Due to certain life circumstances, many families with children are forced to live in a one-room apartment. The lack of square meters can no longer be a problem if you properly organize and optimize the space. Of course, combining the parents’ bedroom, the children’s room, and the living room is not an easy task, but it is quite doable.
Options for planning space in an apartment for a family with a child
The first thing to do is to really evaluate:
- amount of light in space;
- geometric features of the room;
- amount of furniture;
- wishes and needs of each family member.
Living in a one-room apartment is accompanied by a number of inconveniences and requires the owners to pay increased attention to interior design in order to obtain the required level of comfort.
To ensure comfort for everyone at the same time, focus on the general plan - diagram.
Divide the space into:
- area for adults
- area for the child,
- and a common area for spending time together.
Basic zoning methods
All types of zoning come down to two main ones:
- Using real separating objects.
- "Invisible" zoning.
The first option is all kinds of partitions, false walls, or simply furniture that serves as a distinction.
The design of a one-room apartment for a family with a child needs to be thought through thoroughly.
In horizontal space, zoning a room in this way is beneficial in the case of considerable square meters. But, if the height of the ceilings allows, this type of zoning is perfect for creating an additional tier.
“Invisible” zoning is the division of space due to different colors of floor and wall coverings. In the case of a small one-room apartment, this is it.
Every detail is taken into account, furniture is arranged in the most rational way.
Features of choosing an apartment style for a family with a child
It’s true that for a family with a child, practicality is a priority over style. But is it really worth denying yourself aesthetic pleasure? We invite you to consider an interior style that harmoniously combines beauty with no less degree of practicality.
With the arrival of a small child in the family, the need for proper planning of the living space and increasing its functionality increases even more.
Contemporary style
Common features. Combining the incongruous, so that it is truly beautiful and comfortable - this is the whole essence of contemporary art.
This style is based on Scandinavian, constructivism and minimalism.
This is a budget option in which you can safely afford inexpensive furniture, simple monochromatic decoration of walls and floors.
An option even with a grandmother’s wall instead of a newfangled wardrobe will do. The main thing is that the furniture is comfortable, roomy and multifunctional. After all, beauty is in simplicity and plenty of free space. So forget about the habit of storing unnecessary things. And you can increase the space due to maximum functionality using:
- Folding transforming table.
- Modular furniture.
- Folding sofas.
- Furniture wall.
One-room housing, as a rule, has a small area. Therefore, its main disadvantage is the lack of space.
Spectacular arrangement of the kitchen area
A small kitchen of 5-6 square meters does not allow for a full-fledged dining group, so many homeowners combine it with the living room. Although such a move will not allow you to accommodate a full-fledged dining table without compromising other areas, when combining the kitchen and living room, there are more possibilities for organizing the space. By installing a bar counter, the homeowner catches two birds with one stone: the counter demarcates the kitchen from the living room, serves as a place for meals and a work surface at the same time. By installing a small vertical cabinet under the counter, additional storage space will appear.
In 5 square meters you can equip an almost full-fledged kitchen. In order to have sufficient space for storing food, dishes and various kitchen small things, it is best to make a kitchen set to order; you can design the set yourself, based on personal preferences. With a competent approach, the entire small area is optimized, becoming comfortable for preparing and eating food. A large table cannot fit into such an area, but a folding or folding table that folds during cooking and unfolds for the meal will fit perfectly. Instead of chairs, you can purchase stacking stools. They can be easily stacked on top of each other, so they will take up the space of just one stool instead of 4 or 6.
Design options for a one-room apartment depending on the age of the child and the number of children
The room changes as your child grows. Consider the following points to ensure the comfort of all family members.
Infant
Until a certain time, the baby needs very little space for a crib and a chest of drawers, which can simultaneously be used as a changing table.
Rational use of space will help make the room comfortable, and modern design solutions will help you decorate it stylishly.
Pay attention to the cots that are placed next to the adult bed. This way you will save space and provide yourself with convenience in caring for your baby at night.
Preschool child
Now the child needs a place to play and store toys. Pay attention to organizers, containers, shelves and bedside tables.
The design style can be chosen to suit every taste.
Schoolboy
The need for a work area becomes urgent.
The main requirement for housing is comfort.
If square footage allows, allocate a separate space for a shared desktop. If the room is small, consider a bunk bed, where the upper area is reserved for sleeping space, and the lower one is for working or playing.
