apartment?

Figuring out how to devise the right apartment layout ideas is vital. Small apartment with open-concept layouts often have a number of activities that take place within them, so it’s important to identify an area for each one to avoid the space feeling confused and cluttered.

Use furniture to make a boundary of a seating area in a multi-purpose space. L-shaped or curved designs are a great tool to create a more intimate zone within a larger area, while a dining table and chairs can delineate between an entertaining and relaxing zone.

The best approach to 'zoning' an apartment is to create breaks in color, design, flooring, and furniture, at the same time maintaining a flow that unifies the design. 

Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 20 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time, both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor for indie magazine, 91, she trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched The Prettiest Posy where she curates beautiful flowers for modern weddings and events. For H&G, she writes features about interior design – and is known for having an eye for a beautiful room.

Small apartment living room ideas: 23 space-stretching tips |

(Image credit: Georgia Zikas/Jane Beiles/Future/Sofology)

If you are looking for small apartment living room ideas, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of making a room look wider, taller or brighter than it actually is, while also trying to make every corner look cozy.  

These small apartment living room ideas will help inspire you to achieve the space of your dreams.

Though it can be challenging to find the right apartment living room ideas for a particularly small space, there are several benefits to compact living. A well-designed scheme can feel just as comfortable as a larger space, with all the coziness and comfort associated with family living. One of the main advantages of small living room ideas is also the convenient accessibility of everything that’s needed. Easy maintenance is another bonus.

All you have to do now is to find the perfect color scheme, layout and furniture style to suit your space – and that's where our apartment decor ideas come into play.

Small apartment living room ideas

If your apartment has a small living room, there are ways you can enhance it so it feels larger and thoughtfully designed, the majority focus around good organizing in a small apartment. Don't forget, too, that if you are looking for small apartment patio ideas, you can combine them with your search for small apartment living room ideas; creating a cohesive indoor-outdoor space is vital to enhancing a small space.

(Image credit: Georgia Zikas/Jane Beiles)

Approach apartment layout ideas with focus, thinking how you can create a space with great flow that still packs in everything you want in your life.

'Multipurpose design offers functionality when you're dealing with a small footprint. Clever, well thought out design can make a room work hard and serve as a dining nook, a bar, a living room and a study / work area. 

'In moments like these, good design is critical in maximizing the functionality of a smaller space,' says Georgia Zikas, founder and principal designer at Georgia Zikas Design . 

2. Create intimacy with pattern and color

(Image credit: Dado)

'Small apartment living rooms don’t need to be neutral and minimalist, pattern and color are a fantastic way to zone a living area within an open plan space, or create an intimate and personality packed living room. When space is limited keep your color palette tight and focused, take your cue from a favorite wallpaper, picking out colors from your chosen pattern to create a considered and cohesive scheme.  

'As well as zoning a space with wallpaper, consider coordinating paint work and flooring too – a well placed rug with a bold edge detail is a fantastic way to further define your living area,' says Kate French, creative director at Dado . 

3. A gold accent will give a luxury feel

(Image credit: Sofology)

If you are looking for combined small living room and apartment kitchen ideas, ensure your space feels fabulous and not just functional. You can convey this with luxe-look materials, such as marble and metallics. 

'This white, gray and gold color scheme is contemporary and fresh, it's ideal for a small apartment living room and it works across the kitchen too. The white bounces the light and the wooden floorboards add warmth. The gold highlights link the two spaces and the marble adds texture,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens 

4. Look for storage and seating opportunities

(Image credit: M. Lavender Interiors/Janet Mesic Mackie)

Window seat ideas are a fantastically space-wise way to create both seating and hidden storage. They can also be used to add interest with pattern, color and even the joinery. And, they are a great apartment bedroom idea, too, for exactly the same reasons.

However you furnish your small apartment living room, think: light colors for space enhancement.

'I love the lightness of this room and the use of different textures in similar colorways to create drama. From the textured wallpaper on the ceiling to the high gloss finish on the trim, it is a great and interesting space even in a compact area. 

'We went with light, happy colors with shades of green and yellow. These shades were punctuated with more vibrant colors consistent with the rest of the home,' says Mark Lavender, principal designer of M. Lavender Interiors . 

