You don’t know how to arrange in an apartment with a total area of 30 square meters. m. all the necessary things, furniture and household appliances, without cluttering up the limited space? Today we will introduce you to three unique and incomparable options interior of a small apartment, developed by the brilliant designer Olga Bondar.
According to many designers and architects, corner apartments are the most uncomfortable for living and relaxing. Two windows in the room create poor thermal insulation and certain difficulties with the placement of the headset. Now we will introduce you to the incomparable variations of housing arrangement in a typical house of type 1–511 for different owners.
Olga Bondar is a talented designer and specialist who has been working in the field of developing unique projects since 2012. She considers the main goal of her professional activity to be the embodiment of a functional, practical and comfortable space for living.
Corner one-room apartments in unusual houses of type 1–511 have both layout disadvantages (small kitchen area with a bathroom and the lack of possibility of expanding them), as well as obvious advantages: the presence of three window openings and internal walls. These designs have great potential for decoration.
Today we will tell you about 3 variations of redevelopment of a corner one-room apartment with a footage of 31 square meters. m. for different types of residents. Please note that you must initially approve all changes with the BTI.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages and disadvantages of living rooms with two windows lie on the surface.
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Style
In fact, there are practically no restrictions; the choice of one or the other depends on:
- fashion trends, current trends this season. It is better to give preference to one of the modern styles. Classic is not the best option;
- your taste, as well as the style you adhere to;
- how the rest of the rooms are decorated. Of course, if you didn’t plan to play on the contrast of the rooms from the beginning;
- what is more important - functionality or appearance. Although designers often try to combine as much as possible, such a compromise does not always lead to a positive result;
- most importantly, the size and shape of the room. It has already been said more than once or twice that this is what is decisive.
If you are not at all confident in your own abilities, seek help from a specialist. It is always more expensive to redo it than to do it well right away.
Layout options
The interiors of living rooms with two windows differ from each other at least in the location of the openings. Each layout has its own advantages, which you should definitely pay attention to.
Two windows on one wall
If you want to design a living room with 2 windows located next to each other, first of all pay attention to which side they face:
- eastern and southern windows on the same wall require thick curtains, blinds or tinting - otherwise your large living room in summer will look more like a sauna;
- the northern and western windows do not already receive a large amount of sunlight and natural light, so if the style allows, leave them completely open, or curtain them with light tulle.
The photo shows a spacious living room with thick curtains and plenty of natural light.
The next important nuance is the distance of the 2 windows from each other. Windows on the same wall, located close to each other, are designed as one: install a cornice along the width of the wall and hang uniform curtains and tulle.
If the distance is 40 cm or more, use this wall space to place pictures, a TV, or a lamp. You can also install a partition to turn one spacious living room into two rooms for different purposes.
Living room with 2 windows on opposite walls
A living room interior with two windows opposite each other is an extremely rare occurrence. In most cases, this is either an unusual project for a private house, or a complete redevelopment of a standard apartment.
One way or another, furnishing a room with opposite windows is not easy: if there is a long wall between them and it is enough to accommodate a sofa, choose a symmetrical layout. There is a sofa in the center against the wall, a table next to it, and armchairs or comfortable chairs on the sides. Lamps and other accessories should also be paired, mirrored.
The photo shows an example of a symmetrical layout
Two windows on adjacent walls
Living rooms with two windows on different walls are not uncommon for corner apartments. The main disadvantage of the layout is the difficulty of placing a sofa, wardrobe and other large furniture.
But two end windows provide the longest possible daylight hours - when the sun hides in one, it appears in the other.
The photo shows modern modular furniture in the hall
The design of a living room with two windows involves the active use of the angle between them. So that the space is not empty, it is filled:
- TV;
- floor lamp;
- corner furniture;
- a large flower in a pot;
- vase;
- an aquarium.
Important! It is not recommended to place a sofa in the corner under the window sills - opening and washing the transoms will be extremely inconvenient, and moving bulky furniture away will be difficult.
L-shaped studio
When remodeling a one-room apartment, when the wall between the room and the kitchen is removed, you often get a studio with the letter “L”, the design of which will have characteristic features. If we take into account that the large room is also expanding due to the corridor, then the short part of the “letter G” will have relatively small dimensions. When creating an interior, it can be considered as a full-fledged area or as a niche, depending on the dimensions, the presence of a window and its location.
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Planning Features
When planning an L-shaped studio apartment, the following features should be taken into account:
If the smaller part of the room resembles a niche, then to visually expand it, mirror or reflective surfaces, photo wallpapers with three-dimensional images, and drawings with geometric shapes are used.
How to arrange furniture in the hall?
Arranging furniture in a living room with two windows requires special attention. Things to consider:
- The height of the window sills. So that the items that are planned to be placed below can easily enter.
- Direction of the sun. So that it does not shine into the TV or monitor screen.
- The width of windows and free walls. It is advisable to draw a diagram with exact dimensions and select furniture based on it.
It is recommended to start planning the interior of living rooms by determining the location of the sofa, because... it is the largest piece of furniture.
If you have a beautiful view from the windows, place the sofa opposite. But this solution is not suitable for sunny rooms, otherwise sitting on the sofa will be uncomfortable - you will have to squint. A sofa facing the window opening is also a great way to maintain the opportunity to enjoy the view and watch TV.
