Non-standard, bright and, at the same time, comfortable design of a living room of 18 sq. m is one of the most in demand, since premises of this size make it easy to accommodate all the necessary functional areas. Every detail must be thought out and correspond to the overall concept of the apartment or house, and be the face of the home.
Planning and creation of the project
Even before starting the renovation, you need to create a project that will allow you to determine the location and size of the zones, the necessary communications, and the space for the necessary furniture and equipment. You can even visualize the color of the finish, the type of flooring and decorative items. The plan will also make it possible to understand whether it is necessary to demolish walls or use partitions, carry out redevelopment, add a corridor, loggia, etc.
Planning a rectangular living room
The doorway is standard, there may be one or two windows, often with a balcony or loggia. For the functional arrangement of an elongated room, all the furniture should not be located near one wall, so it is important to zoning the space to create a harmonious interior.
It is worth abandoning the symmetrical or straight arrangement of furniture, and giving preference to an L-shaped sofa with armchairs located diagonally. This will be a recreation area. On the opposite wall there should be a TV with a stand under it. It would be appropriate to place shelves for books under one of the walls, and a shelf with fresh flowers in the corner.
Passage room project
One of the most difficult projects due to the presence of several doorways, especially if the room has non-standard geometry. It is important to consider the placement of each piece of furniture so that they do not interfere with free passage. The main zone is a place for family rest and guests. You can separate it using lighting or a multi-level ceiling.
Square shaped hall
An ideal room to implement a modern living room design of 18 sq. m. The sofa and armchairs along with the coffee table are placed in the center, the remaining elements are placed along the walls. In a square room, you can use more voluminous objects and a bright color palette.
Redevelopment options
Often the living room is combined with a balcony or loggia to get more usable space. But, if this is not necessary, it is better to leave everything as is, since the resulting area will need to be filled with functional and practical items. An area of 18 square meters is enough to implement various ideas, so part of the corridor should not be taken away either.
The combination of a living room and a kitchen will be modern and interesting. Then a dining area will be added, and the working part for cooking can be separated by a peninsula or a bar counter. The solution will fill the room with air and light, allowing you to implement popular interior styles, such as loft, hi-tech, etc.
Redevelopment options
The simplest redevelopment solution would be to combine a room and a balcony. If the living room is combined with a loggia, it is enough to insulate it, glass it and remove the internal partition. This wall is not load-bearing, so it can be easily demolished if necessary.
However, if there is no balcony, it will not be possible to increase the living room area. In this case, the main redevelopment will be carried out inside the room. However, even with the original 18 squares, you can create an unusual and multifunctional interior. This can be done through zoning.
Zoning options for living room 18 sq. m
Zoning is necessary if the living room must combine several rooms at the same time. Most often, we are talking about combining a living room with a bedroom or study. This solution will be convenient if the room has a niche or loggia, which, by geometry, is visually separated from the main space. The following options are used for room zoning:
- Light, color and texture. The simplest ways to zoning a space, since you don’t have to build partitions or use pieces of furniture to get the desired effect. But, you need to choose the right finishing materials. Another caveat is that it will be impossible to achieve complete separation; if necessary, you will have to add curtains or a screen.
- Shelving. To provide light access, through shelving is used, which is filled with books, decor, and fresh flowers. They allow you not only to zone the space, but also to find the optimal place for placing things.
- Headboard. A special high headboard can be turned into a small shelving unit or table, as well as a convenient partition for separating the sleeping area.
- Various partitions. They can be stationary and mobile. Their use must be thought out in advance, as they require additional space. Glass partitions with or without decoration, which transmit light well, look especially impressive.
- Curtains. The cornice is built into the ceiling. The curtains separate the bed well, but are not soundproofing. But they will be an excellent addition to the interior.
To separate the working and sleeping areas, podiums are often used. Another option is multifunctional furniture. On the first level there can be a desk with shelves and a closet, and on the second level there can be a comfortable, full-size bed.
Zoning
If there is a need for a living room of 18 square meters to combine several functions and be equipped with a separate sleeping place or study, zoning is used to give the space a different geometry.
For example, if the interior of the hall is distinguished by the presence of a niche, it will ideally accommodate a bed. It is appropriate to equip this recess with sliding partitions or curtains. An equally advantageous place to install a sleeping bed will be the far corner of the room, which can be separated using a shelving unit or a small podium.
For conditional zoning, different floor coverings are suitable, such as laminate, parquet or more budget linoleum.
A living room of 18 squares with a workplace is divided using solid or transparent plastic and glass partitions. Also quite often they use functional plasterboard structures, which are equipped with bookshelves, niches and full storage compartments.
In the photo there is a room of 18 squares in a Scandinavian style with a sleeping place located in a niche.