5. Emphasize vertical lines to cheat the eye

(Image credit: Stefani Stein)

Clever living room curtain ideas can be used to play with the proportions of your space, visually at least. And it needn't be limited to curtains: whether you choose striped wallpaper or floor-to-ceiling hung drapes, you are creating a visual trick, drawing the eye up and down a wall rather than across it, which dupes the brain into seeing a small apartment living room as taller than it is. When used in long living room ideas too, this trick can help rebalance a room's narrow proportions. 

So, if your apartment living room has low ceilings, use this interior designer's trick – but soften the effect with curvaceous furniture.

6. Have apartment living rooms fitted for storage

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)

Studio or small apartment living rooms cry out for fitted furniture that can not only hold (and hide) everything they need to, but also make use of every inch of space in a way that feels calm and uncluttered – so opt for built-in small living room storage ideas wherever you can.

Here, the storage wall has been cleverly brought into the room through the use of the orange accent color. The orange backdrop offers a dramatic contrast to the accessories displayed, further heightening its effect.

If you love a movie night, it's worth investigating space-clever small living room TV ideas like this one, too.

7. Decorate with a monochromatic color scheme

(Image credit: Richard Powers)

Living room color schemes can make or break a small space, and using different tones of the same color – the so-called monochromatic scheme – will help to make the furniture and other features recede and appear to take up less space when factored into apartment living room ideas.  

Soften the palette by adding a warm gray or blue, like in this white and blue living room, rather than a harsh black or white.

8. Keep small apartment flooring simple

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

Flooring should be unfussy so it blends into the background. Plain, neutral carpet works well in most small apartment living room ideas. Going without a rug will also open up the floor space, 'though if you have an open-plan kitchen, living space and diner, the use of rugs will create distinct zones that can make even a small apartment living room feel more purposefully designed,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens.

9. Use the same color palette

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

When decorating small spaces, create the illusion of higher ceilings by painting walls, floors, woodwork and even fireplaces all the same color. This provides a seamless look, where your eyes are not stopped by a change in color, thus giving the illusion of a larger space.  

Paint low ceilings brilliant white, or a lighter tone of the same color that's used on the walls, to create the illusion of height. You can add color with soft furnishings and accessories.

In this entirely cream and white living room scheme, low-slung furniture has been used effectively to make the room look taller, too.

10. Play with scale

(Image credit: Rachel Smith)

Carefully consider which furniture would work best when planning small apartment living room ideas. 

Adding clear or high-shine perspex chairs or a glass coffee table will give the room the feeling of more air and space. Light will bounce around glass furniture and glossy surfaces, so plenty of shiny and mirrored furniture and accessories will make a small living room feel bigger.

11. Invest in space-saving furniture

(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)

Use shelves for items you really want to display. Floor-to-ceiling shelving will make good use of all the space you have at your disposal, and keep everything off the floor.

To make the room feel as large as possible, don't over-stuff the shelves – instead, decorate their interiors to complement the rest of your scheme, like in this sophisticated grey living room with red accents, and keep them under-populated.

12. Consider armless furniture

(Image credit: Jonathan Gooch)

Opt for armless chairs and sofas for space-enhancing small apartment living room ideas, and consider a corner unit sofa to create a more open feel. 

Not only space-saving, armless pieces will also give you the opportunity to reposition your furniture more frequently in a variety of combinations. An arm may not seem bulky, but when it is not there, the room appears cleaner, sleeker and less cluttered.

13. Use open storage to divide the space

(Image credit: Elicyon Photograph: Patrick Williamson)

If your small apartment living room is part of a larger space, one clever way to divide it is with open shelves, as in the apartment designed by Charu Gandhi of London-based design consultancy Elicyon, above.

'If you are looking to separate small living and dining room ideas for apartments, for example, this is an excellent way to do so,' says Sarah Spiteri, Editorial Director of Homes & Gardens. 'It can also solve layout problems caused by a limited footprint; here, the small apartment living room still gets lots of light, though it is physically separated from the window.' 

14. Match walls to woodwork

(Image credit: Richard Powers)

Make a small apartment living room feel larger by painting the walls and woodwork in the same shade. 

If you're brave enough, paint the ceiling in a brighter shade as well, to make the room feel taller. As long as your ceiling is painted in a paler color than your walls, no matter what the color, your ceilings will feel higher.

15. Hang a tall mirror 

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)

Not surprisingly, decorating with mirrors can make a room look larger. Hang a large mirror on a wall opposite a window or very near one to reflect the outdoors, broadening the feel of your room.  

