02.02.2020
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Designing the interior of a living room in a private home is an exciting undertaking, as a result of which the room can turn out extraordinary and completely satisfy the tastes of all family members. Living room 36 sq. m in a private house occupies a central place, so its arrangement must be approached with all responsibility. This room involves creating a cozy and trusting atmosphere in which every family member and guests will feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Among other things, the living room has many functions: from a place where the family relaxes or does their hobbies, work, to a place for receiving guests with the possibility of accommodating them for the night. With this multifunctionality, it is important to harmoniously zone the space so that not a single detail stands out from the overall appearance of the room.
Strengths and weaknesses of the layout, layout features
The older generation calls an apartment with an area of 36-37 square meters a “one and a half apartment”, since the size allows you to equip a full bedroom and living room.
Previously, zoning was provided by massive cabinets, curtains, and bookshelves. Today this is done by additional partitions, remodeling of space, and design choices.
If we talk about standard layouts, more often the choice falls on projects that involve combining a kitchen with a room while maintaining the initial area of the bathroom. This transforms an outdated home into a modern one, gives a chance to create a functional project, to expand a one-room apartment by developing small previously unused areas.
Interior and design options will help to visually change the space, and the selected color will be able to reflect the originality of the owner.
Modern studios initially imply such a possibility. However, the difficulty is that the apartments are elongated. This imposes restrictions on design, furniture arrangement, and space organization. Despite this, 36-37 square meters is enough even to allocate a bedroom.
Use of balcony space
The area of balconies is quite modest, often not exceeding 4 square meters. m, but in a small one-room apartment, every meter counts. The balcony can be glazed, after which you can arrange additional storage space on it - install cabinets, racks in which everything that does not have a place in the apartment will be stored. If you insulate the balcony and remove the partition, additional living space will appear, where you can arrange an additional place to relax by placing a sofa or a couple of armchairs with a coffee table, or you can organize a work office in the new area. It is not necessary to demolish the entire wall - it is quite enough to remove the balcony doors with windows, in this case a low dividing partition appears. At the same time, it is an additional storage space on which pots with fresh flowers or books will look great. If the family has a schoolchild, this will be a perfect place for him to have a workplace.
Features of small rooms
An apartment with an area of 36-7 sq. m is a spacious option even for a family of three. However, to implement the idea, you need to carefully consider the future design and division into zones. Even when redecorating an apartment, consider a color scheme so that the combination of colors emphasizes the division of space. Such a step will create the illusion of space.
It is even possible to separate the bedroom and living room using panels or partitions. Due to this, the space will not shrink, but rather, on the contrary, will expand. It is impossible to do this in a smaller apartment.
When performing repairs, however, do not forget about possible options for increasing the area. Dedicating a dressing room to reduce the number of closets, combining a room with a balcony, or eliminating unnecessary furniture are popular examples of how owners solve the problem.
In the photos of finished projects you can see several cases that can be implemented on the basis of a specific apartment.
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Colors and lighting play a significant role in small room projects. With the help of these two tools, accents are created that make the space individual.
For example, highlighting the living room area with white creates the illusion of expanding the space. The ceiling and floor, made in the same tone, in combination with vertical lamps increase the height. And the warm and cold colors of light in the bedroom and living room emphasize the zoning.
Photos in various styles
The design of an apartment of 36 square meters in a modern style assumes the presence of light shades with bright splashes and a minimum number of furniture items that are very roomy and functional.
In the Scandinavian style, laconic furnishings with moderate interior content and decor are also welcome. The connecting link is the white tint palette, which creates ideal combinations with wooden surfaces and accents in black or gray tones.
The photo shows the design of a studio apartment of 36 square meters, designed in a modern style.
The main characteristic of the loft style is considered to be finishing in the form of unplastered walls, rough brickwork in combination with shelves made of untreated boards with a symmetrical arrangement on the wall. Suspended lamps with open lamps are chosen as lighting.
In classic design, it is preferable to use natural and expensive materials that significantly transform the environment and endow it with luxury. The interior is kept in soft and more natural colors. Furniture items are decorated with carved elements, forged fittings, leather or textile upholstery with a carriage tie.
The photo shows the interior of a living room with a work area in a two-room apartment of 36 square meters, in a minimalist style.
In the minimalist style, it is appropriate to have smooth surfaces, straight lines and soft natural shades of gray, black, beige or white. The walls are covered with textured plaster or plain wallpaper, and sometimes they are finished with wooden or plastic panels. This style prefers strict and laconic furniture, including only the most necessary items.
The photo shows a kitchen decorated in a classic style in a one-room apartment of 36 square meters.
