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Living room extensions ideas


16 small house extension ideas for enhancing your space

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Small house extension ideas can make a real difference to how you're able to use your living space. Even if your budget is small, a well thought-through addition to your house can make a tiny dining area more usable, or create extra space for a home office. Extensions also can enhance natural light, link existing areas of the property, and improve the overall design, letting a space breathe a bit more. 

Whether you're adding a porch or a modest loft extension, a small single storey extension, or a side return extension, you can add both value and space to your home if you get it right. These small house extension ideas will get you started.

Find much more advice on how to extend a house in our ultimate guide.

How much do small house extensions cost?

You can expect to pay from £900 to £3,000 per m² depending on location, specification and scale. For a good idea of the cost of your small extension, check out our extension cost calculator.

It's worth noting that smaller single storey extensions tend to be proportionally more expensive than double storey extensions because of fixed costs such as planning and design, building regulations fees and the fact that there are no economies of scale. This said, they are a worthy investment if their addition will transform the feel of your space. 

Whether you want to maximise loft space with a loft conversion, or add more living space downstairs with a basement conversion, we've got all the advice on small house extensions you need. Or perhaps you want to up the square feet at the front of your house by adding a porch, or bring more light into your home and connect to the garden by building an orangery; the options are abundant.

16 small house extension ideas

1. Create space by adding a porch

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

Adding a new porch can act as a useful buffer to the elements, especially if your front door opens directly into a living room, or you'd like to make a small hallway feel more spacious.

2. Add a box dormer to create more full-height space

(Image credit: Alison Hammond)

If you've inherited a loft conversion from a former owner and are dissatisfied with the amount of full-height space, a box dormer is an easy solution that promises to transform the feel of your loft. It can be especially useful in providing the headroom needed to add stairs into a loft (1.9m minimum at centre) or for a loft bathroom.

3. Add a living room extension

(Image credit: Leanne Dixon)

Extensions that add only a metre or two in width can’t usefully form a living room in their own right, so it is often best to use the space to extend an existing room, linking old and new with as wide an opening as possible. The exception is if the space is used as a cloakroom or utility room.

4. Connect your home to a converted garage with a covered walkway

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

A covered walkway linking a house to an outbuilding, such as a garage conversion, can be very successful. A glazed walkway can be a great solution to planning restrictions – for example, a listed building, where a solid link would be inappropriate.

See our feature for more garage conversion ideas.

5. Transform a dark basement with a lightwell

(Image credit: James Balston)

Adding a small glazed extension to the back of a basement conversion will flood the space with light, helping it appear larger and lighter. The extension needs only to be modest in scale, and works well if it opens onto a sunken courtyard, with stairs up to the garden.

6. Add a bay window extension

(Image credit: Adam Carter)

A projecting bay window extension can enlarge a room and does not necessarily require foundations – it can be cantilevered on brackets from the existing structure. Windows on three sides also bring in extra light, enhancing the spacious feel of a room.

7. Fill in with a side return extension

(Image credit: Tim Mitchell)

Many terraced and semi-detached homes have a small outdoor area behind and at the side, called the side return. Filling the space with a single-storey extension is a great way to increase the size of a kitchen, making it better suited to become an open plan kitchen, living, and dining room. When it comes to small house extension ideas, this is one of the most popular.

Find out more about adding a side return extension, and take a look at our gallery of terraced house design for inspiration. 

8. Replace solid roofing with a length of glass to exaggerate the extension's size

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

A long length of glass – or a series of rooflights – ideally leading the eye towards a window at the far end of your small extension will help exaggerate not just its length but the ceiling height, too. In a small extension, it's really important to choose glass that has slim or near invisible framing. This won't just make the windows seem larger, it will let in more light, too. And what does a bright room feel? Bigger – and, of course, more welcoming. 

Large single panes are the ideal, but they will be much more expensive than rooflights – and the good news is that Velux has an affordable bespoke product now so that you can design yours to fit your small extension perfectly.

9. Add a lean-to conservatory 

(Image credit: Jo Sheldrake)

An addition that can be built (subject to size and design) without planning permission or building regulations consent, building a conservatory is a great way to create an additional living room. To use it all year round though, you will need to invest in heating and conservatory blinds.

Find out more about building a conservatory in our guide. Use our guides to planning permission and building regulations for more information about any other extension type you'd like to build.