Mirrors reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night and they bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger.

16. Use color to define a space

(Image credit: Design Lines Signature)

'Adding collected pieces and pops of color throughout a small living space is a great way to elevate the room and add interest and detail to even the smallest corner. You want the space to feel familiar and relaxed and color is a great way to do that,' says Judy Pickett, founder and principal designer at Design Lines Signature . 

Ensuring you carry these colors through to your apartment entryway will also help your whole space feel larger and more cohesive.

17. Match your drapes to your couch

(Image credit: Madeaux )

‘When embracing pattern within a smaller living room, one way to introduce it easily can be to use the same motif across different elements, such as the curtains and the upholstery. This will allow the space to be in harmony without a conflict in scale or color, ensuring the room is celebrated with personality and depth, without becoming overwhelming. 

'It’s a good idea to consider the type of pattern when you are using it across different pieces. Here the ‘Zogee’ design with its geometric vertical repeat cleverly creates a trompe l’oeil, drawing the eye and elongating the proportions of the room, whilst the monochromatic colour combination further enhances this effect,' says Richard Smith, founder of Madeaux Home .

18. Choose darker shades for coziness

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Small apartment living room ideas aren't just about creating light, airy spaces – they can be dark and cozy if that's the mood you want to create, particularly if you only really inhabit them in the evening. However, when choosing paint colors, pick warm shades for an inviting appeal.

'When creating a scheme that will feel comfortable and intimate, consider shades that have an inherent warmth to them. Stronger, jewel tones such as Puck or Hicks’ Blue can be used in an all-over scheme to create coziness and warmth in a small living space,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene . 

19. Layer print and pattern

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

It's likely that small apartment living rooms have little space for you to express your creativity and add comfort with layers. But you can achieve this with a narrow console and artwork above it.

'Making a home feel comfortable is always a priority when designing a space, as is creating something that feels unique to each individual. Incorporating a mix of pattern, print and texture creates a space that feels layered and nuanced, allowing key pieces and features of the room to come to foreground,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove . 

20. Layer textures 

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

'There are several textures at work in this small apartment living room – a mixture of velvet upholstery and woven pillows, faux fur armchairs, a combination of footstools and coffee table in different materials, and a deep pile rug.  

'Then, there's the texture of the wallpaper, the curtain pattern and the flooring beneath the area rug, each element being key to keeping this space contemporary, stylish and uncluttered,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens.

21. Create a reading nook

(Image credit: Future)

Reading nooks needn't be reserved for larger homes; you can create one in a small apartment living room.

'Maximizing all areas of a smaller apartment living room is an excellent way to ensure you get the most from the space but also the best way to create an interior with personality. Creating new places to enjoy within the room, such as celebrating little corners such as these, by adding a favorite armchair, side table and lamp will make the most of every nook and cranny. 

'People can often be nervous of adding pattern and color into smaller rooms, but on the contrary, it can add character and authentic, bringing interest and depth. A small room devoid of color and pattern can feel forgotten and overlooked, whereas a room filled with it, tells a story and will bring a smile,' says Stefan Ormenisan, creative director and founder of MindTheGap .  

22. Choose the right couch for the space

(Image credit: OKA )

Ideally, you want lots of floor space in a small apartment living room, but if your priority is seating for family and guests, look to sectional living room ideas to give you a catch-all solution. 

'If you are going for a sectional, ensure the couch itself is low-slung; doing this will make it feel smaller and won't block any light coming in via the windows,' says Lucy Searle, Homes & Gardens' Editor in Chief. 'One that is in a light color will also help the room feel larger.'

23. Use a barely there wall color as a background for art

(Image credit: Mylands )

'Light shades with glossy finishes will make the most of a small room, giving the illusion of space and openness. Pale purple shades like Early Lavender™ No. 260 are proving increasingly popular, creating a soft and refreshing background when used as the main tone,' says Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands .  

How do you decorate a small apartment living room?

Small living rooms in apartments may be short of space but can still be big on style. A carefully designed studio apartment that incorporates plenty of concealed storage and furniture that is tailored to the space can achieve a sense of comfort and convenience that belies a modest square footage.

Select furniture pieces that are in proportion to the size of your room – oversized cabinets, sofas and chairs can make a small room feel narrow. Furniture that is the same color as your walls tends to blend into the wall, making it look wider, and make sure you arrange your furniture at an angle to create a sense of depth to the room.