Teenage child
In adolescence, it is important to build boundaries and respect each other's personal space. This applies not only to relationships, but also to the actual space in the apartment. Use partitions to create the effect of a separate room for the child.
The design of a small apartment is designed in such a way that children and parents have the necessary conditions for leading a healthy lifestyle.
It’s good if there is a separate niche in the room - it’s perfect for creating a separate space.
With two and three children
The task becomes more complicated if children are of different genders and ages. But everything can be solved by using a bunk bed and successful zoning. To successfully arrange the room, follow the recommendations of the previous paragraphs.
The main thing is that everyone has the opportunity to fully relax, work efficiently and develop properly.
Furniture
When choosing furniture, you need to consider three main principles:
- There should be a minimum amount of furniture in the room;
- The dimensions of each model must correspond to the size of the room;
- Furniture should be made in the same style in order to harmoniously combine with each other.
A smart solution would be to use a transforming bed. An example is a lift-up bed that is built into a closet. A common model is a folding sofa that serves as a sleeping and working function. This way you take care of ergonomics. In the children's part of the room, a multi-tier bed will help save space, which will serve as a sleeping place and a wardrobe. You can install a desk in the lower tier, creating a work area for your child.
It is important to install a large and convenient wardrobe in the parents' sleeping area. To visually expand the space on the doors of this cabinet, install a mirror. This will provide better lighting.
Nuances of decorating a two-room apartment for a family with 1 child and 2 children
In the case of a two-room apartment, solving the problem of comfortable accommodation for adults and children is much simpler.
If there is only one child and you are not planning on adding a new child, feel free to furnish a separate children’s room and change it as they grow older.
The enlarged area is much easier to divide into zones and decorate it in your favorite style.
If there are two children, consider their age, gender and needs. For children of different sexes, it is better to create a separate space for each using a partition, and place a desk, a closet, and a place for games in the common area.
For children of the same gender and with a small age difference, a bunk bed option is suitable. And in general, the need for a separate corner will not be so acute.
The area of the room and the height of the ceilings are the determining factors in the selection of finishing materials and furniture.
The nuances of decorating different rooms in an apartment for a family with a child
Kitchen
Take care first of all about safety:
- install plugs on sockets,
- limit access to kitchen appliances by creating a special place for it,
- install closers for bedside tables so that your child does not injure his hands.
Light colors are suitable, which visually make the home more spacious.
In addition, we recommend minimizing the number of glossy surfaces.
Living room
To make it comfortable not only for adults, but also for children, arrange a children's area in the living room.
Only the most necessary furniture is installed; transformer-type items are appropriate.
Poufs-pillows are an excellent replacement for other children's furniture, and they are also transportable and comfortable. Select toys according to age - and the children's area in the living room is ready!
Hallway
To make the getting ready process less time-consuming, take care of a special place for your child in the hallway. A small, stable bedside table that you can sit on will not only handle storing your child’s shoes, but will also provide convenience when putting on shoes. And the hooks for the height of the child above this bedside table are an excellent replacement for a closet for storing outerwear.
As for the interior design style, the best option is modern.
If you have planned a wardrobe in the hallway, make a separate section for your baby with a place to sit.
Balcony
There are two options, equally practical and stylish for the solution:
- Loggia.
- Private balcony.
A bright part of the room should be allocated for the child so that the baby receives a sufficient amount of sunlight.
If the apartment is very small and does not meet the family’s needs in square meters, it would be rational to design the balcony as a loggia. To do this, you need to approve the redevelopment, and only then do the repairs.
The option to keep the balcony separate is also good - this way you can create an additional room or arrange a workplace.
As a result, the room turns out to be light, bright, filled with comfort.
Ready-made planning and renovation projects
Sometimes it is better to refuse redevelopment of a one-room apartment - demolition of internal partitions is not always possible, and permission will be required for any alteration. Small apartments are varied – there is no single solution.
Before starting renovations, it is important to develop a project taking into account every centimeter of the apartment’s area
Studio apartments
Design of a comfortable studio of 36 sq. m. in the photo is a bright room, practically free of unnecessary partitions. Behind the “blank” walls there is only a bathroom with a toilet. It is important to consider that if the kitchen is attached to the living space, the gas stove will have to be replaced with an electric one. Relocation of water lines will also require a permit.