The layout and zoning of the 18 sq. m hall is carried out according to an individual project, taking into account the needs, preferences and tastes of all family members. Regardless of the number of functional areas in the room, the most important of them is a place for relaxation.
Comfortable furniture and a TV are placed in the recreation area, decorated with expressive decor and bright details are added. This segment can be complemented with contrasting paintings, family photographs or colorful carpets.
The photo shows the zoning of a shelving in the interior of a living room of 18 square meters with a work desk.
Choosing a style
Modern style
The laconic, functional and clear interior will be an excellent base for a living room with any layout. All details should create a feeling of spaciousness, comfort, and convenience. The main emphasis is on clear lines and unobtrusive colors, maximum preservation of space and light.
Using classic solutions
Living room interior 18 sq. m can be filled with details and exquisite decor, since the area is more than enough for a comfortable life. There is no need to try in every possible way to visually enlarge the space; the main thing is to preserve its authenticity and originality. Classic styles are characterized by massive wooden furniture, textile-based wallpaper, floral patterns and designs.
Classic and modern solutions are often combined to maintain compositional balance without overloading the room. The central part should be occupied by a table with a sofa and armchairs, the remaining pieces of furniture and decor should be placed under the wall. The use of a central chandelier is mandatory.
Free loft
This style can be used not only for open spaces, but also for rooms with high ceilings. The interior is budget-friendly and original; it does not require the purchase of expensive furniture or special finishing. For the walls, you can leave concrete or brickwork, which will emphasize the loft style, or lay wooden boards or laminate on the floor.
It is important that there is enough light in the living room, so if the window openings are small, it is better to widen them as much as possible. It is also important to consider artificial lighting for each zone. A leather sofa with armchairs and a glass coffee table will look good in the center.
Minimalism
This style is not empty, as many people think. It allows you to achieve maximum functionality and harmony in design, leaving as much air and space as possible. The lines should be smooth and neat, the palette is based on beige, white and other light shades.
Minimalism involves the use of wood, cement, metal, mirrors, glass. The main thing is that all finishing materials and furniture are of high quality and reliable. The style is suitable for rooms with large windows and high ceilings. The base can be concentrated on 9 m2, the rest of the space should not be filled with massive pieces of furniture.
Provence
Despite the fact that the style takes its origins from the French countryside, it has a touch of luxury and sophistication, simplicity and comfort. A dark palette is not used, only soft, pastel shades. Natural materials are complemented by designer aged furniture, light irregularities, and plastered walls. Handmade items, floral patterns, open shelves with figurines and other cute items are used as decor. Natural fabrics with discreet patterns and ceramics will complement the balance well.
Finishing materials for the hall
As a rule, furnishing a living room on a budget involves renovating the hall yourself, because it is through the work of craftsmen that you can save money.
For this reason, the choice of finishing materials is based on ease of use:
- The floor is covered with any available materials - linoleum, laminate, less often - boards and especially parquet.
- To decorate the walls, it is better to choose wallpaper, no matter what solutions are chosen for the living room in general . Gluing strips of any width is much easier than plastering and evenly painting vertical surfaces.
Among the entire range of wallpaper for halls, you can choose many options in a wide range of colors - both plain and patterned. In this case, the area does not play any role - at 18 square meters. m. in the interior of the living room, you can use both large and small patterns, even a budget option can be anything - it is important to choose a harmonious pattern for the chosen style. An interesting solution would be wallpaper for the living room with macro photography - a current trend that allows even the most modest room to use sophisticated techniques for arranging an elegant interior.
- When decorating walls and ceilings in an ordinary apartment within a small budget, you can choose the simplest paper coverings and paints . But many designers call two-level stretch ceilings the most practical solution today. Of course, it is difficult to install such canvases on your own, but this is perhaps the only surface where you will need help. Moreover, the suspended ceiling in the hall covers an area of 18 square meters. m. will turn out to be the most practical, wear-resistant and durable solution, no matter what design style is chosen.
Of course, you can find many options for decorating the living room and any adjacent rooms, but most of them are beyond the budget. For the comfort of the living room and its harmony, simple solutions in a discreet palette are used, this is how you can achieve organicity and elegance even in the most budget-friendly interior.
Color solutions for a living room with an area of 18 sq.m.
You need to decide on the color scheme at the planning stage, since different palettes can be used to zone the space and emphasize the advantages of the room. Light colors will visually expand the space and fill it with color. White, grey, blue, beige are universal colors and create a feeling of comfort. They also go well with other shades.
For bright accents, it is better to use decorative items and furniture. They will not only enliven the interior, but also make it more interesting and individual. You should use dark palettes only if the living room windows face the sunny side. Warm colors will compensate for the lack of natural light.
Textiles and living room decor
Modern living rooms don't like to be overcrowded.