10. Build an orangery

(Image credit: Anglian Home Improvement)

Adding an orangery is the perfect balance between building an extension and conservatory. With areas of solid walls and solid roof with a glazed roof lantern, it is better insulated than a conservatory and is easier to control the temperature. See our guide above for lots more information.

11. Add an oak frame extension

(Image credit: Border Oak)

There are many modular extension systems that offer a design-and-build solution for a new room. An oak frame extension is a more traditional option – a single room with a pitched roof featuring a vaulted ceiling with exposed trusses.

12. Build a small glazed extension

(Image credit: Richard Chivers)

Whether you're planning to build a single storey extension into a side return or across the back of your house, adding in a large expanse of glazing into your design will ensure your newly expanded room is flooded with light all year round. This is one of the best small house extension ideas for creating more brightness in your home. 

Suited to both contemporary and period homes, glass extensions are governed by building regulations, although you may not need planning permission. Find out all you need to know in our guide to glass extensions.

13. Add a small house extension at the rear

(Image credit: Lewis Alderson)

Adding a single storey extension at the rear of your property can totally transform your home. It might be that it allows you to have a larger kitchen diner or living space. 

Or, let's say you have a kitchen running across the back of your house and you extend 2m out into the garden; you then build a partition wall at the back end of the original kitchen to create a room in (effectively) the middle of the house that's 1m to 2m deep. In that small, dark space, you can put utilities, whether a utility room or cloakroom, while your kitchen sits within the bright garden end of the original room plus the new extended space. You sensibly put rooflights into the roof of the small extension to make your new kitchen lighter and brighter than the new room, plus of course with the new utility space behind it, you've freed it up of all the laundry space and extra storage space you might have needed before. 

Use our guides to single storey extensions and designing a utility room to get your small house extension spot on.

14. Convert an integral garage

(Image credit: Marc Wilson Photography)

If you have an integral garage, converting it to create a new living space may well be worthwhile. Always check, before you proceed, with a trusted local estate agent to ensure that you won't be damaging the value of your home or its saleability. But as a general rule, if on street parking is not an issue, or if you have off street parking, converting the garage will be valuable both in terms of living space and potential profit when you sell on. This garage, by Stephen Graver Architects , has allowed a small, dark kitchen to be opened out into a new living space, connected to the upper floor. Use our ultimate guide to find out everything you need to know about garage conversions.

15. Add a box window

IQ Glass supplied the glazing for this project by ARCHEA Architecture. Structural glass Oriel windows from IQ Glass start from £8,000 (exc VAT), including design and installation.

(Image credit: IQ Glass / ARCHEA)

When every inch counts, a box window could be just the thing to expand a limited space and provide a show-stopping visual feature. An update on the traditional oriel windows found on the upper storey of period buildings, these contemporary glazed boxes protrude from the wall and though they appear to float they're sturdy enough to form a window seat. Include one within an extension or in the adjoining main building. Select black framing for definition, or pick an effortlessly chic frameless version to maximise the daylight.

16. Enhance a small kitchen extension with indoor-outdoor flooring

Valverdi Iguazu Stone Effect Indoor Outdoor Porcelain Tiles , The London Tile Co.

(Image credit: The London Tile Co.)

Laying down continuous porcelain tile flooring throughout your extension and patio is one of the most effective ways to make your extension appear larger, and one of the most simple small house extension ideas. You'll have to use your judgment here: if your outdoor area is tiny, and the kitchen extension will face directly onto it, you may as well sacrifice this outdoor space in order to get the most from your kitchen/dining area. This will mean, however, that the outdoor area will need to be kept relatively clear. You can, of course, still have outdoor furniture and plant pots, but the streamlined, space-enhancing effect will be reduced.  

Looking for more extension advice?

Michael is Director of Content & Product Development for Future Homes. Prior to this he was Editor in Chief of Real Homes magazine, Period Living and Homebuilding & Renovating and he also served as Editor of Homebuiling & Renovating for several years. As well as being an expert in renovation, having presented multiple property TV shows and authoring Renovating for Profit (Ebury, 2008), Michael has a personal and professional interest in self build and helps others achieve their dreams of building a unique home. He is also Deputy Chair of NaCSBA and has campaigned for the self-build sector for many years, regularly sitting with government parties to advise on the industry.

