A house without a living room looks lonely and uncomfortable, which is probably why we strive to equip such a room even in very limited areas of living space. Doing this is often not easy. Making a limited space is a real challenge for apartment owners, because the interior of a small living room should give the impression of spaciousness, comfort and make guests and household members want to spend as much time as possible in the room.
The simplest solution to get a luxurious living room is to remove the wall and expand the area with a kitchen or other adjacent room. But, alas, it is not always possible to use a purely physical method. What to do? First of all, do not despair and try to add volume to the living room on a visual level. There are special tricks for this.
Professional designers have their own secrets for turning even the tiniest room into a big enough space. Knowing them, it will be much easier for you to cope with the task. The main and most effective moment in this sacrament is the use of light colors in the interior. Remember that wallpapering with small prints or painting the walls in pastel colors is guaranteed to make the space more spacious. Avoid large, bright, even incredibly beautiful patterns on the finishing material. They tend to compress space by moving walls. There are a number of nuances that are worth considering in more detail.
the use of floral print in the interior of a small living room
Secrets of creating space in the interior of a small living room
There are several main points in working on the design of mini areas:
- color selection;
- choice of lighting;
- choice of furniture;
- choice of accessories.
Play of colors and prints
“Finish the ceiling with mirrors. Such a technique will not only lift the latter, but also add the missing space to the interior of a small living room.
We have already talked about the fact that light colors should serve as the main background in a small living room, however, so that the room does not turn out too “fresh”, it is recommended to dilute them with rich decor. Psychologists say that the right choice of palette has a positive effect on mood, well-being, and can even stimulate work activity. However, this does not mean at all that the room should be made colorful. When combining colors, use no more than five shades.
small white living room
It is not bad to add yellowness to the background palette. This color symbolizes cheerfulness, fertility, wealth, and in combination with green stimulate activity. If you are planning to decorate the interior of your small living room with wallpaper, then choose their texture, taking into account the configuration of the room. If low ceilings have become the main problem, then you can solve it with the help of wallpaper with vertical stripes. In the case when the room has a regular rectangular shape, but frankly small in area, buy finishing material With horizontal stripes. This simple technique will create the desired effect of volume. You can "lengthen" a square room by sticking a photo wallpaper with landscape images.
Great opportunity to play with visual reality give mirrors. A mirrored wall alone can double the space! Don't like constantly bumping into your reflection? Wonderful! Decorate the ceiling with mirrors. Such a technique will not only lift the latter, but also add the missing space to the interior of a small living room.
An expanded doorway with installed mirrored doors will help to visually expand the room successfully.
How to cover
Having dealt with the background of the living room, be puzzled by the correctness of its lighting. Do not try to decorate the central room with massive, heavy chandeliers. Such "monsters" steal space, which you already do not have in abundance. pay attention to Spotlights. This is not only relevant and fashionable, but also a great opportunity to recreate the illusion of flying space. The interior of a small living room looks original, in which the lighting is located in steps, along the perimeter of a multi-level ceiling.
stylish lamps as additional lighting in a small living room
However, such lamps do not have to be placed on the ceiling. They do an excellent job of being fixed on the walls. By the way, illuminated photos or paintings will also expand the room.
Save a lot of space and a TV mounted on the wall. The effect of depth, mystery and peace can be recreated by placing a large and flat aquarium equipped with soft LED lighting against one of the walls.
TV mounted on the wall saves space in a small living room
The role of the central element in the design is not big room often assigned to a window. The space around it is not cluttered with furniture and is not decorated with various draperies. No, of course, if possible, you can decorate the window in a traditional style, but in a limited space it is better to act practically.
Decorate your window without pretentiousness. It is quite enough to curtain it with a light tulle or not heavy curtains. The place of the latter can be taken by Roman curtains, which, without distorting the view of the window, will add style to the interior of a small living room.
curtains as a central element of the interior of a small living room
A good option for apartment windows decorated in modern style, become Japanese curtains. Particular attention to them should be paid to those living on the first floors. Such a design element is not only original, but also reliably hides what is happening in the house from prying eyes, without interfering with the penetration of light.
If we talk about the window itself, then it is desirable to replace the existing standard version with a wide double-glazed window that occupies almost the entire wall. Doesn't work? Don't be discouraged, hang a large cornice over your window and close the adjacent walls with curtains. This technique will also be useful in achieving the main goal. Just do not be zealous with ruffles and draperies. Too much fabric will make the living room feel stuffy.