Project of a square studio apartment with two windows
Combined rooms
Sometimes they don’t turn an apartment into a studio, but simply combine separate rooms - a bathroom with a toilet, a balcony or a storage room with a kitchen or room. It is also permissible to add a hallway or loggia.
Redevelopment project for an apartment with an insulated loggia and a combined bathroom with shower
If there is a podium, one of the zones is located on it.
Apartment design options for a family with a child of different sizes
40 sq m is not such a large area for a young family with a child, but if you approach the design correctly, it is quite possible to provide comfort.
A Khrushchev-era one-room apartment is transformed into a modern apartment for a young family with the help of successful zoning and the desire to preserve natural light and free space.
Proper zoning will make your home comfortable and fill it with coziness.
For your inspiration, we have selected photos of how to furnish a 1-room apartment for a family with a child.
52 sq m or more is a common option in new buildings. Most often this is a one-room apartment or even a studio apartment.
It is necessary to organize a children's area and a sleeping place. For this purpose, partitions are used.
We recommend dividing such a large area with partitions. This way you will ensure a comfortable stay for all residents, regardless of gender, age and individual biorhythms.
Don't forget the balcony
If you insulate your balcony, you will get a few extra square meters. The won space can be used in different ways: organize a children's corner, add additional cabinets, arrange an office or a small dining room. In many apartments you can tear down a wall, but here you have to choose: make the room bigger or save space for those who want to be alone?
Color scheme for decorating an apartment for a family with a child
Designers and psychologists agree that pastel colors have a better effect on the child’s psyche.
When designing a children's space, it is necessary to take into account that the little owner is growing quickly and his interests are changing.
Use light colors to decorate the room, avoiding heavy, saturated colors. This way you will create a space that is equally comfortable for work and relaxation for all family members.
It’s better to make accents bright, although children’s toys will do the job perfectly.
Bathroom
Bathrooms rarely have a large square footage, and often the bathroom is combined, and there is no free centimeter, even to install a washing machine. Several interesting techniques will come to the rescue:
- Placing the sink above the washing machine. In this case, you should choose a low-rise washing machine so that it is comfortable to use the sink.
- A tall, narrow cabinet will take up minimal space, but will accommodate all shampoos and shower gels, and household chemicals can be stored on the lower shelves.
- Light colors, mirrors and gloss will help make the bathroom visually more spacious.
Decoration of floors, walls, windows and ceilings in an apartment for a family with a child
- Rule No. 1: Environmental friendliness and safety of materials.
Floor. Parquet or wood are perfect for flooring in an apartment with a child. Such materials have excellent thermal insulation properties and are easy to clean.
Additionally, lay down rugs on which the child will feel comfortable playing.
Walls. Modern plaster is an excellent solution for the design of a one-room apartment with a child. In addition to beauty, the material as a whole guarantees the necessary microcirculation of air in the room without the release of hazardous substances.
It is important to remember that a child’s sleeping place should be equipped with an orthopedic mattress and a comfortable pillow.
Pay attention to the panels: this is an excellent solution for a future artist. Covering an entire wall with chalkboard, or using at least one square meter of cover, will provide your child with space to create while creating a beautiful, modern design for the room.
Ceiling. The most environmentally friendly option would be to paint or plaster the ceiling.
- Rule #2: Practicality.
Floor. Wood is practical in that it does not require additional thermal insulation and looks great in any interior.
The children's area is a warm, functional, light-filled part of the room.
Walls. The most practical and cheaper option would be to paint the walls or use natural plaster. This way you can easily wash the walls if they become dirty.
Ceiling. The option of painting the ceiling, in the case of a family with a child, is more practical than the hanging option. This way you won’t have to worry about your child throwing something and damaging the expensive coating.
So, the design of a one-room apartment with a child or several children is distinguished by the importance of taking into account: the needs of each family member, the size of the space and the location of windows/doors.
Refuse standard furniture, a lot of knick-knacks and beautiful but unnecessary things.
Next you need to decide on the interior style. We advise you to focus your attention on “contemporary”.
It is also important to remember that the children's area or room will change as the child grows older. Keep in mind that your child develops quickly, and make sure that repairs are up to date for at least a few years in advance.
And don’t forget about the correct arrangement of furniture, which will hide mistakes in the overall layout of the room.
Good luck in setting up a family home!
