Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a spacious house; some have to huddle in a small one-room apartment. But if you approach the organization of space creatively, the design of a studio-type room of 18 square meters (without walls) or in a one-room apartment will be functional and creative. The smaller the usable area, the more difficult it is to decide how to place all the things using a minimum of furniture and decorative items. If you borrow the ideas of interior designers, it is easy to independently achieve maximum effect with minimal means.
Design ideas can be borrowed from other designers
If the apartment is one-room, this does not mean that it cannot be beautifully decorated
Even the smallest apartment can have stunning design
Style and colors
Even in an 18-meter studio apartment, several style solutions are applicable, such as:
Loft - industrial style, which is characterized by rough, unprocessed materials and open communications. Brickwork, hidden pipes and ventilation systems - this is what characterizes the loft. This very popular, but expensive style requires a certain minimum set of interior items. Primary colors: gray, black, white, terracotta.
High tech – modern style of straight lines and cool glossy metal. It is simple and clear. The color scheme is usually cool. There are colors such as green, blue, red, purple, gray, white.
Provence is a light, relaxed style, floral wallpaper is about it. Characterized by warm and calm tones: beige, lavender, green, pink, brown.
Minimalism – the name speaks for itself. Minimum furniture and things. More air and light. The interior can be decorated in any color scheme.
Eco style – grass, wood, stone. There are three fundamental keys to this style, but you can replace materials with appropriate textures. In this direction, all natural colors and combinations are used.
Classic - wooden furniture, natural expensive fabrics, possible decoration with stucco. Luxurious and noble. The colors used are pastel and monochromatic.
Eclecticism - a mixture of styles
However, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the space will seem overwhelmed and overly cluttered. This interior is for quite brave people who are characterized by originality.
Absolutely any color scheme.
Futurism is the style of the future, with an unusual, but no less attractive geometry. The cool palette combines style and an unearthly presence. Not very common, it is chosen by creative people with a special view of the world.
Finishing methods
Design of a children's room for two girls
There are many design options for interior decoration, each using different finishing materials. But not everyone is acceptable for a tiny 17-meter apartment. Stone, with the exception of sheet stone, is not suitable - it is very voluminous, taking up up to several tens of square centimeters. Two or three-tier suspended ceilings made of plasterboard can be used as a zoning element, but very carefully and only if the height of the room allows it.
The flooring is made uniform throughout the entire apartment - this makes it look more spacious. Natural wood, laminate, ceramic tiles laid diagonally, thick linoleum, self-leveling flooring are suitable. If desired, only the kitchen space and bathroom are tiled.
The walls are made in approximately the same color scheme - the sleeping area is covered with wallpaper, wooden panels, the kitchen area is decorated with tiles or plastic. The color gradient looks original - each place has its own main color, gradually turning into another in the next zone.
The ceiling is preferred to be light - stretched, painted, decorated with foam panels. Small differences in height are allowed to highlight different areas, for example, a hallway. In the bathroom, all coatings are chosen to be waterproof and have reliable protection against mold and mildew.
Decoration with color
Properly chosen shades can delimit several areas connected in one territory, visually making the space larger, lighter and more spacious. The style determines the basis of the tones used in the room. If you prefer Provence, then light shades will predominate. High-tech allows the use of contrasting, bright colors.
Different wall decorations are the most affordable way to divide space
You can choose wallpaper or paint as a finishing material. For the kitchen, you should choose coatings that can withstand certain, difficult conditions. This applies not only to covering walls, but also ceilings and floors. It is not recommended to use carpet in the kitchen. The option is not practical. Its frequent contamination and difficulty in maintaining it will cause a lot of trouble. For a living room, carpeting is more suitable. It will look organic and appropriate.
A large carpet will look stylish in the sofa area
There are several different color options:
- A light and warm palette for paint or wallpaper.
- A combination of contrasting and catchy tones.
- Classic design in black and white.
The final choice will depend on the basic design of the room. It is important that everything looks harmonious. Significant differences in palette between segments are unacceptable.
Window decoration plays an important role in creating a kitchen-living room design
Lighting
Design of a studio apartment with an area of 30 sq. m
In addition to the main overhead light, local lighting of each zone and decorative lighting are provided. The main ceiling chandelier is chosen to be as flat as possible - a large, multi-tiered one obscures the view. The study area is illuminated with a table lamp, the sleeping area with a sconce, the dining area with a pendant lamp with adjustable height, and the food preparation area with a lamp on a special rail.