What should be in the interior
“The interior of a small living room, furnished with very light furniture, will look most impressive”
The interior of even the smallest living room cannot do without furniture. However, in this case, the number of its items should be minimal. Put only what you need here. Do not fill the square with beautiful, but completely unnecessary details of the situation. To maintain comfort in the living room, they almost always try to put a soft corner of the sofa and armchairs, because it is very comfortable to sit on it with the family, but in the case we are considering, you need to leave room for free movement, so it is more rational to lean towards absolute minimalism.
minimalism in the interior of a small living room
In such a space, there is hardly a place for a bulky headset. It is much more practical to use transforming furniture. It can be:
- modular furniture;
- folding chairs;
- folding sofas;
- sliding tables.
All these items are small in size and have maximum functionality. If you put a sofa - so choose its multifunctional model: with drawers for folding linen, built-in shelves and even a mini-bar. It should also be easy to fold and assemble. In the event that guests come to the sofa, you can always move a coffee table and bring ottomans from the bedroom, which will perfectly cope with the role of seats.
folding sofa in the interior of the living room
Using a wardrobe in the interior of a small living room will also be a great idea, especially if you decorate it with glass or mirrored doors. This will not only save space, but also serve the good purpose of expanding the space. By the way, glass created decor there can be shelves, countertops of coffee or coffee tables. The transparency of the material gives these objects an external lightness. Furniture may well be stylish, for example, crafted in the spirit of Provence or country, the main thing is that when creating it, the basic rule is observed - compactness. Therefore, most often such headsets are made to order.
Folding tables are convenient in limited space. In general, they can be laid out only if necessary, and provided that the countertop is interestingly decorated, they can also play the role of additional finishing accessories.
In some cases, preference may be given corner structures furniture. This is especially true for irregularly shaped rooms.
corner sofa in the interior of a small living room
But back to the aesthetic side of the issue. The interior of a small living room, furnished with very light furniture, will look most impressive. In addition to pleasing to the eye beauty, its smooth surface will certainly reflect light and thanks to this you will be able to win additional cubic meters from space.
Indulge in the pleasure of using elegant white furniture. Many consider it impractical - and completely in vain. With the availability of modern household chemicals, it is quite possible to afford such an “outrageous” luxury, even if there are small children in the house who love to “creatively” approach surfaces.
Decorative accessories in a small living room
The interior of small living rooms needs decor no less than the space of large rooms. Therefore, after resolving the issue of furnishing, you will have to rack your brains over the final stage of registration. Almost any thing can become an element of decor, starting from ordinary family photos placed in picturesque frames. The main thing here is not to overdo it with the details and their sizes. Since the general background of the room is light, it will need to be diversified. To do this, attract juicy and bright colors. For example, white sofa lined with contrasting orange or apple green cushions. But bright carpets on the walls of the living room will be superfluous, because it is common for these dimensional decorations, bringing a share of comfort, to reduce the space.
the picture is the main detail of the interior decor of a small living room
Stylistic fashion
The struggle for centimeters in the interior of a small living room is a noble cause, but upon its completion you should not feel uncomfortable in the room. Think about the fact that the newfangled design in the style of minimalism, which implies almost complete austerity in the setting and in a modern interpretation often reminiscent of the cabin of a shuttle, can be really disgusting to you. But to remove such bulky structures as batteries is a completely rational solution that does not cause negativity. Use the "warm floor" system. Such a method of heating will not just be a tribute to fashion trends, but also a successful tactful step, both in terms of expanding space and in terms of saving money.
Conclusion
As you can see, the design of a small living room will give you a lot of tasks, therefore, before starting repair work, do not be too lazy to review the mountains of interior photos and get acquainted with the existing design solutions. It is quite possible that if not the whole idea, then some points from what was proposed to you come in handy. And remember that although you will be working on such a room as a living room, which in its essence involves receiving guests, but still, first of all, you will create a room for yourself. And this means that you must certainly be comfortable in it.
The atmosphere of the room will never be perceived positively by those who come, if the owner himself does not feel at ease in his own house, as they say, “at ease”. Do everything slowly, competently, thoughtfully and most importantly - with a soul. Decide on the style, color issues and furniture priorities, then the interior of a small living room will turn out to be no less luxurious and dimensional than that of the palace hall, but there will be much more comfort in it.