Zoning rules
The layout of the 37 sq. m apartment is based on the preferences and desires of the owner. Sometimes the owner is not ready to increase the number of zones, so the bedroom is combined with the living room. If there is a child in the house, a separate sleeping area for each family member becomes necessary.
In a one-room apartment of 36 sq. m, it is easier to separate the dining and living areas - when combining the kitchen and room, both are located along the windows. If you have a balcony, you can also combine it by connecting and organizing heating.
Expanding the area will help create a relaxation corner with books, a game console and a TV. The bedroom is located in the far part, which makes the area intimate due to the almost complete absence of natural light. But artificial lamps, lamps, and floor lamps will add coziness.
In the studio, there is no delimitation of zones by walls, so more often the design makes it necessary to abandon a separate sleeping place. With the help of a folding sofa, the living room turns into a sleeping room. In the photos of finished projects, the housing design looks suitable for a married couple without children or a single person.
Using partitions to divide space
Small apartments with an area of 37 square meters are divided by partitions into a recreation area and a living room. They can be installed in the middle of the room, dividing the space in half, or allocating a small area for the bedroom. In both cases, a plan is studied in advance to determine the main walls and plan the transfer of heating radiators.
It is also possible to erect not one, but two or three partitions for separation. However, such a design solution will make the area smaller visually and in feel. To create separate spaces without losing comfort, movable or folding structures are used - compartment-type doors or “accordion” doors, high blind bookshelves on wheels.
Additionally, mirrors on cabinet doors, light-reflecting ceilings, and furniture that matches the walls will help to visually enlarge the apartment. By choosing a design project from a photo, you can recreate the style you liked.
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Designer tips for selecting furniture and lighting for a one-room apartment
Professional designers offer the following tips for decorating a cramped apartment:
- use compact but powerful light sources;
- each logical zone is illuminated separately;
- in the kitchen, a cold light flux is preferable, in the bedroom - a warm spectrum;
- It is most convenient to use modular, multifunctional furniture - a wardrobe-sofa, a bunk bed, a table-sofa;
- for zoning, through shelving, a bar counter, ceiling curtains, and screens are used;
- storage places are hidden in niches, on shelves, under furniture;
- If possible, furniture should not be placed close to the walls, but 30-50 cm away from them.
Furniture arrangement has a huge impact on comfort, so it is important that bulky items do not interfere with free movement
A light partition made of slats in the sleeping area will create the effect of privacy, while leaving the possibility of visual contact with the rest of the apartment
Choosing a style
Renovating a one-room apartment, especially if it involves redevelopment, does not begin without a ready-made design. With its help, the smallest details are thought through, which helps to avoid the transfer of household appliances, sockets, and radiators. The style is also chosen in advance to determine what furniture will be needed. Ideas for interior design and decoration are taken from photos of finished projects that have been completed. You can also find similar offers in furniture store catalogs. The latter is more convenient, since the furniture can be immediately ordered and paid for.
The design of a simple one-room apartment of 36 sq. m is chosen from modern trends - loft, minimalism, hi-tech. Styles implement ideas without cluttering or reducing the already small space. At the same time, the layout is also important - it is possible to mix two or three styles in different locations. However, it is the owner who decides which style to choose.
Layout of small one-story houses
The layout of one-story houses made of wood or other materials depends on their parameters and shape. Square buildings are considered ideal in this regard, because the interior of rooms of this shape and sufficient size is balanced. This is probably why most often owners choose building designs with identical sides.
The layout of a 6 by 6 house (one-story version) is a very small building, usually used as a country cottage. It will be much cheaper to build such a house than a two-story or wider one, and with the help of modern design tools it is easy to fit everything you need into it.
Square house layout
By saving on heating (it’s not difficult to get by with just one low-power boiler, a fireplace with radiators) and on arranging the inlet and outlet for water and drainage, you can finish such a house well.
A space of 36 square meters can be organized by planning a ten-meter living room, a nine-meter bedroom, a small bathroom of 3 square meters. m., kitchen-studio 8.5 sq. m., a small boiler room and a four-meter hallway.
It is not wise, however, to waste an already short distance on the vestibule, because you can make a kitchen or living area pass through by combining them with the hall. This is the main possible correct option for organizing space, no matter how the rest of its parts are conceived. Separating the kitchen and living room will seriously reduce the usable area.
You can completely sacrifice the hallway and living room by organizing a small workplace in their place, as this idea is reflected in the layout below. In this case, everything is focused on the convenience of the owners.
It will also be possible to plan two bedrooms in a small house. They will turn out to be small, but comfortable.
The kitchen corner can be made very small, as in the picture below. But the house will accommodate two places to sleep and a fairly large living room.
The choice of a slightly more elongated shape - a 6x9 house - is justified, because this way the owners have a few extra meters at their disposal and there is a corner for guests staying overnight.