Consider finishing the walls in polished plaster, a material that reflects light and increases visual perception of space. Any other reflective decorative surfaces, such as patinated mirrors, silver leaf or lacquer, will make the space seem bigger too.

When decorating a small room, create a focal point – one area or feature that will draw the eye so there’s less emphasis on the room’s layout. In apartment living room ideas this will most likely be the sofa or coffee table, so make sure that focal point is the star of the room.

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

5 tips from a pro — INMYROOM

Tips

Placing furniture around the perimeter of a wagon room is a non-functional solution. It's time to experiment! Especially for InMyRoom readers, architect Natalya Preobrazhenskaya tells where to start

If we talk about proportions, then an interior with a square area can be called ideal: in terms of zoning, and in relation to geometry. But in typical Russian apartments, not square, but rectangular interiors are more common - the so-called wagons: with narrow ends and elongated side walls. Such spaces require special attention and competent zoning. Together with Natalia Preobrazhenskaya we tell you where to start and how to make a rectangular interior as comfortable and functional as possible.

Natalia Preobrazhenskaya

Architect

Director of his own interior design studio "Uyutnaya Kvartira", which employs more than 30 designers. Each new project for Natalia is a small life that she lives with her customers, and of course, an invaluable experience for her as a professional.

Tip #1: Don't place furniture along an elongated wall

This is a fairly common mistake - remember a typical living room in a Soviet Khrushchev: a sofa and armchairs are located along one wall, there is also a table and a wardrobe, and a TV stands against the opposite wall or in the corner. This arrangement of furniture emphasizes the shortcomings of a rectangular interior and makes it disproportionate.

Alternative: try divide space rectangular rooms into visual zones. For example, in one part of the living room there can be a dining or working area, and in the other - the "compositional" center (TV or false fireplace). around this center put a sofa and cozy chairs, do not forget to lay a rug. You can zone the interior also across, along or locally: most importantly, do not put all the furniture along one wall. Zoning should be conditional, as shelving and partitions in a small rectangular room look bad.

Tip #2: Don't Arrange Furniture around the perimeter


Armchairs in Russian apartments and sofas are quite often hidden in the corners or stand modestly along the walls of the room. This arrangement of furniture constrains the boundaries of the interior, makes its cramped but still emphasizes wrong geometry of space.

Alternative: if your living room cannot boast of extra square meters, put a small sofa or a couple of armchairs in its center, and arrange a work area with a desk and a bookcase against the wall. But do not get carried away and "bunch" furniture in one place, otherwise the interior lose harmony and balance.

Tip #3: Arrange furniture asymmetrically


Because symmetrical arrangement of furniture in a rectangular the room will only support and emphasize its elongated geometry. It is better to use small tricks that will make the interior visually more square.

Alternative: experiment with furniture zoning. For example, place a small table next to a sofa or between two chairs. Armchairs can be placed diagonally across the interior. A conditional center in a narrow the living room is better to do on an elongated long side. Also a corner sofa will successfully fit into a rectangular interior L-shaped.

Tip #4: Don't put big pieces of furniture away from each other


Empty spaces in a rectangular interior give the impression of corridors and make the atmosphere inharmonious. But you shouldn’t get carried away either: when there is too much furniture in a room, it visually seems cramped and narrow.

Alternative: try make the interior visually more square. For example, if the window opening is located on a long wall, then along the short one you can put wardrobe with matching doors walls. The interior will become more voluminous and acquire square proportions. The same effect can be achieved with a podium.

Tip #5: Don't overdo it with contrasts in color zoning


Sharp transitions in colors will emphasize the shortcomings of a rectangular interior. Therefore, try to avoid longitudinal color lines and bright accents.

Alternative: a good option is to paint the top of the walls and the bottom paste over with wallpaper with a pattern of the same tone. Such a division walls horizontally will visually expand the room. And to visually bring short walls closer to the center of the interior and make the room more square, use for finishing warm or darker tones. At the same time, light and cool shades are better suited for long walls.

How to arrange furniture in rooms: layout plan with examples

How to properly arrange furniture in a room so that you don’t trip over an armchair, don’t stumble on the sharp corners of cabinets and nightstands and, in the end, have unhindered access to the window? Read our tips and sketch out a plan.