10 best designs to reinvent your home |

(Image credit: Future)

House extension ideas are amongst the most sought-after of building projects for homeowners.

Get your house extension just right and you won't just create a big open-plan room with space for dining and seating. Smart extension ideas can add more valuable space to your home and can increase the value of your property, if you decide to sell, too.

Below, we have gathered the best house extension ideas to suit all house design styles and sizes of homes, and a wide range of budgets, too. There are different material choices to consider, plus expert advice to help you make the right decision.

House extension ideas

These house extension ideas will inspire you to get started on your project. Remember when planning a kitchen extension, the key to success is to pick an extension style that either complements your home's existing materials and period, or contrasts with it completely.

1. Consider extension ideas for small houses

(Image credit: Ståle Eriksen)

Architectural practice Studio Hallett Ike’s ER Residence started as a small but well-proportioned one-bedroom flat in a Victorian terraced house. But thanks this clever home addition idea, the space was opened up into a two-bedroom apartment. 

‘The new dining area, above, provides an immediate visual link to the garden,’ says co-founder Madeleine Ike. ‘We kept the material palette simple, using raw and natural materials. Stained Douglas Fir joinery forms a bespoke dining bench that extends from the kitchen. We also designed the dining table which is made from blackened steel.’ 

Keeping the overarching palette warm, muted and minimal throughout helps to make the whole flat feel cohesive.

2. Be sympathetic to existing house styles

(Image credit: Johan Dehlin)

A ruined cattle shed seems an unlikely starting point for a new home but architect Will Gamble thought otherwise and his vision created The Parchment Works for his clients. ‘Initially the owners wanted to demolish the former parchment factory,’ says Will, ‘but I convinced them the ruins could be celebrated through a sympathetic intervention.’ 

Will’s design created ‘a building within a building’, where two lightweight volumes were inserted within the old walls. ‘I exposed the beams of the cattle shed, as well as steelwork in the new parts. The clean lines of the kitchen helped to juxtapose the uneven nature of the older structure making a contemporary intervention set within a historic context.

3.

Extend the ceiling upwards

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

The owners of this elegant Victorian-era country house in Dorset enlisted the help of interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch of Sims Hilditch to help them to envision a new kitchen extension idea for the property. ‘The answer was to preserve the original, grand parts of the house while opening up and rationalizing the secondary spaces that had been added later on,’ explains owner Sarah Ainsworth. 

The rear extension was replaced with a large open-plan kitchen idea, dining and seating area with a show-stopping roof lantern that brings in lots of light and ceiling clad in rough, whitewashed boards to add texture and improve the room’s acoustics.

4. Use natural materials for any home additions

(Image credit: David Salisbury)

Planning a home addition can be an opportunity to let materials shine. Oak is the star in this Somerset house which has been renovated by David Salisbury, replacing two smaller structures with one space that can be enjoyed all year round. A fully glazed garden room has been created that features a new chimney made using brick and stone to match existing materials. 

‘Our client wanted a rustic look so opted for natural, unfinished oak,’ says creative director Karen Bell. ‘This type of open-plan living room is perhaps our most popular request. Being able to combine the functionality of a kitchen extension, alongside a living room and dining room, we have captured the essence of modern living.’

5. Maximize efficiency and sustainablity

(Image credit: David Butler)

As well as respecting the history of this Grade-II listed Cambridgeshire farmhouse, Mole Architects also made sure that sustainability was part of the process, following ‘passivhaus’ principles to maximize energy efficiency. As well as ticking the environmental boxes, the clients asked for a home that was at once both special and modest, using unfussy finishes that enhanced the older structures and complemented the new. 

Rescued from near dereliction, the property now boasts a garden room, kitchen and main bedroom all in buildings that adjoin the 17th-century cottage. The revitalized design has also created a new connection with the garden and offers beautiful views across the nearby water meadows.

6. Let light in

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

When designing your house extension, it’s important to think about how natural light will enter the space and move throughout the day. Light is a vital consideration for extensions – and glazed doors, windows and skylights can be game-changers.

Opting for a glass ceiling instead of a skylight will allow light to flood in, making the area feel bigger and brighter. But glass isn’t limited just to your ceiling ideas – adding a glass partition wall will not only create a slick design feature but will help to unite the space overall. 