Photo gallery - interior of a small living room:
A small living room in the apartment does not limit, but rather expands the space for imagination. Profitable and interesting design can work wonders and show the designer from the most favorable side.
In order not to overload a small room, you need to listen to the advice of experienced professionals and do everything possible so as not to clutter up the space. A small room should be well lit, in addition to the main source in the form of a chandelier, you can also use spotlights for convenience in certain corners of the room.
Design of a small living room 2017: modern ideas and colors
Preference should be given to certain colors - pastel, beige, white, without sharp contrasts and a large oversaturation of shades.
Not less than important element decor are accessories - it is better to purchase natural materials- vases made of clay, glass, pillows made of linen, cotton.
They can be bright colors, but they should be in harmony with the rest of the details and pieces of furniture. Particular attention should be paid to curtains and carpeting - to avoid chaos, you need to highlight either decor items as bright accents - paintings, vases, pillows, or curtains, a sofa or flooring.
Furniture for a small living room in a modern style
Important Tips:
- It is not advisable to purchase interior items with the presence of large-scale convex parts, they will be inappropriate and take up a lot of free space;
- Interesting projects are obtained if you combine the living room with the kitchen, freeing up the maximum of the missing space;
- The presence of light colors in the interior creates the illusion of a large room, and if it is complemented by spacious and large windows, then you can achieve the size of a full-fledged and;
- The use of small walls or wardrobes will save maximum free space;
- Before planning, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with different options modular furniture to make the most profitable design.
The modern market is represented by various furniture options that can perform several functions - to be a sofa and unfold into a large bed, turn a small coffee table into a full-fledged table, and fold the chairs so that they do not interfere if there is no need to use them.
More interesting, but also financially costly, may be the option in which built-in furniture is installed, in this situation there will be maximum savings in available space and the most rational use of the room.
The latest novelty of the season is the acquisition of precisely corner sofa, which will replace a small sofa and several chairs, thereby saving the area of a small room.
Modern interior of a small living room
Many believe that if you use geometric patterns on the walls, then even light wallpaper will not save such a room, and it will visually decrease before your eyes. Designers reveal one secret - the smaller the abstraction or peas, the larger the surrounding objects will appear in small room- increasing it.
A large abstraction will create the opposite result, because human brain created in such a way that it compares the surrounding objects with each other and gives the final result.
Don't make all the walls the same modern ideas 2017 allow the selection of a small strip or one area, this is quite enough to achieve harmony in the room and receive admiring reviews from friends and acquaintances.
Design of a modern living room in a small apartment
If you correctly focus attention in the room on one object, then such a disadvantage as a small area will not be so noticeable. You can put a sofa in the corner or in the center of the room, which will bright color and framed by curtains of a similar shade or flooring. Use allows you to expand additional space and transform the interior into small apartment, and if you use furniture in a similar style, then there will be a feeling of harmony and complete comfort.
Stripe in the interior
Forgotten since Soviet times, the stripes are returning in a new interpretation, their correct placement creates a visual effect of a wide or high room.
Depending on the existing problem, the necessary elements are used. If the room has low ceilings, stripes in height can significantly raise them, and narrow room expand if you make longitudinal stripes of a different color.
Visual expansion of space
A mirror is one of the most necessary items in any apartment, but experts recommend not to overdo it with this helper. There should be no more than one in each room, so as not to turn the relaxation room into a hairdresser or beauty parlor.
The best option is to purchase a sliding wardrobe with one mirrored door, where you can see yourself in full growth, and close up to do or correct makeup.
Modern tendencies
2017 shows that interesting changes are starting in design - more and more families are no longer adhering to certain and precise rules, preferring original pieces of furniture, interesting combinations of colors and textures, and also striving to stand out and be original. Gone is the fashion to have the same luxury items - carpets, leather furniture, expensive wall. How much different people with different characters, so in modern design art there are various options for projects. The main rule of which is to satisfy all the needs of the client and create maximum comfort, convenience and stylish details in the room, even if it is small.
An innovation in the field of wall decor is wallpaper or paintings with 3D effects, they are able to create an interesting corner from a small room. Complement these novelties with plain furniture in classical style, preferably using fabric upholstery, it is better to use the colors as soft and pastel as possible - white, sand, beige or milky, so as not to distract attention from the interesting decor on the wall, and not to overload the space with bright elements.
In a small room that they want to visually expand, you cannot use partitions for zoning; it is better to get by with the usual arrangement of furniture, taking into account the needs of family members.
