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In the kitchen of 18 sq. meters, almost everything is possible - a non-standard layout, the use of dark or bright colors, the organization of a spacious dining and work area, the placement of a bar counter, an island or a sofa. How not to miss all the possibilities of a large space, but at the same time not to overload it? We suggest studying the issue of kitchen design 18 sq. m on 6 real examples of interiors with different layouts.
Choosing kitchen design from a photo
When starting the first steps of renovation, dismantling old furniture, apartment owners do not always clearly imagine what the kitchen will look like after renovation. It is difficult for people who are far from construction and design to calculate everything and create the ideal layout.
In this case, you can consult with specialists or order a kitchen design project. You don’t have to scrupulously measure the parameters of the room, calculate what height and length the kitchen set will fit into the allotted space, what materials to use for renovations and in what quantities. Of course, this is very convenient. But, it is also very expensive.
It’s easier to go to Internet design sites and view a selection of photos of an 18 sq. m kitchen. m. This will help you choose a sample of a real kitchen of 18 square meters. m and stick to its main line. Minor details can be modified during repairs.
Advantages and disadvantages of combination
Any redevelopment must be carefully considered. We need to weigh all the positive and negative aspects of change. There are many advantages of combining several functional areas into one:
- saving square meters. This is especially true for owners of small apartments and large families. By moving the living room, you can free up an additional room for children;
- the emergence of additional design opportunities. Square meters are enough for an unusual arrangement of furniture, the use of extraordinary decor;
- increasing the amount of natural light. An “extra” window opening appears. The room will become lighter and more spacious;
- the ability to do several things at once. Housewives will be able to easily cook food, watch their favorite TV series, and watch small children.
There are not many disadvantages. The main disadvantage of unification is the need to constantly maintain order. Drops of grease, dirt, crumbs will easily penetrate into the living room. Cleaning will have to be done almost daily. Another disadvantage is the presence of an unpleasant odor.
Rectangular kitchen
In apartment buildings there are rarely square-shaped kitchens; most often they have the shape of a rectangle. Rectangular kitchen 18 sq. m. can have a decent width between opposite walls, or it can be very narrow.
Such a “pencil case” is difficult, but you can use some design techniques and it will become cozy and functional, despite its awkward shape.
In kitchens of this shape, furniture is placed in two rows on opposite walls. The dining area can be located either in the center (if the distance between the walls allows) or in the corner, at the end.
An area near the window is an ideal option, because there will be natural light throughout the day. This is convenient, practical and economical: you don’t have to turn on additional lighting.
Lighting is another important aspect
Lighting is of great importance. If a mistake is made, care will become gloomy and cold. Combining a living room and kitchen involves creating a work area, a dining segment and a place to relax. Individual lighting should be selected for each area. No chandelier at the junction of segments. Such a solution looks tasteless.
Pendant lamps above the bar counter also participate in zoning the kitchen-living room space
The workspace requires maximum lighting. Better cold light, spotlights in a suspended ceiling. Additionally, you can place lighting below and on the shelves for evening time. For the dining area, choose bright, warm light. The resting place should have dim and light lighting.
Spotlights on a dedicated ceiling beam look good
Kitchen with sofa
The design of a kitchen in a minimalist style involves strict forms, pastel shades of furniture, simple design techniques and an almost complete absence of non-functional decor. Lamps should also not be pretentious in shape, but stylish trends should be felt in them.
Kitchen 18 sq. m. with a sofa fits very organically into the creation of such a style, provided that its shape and upholstery fabric do not go against minimalism, but are also simple and concise.
A coffee tabletop, a carpet with a geometric pattern, and green plants in tall, plain flowerpots will create an elegant and cozy atmosphere where you will want to spend more time in a spacious room.
Color palette
An area of 18 m does not need visual enlargement. You can use both light and dark shades in the interior. The choice is limited by design and personal preference.
Pastel colors are used for furniture facades. Tiles with a bright pattern in the apron area help to break up the monotony. You can play with the surface texture by choosing a glossy finish for furniture with metal fittings.
A set of dark shades will not look like a gloomy spot, but will add coziness to the room. It is recommended to dilute the snow-white palette with bright accessories to avoid turning the kitchen into a sterile room. The best choice would be a harmonious combination of light and dark tones, as well as matte and glossy surfaces.
Brave individuals use all sorts of shades of the same color with smooth transitions. Lovers of refined aristocracy prefer to use gold tones for decoration, diluting the interior with the colors of noble wood. With this option for arranging the kitchen, you will have to purchase appropriate furniture and decoration. Cheap materials will look ridiculous.