How to arrange furniture in the house

Living room

Kitchen

Bedroom

Lifehacks for a small apartment

Checklist of popular placement mistakes

Making an interior plan

Before buying sofas, chests of drawers and other large-scale items, prepare a plan for their arrangement. Where is the best place to put the sofa? Where is the library? Children's Corner? All this should harmoniously fit into the footage, not block the aisles and be located near sockets and switches, if we are talking about an electrician. Place, move - create the perfect interior on paper or in a special program. And only after that go to the store.

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Determining the main functions

The living room is not only a beautiful decor, a comfortable sofa and a wide TV. This is a mass of necessary functions that will help you set up the right environment. If friends often visit you, a narrow sofa should give way to a spacious folding sofa.

Sofa Charm-Design Bruno

If you love books, and your partner loves to play consoles, think about a capacious rack or additional shelves where you will store books and CDs. And there are a lot of such examples, the essence will not change: the living room is not only an interior, but also a list of functions. Which one you have is up to you.

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Buying transformers

Table-book, sofa-bed, bed-wardrobe - transformers can become a real lifesaver for owners of small spaces and for everyone who wants to get a truly universal interior in a typical footage.

Choosing one of the living room design schemes

Ottoman DreamBag

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Here it is worth pushing away from the connection of equipment and sewerage outlets. Depending on the location of pipes and sockets, build your ideal interior. The entire storage system is usually located around the sink, refrigerator and hob. How to arrange furniture here most competently?

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Note the shape of the worktop

If you have a classic layout, where the refrigerator is at one end of the working area and the sink is at the other, you have several exits. The first is to move the refrigerator. It can be interchanged, for example, with a stove. In this case, it will become closer to the sink, but the downside is that the bulky design will cut off one part of the surface from the other. The second option is more convenient, but time-consuming: transfer the wet area. This will require coordination, but at the end you will get a comfortable functional room. The dining part in such a layout is usually located at the opposite wall, or, if the footage allows, in the center of the room.

Refrigerator LG GA-B379 SLUL

If your kitchen is designed according to the principle of an equilateral triangle and the refrigerator, stove and sink are located as if around you at a convenient distance - consider yourself lucky. This is one of the most comfortable layouts. The dining part will then be located at least 60 cm (and preferably 100) from the working one.

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Change the standards

For example, let the worktop be narrower than in the photo of a classic dining room interior. This will save space, and you will find equipment for it, and so, the variety of choices today allows it. But it’s better to play it safe - in order not to narrow the canvas too much, look in advance for equipment options with suitable dimensions: compact sinks and dishwashers, narrow washing machines and small hobs. Well, floor and hanging cabinets, choose the size when ordering a headset. By the way, a narrow countertop is a great option for those who dream of a U-shaped work area, but do not have enough square meters.

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It is possible to equip a full-fledged dining area even in a tiny footage if you design upper storage systems. Moving storage upstairs will free up a couple of meters below - just right for a couple of extra chairs or a wider table. Plan a couple of shelves or small drawers around the stove: it will be convenient to store utensils and dishes, and it is also a good way to separate the rest of the space from the hot stove, splashes and dirt during cooking. And as a result, save time on additional cleaning.

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Combine drawers and open shelves

The era of sets is coming to an end. Designers today unanimously declare that a continuous chain of bulky cabinets narrows the space too much. But still, you should not delete drawers from your kitchen, add them with a couple of racks, a shelf or a sideboard for dishes - and the kitchen has become more airy.

Whatnot ZMI Rook 1K

Closed drawers are good for storing daily utensils. To organize storage, use special dividers and organizers for small items and cutlery. If you have a few free meters left or there is an unfilled space in the work area, try placing a cargo rack there. The upper level of the work space is designed to store beautiful plates, elegant cups and other beautiful things. To make all this beauty pleasing to the eye, it makes sense to hang open shelves or a glass showcase at the top instead of blind cabinets.

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Try to make room for a dining area

Even the smallest kitchen needs a table. The only exception is if you only sleep at home. In all other cases, abandoning the dining table, you will definitely experience inconvenience. Expand the window sill and put one or two folding chairs there, plan a folding table against the wall. Well, if the space allows you to fit a bar counter in the kitchen, be sure to take this chance, because this is not only a dining area, but also a work surface!