In the hallway, the light is mounted directly above the mirror, which is sometimes decorated with LEDs around the perimeter. In a bathroom with an area of less than three meters square, one lamp, well protected from moisture, is enough; in larger ones, every plumbing fixture is illuminated. Decorative lighting is mounted along the bottom and top of the kitchen unit, creating a “floating” effect; glazed cabinets are illuminated from the inside.
Combination and integration of different directions
People often ask whether it is possible to harmonize several styles without compromising the design of the room?
There are no instructions for such cases, but there are several rules that should be followed:
- Styles should be clearly separated; you should not create a slight illusion that modernism is flashing in your classic kitchen.
- It is better not to use more than two styles in a room, even a spacious one. You will not get comfort from such a living space.
- The combination of two styles can be done with materials used in both directions.
You can use a bar counter to divide the room
Furniture - proportional, harmonious, functional
Forged hallway: 60 photos of original external design of forged products
You can visually expand the room with the help of correctly selected colors and finishing patterns, and then ruin all your efforts by choosing the wrong furniture
It is important to provide a living room of 18 square meters. meters with a functional environment, but there should be no clutter
Fortunately, modern furniture perfectly combines design sophistication and compactness. What furnishings are required in the living room? First of all, this:
- a soft comfortable sofa for a relaxation area, best of all -;
- a small coffee table that can be used during family tea parties;
- lightweight shelving structures instead of massive “walls” and heavy cabinet sections - they are spacious and quite practical, they allow you to arrange everything you need and do not clutter up the space at all.
You can’t give general ones - after all, everyone has their own tastes, which means the filling of the room will be different. However, in any case, the central part of the room should remain free
, and in order to achieve rational placement of all necessary items, you need to include additional levels in the layout, use the space horizontally and vertically.
Any niche should be used as a storage space, but the racks are made as light as possible. This way you can design a door or window opening, depending on how they are oriented in space.
Large kitchen interior
Since 18 square meters is a fairly large space, any style can be embodied in it, including classic, which is distinguished by the breadth and massiveness of the furniture. Other styles will also look good.
- If zoning is carried out using finishing materials, then it is necessary to use different materials during repairs, not only in color, but also in texture.
- Before you start, you just need to decide which zone will be decorated with what.
- It’s even better to draw up a plan on paper, schematically and color-coded to indicate one or another element.
It is also important to consider how the space will be lit. It is better to abandon the central massive chandelier and choose several small spotlights around the perimeter: above the cooking area, above the dining table, near the relaxation area.
You can even hang a sconce: it will be both functional and stylish at the same time. There should also be a contrast in lighting: if the light above the work area should be bright, then in the rest area you can leave it dim.
Take your time to make the most of the space. If you are planning a relaxation area or living room, it is important to carefully consider how everything will be arranged so that it is comfortable to be in it.
An aquarium, which will look very harmonious and quite unusual, can serve as a decoration for such an interior. Accessories have their place, but even here there is no need to overdo it and fill the room with them to the maximum.
Basic design rules for a studio apartment 18 m2
Apartment zoning
Do not divide the interior of a compact studio with wall partitions! If you plan to delimit zones, use conditional elements for this, for example, sliding glass panels, storage systems in the form of niches and shelves. The distinction can be made by using different finishing materials in the transitions between areas of the apartment.
What color should I use for the living room?
When deciding on the color scheme for the interior of a studio of 17-18 square meters, we recommend using no more than 2 bright colors. It is better to maintain the main palette with warm and light shades, which will contribute to the visual expansion of the space of your home!
We take into account all the planning features
Be sure to consider the layout of the studio apartment. If it has a rectangular shape, it is necessary to consider the optimal placement of all living areas. Either they will alternately replace each other, or they will be combined within a single space!
How to visually expand a room
Use all possible methods to visually expand the interior! The finishing should include:
- panoramic mirrors;
- furniture with glossy (reflective) facades;
- glossy ceilings;
- correct “play with light”, etc.
Each of these techniques will add comfort to your SMART apartment!