Interior of a small living room (video)
If the design of the room is not a professional, it is better to seek advice from an experienced specialist, or carefully study information from various sources in order to avoid cluttering the room and visually cluttering the living room.
In order for the design of a small living room to create a cozy atmosphere and be considered successful, it is recommended to carefully approach the issue of decorating the room. You should consider the size of the room, lighting, and also choose the right furniture.
Interior of a small living room: design rules
When decorating a living room with a small area, you should avoid cluttering the room with furniture or large decor items. That is, it is important that the chosen style theme does not include a large number details. For small rooms, it is better to give preference to simple styles - modern or minimalism, where only the necessary elements are present.
When decorating small rooms care should be taken to visually increase the space.
Here, special tricks will become assistants:
- Avoid dark tones, instead choose light shades in the interior. When choosing an ornament, it is better to use a small ornament instead of large patterns.
- A good way to create the effect of increasing space is to use panoramic photo wallpapers on one of the walls.
- When choosing curtains, it is better to opt for straight models, where there are no colorful patterns. Curtains that fall from the ceiling to the floor are considered ideal.
- In a house with a small living room, there should not be many paintings or photographs on the walls. Instead, you can use modular picture in the room.
- An excellent solution for rooms with a small area is the use of mirror elements. Thanks to such attributes, it is possible to significantly add space.
Ideas for a small living room: colors and lighting
When designing a mini living room, it is recommended Special attention give a choice colors for the room. After all, the interior of the room depends on how well the color is chosen. Therefore, in order to avoid a visual reduction in area, preference should be given to pastel colors, creating the effect of increasing space. Bright as well as dark tones fit perfectly into large rooms, but they are not applicable for a small room. After all, as a result of such an experiment, the hall becomes like a pantry.
Cold tones are considered a great way to decorate a room, so when decorating a living room, you should focus on them.
In a room with a small area, colors will look good:
- When combined with green blue color it will be possible to bring a touch of freshness to the decor of the room;
- Gray is also one of the good options for a small room, but warm colors must be present in the interior;
- And if you make the ceiling or walls white, the room will look larger.
Features of lighting in a small living room
It should be remembered that there should be a lot of lighting in a small room. That is, you need to avoid hanging windows with thick curtains. In order to increase natural light translucent curtains will be an ideal solution for the living room.
As for the main lighting, it is important to choose the right chandelier, because this decor element should not be too large. In addition, it is recommended to install several additional built-in lamps.
Small living room design: how to choose furniture
Having taken up the design of a small living room (16 m 2), it is important to correctly resolve the issue with furniture. Indeed, sometimes it is not possible to achieve a combination of interior items with the style used in the apartment.
Using the advice of experienced designers, you can perfectly decorate the room with an unusual composition while making it practical:
- Before buying furniture, care must be taken to carefully measure the usable space. It is very important that the entire allocated area is occupied correctly. That is, by making preliminary calculations, you can easily delimit the space.
- Due to the fact that in a small room there is not enough usable space, when choosing furniture, it is worth giving preference to only the most necessary items. Modern designers are advised to avoid cluttering the living room.
- Quality pieces of furniture can be purchased in specialty stores. For example, Ikea furniture sets deserve positive feedback. Also good decision use in the house of products under the order is considered.
- You should not choose overall designs. Instead, it is recommended to purchase transforming models that will help save space and such furniture can be rearranged later.
- Due to the small size of the hall, it is not necessary to abandon the use of walls or cabinets in the interior. It is necessary to choose the right models of such structures and the room will become modern and comfortable.
When choosing a cabinet for a small room, it is better to give preference to built-in structures, modular cabinets or corner walls.
Competent design of the passage room: design requirements
If the living room is small and is a walk-through, special attention should be paid to the design of this room. The footage of such a room cannot be fully used, that is, when the question of planning arises, it is important not to rush and take care of efficient use area. In the walk-through living room, the passageway, as well as the space located between the two doors, is not possible to use. It will not be possible to place furniture or other decorative elements here.
In the corner of the passage room, instead of furniture, you can install an original floor lamp or a beautiful vase. And to decorate the wall, use the picture.
Modern design involves the use fashion trends in the interior.