Bright colors should be treated with caution, and it is better to dilute the interior with a monochrome shade. For example, green glossy furniture will sparkle with new colors against the background of plain walls.
Basic rules when choosing a color:
- It is necessary to focus on the level of natural light. If the windows of the room face north, then it is better to use decoration in light colors. Kitchens located on the south side of the house are recommended to be decorated in dark and bright colors.
- The play of colors is created using metal surfaces. The minimalist style with built-in appliances and a stainless steel apron allows you to use the reception as harmoniously as possible.
- The location of the kitchen also affects the temperature of the shades. For northern rooms, warm colors are preferable - sand, beige or orange, while for southern rooms, cool colors are preferred - white, blue or green.
- The choice is also influenced by the psychological characteristics of the individual. Young creative people prefer bright or saturated colors. Those who want to relax after work will appreciate discreet shades.
- If the set is monochromatic, then the decoration and textiles should be bright, but not merge with the facade. Against the background of the rich color of the walls, plain furniture made from natural materials looks advantageous.
Kitchen interier
Problems with creating an original, and most importantly, the most functional kitchen interior of 18 square meters. m. arise in front of people who are far from the practical design of kitchen design.
However, the desire to make the room convenient and comfortable pushes them to search for the best interior option that will meet the needs of all household members.
The interior of the spacious kitchen, in addition to the kitchen unit, perfectly accommodates a large sofa, a dining area with a folding dining table, and a relaxation area.
The parameters of such a room can be designed in any style. It all depends on the taste and requests of the home owners.
The kitchen area will accommodate a large refrigerator, a sink with two chambers and a powerful dryer, and even a spacious island.
Furnishing options
The highlighted segments should be different to identify each zone. But it is recommended to maintain a consistent design to create cohesion. Therefore, you should not purchase items that differ in style. A single furniture design will create the effect of completeness.
Furniture, decoration and decor - everything should be combined with each other
When choosing furniture, you should consider many important nuances. It is worth deciding in advance on its quality and appearance, so as not to waste the best time and money if a selection error is made. Rely on the following recommendations:
- The material depends on the chosen style direction. Some interiors involve the use of exclusively natural raw materials. Buy models that are easy to care for. It is important that items can withstand high humidity atmospheres.
- Give preference to ergonomics and simplicity. The selected models should not become an obstacle to convenient movement around the space.
- Choose multifunctional furniture. Models that can be easily transformed are suitable. Such a solution will save more free space and will not take up extra squares. The room will look spacious.
- For zoning, you can use special partitions. They are solid, portable, stationary. The choice is huge, which allows you to find the right option for a specific case.
Convenience and capacity are the main qualities of kitchen furniture
Avoid placing the chandelier on the border of zones. It is recommended to choose small luminaires for each segment.
See alsoCeiling design in the kitchen: possibilities of facing materials
Kitchen layout
In such a spacious kitchen you can implement any, even the most non-standard layout.
Direct kitchen layout 18 sq. m. is considered an inconvenient option: housewives do not like the fact that during the cooking process they have to move along the wall many times.
But even with such seeming inconvenience, you can find an acceptable way out of the situation and make life easier for the housewife. In such cases, designers recommend combining two styles: linear and island or peninsular layout.
In this case, place the island opposite the line of furniture and equip it with a stove, oven and sink. The housewife will always have all the objects necessary for cooking at hand.
The living room area can be located by the window. Such a kitchen will delight you with convenience and comfort.
Design tips
Using proven recommendations when arranging a large kitchen will help you avoid many mistakes and help you place furniture comfortably. Designers recommend adhering to the following rules:
- refuse the door or use the sliding option when placing the headset in close proximity to the opening;
- to free up space, you should get rid of some wall cabinets;
- do not make the shapes of the island and the room the same;
- It is better to replace the stove with a hob;
- put a soft corner in the dining area, which allows you not only to accommodate more guests, but also to relax while cooking;
- if the kitchen is combined with the living room, then you need to purchase a powerful hood;
- for safety reasons, install the stove away from the window;
- It is better to integrate household appliances into the set.
Kitchen in the house
There are much more opportunities to decorate an interesting interior in the kitchen located in the house. As a rule, there are many rooms in a house and there is no need to combine them in pursuit of additional space for the kitchen.
If the kitchen is 18 sq. m. in the house is used only for cooking and does not serve as a dining room or living room (it is utilitarian), it makes sense to place an island on it. A spacious island can serve as a stylish bar counter and serve as a snack spot for household members.
