Design of a living room 18 sq.m - photo, interior of a living room with an area of 18 sq.m

Non-standard, bright and, at the same time, comfortable design of a living room of 18 sq. m is one of the most in demand, since premises of this size make it easy to accommodate all the necessary functional areas. Every detail must be thought out and correspond to the overall concept of the apartment or house, and be the face of the home.

Planning and creation of the project

Even before starting the renovation, you need to create a project that will allow you to determine the location and size of the zones, the necessary communications, and the space for the necessary furniture and equipment. You can even visualize the color of the finish, the type of flooring and decorative items. The plan will also make it possible to understand whether it is necessary to demolish walls or use partitions, carry out redevelopment, add a corridor, loggia, etc.

Planning a rectangular living room

The doorway is standard, there may be one or two windows, often with a balcony or loggia. For the functional arrangement of an elongated room, all the furniture should not be located near one wall, so it is important to zoning the space to create a harmonious interior.

It is worth abandoning the symmetrical or straight arrangement of furniture, and giving preference to an L-shaped sofa with armchairs located diagonally. This will be a recreation area. On the opposite wall there should be a TV with a stand under it. It would be appropriate to place shelves for books under one of the walls, and a shelf with fresh flowers in the corner.

Passage room project

One of the most difficult projects due to the presence of several doorways, especially if the room has non-standard geometry. It is important to consider the placement of each piece of furniture so that they do not interfere with free passage. The main zone is a place for family rest and guests. You can separate it using lighting or a multi-level ceiling.

Square shaped hall

An ideal room to implement a modern living room design of 18 sq. m. The sofa and armchairs along with the coffee table are placed in the center, the remaining elements are placed along the walls. In a square room, you can use more voluminous objects and a bright color palette.

Redevelopment options

Often the living room is combined with a balcony or loggia to get more usable space. But, if this is not necessary, it is better to leave everything as is, since the resulting area will need to be filled with functional and practical items. An area of 18 square meters is enough to implement various ideas, so part of the corridor should not be taken away either.

The combination of a living room and a kitchen will be modern and interesting. Then a dining area will be added, and the working part for cooking can be separated by a peninsula or a bar counter. The solution will fill the room with air and light, allowing you to implement popular interior styles, such as loft, hi-tech, etc.

Decor

The living room is an excellent place for rich decor; here you can place various figurines, family photos, souvenirs donated or brought from vacation spots, certificates and medals for various achievements. The living room is a room to demonstrate the success of each member of the family in particular and the residents of the apartment/house in general. However, you need to know when to stop; turning your living room into a museum exhibit would be wrong and inappropriate.

Abundant decor will not create style, but will only hide it, so there is no need to use carpets, forged candlesticks and similar decorations here.

You need to think about a recreation area. The living room must have a TV in its arsenal, located opposite the sofa. If you strive to protect yourself from the excesses of technology, then it can be replaced with a fireplace or an aquarium.

Ideal styles for decorating a living room: Japanese, Scandinavian and, of course, minimalism. These are exotic, functional and thoughtful styles that allow you to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for the family and its guests. Each of these styles is based on the use of light colors when decorating a room, translucent and light materials. Wood is especially welcome here, in particular its light shades and natural decor.

A bright room always seems spacious and promotes relaxation, so the use of mirrors, transparent partitions, and a wardrobe will always be interesting and appropriate.

Tags: Living room

Zoning options for living room 18 sq. m

Zoning is necessary if the living room must combine several rooms at the same time. Most often, we are talking about combining a living room with a bedroom or study. This solution will be convenient if the room has a niche or loggia, which, by geometry, is visually separated from the main space. The following options are used for room zoning:

Light, color and texture. The simplest ways to zoning a space, since you don’t have to build partitions or use pieces of furniture to get the desired effect. But, you need to choose the right finishing materials. Another caveat is that it will be impossible to achieve complete separation; if necessary, you will have to add curtains or a screen.
Shelving. To provide light access, through shelving is used, which is filled with books, decor, and fresh flowers. They allow you not only to zone the space, but also to find the optimal place for placing things.
Headboard. A special high headboard can be turned into a small shelving unit or table, as well as a convenient partition for separating the sleeping area.
Various partitions. They can be stationary and mobile. Their use must be thought out in advance, as they require additional space. Glass partitions with or without decoration, which transmit light well, look especially impressive.
Curtains. The cornice is built into the ceiling. The curtains separate the bed well, but are not soundproofing. But they will be an excellent addition to the interior.

To separate the working and sleeping areas, podiums are often used. Another option is multifunctional furniture. On the first level there can be a desk with shelves and a closet, and on the second level there can be a comfortable, full-size bed.

