How to decorate the interior of a small apartment: a complete guide for those who suffer from a lack of meters

Anton Pechyony

head of the design studio Every time I prepare another selection, I focus on your wishes. This is how this one appeared - the design of a small room - a topical and necessary topic. I want to tell you that the “Baked” design studio has already accumulated enough beautiful interiors, which will be enough for more than one similar thematic selection. The thing is that there are many more small rooms in our lives than we would like. So, let's surround ourselves with grace and style - because, as we remember, beauty saves the world.

Look how great the brick wall looks in this classic interior! By the way, we slightly enlarged the living room due to the loggia - it became both more comfortable and brighter.

It feels as if this light and fresh living room is glowing from within!

In my opinion, a great idea with bookcases and a daybed under the window! It is both beautiful and very convenient.

As you may have already noticed, when we look at the design of a small room, most often it is an interior in light colors. This makes the room seem much larger than it actually is.

Another interesting design technique that will help distract from the small size of the room is a bright accent wall. In our case, we supported the kitchen facades with turquoise color, thereby creating a common space, uniting it.

Look: not only did we get a very small room, but it was also of a strange irregular shape, and, to boot, it was a walk-through room! But, we did a little magic and got a wonderful youth living room in a modern style!

It’s even stupid to argue with the fact that wood brings warmth and coziness to the interior, so we won’t, but to confirm this theory we’ll give, as an example, this very nice kitchen-living room.

Of course, the kitchen turned out to be quite small, but if you are not a chef, and this is not a restaurant kitchen, then there is enough space for preparing family lunches and dinners. And everything is at hand, by the way.

If you are already tired of classic interiors with carpets and curtains, you want air and simplicity, then take a closer look at this modern bedroom.

Here is the design of a small room in the literal sense of the word. But, firstly, there was even enough space for a desk, and secondly, this bedroom was created after remodeling a one-room apartment.

Small room sizes are by no means an obstacle to creating cool and stylish interiors. I tell you this with knowledge of the matter!



General principles of furniture arrangement

Any business begins with drawing up a plan. Furniture arrangement is no exception, and if you have a small room, even more so. Measure all its dimensions, the location of windows and doors, and mark it all on the plan. Decide on the functionality of each room; this will determine what furniture you will buy. Prepare paper cut out images of furniture.

When the preparatory stage is complete, determine the dominant element of your room and begin to “move” your paper layouts around the room plan. If you have the appropriate computer program, the task becomes much easier. There are three main ways to arrange furniture:

• Symmetrical - paired pieces of furniture are placed at the same distance from the dominant. The room looks strict and elegant. This method is ideal for interiors in a classic style. It is good for large square rooms. According to the conditions of the task, we have a small room, so it’s unlikely that such an arrangement will suit us.

• Circular - furniture is placed around a central piece of furniture. This arrangement also requires a large area, so we won’t dwell on it either.

• Asymmetry is the only suitable option. Furniture is arranged in a free order, without a special system, but nevertheless with obligatory observance of harmony. And here, too, it is necessary to determine the dominant piece of furniture.

With any method of arranging furniture, remember that there should be enough space for free movement around the room. The distance between pieces of furniture should not be less than 60 centimeters.

Here are a few more visual tricks that will help get rid of the feeling of cramped space.

• Give preference to compact multifunctional furniture models.
• Use light colors in decoration.

• Tall narrow cabinets visually enlarge the room.
• Mirror and glossy surfaces perform the same task.
• Where possible, replace swing doors with sliding ones.
• Do not overload the room with furniture and small decor.

This is all the ABC of design, it works flawlessly. Well, armed with this knowledge, we will begin arranging furniture in each room, depending on its functionality.

High tech

High-tech interior Source dizainexpert.ru
This style is characterized by the absence of unnecessary objects in the interior. All details have their clear purpose.

When decorating the walls, decorative panels are used that imitate natural stone or brick. If you prefer wallpaper, it is better to choose plain ones. Gray and white are considered the best colors in this style. It is important that there are no drawings, patterns or prints. Mirror panels can be used as additional decoration.

High-tech style color palette Source woodluxury.com.ua

Details and texture in high-tech style Source decorationinfo.ru

As for the floor, the high-tech style does not provide any coverings with long pile. Laminate or linoleum can be used for decoration, again without a pattern.

The high-tech interior is decorated with upholstered furniture. Modular sofas with monochrome upholstery in blue and red, which harmonizes perfectly with the metal elements in the room, will look great.