7. Reunite with nature

(Image credit: David Butler)

Combining indoor and outdoor living is an integral trend, and should be taken into consideration when planning an extension for your home.

Architecture and design studio Levitate had to do some serious juggling to breathe new life into the tricky layout of this Victorian mid-terraced home in north London. The result is a striking zinc-clad rear extension that appears as a garden pavilion, and features a cantilevered structure with bifold doors that allow the extension to be opened up entirely onto the garden. 

Spencer Guy at Levitate illustrates how important it is to know where light is coming from and how it will change through the seasons: ‘Our client’s brief was for the space to be used comfortably during the day in summer and in the evening in winter. The analysis showed a glazed roof would work fine in summer through the use of shading devices but it was a challenge in winter without excessive heating. We redesigned the roof to include the characteristics of a conservatory but using smaller roof lights so more of the fabric could be insulated. The roof lights were still large, but they were standard products with proprietary opening systems, which made for a better functioning, more cost-effective solution.’ 

8. Don't obstruct views out to the garden

(Image credit: Taran Wilkhu)

Don’t let a lack of space restrict your style – or block your view to the outdoors. Taking an ambitious approach to the design and fittings can result in a striking small kitchen idea that punches way above its weight.

To create a separation between the kitchen and dining areas without losing the views to the garden, architect Alex Michaelis installed a low wall. ‘It also gives a feeling of protection while sitting on the banquette, allowing it to run longer and seat more people.’ 

(Image credit: Dan Glasser)

With vision and careful planning a huge amount can be achieved. This house extension project started as a relatively simple rear extension and roof terrace but became much more radical. Mulroy Architects’ plans saw four storeys of staircase moved and a floor removed to create a dramatic double-height atrium which brings daylight and views into all levels.

10. Retain the existing structure, style and materials

(Image credit: Joakim Boren)

By their nature extensions are not built in isolation. The design must consider the building they are connected to and also the environmental impact.

Napier Clarke Architects reclad the existing extension on this 1970s house in Buckinghamshire and returned it to its original brick form. As Steven Clarke says: 'This creates a more contemporary home, which reflects the local vernacular and materials.

‘One of the key decisions for this house extension project was, should we knock down and start again, or work with what we have?’ said Steven Clarke from Napier Clarke Architects. ‘We believed we could work with the original house as a way of creating a highly sustainable project through the virtue of retaining the existing.’ 

Steven’s clients were keen to retain the existing structure if it was more cost effective, but they also recognized the sustainable benefits. Once the decision was made, the ground floor, first floor and roof were insulated to reduce thermal loss. All windows and doors were changed from single-glazed to double-glazed and the heating system was replaced.

Is it a good idea to extend your house?

It is certainly a good idea to extend your home. Smart extension ideas can add more valuable space to your home and can increase the value of your property, if you decide to sell, too – but do be mindful of costs.

‘Cost control starts from the outset, says architect Andrew Mulroy: ‘Try to keep as much of the existing structure as you can. This means that all areas of the house are fully utilized rather than some rooms being dark and redundant. Get regular cost checks on your design as it evolves so you can steer it back on track before going out to tender. This will allow you to understand where financial risks are and help avoid the temptation to change things on site, which is always more expensive.’

Kate Burnett is a journalist and editor who has been writing about residential design and architecture for nearly 20 years. A former acting executive editor of Homes & Gardens and Livingetc, she has written for national newspapers and magazines including the Financial Times, Evening Standard and Sunday Times. A trained designer, she has also worked with leading architecture and design practices including dRMM and Keechdesign.

tips for choosing style, decoration and furniture - INMYROOM

The living room in the house is the place where, as the name suggests, guests are received. However, the owners themselves relax here, spending time in front of the TV or a book, with drinks, pleasant conversation and other activities. Therefore, the living room should be the most comfortable place in your home.

If your family consists of several people, it is important to consider the interests of everyone. It is quite possible that for one of the family members, when designing the interior of a living room in an apartment, they will have to give space for working at a computer, doing creative work, even sports. All these points must be planned at the stage of designing the premises.

Determine the center of the living room

Living room design is inseparable from a competent layout. After looking at examples of photos of the living room in the apartment, you can see various space planning options. Of course, the choice depends on your preferences, as well as on the size and functionality of the room.