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Куда put bed

The most important piece of furniture in the bedroom is, of course, the bed. It is best to move it to the wall with a headboard. Psychologists say that this gives rise to a sense of security among residents, sleep becomes more comfortable. If the room is intended for one person, it is best to place a small bed against the wall not only with the headboard but also with the sidewall - it’s more comfortable. You can do the same when it comes to a bed for two young people who can easily get off it. The classic option is a bed in the center of the room, framed by dressing tables and sconces. Convenient, but not suitable for a narrow room. The passage between the edge of the bed and the wall opposite should be at least 70 centimeters.

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How best not to put a bed

Single bed Nuovita Delizia

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Where to place a closet

What else is usually equipped with a bedroom? Bedside tables, sometimes a dressing table, chest of drawers, wardrobe. If the location of small items can be changed at least every day, then the cabinet will not be so easy to move. Therefore, its location, like beds, is better to think over in advance. The ideal option would be a place opposite or to the side of the window against the opposite wall. Why can not be placed next to the opening? In this case, the clothes will not be sufficiently lit and it will become more difficult to choose an outfit.

1. Use furniture instead of walls and partitions

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Architect-designer Yulia Piskareva. Photo: Svetlana Ignatenko

Architect Anna Belyaevskaya, designer Natalia Smorgonskaya. Photo: Ivan Sorokin

Architects Ilya Kotelnikov, Maxim Pavlenko. Photo: Asya Rozonova

Architect Yulia Levina. Photo: Sergey Kuznetsov

Interior designer Olga Evdokimova. Photo: Alexander Medvedev

Architect Evgenia Veryovkina. Photo: Olga Rikli

A bar counter, a sofa with a high back, a shelving unit, a chest of drawers are quite capable of partitioning off space, separating one functional area from another, for example, a kitchen-dining room from a living room or a living room from a bedroom. Such an arrangement in a one-room apartment helps to create a feeling of lightness and spaciousness.

2. Do not leave dead zones

Architect Nadezhda Melnikova-Pavlichuk. Photo: Ivan Sorokin

Designer Marina Sargsyan. Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

Architect Alexandra Ostankova. Photo: Andrey Kocheshkov

When arranging small apartments, it is extremely important to rationally use every centimeter, including dead zones - the walls between the wall and the window, the space around the interior openings. They can be used to place shelving or bookshelves.

3. Make podiums

Architect Larisa Noskova. Photo: Roman Spiridonov

Architects Ivan Proskurin, Elena Proskurina. Photo: Denis Esakov, Elena Proskurina

Architect Igor Glushan. Photo: Tim Sergeev

Why not raise your bed to a low or even high podium? The internal volume of the structure can be disposed of in different ways. For example, it is permissible to supplement the bed with a lifting mechanism. Then under it there will be a place to store bed linen and blankets, pillows.

Another option is to equip the podium with drawers. A similar option that requires less effort, money and time is a bunk bed. Instead of a lower bed, it is easy to organize a mini-living room or work area.

4. Use multifunctional items

Designer Zhanna Studenttsova. Photo: Svetlana Ignatenko

Alberto Villareal

OK Design

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A small space should work in any living situation, and therefore nesting, stacking or stacking items should be selected for its furnishing. Let's say tables are small-small-smaller or folding, and therefore chairs that do not take up space when folded.

Multifunctional items, for example, pouffes, tables, benches, floor mirrors, inside of which there are containers for storing all sorts of things, will also fit well into the interior of a single room.

5. Choose things-transformers

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“WOW SET!”

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These items are ideal for use in confined spaces. Most of them are familiar with and financially accessible to their traditional versions - chair-beds and sofa-beds.

But the compact "units" that can first turn into a bed, and then roll back and turn into, say, a wardrobe, alas, are far from familiar to everyone. And yes, they are not affordable for everyone.

6. Use mirror facades and glass objects

Architects Ilya Kotelnikov, Maxim Pavlenko. Photo: Asya Rozonova

Architect Larisa Noskova. Photo: Roman Spiridonov

Designer Anna Demushkina. Photo: Evgeny Kulibaba

Designer Zhanna Studentsova. Photo: Svetlana Ignatenko

The more air and light in a small apartment, the more spacious it looks. Transparent objects and models made of glass or thermoplastic with mirror surfaces will either “dissolve” in the room or visually increase its small footage due to the reflective effect.

By the way, a mirror can “double” its volume, the main thing is to choose the optimal position for it, for example, opposite the window or at the passage to the next room.