Lightweight curtains of the simplest shapes are used as curtains. But if the housewife has been in love with velvet splendor and complex folds since childhood, then no one will forbid using these particular options. They will give the living room a more solemn and pompous look.
Decorative pillows, upholstery of the sofa and armchairs, bedspreads are selected either to match the curtains, or create a bright accent that attracts attention and transfers the functions of the visual center to these items.
The decor is selected based on the style of the room, but you shouldn’t turn it into a storeroom for a city museum. To decorate the room it will be enough:
- Paintings, posters or several photographs;
- Vases or sculptures;
- A couple of figurines or cute little things;
- Beautiful dishes;
- Books;
- Collections of something.
Quite prosaic objects often play the role of decor:
- Original lamps or clocks;
- Pillows and blankets;
- Living plants.
Eighteen meters will allow you to arrange the living room in any style and make the room a beautiful and functional room.
Lighting
Many people forget about lighting even at the stage of creating a design project, which, as a result, leads to disharmony of the interior and lack of comfort. If you limit yourself to only one central chandelier, unlit corners and dark areas will appear that will be non-functional. Therefore, it is worth following a number of rules.
- Massive chandeliers and models with long pendants are suitable only for rooms with high ceilings. A room with ceilings up to 2.5 meters is not suitable for such lighting, as it will look unnatural and “take up” the space.
- It is recommended to install spotlights along the perimeter of the ceiling, which will rid the living room of dark corners.
- Sconces and floor lamps will highlight the relaxation area and allow you to adjust the lighting depending on the type of activity (reading, playing, watching TV, etc.).
- It is important to consider the location of mirrors, glossy surfaces and even the TV. The glare that will appear due to direct exposure to light can cause discomfort.
- To emphasize the features of the interior and complete the concept of the chosen style, decorative lighting is used. It is located on furniture, in niches, above paintings and posters, etc.
It is worth making separate switches for each zone. This will not only save resources, but also finally complete the delineation of each area of the living room. If a bedroom is “selected” in the room, it is appropriate to place table lamps on the bedside tables, as well as on the desktop.
Choosing the Right Color
The living room, which has an area of 18 square meters, should be discreet. Too bright or dark will quickly begin to irritate, and will not cause such aesthetic pleasure. It is preferable to use light, pastel colors, which predispose to relaxation and comfort.
A number of optimal color solutions for decorating a living room:
- Beige or white.
- Brown.
- Green (salad) and blue.
- Light shades of gray.
- Pink and purple.
- Orange.
If the room is divided into several functional zones, then it can be combined with color, using warm and cold colors here at the same time. Thus, the dining area can be made in bright colors (yellow, red, gold), but the relaxation area can be made in more pleasant colors for relaxation (green, blue, pastel).
Finishing features
Floor
A universal solution would be linoleum or laminate with imitation of natural wood. Light colors remain the priority, but if you choose natural brown, it is important to make the ceiling and walls light. For comfort, carpets with patterns or plain models with pile are used (depending on the style of the apartment).
Walls
Most often, decorative plaster is used or simply painted in the required color. Wallpaper is rarely used, but with its help you can create zoning or create an accent wall. To visually increase the height of the ceiling, vertical stripes or photo wallpapers with large, three-dimensional patterns are used.
Ceiling
If the ceilings are high, you can install a multi-tiered structure using films of one or more colors and decorative lighting. A universal solution would be a matte white ceiling, which will not attract attention and will allow you to concentrate on relaxation.
Recently, ceilings with photo printing have been gaining popularity, but in the living room they can become an inappropriate accent. A good choice would be the “starry sky” or “floating” ceiling. Such designs are not cheap, but their appearance allows you to completely relax. Installation should be entrusted only to professionals.
Furniture arrangement in the living room 18 m²
For the correct arrangement of any group of furniture, it is important to take into account the shape of the room and the presence of non-standard geometry. For example, the ideal shape is a square living room, in which the sofa, armchairs and table are located in the center, and shelving and other elements are located along the free walls.
As for the rectangular room, you should abandon the classic option with a sofa under the wall and a TV opposite. To create an original interior, preliminary selection of zones is required. In this case, the worker should be in a corner, away from the rest area. The area will allow you to forget about direct symmetry and try diagonal placement. As mentioned above, there should always be free space for comfortable movement. Doorways and balcony doors are also taken into account.
How to arrange furniture correctly
Furniture arrangement should be based on the shape of the living room. Furniture should not be placed along a long wall. This will make the space unproportional and unharmonious.
In narrow living rooms, avoid direct symmetry. Corridors should not be made. That is, do not place large furniture over long distances. Furniture should not overload the space.
Photo of living room 18 m²
To create a competent project, the gallery presents photos of finished interiors, the ideas of which were implemented by professional designers.