Place sofas and armchairs around the perimeter of the room in no case is worth it. Firstly, this is the last century, and the modern design of the living room categorically does not accept such a layout. In addition, you will clutter up the space with only recreational items, leaving no free space for other functional areas.

The best option for the interior of the living room is to highlight the central group, around which the rest of the furniture will be grouped. As a rule, a recreation area with a TV and a sofa is chosen as the center of the composition.

A fireplace can also be a central element, next to which chairs, rocking chairs or even luxurious skins for relaxation will comfortably fit.

Standard set of furniture for designing a living room in an apartment:

If the room is large, or it has to take on a diverse functional load, of course, you should not limit yourself to this. The living room may well have a desktop for a computer, chests of drawers and cabinets, a bar counter.

In order not to clutter up a cramped room too much, give preference to the transformer models that are popular today. Such furniture is very functional and allows you to perfectly save scarce space.

Choice of colors

If your living room is located on the sunny side, then you are practically unlimited in the choice of colors for finishing and furnishing it. The contrasting interior design of the living room will look very interesting. For example, walls and floors can be decorated in cold colors, while furniture, in contrast, in warm colors.

Many modern interior styles welcome the clean slate living room design. This technique involves decorating the walls and ceiling with plain white plaster or paint. And furniture and decor elements can be selected in a variety of colors: bright or rich dark - to create a spectacular and stylish interior, delicate and pastel - for a light, cozy and elegant design.

For north-facing living rooms with little to no daylight, choose warm-coloured finishes. Such an interior design of the living room compensates for the lack of sun, makes the room cozy and conducive to relaxation no matter what.

And, of course, if the room is a bit dark, you should take care of good artificial lighting. Well-placed spotlights are best suited to illuminate every corner of your living room.

Of course, the choice of colors for decorating a room should also depend on what visual and emotional effect you want to achieve.

If the living room is intended for stormy parties and active pastime, then it makes sense to decorate it in bright, saturated colors.

If the owners want to indulge in a calm and relaxing holiday, then the interior of the living room should be to match. In this case, you should give preference to soft light tones or, conversely, deep and calm, but in no case flashy.

Finishing materials

The choice of finishing materials should largely depend on the style in which you would like to maintain the design of the living room in the apartment. So, paper wallpapers with romantic flowers are definitely not suitable for laconic hi-tech or minimalism. And Provence or country-style interiors will not be combined with bright carpets with psychedelic prints and ultra-modern wall coverings with fur or leather texture.

In addition, the shape and size of the room is of great importance. Properly selected finishes will perfectly smooth out the flaws of the room and focus on its merits. While a thoughtlessly chosen design can spoil even a spacious and bright room.

Walls

The classic rule is that for small rooms it is better to choose light shades. It always works flawlessly. However, if this solution seems too boring for you, you can try all sorts of interesting wall designs. Spectacular examples of wall design in the living room, photos of which are presented in our article, will help you navigate and choose the most attractive options for yourself.

For example, even smooth, light-colored walls can be made a spectacular interior detail by adding bright or simply contrasting color accents to them. See such unusual living room interior ideas in the photo below.

All kinds of plasterboard niches look very stylish. They not only diversify the interior, but also become its very functional detail. After all, they can accommodate both decorative elements and items needed in the household. And if such a niche is beautifully illuminated from the inside, this will create an interesting effect of depth.

The traditional option for decorating the living room walls is wallpaper. Fortunately, today there is a great variety of them: both classic paper, and modern non-woven, and washable, and glass, and even innovative liquid wallpaper. If you are a lover of change, then you can pay attention to the wallpaper for painting. With such a finish, you can easily change the look of the room, at least several times a year. However, please note that, as a rule, such wallpapers are designed for a limited number of repaints.

Smoothly plastered or painted walls look great in modern interiors. At the same time, if you are a fan of the original design, you can pick up plaster with all sorts of beautiful and unusual textures. With its help, you can add a twist to your design and create a truly beautiful living room interior.

One of the fashion trends in modern design is the combination of materials. It is very important to use combinations of several finishes in one room: different types and shades of plaster, paint plus wallpaper, or even a combination of two types of wallpaper with different patterns and textures. See examples of such a living room design in the photo below.