7. Order custom-made items

Designer Maria Dadiani. Photo: Alexander Kamachkin

Architects Andrey Stube, Nadezhda Kablukova. Photo: Sergey Ananiev

Every centimeter counts in a odnushka, and if you could not find an item of the required dimensions, the best option is to make it to order. The creation of a solid, “non-littered” space with inappropriate things is facilitated by built-in objects flush or in existing and specially built niches.

It is very important that cabinets or other elements of the composition fit exactly into them in depth - even facades slightly protruding beyond the line of the wall look sloppy and interfere with movement.

8. Choose furniture that takes up unused space

Architects Natalya Preobrazhenskaya (Head of the design studio "Uyutnaya kvartira"), Inna Makarova. Photo: Anton Vlasov

Architect Yuri Filatov. Photo: Dmitry Karpov

There are always those under the ceiling and on the floor line. Therefore, instead of cabinets and bedside tables on legs, it is better to choose floor models, purchase folding sofas with drawers for bed linen.

The mezzanine is also useful - built-in or combined with a free-standing cabinet. It makes sense to “duplicate” the hinged modules with a second row of sections up to the ceiling - rarely used or, say, seasonal items can be sent there.

So that the apartment does not seem cramped, select furnishings that will look like an extension of the walls, without contrasting with them in color and finish. Do not save on transformer things: a low price is an indicator of the poor quality of materials and the unreliability of transformation mechanisms.

1. The amount of furniture does not match the size of the room

A balance must be struck: there should be enough items to, on the one hand, cover all the functions assigned to the room, and on the other hand, to make using these functions comfortable.

Do not overload the space: it is better to move this or that area to another room than to make the whole room stumble and hit corners.

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2. Desk placed close to the wall

A desk pushed close to the wall is a frequent occurrence in domestic interiors.

However, if you have at least a small corner for your home mini-office, a much better option would be to place the table at some distance from the wall - so that there is a desk chair near it, not a table. This will create more comfortable working conditions, besides, the whole room will be in front of your eyes, and not just a section of the wall. Bonus: this arrangement gives a clearer effect of space zoning.

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3.

The rack in the nursery stands vertically

In order to save space mythically, parents often opt for a vertical rack for the nursery.

However, the horizontal arrangement offers many more possibilities. Firstly, absolutely all the shelves are within reach for the crumbs: the baby can independently get and put away toys, books and other little things important for development. Secondly, the surface of the shelving can be used as a bench - and get away from chairs and poufs, saving space.

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. This will allow you to abandon the bedside table. And in some cases, gain a place for additional functional areas: look at how gracefully the owners of this apartment placed a small work desk in the bedroom, using a chest of drawers as an underframe.

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5.

Sofa against the wall

If the living room is not quite tiny, do not move the sofa close to the wall: this introduces visual disharmony into the interior.

Sofa Hoff Chester

Position the soft group so as to visually separate the seating area from others. At the same time, avoid extremes: putting the sofa in the center and tripping over it every day is also not the best option.

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6. Empty in the center of the room

Furniture placed along the walls and an empty space in the center of the room is a solution that is justified, perhaps, in a children's room: the play activities of the crumbs sometimes require a lot of space. In the rest of the rooms, the emptiness in the middle of the room will look strange and uncomfortable.

This doesn't mean you should clutter up the center of the room. But an elegant coffee table, carpet or pouffe will help to "gather" together objects that, when arranged "along the wall", look very fragmented. If you desperately need a free middle of the room, stop at an impressive ceiling lamp: it will restore balance to the interior.

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7. No accents

If all furnishings are approximately the same size, similar colors, and even made in the same style from the same materials, the environment automatically becomes boring and “flat”.

Poster Ekoramka Rules of the house

Set the accents: let one or more items stand out in size, style, or color. A good solution would be to purchase (or create) a unique design element of the environment that attracts the eye and creates a visual center of the interior.

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8. Not well thought out zoning

A gross mistake that will turn your environment into a set of disparate furniture. Be sure to think about zoning: not only with the location of furniture, but also with light, color of decoration, semi-partitions, shelving and screens, or different levels of floor and ceiling.

There are many ways to visually designate the functional areas of the room, be sure to do it.

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9. There are extra pieces of furniture

One of the most common mistakes is extra pieces of furniture.

When furnishing your home, consider your own lifestyle: if you live alone and rarely receive guests, a six-seat dining table is definitely not for you.

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