In the photo there is a sofa in the corner living room
If the species is of little interest to you, use one of 3 methods:
- Straight sofa with back to the wall. Square living rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows look especially impressive with this composition.
- Corner sofa with back to openings. The same as the first option, but an ottoman or a corner on one side will not allow you to place a chair.
- Corner sofa sideways. Suitable for zoning a rectangular elongated narrow living room with openings on the long side.
A TV or projector screen is hung opposite the sofa; under it there may be a fireplace or an aquarium. The coffee table is always in the center, with armchairs or poufs on either side.
The free walls have space for cabinets, shelves and display cases. If you need to zone the space, the rack can be placed with its end facing the wall. Behind it you can select a workplace, a cozy relaxation area with a floor lamp and books, or leave space for a dining table or a small bar.
Two windows on one wall
It is recommended to dress closely located windows with identical curtains. The same in color, fabric, and size.
However, this rule is not immutable. In some cases they go against him.
So, if you plan to place some furniture under one of the windows - for example, a desk, kitchen cabinet or sofa - you can decorate it with a short curtain. And the second one is long. This is acceptable because it is logical.
Is it possible to curtain the opening by decorating both windows with a single drapery under a common cornice? Yes, you can, but usually it's not necessary. Much depends on the size of the room. If it is large, drapery covering the entire wall will not have a negative impact.
For a modest-sized interior, this design method is undesirable. Firstly, it is irrational to leave the partition unused. If it is wide enough, one of the important zones can be arranged near it. Usually it turns out beautifully and harmoniously thanks to emphasized symmetry.
Secondly, a single wide drapery visually makes the room smaller (and if the room is already small, this is not the result that you would like to get). Two separate curtains with a free wall, on the contrary, can visually lengthen the wall. Especially if the fabrics do not contrast with the walls and furnishings.
Recommendations for design
The decoration of the walls in the design of a living room with two windows is not much different from the standard one, with the only exception - thanks to the large light flux, you can use dark colors even in a small living room.
However, if the windows are small or you like bright spaces, choose decorative wallpaper or paint in neutral shades - white, sand, gray, pastel. And the accents can be anything: from contrasting yellow or red, to deep blue or black.
An original design will be created by photo wallpaper pasted on the opposite or adjacent wall.
The color scheme for ceiling repairs is as light as possible, preferably white. Especially if the walls are made in dark colors. The light will reflect from the ceiling and illuminate the entire space of the hall.
Advice! To make the reflection stronger, order glossy stretch ceilings.
In the photo there is a separation between the bedroom and the living room by a partition
Don’t forget about lighting: in rooms with high ceilings and panoramic windows, massive chandeliers that attract attention would be appropriate. A more modest living room can be illuminated with miniature ceiling lights, spotlights or track lamps.
Advice! If you need access from the hall to the second floor, place a staircase near the windows. This way you don’t have to think about anything with the arrangement of furniture and you can admire the view of your territory every time you go up or down.
Kitchen
Design of a one-room apartment of 32 sq. m. is designed in a rather strict style, but at the same time filled with details that give a joyful mood. A kitchen with a checkerboard floor, a glossy apron made of white bricks and bright chairs looks elegant and festive.
A folding table saves space, and its wooden surface softens the whiteness of the interior and gives the kitchen coziness.
What partitions can be used to divide living space?
Better - made of frosted glass with a reflective effect. The reflection effect helps to visually enlarge the space. And if the sliding mechanism of the partition is attached to the ceiling, then you can do without a threshold on the floor. It is both ergonomic and convenient.
How to design window openings?
Decorating window openings in a living room interior with two windows will definitely cost more than a standard one. The simplest option is to “dress” both windows in the room in the same style.
If the windows are on the sunny side, then the design of the living room involves the use of dense fabrics, preferably blackout: this way the penetrating rays will not interfere with watching your favorite movie. But thick curtains make the interior look heavier, so they can be replaced with roller blinds or blinds installed directly on the frame. The opening is curtained from above with light organza or other flowing fabric that will create coziness.
The most budget option for the north side is to abandon curtains altogether. This is acceptable for Scandinavian style, minimalism or hi-tech. In all other cases, choose light curtains that do not interfere with light.
Important! In small rooms, use curtains that match the walls so as not to visually make the space even smaller.
Windows distant from each other
Here we have more freedom. The curtains in this situation do not have to be identical. Not only the sizes and styles of curtains can be different, but also the fabrics themselves.
The zoning features of the room matter. Different zones allow different window designs.
Example. The bed is placed with the head of the window. Window drapery becomes a kind of canopy. For this window, you can choose one fabric - for example, in harmony with the headboard, bedspread, pillows. And for the opposite window - another one that matches the decor as a whole. Is there any logic? Without a doubt.
You can take the size of the windows as a guide. Design the big one this way, and the two small ones differently. This also has its own logic.
It should be remembered that the abundance of fabric on the walls can deprive the room of visual spaciousness, lightness and freshness. If the windows are large, you need to think about whether to cover them with long and especially heavy curtains. Maybe only one window needs to be dressed in a solid floor-length drapery, and the second should be dressed in something more laconic and less noticeable?