More light - more space!
Take care not only of artificial light (installation of a variety of lighting fixtures), but also of sufficient natural lighting. For example, on the side opposite the window you can place a large mirror, which will reflect daylight and add brightness to the interior!
Style selection
When designing the interior of a small studio, it is better to give preference to restrained styles that do not include massive furniture, an abundance of decor and heavy fabrics. Each detail should have its own purpose. Most often, minimalism, hi-tech, modern, Provence and neo-classics are used in hotels.
Furniture
Pay attention to the models of transforming furniture. It seems to be created for a limited space, because it can combine two or even three objects: a bed-wardrobe, a picture-folding table, an ottoman-an extra bed, a sofa-two-story children's bed, etc.
Rules for choosing a style
The interior of an 18 m2 apartment can be decorated in different styles, but modern variations of the layout are more popular. They are more concise and comfortable. For small areas you can't think of better options.
The modern stylish design consists of the following features:
- concise lines,
- restraint in color,
- harmonious combinations of all zones with each other,
- compactness and multifunctionality of furniture,
- maximum transformation and compactness of interior items,
- maximum comfort for ease of living.
In a small apartment, space should be used to the maximum. To do this, you should use transformable furniture. For example, a sofa bed or a wardrobe table. The bedroom area can be separated from the living room by a mobile partition in the form of a compact bookcase.
Massive and bulky objects should be excluded immediately, since the area of the room should be sufficiently free.
The main rule for organizing a small living space is a successful apartment layout. That is, in the process of creating a project, you should take into account the use of all corners, remove unnecessary partitions or move them to another place, and other nuances. The end result is a cozy and beautiful home.
Layout options
Proper studio layout plays an important role. It should be as comfortable as possible and not overload an already small area; it should meet the requirements of modern life, that is, fully equipped with all necessary household items.
When choosing a plan for a small apartment, you should accurately indicate the location of 4 zones:
- sleeping place;
- kitchens;
- bathroom;
- hallway
First you need to decide on the location of the bathroom, and as soon as this zone is demarcated, you can begin planning a place for relaxation, a kitchen group and the entrance.
A bathroom with a modest 3 m3 should be a full-fledged room. It is better to replace the bath and shower cabin with a compact shower with a transparent partition. Glass materials do not allow precious square meters to be hidden, and the simple geometry gives the freedom to space that apartments with small square footage so need.
The faience group should be designed in the same style, small in size and simple in shape. When decorating walls, ceilings and floors, it is advisable to use materials with light glossy surfaces, since gloss tends to reflect objects, thereby emphasizing the depth of the bathroom interior.
The bedroom, which is both a resting place and a living room at the same time, needs special attention
Here it is important to take into account all the requirements and combine the zones so that in each case it is cozy and spacious. This task is difficult, but doable
Modular furniture is required, be it a pull-out sofa or a transformable bed; a hanging sleeping place or a loft bed is rightfully considered a fairly practical option.
In a small apartment there is often a kitchen-living room area. To properly plan this space, several tips apply:
- Avoid unnecessary details in the interior.
- Divide the room into two zones visually or physically.
- Determine storage location.
- Use lightweight folding furniture.
- Choose household appliances with minimal noise levels.
- Arrange for sufficient lighting.
- Choose a powerful hood.
- Give preference to built-in household appliances.
- Use the window sill as an additional surface.
- Remember that the kitchen and living room should be decorated in a similar style.
If the kitchen is a separate space, you should decorate it in simple and clean colors. Even in a miniature area you can fit all the necessary household appliances:
- sink;
- stove;
- hood;
- fridge;
- microwave;
- dishwasher.
You can separate the hallway by placing the following items in it:
- wardrobe for outerwear or hanger;
- shoe rack or corner for shoes;
- a box or container for storing hats, gloves, scarves;
- shelf for keys and other small items;
- small table for bags and packages;
- bench or pouf.
If you choose visual separators, you can use:
- It is advisable to choose a floor covering that is not easily soiled and easy to clean.
- A door mat, which is indispensable in slushy weather.
How to arrange furniture in the kitchen
The photo shows a kitchen of 18 sq. m. you can see that the sofa is usually placed with its back to the cooking area. This will serve as both a delimiter of space and a place to relax.