An interesting option is to divide the house into 2 parts with a vestibule and a bathroom. unit, organizing two entrances from different sides: on one side there is a sauna and a small utility room, on the other - a living room with a kitchen and a bedroom.
Fans of modern interiors can simply abandon the idea of dividing one large room with partitions - the current trends are to combine these two zones together.
Try to combine almost all areas of the house - this is now a current trend
Or, as in the illustration below, you can organize a full-fledged house with three slightly smaller rooms and a garage.
The layout of an 8x8 house, the one-story construction method of which is becoming increasingly popular, is a more convenient option than 6x6, although it is also more suitable for country housing where you do not plan to live all year round.
64 sq. m is the area on which the same number of rooms can be placed, but they will be much more spacious and comfortable. You can add storage rooms to some rooms (kitchen, bathroom) or plan a large niche with a sliding door in which you can store all the things you need in the house, and you won’t need more cabinets.
The layout of a 9 by 9 (one-story) house is also not very different from the layout of smaller square-shaped buildings, although due to the expansion of the area, the possibility of using decorative and design elements in such an interior also increases.
So in a house with an area of 36 sq. m. It is better to use interior doors in a sliding version, and in a 9x9 cottage you can afford their classic version.
The presence of an attic significantly solves the problems of small residential buildings. By placing a bedroom with a large bed on the second floor, you can provide enough space for a luxurious living room and kitchen on the first floor. However, in this case you will have to find a place for the stairs.
The layout of a house with an attic is much more practical than a simple one-story project
Calmness and comfort always begin with coziness. Many people strive to get their share of solitude in the village, where nothing disturbs them and they can enjoy nature and silence. A 36 m2 house in the countryside can become the place where you will be happy to rush after work. Creating comfort always begins with the interior. Each person has his own ideas, but not everyone can bring them to life.
You can order the services of a specialist who will design a village house of 36 m2 and take on the drafting of the project on the Yudu website. The service providers are highly qualified designers with specialized education. They can easily cope with the task.
Furniture arrangement
Furniture must meet two requirements: provide utility and not clutter up the space. Universal systems developed by designers will help ensure this. A popular example is a pull-out sofa in the living room that turns into a sleeping area. However, this need disappears if a bedroom is allocated.
In the photos of finished apartments there are also more unique examples:
- chairs folding into one pouf in the dining area;
- extra bed hidden in the closet;
- additional retractable tabletop, which is used as a table.
Such design solutions save free space, which is not a lot in an apartment of 37 sq. m.
Another design idea is to organize the loggia as a separate recreation area. It is not combined with the room, but heating is provided. As a result, some furniture, such as cabinets or shelves, is moved here - convenient and functional. But take care of the interior and exterior decoration in advance so that the quality is sufficient to keep you warm and dry.
Ways to visually expand space
The most famous options for visually expanding a room:
- Bright hues. A room with dark wallpaper and flooring always looks smaller than a room of the same size in light colors. Dark colors “pressure” psychologically and compress space. As a rule, the walls should be significantly lighter than the floor, but very slightly lighter than the ceiling. This way the walls will “expand” and the ceiling will become visually higher. A combination of dark walls with a lighter floor and ceiling should not be allowed.
- In a small room it is not advisable to use more than 3 primary colors. If many basic colors are used in a small apartment, the interior will be disjointed and will not be able to “form” organically into one whole. It is not recommended to use wallpaper with large patterns that visually reduce the size of the room.
- If the area is small, you cannot use large decorative elements (floor vases, figurines, etc.); it is better to fill the square meters with furniture, and use small objects placed on shelves or wall paintings as decor.
- A mirror will help make your apartment seem larger, you just need to place it correctly. It is recommended to install the mirror in such a way that it reflects only the recreation area, but not the working part of the home.
- Sliding doors or accordion doors also fit perfectly into the design of an apartment of thirty-six square meters. You can buy glass, completely transparent or translucent doors.
Using items for additional decor
In a one-room apartment with an area of 37 square meters, additional items are appropriate if they do not reduce the benefits. The photos of modern projects show possible versions:
- instead of decorative hanging shelves, free open window sills are used, on which figurines and vases are displayed;
- color accents are made with curtains, carpets, panels, and furniture.
Designers in projects abandon bulky structures on walls and ceilings, which gives visual freedom of space.