Suitable style

It will be difficult to implement, except modern ones, any style that contains non-functional decor, excessive decorations, when the room involves family stay and active use, and not just receiving guests.

Designers offer attractive lifestyle-adapted versions:

Eco style. Particularly relevant lately as a way to escape from concrete landscapes. Suitable when you need a permanent bedroom in the room. Natural materials, and especially wood, textiles, and wicker items, will emphasize the idea of environmental friendliness.
Industrial design with a bit of brutality is something of an opposite. It is in demand for its practicality, furniture minimalism and high technology, which easily moves to central positions in the interior.
Vintage and retro style. Suitable for lovers of expressive antique objects or for those who are ready to get creative with their design.
Scandinavian is a leader among solutions for small spaces, especially if several functional segments are planned. Naturalness, closeness to nature, simplicity do not deprive the design of noticeable interesting details.

Choosing a style

Modern style

The laconic, functional and clear interior will be an excellent base for a living room with any layout. All details should create a feeling of spaciousness, comfort, and convenience. The main emphasis is on clear lines and unobtrusive colors, maximum preservation of space and light.

Using classic solutions

Living room interior 18 sq. m can be filled with details and exquisite decor, since the area is more than enough for a comfortable life. There is no need to try in every possible way to visually enlarge the space; the main thing is to preserve its authenticity and originality. Classic styles are characterized by massive wooden furniture, textile-based wallpaper, floral patterns and designs.

Classic and modern solutions are often combined to maintain compositional balance without overloading the room. The central part should be occupied by a table with a sofa and armchairs, the remaining pieces of furniture and decor should be placed under the wall. The use of a central chandelier is mandatory.

Free loft

This style can be used not only for open spaces, but also for rooms with high ceilings. The interior is budget-friendly and original; it does not require the purchase of expensive furniture or special finishing. For the walls, you can leave concrete or brickwork, which will emphasize the loft style, or lay wooden boards or laminate on the floor.

It is important that there is enough light in the living room, so if the window openings are small, it is better to widen them as much as possible. It is also important to consider artificial lighting for each zone. A leather sofa with armchairs and a glass coffee table will look good in the center.

Minimalism

This style is not empty, as many people think. It allows you to achieve maximum functionality and harmony in design, leaving as much air and space as possible. The lines should be smooth and neat, the palette is based on beige, white and other light shades.

Minimalism involves the use of wood, cement, metal, mirrors, glass. The main thing is that all finishing materials and furniture are of high quality and reliable. The style is suitable for rooms with large windows and high ceilings. The base can be concentrated on 9 m2, the rest of the space should not be filled with massive pieces of furniture.

Provence

Despite the fact that the style takes its origins from the French countryside, it has a touch of luxury and sophistication, simplicity and comfort. A dark palette is not used, only soft, pastel shades. Natural materials are complemented by designer aged furniture, light irregularities, and plastered walls. Handmade items, floral patterns, open shelves with figurines and other cute items are used as decor. Natural fabrics with discreet patterns and ceramics will complement the balance well.

The choice and importance of accessories in the visual expansion of the room

Accessories and decor follow the principles of the chosen style. In some areas, an abundance of interior decorations is used, while in others, a minimum of them is used. If the atmosphere is too restrained, then it is recommended to use a couple of bright decorative accents. These could be pillows with ornaments, rugs with long pile, a series of paintings on the walls, neat figurines, vases, family or author’s photographs. Since the area of the room is not too large, a large amount of decor will make it even smaller. For this reason, the issue of accessories should be approached thoughtfully and guided by the principle “not quantity, but quality.” The decor emphasizes the individuality of any interior, so the decorations are chosen to match yours. In the classics, for example, these can be elaborate boxes, figurines, bowls. There are no better accessories for high-tech than technology. Provence is not complete without antiques or artificially aged items. In any style, be sure to add a couple of green touches - indoor plants.

Color solutions for a living room with an area of 18 sq.m.

You need to decide on the color scheme at the planning stage, since different palettes can be used to zone the space and emphasize the advantages of the room. Light colors will visually expand the space and fill it with color. White, grey, blue, beige are universal colors and create a feeling of comfort. They also go well with other shades.

For bright accents, it is better to use decorative items and furniture. They will not only enliven the interior, but also make it more interesting and individual. You should use dark palettes only if the living room windows face the sunny side. Warm colors will compensate for the lack of natural light.