Islands serve as a means of zoning in the kitchen and, at the same time, are a full-fledged kitchen module.
If you still want to create a small dining room in such an island kitchen, then it is advisable for it to be at the end of the room. At the same time, you need to choose tables and chairs of small sizes and lightweight designs, so as not to overload the space and not visually burden it.
Interior decoration
Interior decoration includes the design of walls, floors and ceilings. Let's start with the floors.
Floor
To select a floor covering, you need to determine whether you want to highlight zones with different materials or leave a single canvas. Different materials are suitable for the floor: linoleum, tiles, parquet, carpet, laminate, self-leveling varieties.
For durability of the kitchen combined with the living room, you can lay ceramic tiles. Ceramics feel cold, so you can install a heated floor system underneath it. Another bad property of the material for the kitchen is that glass plates, mugs, and trays will immediately break upon contact with strong ceramic tiles.
For example, laminate and linoleum are more delicate materials that do not instantly break glassware. This zoning of the kitchen and living room can be done by using different shades of the same material. The border between them can be made diagonally or rounded by decorating the joint with special connecting profiles.
It will be interesting to look at coverage with different levels. To do this, a podium made of a frame or monolith is installed. You can decorate it with various materials. A carpet is laid out near the sofa for comfort.
Walls
Wall decoration can be done using various materials: painting, whitewashing, gluing wallpaper or panels. The main thing is to choose the right colors for a sharp or smooth transition. The kitchenette uses materials that are easy to wash and do not absorb dirt. Any decoration with various prints or photo wallpapers is suitable for the hall.
Kitchens must have an apron. Modern models made of tempered glass and plastic with photo printing will reliably cover the walls. Mirror models will visually expand the space and reflect light rays.
Ceiling
Many people are interested in how to divide a kitchen in a simple way. This can be done with ceilings: suspended, hemmed, cassette, slabs, painting, wallpapering. If you use bright colors and different levels, you will get a contrasting transition.
You can decorate the ceiling on a budget by whitewashing and painting. Stretch fabric is also popular. They are very strong, durable, do not burn and do not allow water to pass through. For example, in the event of flooding by neighbors, the canvas will retain masses of water and protect property. In order to remove the water, you will need to call installers who will pump out the flood. After the operation, there is no need to replace the blade - it will return to its original position.
Tiling can be done with your own hands. There are many textures and colors that can contrast in different functional areas. Cassette-type suspended ceilings have long been used not only in offices. Cassettes are also used for interior decoration of houses due to their lightness and easy cleaning.
Kitchen project
In the process of designing spacious kitchens, you can introduce elements that are non-standard for such a room: large wall paintings or spacious sofas.
Kitchen project 18 sq. m. providing a dining area should be determined with the condition of free space where a dining table and chairs can be comfortably placed.
Owners of houses and apartments like such projects because there are positive aspects in reducing the wait for food to be served. The housewife does not need to carry tureens or salad bowls from the kitchen area to the adjacent dining room.
Less contamination and the possibility of spilling entrees on the floor. These advantages become especially noticeable when a large company gathers at the table and needs to be served.
Color spectrum
It is clear that such a kitchen does not need to be visually enlarged. Therefore, its design allows you to use any combination of light or dark shades, based on your preferences. However, if you use a color scheme that is too dark, be sure to compensate with brighter lighting.
Square kitchen
This form of premises is simply a gift for the owners of a house or apartment. Any color scheme or placement of furniture and decorative elements in a square kitchen of 18 sq. m will be on topic.
There is no need to cut out useful square centimeters to place another piece of furniture. You can play with colors and shades without fear.
As a rule, island style is used in such kitchens.
This island, which is a functional module, is located in the middle of the room. Of course, it takes up a lot of space, but a square of 18 square meters. m can afford not such a solution. But the cooking process is greatly simplified and accelerated: the housewife is spared the need to run around the kitchen countless times.
It is advisable to position the island so that it does not interfere with the arrangement of the “working triangle”. And one more important point: an island looks ideal in the kitchen if it exactly follows the shape of the room.
That is, in a rectangular kitchen, it should have the shape of a rectangle, and a square room requires an island in the shape of a square. Round-shaped islands look in the kitchen like alien interior details.
Zoning
There are several ways to separate functional areas from each other. One of the most popular is connecting the kitchen to the room by removing the partition between them. This option is especially common among owners of Khrushchev apartments, in which the kitchen occupies only 5-6 m. Redevelopment has many advantages: the cooking space remains hidden in a “niche” and hidden from view, but the usable area increases and the combined room becomes more spacious. As a rule, a table is placed between the kitchen and living room.