Furnishing the living room of a small hotel in a futuristic style Source design-t.ru

Futuristic furniture and accessories can also be used in a small living room design. Fans of a sci-fi atmosphere are recommended to buy a sofa in the same style, armchairs with silver or steel upholstery.

Lighting options for a small room in high-tech style Source dekormyhome.ru

To make the interior look harmonious, immediately forget about chandeliers, which are typical for the classical style. Crystal pendants and paper lanterns are prohibited. They will be replaced by built-in lighting systems in combination with a cascade of halogen lamps that will help zone the space.

Room decoration in Scandinavian style Source roomester.ru

Arranging furniture in a small bedroom

When arranging a bedroom, the most important thing is to achieve maximum comfort. We spend a third of our lives in this room; strength is restored here and a peaceful atmosphere should reign. Therefore it is important to consider:

• Square. For a bedroom for two, the norm is at least 9 square meters. If less, it is necessary to provide fresh ventilation.
• Passages around the perimeter of the bed. Ideally – 70 centimeters. But no less than 45.
• Sunlight should be present in the bedroom at least 2 hours a day.
• The location of the room - under no circumstances should it be a passageway. Don't place it near the kitchen either. Even if there is a powerful hood, you will not be able to completely get rid of food odors.

The main furniture in the bedroom is, of course, the bed. Therefore, the main task is to position it correctly. In a square bedroom, it is best to place the headboard against the wall. Bedside tables - on both sides. We will place an armchair and dressing table near the window.

In a rectangular bedroom, especially if it is narrow and long, it is advisable to place the bed along one of the long walls. Bedside tables can be replaced with shelves. Even the smallest bedroom needs local lighting near the bed - sconces or table lamps. You can completely abandon the large central light. Do you need a closet in the bedroom? Depends on its size. Of course it is desirable. For a small bedroom, buy compact models with a depth of not 60, but 30 cm. If not at all, then find a place at least for a chest of drawers. Linen needs to be stored somewhere, and it is better to do this in the bedroom. Here's what you can avoid in the bedroom:

• TV. It is not desirable even in a large bedroom - it is a strong irritant, and the bedroom is a place for relaxation.
• A workstation, a computer - do you really need it in the bedroom? Isn’t it logical to give this a corner in the living room, for example?
• Ottomans at the foot. Of course, this is convenient, but for a small bedroom it is still overkill.

For a small bedroom, the best furniture is a transforming sofa or a bed with a lifting mechanism.

Design Features

When thinking about the design of a small home, you need to follow several important principles.

• Everything should work to visually expand the space. Light colors, plain surfaces (or small low-contrast patterns), mirrors, and maximum natural light will help with this.
• Furniture should not be bulky. Instead of massive products, choose light and compact models with graceful legs. Use suspended structures whenever possible.
• With limited footage, zoning decides everything. With its help you can turn one room into two or even three. At the same time, it is important not to clutter the space and not block the light. Instead of blank false walls and solid partitions, use slats with gaps, low screens or transparent glass screens. Doors can be replaced with arches and wide openings.
• The simpler the finish, the better. It should be a neutral background that blurs the actual boundaries and does not draw attention to the actual size of the rooms.
• Make the most of the usable space: mezzanine cabinets in the kitchen, an insulated loggia as an addition to the living room, storage under the bed, podiums, niches, etc.

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Arranging furniture in the nursery

We furnish the children's room with special love. It should please the baby and help his emotional development. A particular difficulty is that even in a very small room it is necessary to allocate several zones - for play, for relaxation, for study. All these zones must be clearly marked and not flow into one another. First of all, let's remember the basic requirements for children's furniture. She must be:

• Safe, that is, without sharp corners and securely attached to the wall.
• Eco-friendly, that is, made from environmentally friendly materials that do not emit any toxic substances.
• Lightweight and durable.
• Functional.

What should be in a children's room? There is a bed in the sitting area. It should be spacious, with high sides; we place it near the wall away from the window. This way the child will intuitively feel protected. If there are two children in the room, a bunk bed would be appropriate. To save space, a good option is a loft bed, where there is a study area below - a table with chairs and bookshelves, and a place for relaxation at the top. Just make sure that the bed is at least 1 meter from the ceiling. Place the study area - desk, bookcase, shelving near the window, here you need more light.