Below are ideas for decorating a walk-through room:
- Glossy or mirrored partitions in such a room are considered an excellent solution;
- In order to increase the space, two rooms can be combined;
- Upholstered furniture should not be overall, it is recommended to place it near the window;
- When creating the design of a passage room, it is important not to overdo it with plasterboard structures, because they will further reduce the area;
- Instead of big lighting fixtures, it is better to stay on floor lamps or sconces.
Design of a small living room in an apartment (video)
When decorating a living room, especially if the area of \u200b\u200bthe room is small, it is recommended to approach the design process correctly. This room is intended for receiving guests, and is also considered a place of rest for the household. It is important not to overload the hall with furniture or decorative elements, because there should be a comfortable atmosphere here.
February 16, 2016
The living room is the central room in the apartment, setting the tone and mood for all other rooms. In the living room we usually spend the most time, meet guests, relax after work or do creative work.
Even a very small living room with limited space should not become an obstacle in creating a comfortable and cozy area. There are a huge number of techniques that allow you to visually expand the boundaries of the room, make it spacious and open. It is better to plan the future design of the living room in advance, having thought through all the key nuances: the rest of the space itself will prompt and direct you in the right direction.
Small Living Room Design Ideas
In order to give the living room a modern, bright and unique style, there are several ways to organize the space. The first thing you should pay attention to is the proportions of the room. The living room can be in the form of a pencil case or be the correct square shape. It is from this that one should build on when choosing a future interior.
The elongated shape of the room is fraught with several dangers. The main task of interior solutions is to make it visually more correct, expand narrow walls and maintain the dimensions of longer ones. Mirrors are the perfect solution. Built into furniture or being independent elements, they imperceptibly allow you to adjust the space and set the desired proportion. You should not arrange furniture strictly along the walls - this will only emphasize the shape of the living room and deprive it of comfort and charm.
For perfect square room a good solution would be symmetry in design. If the door is located strictly in the center, you can mirror the furniture at an equal distance from it. The table located in the middle of the living room will be the final touch and functional completion of the image. To make the room not seem boring, you need to diversify it by decorating the walls, applying different textures and using color accents.
Furniture for a small living room should be chosen thoughtfully. It is worth abandoning the overall classic models in favor of more modern specimens with narrow shelves. Compromise to create classic interior Provence style remains in a small room - thanks to thin and light lines, the predominance of light and pastel colors, it will look harmonious in any space.
Living room-transformer
Such a solution for organizing space is usually used in studio apartments, where one room performs several functions at once. The most common are the following variations:
Small living room-kitchen;
Small living room-bedroom.
Combining the living room with the kitchen will increase the space of two rooms at once: even the tiniest kitchen will visually appear more spacious, the living room will also benefit a few square meters from association. There are several tricks to make the joint space organic, correctly distribute zones and solve several functional problems.
1. Despite the common space, the kitchen remains a place for cooking. First of all, in the combined kitchen, a powerful hood is needed - so that the smells from the kitchen do not spread to the entire apartment and do not eat into upholstered furniture.
2. Furniture in the kitchen should be organic, not overloaded with intricate details, and should blend in with the rest of the design. The kitchen in such a room becomes part of the living room, which means that the design of a small kitchen-living room should continue the overall style.
3. The bar counter is a great solution to delimit space, solve the problem of storage and provide the kitchen with a comfortable table that takes up a minimum amount of space.
The living room-bedroom can be of two types: if the size of the room allows, in such a studio you can allocate a small space with the help of partitions where the bed will be located. For a small living room, as a rule, a sofa is more typical, equipped with everything a person may need for a comfortable stay: bedside tables, shelves, a night light, etc.
We design a living room: color schemes
The choice of colors in which the interior of a small living room will be made is especially important. The dimensions of the room dictate the use of light colors as the basis for walls, floors and ceilings. The absence of dark, heavy colors will help, firstly, to visually expand the space, and, secondly, to design it in the future, embodying various design ideas. There are several techniques for playing with colors that will help set the mood of the room, change its proportions and fit the furniture organically.
Accent on a bright wall.
To “break” the boring elongated shape of the room, to make it cozier and brighter, you can use this technique: the wall and part of the other wall (depending on the characteristics of the room, both walls can be used) are painted in a bright, saturated color, contrasting with the main tone of the room. Color should be reflected in accessories and complementary items such as pots or cushions.
The main thing is to keep a balance and not overload the room. Can also be used instead of paint for a separate wall unusual wallpaper, for a small living room any of these ideas will do.