Using this technique, you will not only be able to make your interior bright, stylish and original, but will also successfully cope with the zoning of the room. As you know, for proper zoning, it is not enough to collect several diverse groups of furniture in one room. So that all this does not look like a "hodgepodge", it is necessary to highlight each of the functional areas with its own design elements. And here, the design of wall sections in different colors and even different textures is the best fit.

Ceiling

When choosing the design of the ceiling in the living room, first of all, start from the size of the room. No matter how much you like spectacular multi-tiered structures, in a small room, packed full of necessary furniture, they will look simply ridiculous. In no case do not overload the design of the room.

If the room is small, then the best option is a simple ceiling in light colors with built-in ceiling lights. A good design move would be a small cornice around the perimeter, it will add a sense of depth.

Another interesting solution for visually increasing the space is the so-called "floating" suspended ceilings. This is a two-tier structure with a small height difference and built-in lights mounted inside the "upper" tier in such a way that they themselves are not visible. This technique creates soft diffused light and an interesting depth effect. As a result, the room seems visually higher and more spacious.

However, remember that the design tricks you have listed are inappropriate for small rooms with high ceilings. If in such a room you try to “distance” the ceiling even more due to visual techniques, then you will feel in it like at the bottom of a bottomless well.

In narrow rooms with high ceilings, it makes sense, on the contrary, to reduce the height - through visual means or with the help of suspended structures. Then the living room will immediately seem more comfortable and suitable for a comfortable stay.

If you are lucky and your living room is spacious and has high enough ceilings, then feel free to experiment with their design.

Here, multi-level suspended structures, both laconic and intricate forms, stucco, columns, scallops, and complex lighting systems can be used.

The main thing is not to overdo it and stick to the intended design of the room. If the room is decorated in a ceremonial classical style, in the spirit of Baroque or Empire, then without a doubt, both bas-reliefs and columns will be appropriate. But for more concise modern styles, you should choose a simpler and more rigorous ceiling design.

If your living room will have several functional areas, then the zoning can be "supported" with an appropriately designed ceiling.

For example, a central seating area with a sofa group and a TV set can be highlighted with a second tier of false ceiling. Depending on the general style of the room, both strict rectangular shapes and soft rounded lines may be appropriate.

The ceiling does not have to be white. Delicate, warm pastel shades will look perfect in almost any room.

Fans of more extravagant options can experiment with bright shades. It is not necessary to decorate the entire ceiling in saturated colors. However, if you highlight only part of it or one of the tiers with a spectacular shade, you will get a chic look.

As far as materials are concerned, it is best to avoid whitewashing and painting. After all, this will take a long time and carefully level the surface. An excellent modern solution is plasterboard suspended ceilings or stylish stretch models. They are quick to install, provide perfectly flat surfaces, and in addition, allow you to create a wide variety of design options.

Lighting

Just a few years ago, when choosing lighting, the issue was always decided in favor of a large ceiling chandelier. Of course, today there are many lovers of such lighting fixtures, including those decorated with numerous "crystal" pendants. However, you should not get hung up on this option, because modern manufacturers offer many interesting, stylish and comfortable options.

If you - due to adherence to traditions or in order to create a certain style of interior - have opted for a massive chandelier, you do not need to limit yourself to this. In any living room, additional sources of lighting will be appropriate: wall sconces, floor lamps and portable standing lamps.

Additional light sources perform several functions at once:

If you are a supporter of laconic design, then recessed ceiling lights are the best fit. They also allow you to create separate lighting in different functional areas of the living room. And besides, with their help you can always adjust the brightness and level of illumination of the room. And with all this, they remain almost invisible, do not overload the design and fit almost all interior styles.

It's safe to say that recessed ceiling lights are the best choice for a small room with low ceilings. But, at the same time, they will also be appropriate in a spacious hall.

Style Selection

Choose a style based on the tastes of the whole family. Look at photo examples of living room designs in a magazine, on the Internet, explore the various styles that are in abundance today.

Of course, the dimensions of the room must also be taken into account. In a small room in Khrushchev, a lush baroque or any other “palace” interior will look out of place. For small living rooms, it is best to choose a laconic design in the Scandinavian style, elegant classics or strict hi-tech or minimalism. Country and Provence are perfect, as these styles suggest comfort and emphatically home furnishings.

If your living room is large, then there is room to roam. In principle, a spacious room can be decorated in almost any style that you and your family like.

When choosing the style of the living room, be sure to take into account the features of the interior of the other rooms. Maintain style and harmony.