Methods for proper planning
There are several popular variations for visually expanding the space of an apartment. For one method, it is enough to correctly arrange the furniture and choose interior color schemes; for the other, you will need to get rid of unnecessary walls and doorways. Which option will be the most suitable depends on several factors: the shape of the room (ideally, if rectangular), its size, and the amount allocated for these purposes. One-room apartments are most often purchased by families without children or bachelors. In this case, the best option would be a classic redevelopment - demolishing the wall between the kitchen and the living room, so the panel one-room apartment becomes a studio. The disadvantage of the studio is that there is not a single isolated corner left. Even if one person is in the kitchen and the other is in the living room watching TV, both people are essentially always in the same room, which can sometimes cause moral discomfort.
If you don’t want to get rid of the dividing wall, you should pay attention to various variations of zoning, visual expansion of the area, choice of furniture, and proper arrangement.
Choosing colors for your home
The design of one-room apartments does not involve a lot of colors, especially if the house has more than three zones. Small spaces are decorated either in pastel colors, or, conversely, in bright and dynamic colors.
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A light tone visually enlarges and expands, and a bright accent gives the apartment completeness. They also use a gradient - a gradual transition from one color to another. But this complicates the choice of furniture for the room.
Regardless of the designer’s recommendations, the final decision on the choice of colors remains with the apartment owner. After all, living should be cozy and convenient for a person. To choose a design, look at the finished projects in the photo, evaluate how comfortable different colors are perceived.
Basic items in the interior
Since the area of a one-room apartment is small, every centimeter must be used rationally.
This way, you will get comfortable living conditions and a beautiful and spacious interior.
The necessary items are installed. This applies to both furniture and decorative elements. Shelves and a coffee table are not the main details. Therefore, they can be added to the interior after finishing the decoration of the room.
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Real projects
The design ideas are embodied in a room of 37 sq. m. The area is sufficient to allocate two or three zones, as can be seen in the photos of real projects.
In a studio apartment it is possible to organize a spacious loft with all the paraphernalia. With unfinished commercial building style walls, minimal furnishings and a capsule kitchen this will make for a true bachelor pad.
The interior of a one-room apartment in Provence style, on the contrary, is better for a young girl. Muted shades, light background walls and carved furniture will convey a mood of lightness, which is clearly visible in the photos of the projects.
Also, the design of a one-room apartment can be made for a family, but the interior must take into account the style and potential of the apartment.
Apartment design 35² for a family with a child
When there is a child in the family, it is necessary to allocate space for his sleep and rest.
A lighter part of the room is left for the child.
Consider your baby's wishes when choosing wallpaper and furniture. But it is worth considering that what a five-year-old child likes today is unlikely to give him pleasure in three years.
Special furniture for a child can perform all the necessary functions. A bed located above a desk for lessons allows you to save space and equip it for games and storing toys.
“Destructive” method - redevelopment into a studio apartment
Demolishing the wall between the living room and the kitchen is the simplest and at the same time the most difficult way to expand the space of a 36-meter one-room apartment. The simplicity lies in the absence of the need to come up with variations to fit everything in one small room, and the complexity lies in the paperwork (redevelopment must be completed in the BTI). Demolition of a wall will not add square meters (if it is not load-bearing, it means it is quite thin), but it will make it easier to place furniture, then visually there will be more space. This method is suitable for young childless couples or single people; after redevelopment, the apartment becomes a studio. A studio apartment is stylish, practical and modern.
The second tier in a small apartment is a rational solution
In apartments with high ceilings, it is possible to move part of the living area to the second tier. Usually a sleeping place is located at the top, but if desired, you can arrange a dressing room or any other functional part on the upper tier.
The second tier is usually located above the work area. To get to the top, use a regular staircase. It is not necessary to move the sleeping area to the “second floor”; to save square footage, it is enough to raise the bed onto a “podium”, under which drawers for storing things will be placed.
Bathroom
Bathrooms rarely have a large square footage, and often the bathroom is combined, and there is no free centimeter, even to install a washing machine. Several interesting techniques will come to the rescue:
- Placing the sink above the washing machine. In this case, you should choose a low-rise washing machine so that it is comfortable to use the sink.
- A tall, narrow cabinet will take up minimal space, but will accommodate all shampoos and shower gels, and household chemicals can be stored on the lower shelves.
- Light colors, mirrors and gloss will help make the bathroom visually more spacious.
Selection of folding and modular furniture
Interior designers have long been using this method of saving space as folding or modular furniture. An example is a folding sofa: during the day it is an ordinary piece of living room furniture, and at night, when unfolded, it becomes a bed, transforming the living room into a bedroom. For those who are not eager to unfold/fold the sofa every day, folding beds have been invented. During the day it is a simple wardrobe, and after sunset its doors open and a bed appears. There are folding bunk beds - an excellent option for saving square meters and organizing sleeping places for two people. Folding bed mechanisms are easy to use: they allow you to transform your living room into a bedroom in a matter of seconds, without the need to move furniture.