Furniture of the same color as the walls
This technique helps to "dissolve" the furniture in the wall, while maintaining its functionality. The choice of furniture is an extremely responsible process - it is better to abandon bulky models in favor of options with narrow shelves (20-25 cm). They will merge with the wall and will not significantly affect the size of the room. This will also avoid an abundance of colors and shades in one space.
Application of asymmetry
When making repairs, I want to avoid the classic “Soviet” style, which in the Soviet years was repeated from apartment to apartment and was a classic set of furniture: a wall, a table, a sofa. This can be done by violating the classic arrangement of furniture and endowing it with irregular geometric shapes.
ChrDAUER Architects
This design technique is also called "air storage" - it allows you to focus on original shelves not loaded with books or other items. Such furniture deliberately emphasizes its decorativeness and originality, making you forget that its main purpose is to solve functional problems and, first of all, storage.
The interior of a small living room will benefit greatly from the adoption of non-standard solutions. Place the sofa not against the wall, but a couple of meters from it - and you will get a new space inside the room where you can equip a work area or a relaxation area.
Using different textures
To make the interior of even a small room bright and independent, you should fearlessly, but thoughtfully, resort to the use of different textures. A sofa, pillows and curtains of the same color and fabric solution, the same type of furniture - it's boring and out of date.
The ability to combine different textures and achieve an ideal, balanced result will allow you to create a unique and stylish interior in which a small living room will become luxurious and sophisticated.
Each color has a mass of shades, including adjacent ones, and it is important to use them in unpredictable, and even unexpected variations. For example, pillows of different shades and shapes, combined with a sofa, echoing other design details, will emphasize the interior's peculiarity. The main thing is to keep a balance, the colors should be well combined with each other.
Choosing furniture for a small living room
There are special requirements for furniture for a miniature living room: firstly, it must be roomy enough and suitable for storage. The sofa should be such that it is convenient and comfortable to relax, sit and receive guests on it. Do not forget about chairs and armchairs - it doesn’t matter if they are “pear chairs” or classic chairs with backs, you should take care of their reliability and comfort.
Another requirement is that you should not try to save space with tiny furniture. Small cabinets arranged in a chaotic manner will visually make the room feel smaller than it actually is, the same goes for the sofa. Cupboards, cabinets or shelves may not be too wide to blend into the walls, but they should not be too small.
One third rule
The living room in a small apartment will look more spacious and freer if you install a storage complex at one of the walls with a height of no more than one third of the height of the ceiling. This will solve a number of problems:
Visually increase the height of the ceiling and the space as a whole;
Will help once and for all to solve the problem of storage of things;
Will create an additional decorative element in the room.
Such cabinets should be shallow so as not to clutter up the space. As a rule, they remain below the level at which the human eye falls in the first place, therefore, they remain unnoticed. Thanks to their solid construction, they have as much space as large wardrobes.
Another plus - numerous shelves and the absence of pronounced furniture will help to avoid oversaturation of the room with furniture. Clutter is the biggest mistake of small living rooms, a huge amount of unnecessary things and objects makes an already small space tiny and uncomfortable.
Lighting for a small living room
Light is extremely important to the design of a space, it is no less important than furniture or wall colors, but it is often overlooked. Living room in small house should be adequately lit. Main mistake- This is one light source located in the center of the room. The chandelier concentrates the light strictly in the center, while the corners remain in the shade, which makes the room visually even smaller.
Light in a small living room should be scattered throughout the space. It is extremely important that there are no poorly lit areas, therefore, additional lighting should be present to help the chandelier. Light bulbs can be built into the sofa or panels, the walls can be decorated with decorative sconces. Various floor lamps and night lamps look impressive - they are not just light sources, but full-fledged participants in the interior.
Wall decor: paintings, fireplace and other accessories
Contrary to popular belief that a fireplace is a luxury available only in a large spacious hall or living room, it can be placed in a room of any size. With the help of a fireplace, you can gracefully mask the protrusions in the wall or its irregularities. Like furniture, a fireplace does not have to be miniature. The presence of a fireplace will complete the image of a cozy and comfortable interior.
Bare walls are another enemy of small rooms. The main decoration of the living room can be beautiful photo frames, effectively placed on the wall. There are many ways: in the form of geometric shapes, hearts, etc. The paintings look spectacular - matched to the style of the interior, they will reflect its mood and complete the image.