Improve the interior: universal ways

Making a room you want to be in, adding coziness and a homely atmosphere is easy with the help of a fireplace. Its adapted versions for small apartment sizes:

desktop integrated models (steel rectangle);
electric fireplace on wheels - mobile;
miniature stove-stove - a retro option;
stylized - imitation of a fireplace portal with decorative candles.

Greenery is the latest microtrend that is present in many, not only eco-oriented, design projects. Should also be fashionable:

small identical plants in minimalistic, plain pots;
varieties of large ficus;
tropical exotics - mini-bamboo, palm trees.

Book lovers sometimes find it difficult to find space for them: they use built-in shelving near the door or window opening, or high corner shelves. A home library can be the pride of the living room, but achieving visual beauty and orderliness is easy with the help of identical covers.

An individual look at design along with the latest trends allows you to arrange a room in which you can live comfortably and use things without problems. Modern materials and designer decorative items realize any plot, but for the design of 18 squares you need to preserve free space, so it is important to adhere to the principles of balance and moderation.

Lighting

Many people forget about lighting even at the stage of creating a design project, which, as a result, leads to disharmony of the interior and lack of comfort. If you limit yourself to only one central chandelier, unlit corners and dark areas will appear that will be non-functional. Therefore, it is worth following a number of rules.

Massive chandeliers and models with long pendants are suitable only for rooms with high ceilings. A room with ceilings up to 2.5 meters is not suitable for such lighting, as it will look unnatural and “take up” the space.
It is recommended to install spotlights along the perimeter of the ceiling, which will rid the living room of dark corners.
Sconces and floor lamps will highlight the relaxation area and allow you to adjust the lighting depending on the type of activity (reading, playing, watching TV, etc.).
It is important to consider the location of mirrors, glossy surfaces and even the TV. The glare that will appear due to direct exposure to light can cause discomfort.
To emphasize the features of the interior and complete the concept of the chosen style, decorative lighting is used. It is located on furniture, in niches, above paintings and posters, etc.

It is worth making separate switches for each zone. This will not only save resources, but also finally complete the delineation of each area of the living room. If a bedroom is “selected” in the room, it is appropriate to place table lamps on the bedside tables, as well as on the desktop.

Finishing features

Floor

A universal solution would be linoleum or laminate with imitation of natural wood. Light colors remain the priority, but if you choose natural brown, it is important to make the ceiling and walls light. For comfort, carpets with patterns or plain models with pile are used (depending on the style of the apartment).

Walls

Most often, decorative plaster is used or simply painted in the required color. Wallpaper is rarely used, but with its help you can create zoning or create an accent wall. To visually increase the height of the ceiling, vertical stripes or photo wallpapers with large, three-dimensional patterns are used.

Ceiling

If the ceilings are high, you can install a multi-tiered structure using films of one or more colors and decorative lighting. A universal solution would be a matte white ceiling, which will not attract attention and will allow you to concentrate on relaxation.

Recently, ceilings with photo printing have been gaining popularity, but in the living room they can become an inappropriate accent. A good choice would be the “starry sky” or “floating” ceiling. Such designs are not cheap, but their appearance allows you to completely relax. Installation should be entrusted only to professionals.

Decoration Materials

The choice of finishing materials for the living room is not as strict as for the kitchen or bathroom. In budget options, the floor is covered with linoleum or laminate. In more expensive apartments, parquet boards are laid. If the owners decide not to skimp, then they use a heavy-duty self-leveling floor. It is desirable that the surface of the material imitates light-colored wood. The walls can be covered with wallpaper, painted, or decorated with brick or stonework in light shades. In a loft, it is generally permissible to leave their surface in its original “concrete” form. In Provence they use light veneer or white plaster.

It is relevant to use a combined method, when a room is zoned using two different finishing materials that differ in color and texture. The ceiling in the living room should be light and as simple as possible. It's better to stick with regular plaster. There is no need to complicate the interior with rack, cassette, and tension options. Complex plasterboard structures will also force the ceiling down, creating an unpleasant feeling of a vault falling on your head.

Furniture arrangement in the living room 18 m²

For the correct arrangement of any group of furniture, it is important to take into account the shape of the room and the presence of non-standard geometry. For example, the ideal shape is a square living room, in which the sofa, armchairs and table are located in the center, and shelving and other elements are located along the free walls.

As for the rectangular room, you should abandon the classic option with a sofa under the wall and a TV opposite. To create an original interior, preliminary selection of zones is required. In this case, the worker should be in a corner, away from the rest area. The area will allow you to forget about direct symmetry and try diagonal placement. As mentioned above, there should always be free space for comfortable movement. Doorways and balcony doors are also taken into account.