It is better to choose a small sofa in the loft or high-tech style, which will not be massive, but, on the contrary, will complement the room with its elegant dimensions.
It is often mistakenly believed that a circular arrangement is more suitable for such a room. However, it is not. To make the room look even larger, they use a very cunning technique. Furniture is moved back 10 centimeters or more - this increases the space.
Sofa location
Since the main element of the living room area is the sofa, it is necessary to choose the optimally comfortable place for it. It is recommended to choose a model that will not look bulky in a small room. Of course, a corner sofa can also really fit on 18 square meters, but then you will have to slightly reduce the dining area.
The location of the sofa depends on the layout and tasks that the owner of the kitchen-living room of 18 square meters solves. If its main purpose is to separate zones, then the structure is placed across the room, with its back to the kitchen area. This is convenient, but can visually “eat up” the space.
The photo shows a mini-sofa that fits between the window and the kitchen unit.
Another popular option for placing a living room sofa is with its back against the wall. This is the optimal solution for owners of elongated premises. Sometimes the structure has to be placed near a window, since a TV is hung on the opposite wall or a fireplace is installed.
Horizontal planes: principles of unity
Modern materials will easily allow you to implement a reasonable approach to the unity of the floor covering. This will add visual freedom to the studio apartment. Imitation of light wood on porcelain stoneware will provide practicality in the right areas, and laminate finishing of the main, living part will ensure budget-friendliness. Warm floors in strategic areas (hallway, kitchen, bathroom) will not be superfluous.
The ceiling and the implemented lighting must be considered together. If the ceiling height does not exceed 2.5 m, leveling and painting with light paint are the best finishing methods. Stretch ceilings with built-in lamps will take away extra centimeters. To avoid lowering the level, use:
- false beams;
- LED lighting along the upper perimeter;
- track systems, compact and not conspicuous.
If the ceilings are low, it is wise to abandon the usual type of chandeliers, especially above free passages. Fashionable lamps will play along with the zoning, and different lighting scenarios will create the necessary atmosphere, turning the living room into a bedroom.
Kitchen area
Absolutely blank facades turn the idea of traditionality upside down, becoming part of the architecture. They are ideal for the concept of minimalism, preferable for the design of a kitchen unit in a studio apartment in the area of 20 square meters.
If the look with separate levels is more common, then the most noticeable area, the kitchen apron, takes on the function of additional decor. Skinali is a practical, at the same time limitless, way of transformation.
The L-shaped set, which will be chosen by those for whom it is important to have a full-fledged kitchen for regular use, has its own characteristics. They are sometimes not noticeable in the photo, but are reflected in the overall area:
- different width of wings;
- no beveled corner;
- maximum height.
The bar counter will serve for snacks and will become a conditional divider between the culinary area and the living area. The latest models are quite capable of replacing a dining table with a familiar, classic look.
What space saving techniques are implemented in the kitchen:
- retractable, folding tabletop or roll-out cabinet;
- folding chairs;
- miniature versions of technology.
Space organization and zoning options
Ideas for decorating a small apartment can be taken from photos on the Internet or in interior design magazines.
Throw away stereotypes - furniture will help you decide on the zoning of a one-room apartment. Practical furniture is used for studio interior design.
Kitchen
For proper arrangement, the room should be divided into zones, each with a specific place. This is necessary to increase functionality. For the kitchen area in the studio it is necessary to equip:
- work surface with sink and household appliances;
- a dining area with a compact corner sofa, a small table or a bar counter;
- recreation area. In this case, a sofa with a table is complemented by a TV on the wall;
- a dining table that will serve as a workplace if the studio does not have the opportunity to organize an office.
It is more convenient to place all this in a spacious room. If the apartment is small, they buy compact furniture and built-in household appliances for the kitchen. This will save space.
Living room
The living room with a large TV and a comfortable sofa can be located behind an open shelving unit. It is used as a bookcase or an exhibition of achievements and souvenirs. Wall-length sliding wardrobes are used to store things in the environment. They do not clutter up the space, and mirrors in the doors help to visually enlarge it and enhance the lighting. Examples can be seen in the photo.
Bathroom
Usually in the developer's project the studio is 18 sq. m. m laid with a bathroom combined with a bath. To save space in the bathroom, install a shower stall and compact furniture.