Classic

The classic style of the interior involves the use of the most natural materials. The whole environment should breathe quality and good taste. As part of this style, traditional furniture made of solid wood or at least high-quality MDF will be appropriate.

Classic interior colors are soft, calm, usually light. But in principle, within the framework of this style, almost any shades (except bright and flashy) will be appropriate if they are correctly beaten.

Elegant wallpaper, paintings, vases, traditional chandeliers, beautiful curtains - all this will be an excellent frame for an interior in a classic style.

Despite certain design rules, there are different directions for decorating a living room in the spirit of the classics. Within the framework of the classical style, several variations can exist at once:

Minimalism and high-tech

High-tech and constructivism can also be combined under this general direction. All these styles imply laconic finishes, emphatically simple and modern furniture models, built-in lighting, and an abundance of technology.

Minimalism is characterized by soft colors, calm combinations, stylish and simple shapes.

For hi-tech, for all their similarities, saturated tones, metallic luster and a lot of glass are more characteristic. High-tech furniture or decor can have very unusual, but at the same time laconic and streamlined shapes.

Minimalist interior of the living room is best suited for young and energetic people who keep up with the times, who do not attach much importance to luxurious surroundings, preferring simplicity and elegance of lines.

However, do not think that the interior in the style of hi-tech or minimalism is something from the category of "cheap and cheerful". Such a design may well turn out to be much more expensive than some magnificent Empire style.

Country and Provence

These styles are perfect for lovers of home comfort, antiquity and rustic simplicity. If you want to enjoy peace as much as possible, relax and forget about the bustle of the city, then these are excellent options for the living room.

At the same time, country is deliberately rough, emphatically rural, with simple, almost unfinished furniture and themed textiles. It is characterized by natural, natural shades: soft light and dark green tones, the whole range of brown, light yellow, ocher. Of the prints, a large cage, as well as various variations of floral patterns, will be especially harmonious.

The Provence style, as it should be for a true Frenchman, is more refined, distinguished by a special chic and charm. It is characterized by lighter shades of furniture and finishes: white, cream, pale blue, turquoise, beige. Decor and textiles can be very flirtatious: with ruffles, scallops, flounces, etc.

Today, these design trends are very popular not only in the design of country cottages, but also in the decoration of city apartments. Therefore, in stores you can easily find furniture, decor and finishing materials that perfectly match these styles.

Scandinavian

This style is incredibly popular right now. The secret of its success is in the harmonious combination of minimalism, comfort and homeliness. It involves a simple and concise finish, convenient and comfortable furniture of simple shapes, stylish, but at the same time soft and not defiant decor.

The Scandinavian style is characterized by calm shades: white, beige, light gray, gray-green, pale blue, dark blue. Often in the colors of such an interior there is a certain marine theme.

Living room interior in Scandinavian style is the perfect balance of functionality, convenience, modernity and home comfort. Stylish and modern upholstered furniture for the living room is perfect here, a photo of which you can see below.

Choosing furniture

Before you start choosing furniture for your living room, carefully consider which functional areas will be allocated in the room. Beautiful furniture for the living room, the photo of which can be seen below, is not all. It is important to correctly arrange it so that all the inhabitants and guests of the apartment feel cozy and comfortable.

If it is intended exclusively for families, then a comfortable sofa, armchairs, a TV stand and a couple of shelving will be enough. If space allows, you can add a coffee table, as well as small cabinets where you can place various decor items.

If you often arrange parties, like to receive and treat guests, then you will need a bar counter. It looks stylish, modern, spectacular, can serve as a place to store all kinds of items and will allow you to organize the serving of drinks and treats for guests in a very small area. In addition, the bar counter can be an excellent dividing element if you need to zone the living room.

Choose the dimensions of the sofa and the number of chairs depending on the number of family members and the possible number of guests. It makes no sense to choose an airfield sofa and three armchairs if you live alone and rarely receive guests. In this case, it is worth limiting yourself to more compact options and leaving more free space in the room - to create a feeling of spaciousness or to accommodate other functional elements.

If you expect your guests to occasionally stay overnight, then the choice of sofa should be approached especially carefully. Choose folding models, on which, if necessary, you can fully sleep. If there can be several overnight guests, then it makes sense to consider options for transforming chairs that can fold out and turn into a bed.