Summing up: what should be the style of a small living room
You can create a unique style within the most limited and small space. Bright, catchy, stylish and cozy - this is exactly what a modern small living room is. Photo, design ideas can be borrowed from professional designers, or rely on your own taste. In any case, the style of this room should reflect your mood, lifestyle and worldview.
There are no restrictions on choosing the style of a small living room: you can stop at anything, from Provence to High-Tech, the main thing is to follow the basic rules, regardless of style or direction:
Do not clutter up space with massive objects;
Do not use dark colors as the main ones;
Apply contrasts of colors and textures;
Use the 1/3 rule;
Properly distribute light throughout the room.
These and other rules will help create a unique miniature space, which will be unusually easy and spacious.
Modern trends in the design of the living room are formed under the influence of changes in its functional role. Previously, people watched and dined in the hall, received large groups of guests, danced, and celebrated solemn dates. Now it is considered more convenient to organize collective festivities outside the home - in a cafe or restaurant. The living space becomes more closed to prying eyes and casual visitors. Today's living room is a place for individual or family pastime, so it becomes more comfortable and corresponding to the true needs and tastes of its inhabitants, and not an "exhibition" exhibit to confirm the status of the owners. In small spaces, with the right approach, the living room, the dining room, and even the corner are perfectly combined. Artistic style does not play a big role in the sense that one can choose one that has long been dreamed of and with which understanding is associated. perfect interior. The main thing is to create a clean space as a result, which will give a feeling of spaciousness.
A small living room is not a reason for sad thoughts that there are not enough square meters available to implement interesting solutions and design fantasies. Quite the opposite. There are tricks that can visually expand the room.
7 optical illusions that expand the space of a small living room
As if by magic, you can change the hall without changing its real area. If you have a small living room, try a few visual tricks to make the space appear larger, lighter, taller, and you'll be fine. It seems like magic, but it's actually science.
1. Make the space look bigger than it really is
IN late XIX V. the German scientist Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850–1909) explained how to achieve a change in the perception of the size of an object using Titchener's theory of circles. The essence of the observation is that in the same circle the figure seems larger if surrounded by smaller circles, and smaller when the circles are much larger. Why is this happening? We perceive size depending on the elements that surround us (relative size). Therefore, in order to small space perceived as large, furnish it with small-format furniture.
Also, consider that without optical focus, the living room, although equipped with comfortable seating, is poorly balanced. You can turn the sofa into a living room focal point by surrounding it with smaller seats. The living room will seem larger and much more pleasant to look at.
Color is one of the main tools for providing light to all corners of the room. The problem of excess extends to both color and textures, oversaturation of which will negatively affect the perception of a clean and organized space. Beige, sand and all shades of white should become dominant in small spaces. To break the monotony, you can resort to bright acid accents (in small doses) in the form of accessories - sofa cushions, rugs, curtains, covers made of linen, cotton, silk, or shiny or matte organza. A large drawing will visually reduce the room, a small one will increase it.
2. Create a sense of perspective
To create depth, use the trick of the illusion of distance. The brain perceives objects that are further away in a peculiar way. They look better (some details disappear or blur). Why not use this illusion to enhance the perspective of the living room? Enough to decorate the wall or furniture that you want to "push" (make further) in smooth and soft colors. And vice versa: include textures in what you want to zoom in on.
To enhance the perspective, do not leave any piece of furniture so that it interferes with the overall perception of the space. For the brain, empty space, like a cloudless sky, is associated with distance. Therefore, it is also important to increase the visibility of going beyond the boundaries of the room. Leave open space in front of the windows and open the curtains so that the view is not obstructed and directed, almost unconsciously, to the external environment.
3. Change space with horizontal and vertical beams
Peter Thompson, an expert in the psychology of perception, speaking in 2008 at the University of York (UK), argued that the difference in the perception of the size of an object can be created by horizontal and vertical rays that stylize spaces and bodies. In 1860, this effect was already discovered by the German physicist Hermann Helmholtz, who conducted experiments with the perception of squares. He took 2 squares of the same size, in which he drew parallel lines of the same width and dividing stripes inside. A square with horizontal lines was perceived taller and more stylish. As for the second square, it seemed that the vertical lines took up a larger area.
Therefore, if you want the wall to appear taller, draw horizontal lines, if wider, draw vertical lines. If you have read the reverse statement somewhere, then it is a delusion. This has been proven by numerous experiments.