For finishing, take plain tiles or with a simple pattern.
Examples of bathroom design in a studio apartment of 18 square meters. m in the photo.
Rest and sleep area
In a small apartment, the bed can be separated from the living room by an open wardrobe, screen, sliding doors, or curtains. Light colors on the walls and ceiling will visually expand the space. A light laminate is better for flooring.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=buiwHeeuVWY
Arrangement of the bathroom and living room
The modest bathroom is equipped with a shower stall with glass partitions, a toilet and a wall-hung washbasin. Snow-white plumbing fixtures and transparent glass partitions will increase the volume. Crystal white tiles will add illumination, but you should not forget about the presence of lighting fixtures.
The living space of an apartment is used simultaneously in several capacities: bedroom, living room, work area, etc. Therefore, when choosing furniture, it is necessary to give preference to multifunctional, compact and mobile models. If the ceilings are high enough, you can consider creating a loft bed.
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Furniture in contrasting colors and other decorative or textile elements will look great against a light background of wall decoration.
Shape matters
Shape, like size, in this case plays, if not a key, then an essential role. The room can be an elongated rectangular shape or tend to be square. There are living spaces even of irregular shape, in the form of the letter “g” or even a triangle
In this case, based on individual taste preferences, you should take into account the fact that square and rectangle are the most convenient options from a planning point of view
In a quadrangular room it is much more convenient to use natural daylight, place the necessary interior items and change the layout during your stay without difficulty and as quickly as possible. Also, a square or rectangular studio is much easier and more pleasant to clean, and this will have to be done quite regularly, since dust and dirt are especially noticeable in the studio.
Layout features
To create a competent design, it is very important to take into account all the nuances of the layout of your room - regardless of whether you live in a “Khrushchev” or in a modern new building, the layout of the rooms can vary significantly. Sometimes it is an area of 3 by 4 meters, and sometimes it is a wider or narrower room
Consider the best design planning options for each layout type.
This bedroom is 12 square meters. m. can be very different, however, the principles of furniture placement are usually the same: a bed is often placed in the back of the room - a single bed can be placed in the corner, and a double bed is better placed in the middle, so that small bedside tables and floor lamps are placed on the sides for everyone. Along one wall or in a corner you can place a dressing room, as well as a chest of drawers, a dressing table, an ottoman and hanging shelves. First, you need to purchase the most necessary furniture and arrange it conveniently, and then you can buy additional pieces of furniture that are of secondary importance and place them in relation to what you already have.
How to achieve this? The easiest option is to purchase a wide dressing room, shelving unit, chest of drawers and other necessary cabinets or shelves, and place them along one of the walls. Then you can place the bed either parallel to them or across them - any of the options will be comfortable and beautiful if you correctly determine the size of the room and the furniture in it. Sometimes in a square bedroom furniture is placed along its entire perimeter - such a solution can also look very good and will help make the design as practical and functional as possible.
In this layout, it would be wise to leave a wide passage to the bed in the center of the room, and place the rest of the furniture you need in the corners. This solution will be very functionally convenient both in a bedroom for one and in a bedroom for two.
Sometimes from a room of 12 sq. m. make a bedroom-living room. In this case, the traditional bed in the room can be replaced with a sofa - you can fold it out for sleeping, and fold it down during the day to accommodate guests
In this case, it is important to think through the layout so that there is little furniture in front of the sofa - after all, you will have to lay it out every day. In the bedroom-living room, be sure to place at least a small coffee table, and sometimes a couple of armchairs would also be useful
Bedroom designs can vary significantly depending on where the window is located - you should plan your renovation taking this important factor into account. Many people like to place the bed near the window, but in such cases it is worth taking care of comfortable night curtains, and, in addition to the bed, a chest of drawers or a dressing table with an ottoman is often placed near the window. Bedrooms with two windows look good - they make the interior bright, visually the space becomes more spacious. However, it is practically impossible to place large furniture in front of the windows, and this issue often complicates the design of such a bedroom.
The door to the balcony should open easily and there should be no obstacles near it. The bed, if space allows, can be located on the side or along the opposite wall from the balcony
The rest of the furniture in this layout is placed along the free walls - it is important that the passage to the front door, to the bed and to the balcony is clear