Modern design solutions, as a rule, do not involve the placement of solid cabinets in the hall. It is assumed that this tradition should remain in the Soviet past. However, if you don't have a walk-in closet and don't have enough space to place storage items in other rooms, no one can force you to give up a spacious closet in the living room.

In a classic interior, it can even be a solid wall. However, if you prefer more modern design trends, then it is better to pay attention to stylish wardrobes. For a small room, models with mirrored doors are perfect, they allow you to visually expand the space, and will not weigh down the interior as much as their counterparts with solid doors.

A small room should not be cluttered with a large number of pieces of furniture. Such an "abundant" environment will overwhelm, distract, and simply interfere with free movement around the room. If you don’t have a lot of things, then you definitely shouldn’t put a massive closet in the living room, limit yourself to a light and elegant rack. If you want to create a truly light and stylish design, pay special attention to the modern style living room furniture, the photo of which can be seen below.

If you do not plan to receive guests often, it makes no sense to purchase a grand dining table in the hall. In order to drink coffee or have a snack in front of the TV, an elegant coffee table will be quite enough. To save space, you can choose a functional transforming table, which will serve as both a stand and a storage for books and magazines, and, if necessary, can be expanded into a fairly full-fledged springboard for home meals.

Fireplace in the living room interior

If you want your living room to breathe genuine comfort and hospitality, consider purchasing a fireplace. Naturally, it is almost impossible to establish a real hearth in a city apartment. But today there are a lot of magnificent imitations on sale that will emphasize the elegance of the interior, create an atmosphere of comfort in the room and even be able to heat it.

An electric fireplace is perfect for an apartment. Do not think that this is a more beautiful analogue of the heater. In fact, modern manufacturers produce incredibly realistic models that amazingly imitate real flames. There are even models with sound and aroma accompaniment. That is, in front of you there will be not only the illusion of an open fire, but also real crackles, as well as the smells of burning logs.

Fireplaces are produced in a wide variety of styles: exquisite classic, ultra-modern laconic high-tech models, mysterious gothic, luxuriously decorated with gilding and marble in the rococo style, cozy stoves in the spirit of the country. In addition, fireplaces in the living room can vary in location: wall, corner, island.

Such a variety of models will allow you to choose exactly the option for your living room that fits perfectly into the layout and style of decoration.

Photo

See our gallery for 212 more amazing living room design ideas.

Living room decoration - 100 photos of original design

All rooms in the apartment have their own importance, their own stylistic decision. The living room is the center of any apartment.

Feasts are held in it, the whole family gathers to watch TV. For someone, this is a place to read books or just an office.

Therefore, the design of the living room must be approached responsibly. The living room may not be the right shape or even small.

However, knowing little secrets, such rooms can be turned into a very cozy room.

Contents of the article:

Stylistic design of a living room

A living room should be multifunctional, combine all comfort, coziness and representativeness.

Of course, the easiest way is to turn to professionals, they will create a living room project that will meet all your requirements.

Or you can show your imagination and create your own unique design. It is necessary to determine the design of the living room.

Main living room styles:

There are more, but these styles are more typical for living rooms. Give the choice to the style in which it will be comfortable for all household members.

Thinking through the design of a modern living room should take into account the area of ​​the room.

Basic living room design ideas

Most Russians are stingy when choosing furniture. They prefer the wall, sofa and coffee table.

This type of furniture is suitable for those who like to lie in front of the TV and rarely receive guests.

This furniture is usually used in small spaces. And for people who are used to receiving a large number of guests, they should focus on a dining table with chairs.

It should be highlighted with an original sideboard, as shown in the photo of the living room decoration.

Today there is a tendency to combine the living room with a balcony, it should be insulated. Very practical for expanding space, adding more natural light. From it you can make recreation areas or an office.

Don't overload with a variety of shades, choose 2-3 primary colors that are used in your chosen style.

If you put a fluffy carpet with a long pile on the floor, then you should no longer use voluminous decorative accessories in the interior. The room will seem very busy.

Shade combination principles.

Recommendations for designing a living room in an apartment

The room should be visually divided into different areas according to functionality. For a modern living room, it is worth choosing functional furniture so as not to clutter up the space.

It must be transformed, for example, a small coffee table can change into a small dining table, and a sofa bed should be bought with storage niches.

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