It is better not to mix the play area with either a relaxation area or an activity area. There should be a bedside table for toys, a small table for modeling, drawing, and so on, and a carpet on the floor for comfortable crawling. An older child can have a sports corner in this area. A children's wardrobe can be placed at the border of the zones. The interior of the nursery is changing quickly; it “grows up” along with the child. The best option is multifunctional transformable furniture.

Lighting

Light design for a small room Source mykaleidoscope.ru
The first thing you need to know: a small living room should not be dark, otherwise all efforts will be in vain. You should not purchase volumetric chandeliers, as they will clutter the room.

Uniform distribution of spotlights Source womanadvice.ru

It is best to evenly distribute spotlights, which will help divide the room into zones or sconces.

Light solutions in the design of small rooms Source homeli.ru

Setting up a small office

Of course, not everyone can boast of a home office. But if you are one of these lucky ones, then your task is to make it as convenient and suitable for work as possible. In order for you to work well, your workplace must meet all the requirements of ergonomics and aesthetics. A beautiful office inspires fruitful ideas.

We choose a place for the office where you will not be disturbed often, preferably away from the kitchen so that you are not distracted by delicious smells. In the office, of course, the solo part is played by the desk or computer desk; if possible, place it closer to the window. Chairs, shelves for books and CDs. All furniture is good quality and multifunctional. There should not be anything unnecessary that distracts you from work. It is better to remove bright posters and bulky souvenirs. Black and white photographs and green plants are allowed. However, there can be no universal recommendations here. Everyone settles in the way that is most convenient for him. Only a recommendation for organizing lighting can be universal. The workplace must be well and properly lit.

Floors

A small room will look much larger if the author of the design project suggests laying the flooring diagonally during the renovation. It can be parquet boards, laminate, tiles, linoleum with a striped print, wood pattern, tiles. The disadvantage of such masonry will be the increased consumption of materials. An alternative would be to purchase flooring in the lightest possible color, perhaps even off-white, milky, or ivory. Thus, the family budget will be saved.

How to arrange a small kitchen

In any home, the kitchen is the center of attraction. Life is in full swing here. The main character is often the kitchen unit. Manufacturers make either linear or corner models for different kitchens. Linear - all the furniture is in one row. For small kitchens, sometimes the only possible option. To fit everything that is required, we use walls along the entire vertical, wall cabinets up to the ceiling. Upstairs we put away those things that we use very rarely.

We adapt a window sill under the tabletop. A corner set is also suitable for small kitchens. It is more expensive than a direct one, but it allows you to make the most of the space, including the corner. Use all sorts of “cunning” devices for storage: a carousel system, secret shelves, more retractable and lifting structures. The latest advances in household appliances and organization of storage systems will help save space. Use built-in technology.

The kitchen, without a doubt, should have a stove, sink, work surface, and refrigerator.

Tall cabinets mounted to the ceiling will accommodate a lot of utensils and make the room visually larger. The dining area can be successfully replaced by a wide window sill or a bar counter. Don't forget about the roof rails. They will help you keep in order thousands of little things that should always be at hand. Use folding and reclining furniture.

Design tricks will also help make the kitchen lighter and more spacious: light colors and glossy furniture facades, organizing proper lighting, avoiding bulky furniture and thick curtains, carefully thought-out storage organization - use any crevice.

And, most importantly: the kitchen should be as convenient as possible for the one who spends the most time in it preparing food. Therefore, all furniture must be “fitted” taking into account ergonomic requirements.

Decor and lighting

An example of a dark design Source moy-komfort.ru
To give a complete look to a small living room, you need to take care of the decor and lighting.

Mirror surfaces in design Source mebelsuite.ru

When purchasing furniture, pay attention to its functionality. Folding sofas with built-in drawers and poufs with a recess will save space.

Folding furniture in the interior of a small room Source pinedesign.ru

It is best to buy furniture on wheels so that you can move it freely if necessary. An open headset will add lightness to the interior. Reflective surfaces and furniture with a glass, glossy coating will help expand the interior.

Glossy surfaces in interior design Source f4house.ru foto-remonta.ru

In addition, this solution will make the living room brighter. Small glass tables and cabinets with a white, glossy finish are very popular. The mirror is an equally important attribute. To achieve the desired effect, it must be large in size.

A modular sofa is an ideal space-saving option Source krovati-i-divany.ru

A modular sofa is a godsend for a small living room. After all, when folded, it takes up very little space. And when guests arrive, you can arrange the parts of the sofa exactly as you need.