A visual increase in the area occurs due to the carpet with stripes, which, depending on the viewpoint, are interpreted as vertical or horizontal. Accessories of a turquoise shade of blue are associated at the subconscious level with the heavenly heights, the expanse of the sea, freshness and purity.
Accessories and decor items (lamps, paintings, mirror frames) with pronounced vertical and horizontal components change the perception of the surrounding space.
In the interior, windows, pieces of furniture, paintings, wall lamps, a coffee table are selected with a pronounced horizontal component, visually increasing the volume of a small room
4. Choose furniture that takes up less space
Furnishing should, of course, start with general planning and the understanding that if the size of the room is small, it should not be too cluttered - "extra" furniture will take up space and reduce the feeling of volume. Each furniture candidate for placement is carefully selected for expediency and necessity.
Today's furniture market offers wide choose versatile and multifunctional furnishings of small size and excellent design. Modern furniture developers offer many transformer designs that can be used in various ways, easily removed or arranged as needed. For example, in a small room, it would be ideal to provide only two items - a single table that would serve as both writing and dining, and a sofa that turns into a bed, quickly sliding apart and folding.
A sofa that, with the help of an original mechanical design, easily increases its usable area, due to which it can receive much more guests into its soft embrace than it seems at first glance
Furniture is arranged in such a way that there is more free space. Several elegant folding chairs can be placed behind the closed fronts of built-in wardrobes and removed as needed.
It is impossible to imagine a comfortable living room without comfortable armchairs placed in front of the video system or next to the fireplace. To achieve more order, experiment with pairs of pieces of furniture located on both sides of an imaginary axis of symmetry.
An imaginary axis of symmetry runs along the vertical wall between the windows with a fireplace and a picture in a rectangular frame. Windows, bookshelves, comfortable deep chairs with sofa cushions, arranged symmetrically, create a feeling of harmony, order and spaciousness.
A vertical line appears to be a third longer than a horizontal line of the same size. What is this illusion based on? On eye movement. According to the German psychologist Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt, visual passage horizontally is easier and faster, while vertical movement causes effort and is therefore slower. A horizontal shelving unit appears shorter (and takes up less space) than a vertical one.
5. Get more light
WITH big amount of light, the room is perceived to be more lively and energetic, and at the same time larger.
If you play with contrast and shadow, you can increase the light without adding light. Light will be perceived as lighter and brighter, it is enough just to color the surrounding areas. This was demonstrated by the optical professor Edward Adelson with his theory of the contrast of clarity. The lesson is simple: the light source produces more light with the addition of some shadow.
To apply this effect to the room, you can paint the window wood details in White color, and the slopes in the dark. Thus, the light passing through the window will be amplified and intensified by the framing of the shadow.
Light becomes brighter as it passes through dark-framed windows. The effect is enhanced by alternating black and white stripes on the fabric of the curtains. The glass transparent table reflects the natural and artificial light from the chandelier. Carefully selected details, mutually combined with each other, surprisingly do not clutter up the space, but, on the contrary, make it expressive and harmonious.
One of the simplest and at the same time magical tricks to decorate small room and make it visually large and light - . To make a small room seem more spacious, you can place mirrors on opposite walls. They, reflecting natural and artificial light, visually enlarge the room. Mirror walls fit a huge number of styles and are an element of decor. Ideal for decorating bare walls.
There is not much light. In the interior, the illumination system includes natural light passing through wide windows, ceiling, wall and floor lamps, glazed doors that allow light from the neighboring room to penetrate, and a mirror that reflects light fluxes from different sources.
6. Separate space without dividers
To make the space feel organized and spacious, you can apply the illusion of the Canisse triangle. An Italian psychologist at the beginning of the 20th century discovered that if, using an imaginary triangle (or square, rectangle) in a room, to place furniture at each vertex of the corner, the brain will unconsciously close the geometric figure, and you will be able to separate the living area from the study corner or dining room without establishing real separators (which always reduce space).
The Cannis triangle in the interior of the living room allows you to "divide" the limited space into 3 conditional zones - "home library", "music room" and "study")
7. Show a sense of proportion in decorating
Some hodgepodge of wall decorations can create a cluttered atmosphere in a room. You should review the collections on display and showcase your favorites instead of completely covering the walls and filling the shelves with works of art. The eyes cannot concentrate on anything, and the impression is of confusion and disorganization. In decorating a living room, less is really more.
Finally, we got to the optimistic conclusion - for the premises, the main thing is not the size. Create your own unique style with tips from top interior designers and transform your living room.