A kitchen-living room of 18 square meters can be zoned using a narrow shelving: on one side there is a dining group, and on the other there is a place for privacy. It should be open, since solid furniture placed across the room deprives it of natural light. This does not apply to corner rooms with two windows.
Sometimes the kitchen is installed in the hallway, fitting supporting structures into the interior architecture, as in the third photo. Visually, this kitchen-living room is divided into two parts, but the room does not lose the feeling of spaciousness.
The photo shows a kitchen-living room of 18 square meters in a Khrushchev-era building, where a folding table-book is placed in the aisle, and a wide window sill has been turned into an additional place to relax.
Lighting plays a significant role in zoning: it should work to highlight individual areas, so at least one lamp is used for each of them.
An excellent solution for zoning is a bar counter, which not only divides the space, but also serves as an additional place for cooking and eating. The design always looks stylish, but is inconvenient for children and the elderly.
Designers also resort to an unusual technique, visually dividing the room by painting the walls in different colors. The color scheme is chosen to be contrasting. Another unusual way of zoning is to build a partition with a distribution window between the kitchen and the room. If any vertical structures seem inappropriate, a podium will help divide the room. One of the zones (it would be better if it is a place to relax) will be on a hill, and there will be additional storage space inside.
Design of a room with a kitchen
The most popular design trend in recent years has been the idea of combining a kitchen space with an adjacent room. Design of a room with a kitchen 18 sq. m. is aimed at creating a functional, comfortable and beautiful interior.
Additional square meters allow you to place the latest household appliances in the kitchen unit, which greatly facilitates and speeds up the cooking process. The housewife gets the opportunity to spend free time with children and relatives, and not stand near the stove.
In addition, the family has a real opportunity to comfortably organize holidays and small receptions for family and friends, without fear that the table will be very crowded and the guests will disturb each other.
Of course, the concept of convenience and comfort, as well as functionality and beauty, is defined differently by each owner. But no matter what style of design the owners choose for their 18 sq.m kitchen space, a large area will always delight them with space and convenience.
You can choose the ideal design project with the help of specialists or select it using photo catalogs of real kitchens on the Internet.
If you manage to turn your design ideas into reality, it will raise your self-esteem bar high.
Defining the style
Classic
Characteristic features of the classic style: calm colors and textures, softness, comfort, clear lines, symmetry. Classics are also distinguished by natural materials and discreet luxury. Most often, wood, leather, stone or their imitations are used in decoration. Plastic is excluded, choose household appliances either in retro style or cover them with facades. The color scheme is also natural; the windows can be decorated with curtains. When zoning, consider the presence of columns, a fireplace, and an arch.
Provence
The rustic style of the French province is extremely popular. A large kitchen provides many possibilities for such design. The color scheme is natural, soft and light, unobtrusive: white, pastel, heavenly, green, lavender, mint. One of the distinctive features of the style is aged light furniture.
The general impression of Provence is space, air, sun. Therefore, avoid heavy curtains and bulky elements. Provence allows for an abundance of decor: flowers, paintings, figurines.
Country
In this style direction, you cannot use unnatural materials and colors. Distinctive features: naturalness of light and structures, plastered walls, rough furniture, wooden floors, various beams, untreated boards look good. Most often, country music is done in dark wood, so a large space is a must. A green accent in the form of textiles, or milky as an additional shade, will look great in combination with wood. A large lampshade and floor lamp will fit organically into an 18-meter kitchen.
High tech
This modern trend is distinguished by clear lines, strict forms, functional minimalist design, and very little decor. Contrasting color solutions look great, the color scheme is calm: black, white, gray, silver, all shades of metal.
Eliminate natural wood, cheerful curtains, and intricate furniture decoration. Everything should be concise, unobtrusive. The focus is on equipment decorated in glossy metal with a bright sensor. Appliances in this style are not hidden, as they are one of the most important elements of the kitchen.
Loft
Another popular style solution that looks great in a large kitchen. Distinctive features: lack of decor, rough finishing in the style of an abandoned industrial space. Brickwork, wooden beams, and plaster are good. The color scheme is calm, but bright elements are allowed. The windows do not need to be decorated at all, but it is advisable that they be large enough. Open communications, pipes, valves, sockets are suitable as decoration.
Zoning a loft is not recommended; large rooms in the same style are preferable.
