Photo: gidintererov.ru The living room is the “capital” of any apartment or private house, since it is here that we spend leisure time with our family, welcome guests, and celebrate various celebrations. Often the small dimensions of a room make it difficult to create a comfortable atmosphere. To make the task easier, we have collected many inspiring photo ideas for small living room design that will help you design a stylish, practical and cozy interior.
Redevelopment
If the room intended for meeting guests is very small in size, consider remodeling. The living room can be expanded by adding a balcony, loggia or combining it with neighboring rooms.
By adding a balcony, you can create a decorative arched opening, a bar counter, or place a relaxation area with armchairs, a sofa or a mini-garden. In small apartments there may be an office or storage system here.
Combining it with a kitchen or hallway will deprive the living room of privacy - because now the room will be in plain sight. But you will get a living room that will be much lighter and more spacious than the previous room. Here you cannot do without zoning, which can be done using finishing materials or furniture.
Install a dining table, a bar counter or a figured plasterboard partition with a TV on the border between the kitchen and the living room - you will already save a couple of meters of usable space and delimit the boundaries of functional zones. You can “separate” from the hallway with the help of a sliding wardrobe, which will act as a partition and serve as a spacious storage system.
Selection of furniture for a small bedroom
So, even if you have already decided on buying a sofa, the question remains open of how to arrange furniture in a 12 sq. m bedroom without compromising the free space and, most importantly, how to choose it?
The process of creating a small home requires a lot of effort.
It should be noted that there is a completely standard list of pieces of furniture that should certainly be in every bedroom:
- Bed or sofa;
- Wardrobe (if the house does not have a dressing room);
- Bedside tables (they can be successfully placed near the sofa);
- A small chest of drawers (very convenient for storing small items and underwear).
Proper organization of space is painstaking work that requires a lot of attention from designers.
If desired, you can also use items such as a TV (monitor) and a dressing table in the bedroom. Depending on your preferences, the list can be shortened or expanded.
For a small room this set will be more than enough.
- Wardrobe.
The design of a small room of 12 sq. m with a sofa simply cannot do without a storage system. At the same time, choosing a suitable cabinet model is quite difficult, because in a cramped room any cabinet will look much larger than it actually is. To improve the situation at least a little, designers recommend choosing built-in wardrobes along the entire wall from floor to ceiling. Another detail that makes life easier in a small apartment is sliding doors (ideally mirrored or frosted glass).
Such furniture will provide good space savings and will allow you to freely place all your clothes, bedding and many other different items.
- Shelves.
On the bedside table you can store a cell phone, TV remote control, alarm clock and other small items. In a Khrushchev-era bedroom, such a (seemingly) small piece of furniture can become an unaffordable luxury, because it will “eat up” quite a lot of space. Is there a way out? Of course, these are hanging shelves.
Well-chosen in style and color, the shelves will perfectly replace both bedside tables and chest of drawers.
- Sofa.
When it comes to choosing a sofa, you can completely rely on your preferences, since there are a great many options on the product market. They all vary in mechanism type and style. The “American folding bed”, “Dolphin”, “Verona” will be quite spacious when disassembled.
You need to install the sofa against the wall.
Use light colors
To make a small living room visually look more spacious, you should choose light colors for the main decoration. Nowadays, the white palette is very popular, used in many modern styles.
You don’t have to get carried away with a snow-white design - you can choose one of the shades, for example, milky or ivory, and use different textures.
No less popular is the gray color, which can be combined universally with any other colors, giving the interior a touch of solidity. Do you want maximum comfort? Choose light beige or cream tones, match them with bright accents from the brown range.
The color must be chosen based on personal preferences and the general concept of the chosen style of the room. Nevertheless, dark and bright colors should be present in a small living room in minimal quantities and, preferably, in a glossy design.
Color solutions and furniture
A properly selected color palette helps make the space feel freer. When decorating a small living room, it is important to visually enlarge its boundaries, which a monochrome palette will help to achieve. As for bright accents and sharp color transitions, it is better to avoid them. Many designers recommend choosing white for the decoration of walls, floors and ceilings, but not all homeowners approve of this decision, because the room becomes uncomfortable. A white living room looks attractive when combined with pistachio, mint or beige colored furniture.
Color helps visually change a space, for example, a dark floor, light walls and white ceiling will make the room appear larger, while a light front wall and dark side walls will add depth to the space. It is best to use pastel colors, such as beige, blue-gray, pistachio and olive tones, which are diluted with warm shades. An equally attractive option is to decorate the living room in golden, sand, coffee brown or milky colors. You can use olive, red or orange decor as accents. A high-quality lighting system and mirrors will allow you to fill the space with light.
The furniture of a small living room should be functional; not only its size is important, but also its location. Furniture and appliances need to be arranged so that everything you need is at hand. Large paired chairs are prohibited from being used here; it is better to give preference to transformable furniture, small sofas and model chairs.
Tables and chairs should be folding, which will allow you to change the external perception of the room, creating additional free space. It is best to place the table in the central part of the room, placing it next to the sofa. A leather sofa with an attractive appearance would be an excellent solution. Light leather furniture will expand the boundaries of the room, making it more spacious. It is better to replace storage systems (cabinets) with open shelves, using built-in or modular structures.
Minimalism in the interior
The most correct solution for a small living room would be to design it in a minimalist direction, preferring rigor and freedom of space. In this design, a simple and, at the same time, elegant interior will be filled with a monochrome color scheme, an abundance of light and a minimal amount of furniture and decor.
Expensive natural materials in white, beige or ash tones are used for finishing. Actively use mirror and glass surfaces - this will make the room even lighter and airier.
Choose a “squat” modular sofa, a coffee table, a small storage system with glossy facades, and decorate the windows with short roll-up sheets. Now your living room will become truly stylish, spacious and bright!
Provence
The light and casual style will be a great addition to a small living room.
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Light lace, floral patterns, delicate tones and relaxed charm will become companions of this style, breathing into the room the spaciousness of lavender fields and the freshness of a gentle morning.
Secrets of wall decoration
There are many finishing materials for decorating the walls in the living room, so you can choose those that will best suit the design.
A universal option is wallpaper that has many interpretations. You can also use decorative plaster, stone, plastic and MDF panels, acrylic paint, etc.
With the help of finishing it is quite possible to adjust the geometry of the space. For example, in a narrow room, try decorating one of the short walls with a dark color - then it will be visually closer, and the room will take on a square shape. Also a good option would be horizontal patterns on the wall, which will “expand” a small living room.
To visually “raise” the ceiling, you will need vertical lines - this could be striped wallpaper, a diamond pattern, or decorating one of the walls with narrow high niches-portals.
Choosing the same monochromatic palette for the walls and ceiling will visually “erase” the boundaries of the planes and, accordingly, make the walls taller.
Living room interior design: features and ideas (70 photos)
Beautiful floor in a small living room
Although the floor does not play a leading role in the design of a small living room, it still adequately complements the interior. In addition, some materials are also capable of making adjustments to the perception of space. For example, a diagonal pattern on linoleum will visually expand the room.
If your living room is long and narrow, use laminate or parquet boards, laying the material perpendicular to the long walls - the room will take on a more regular shape.
An excellent option for modern minimalism would be tiles. But since the material itself is quite cold, the floor should be heated.
Cork flooring is rightfully considered the most durable and aesthetically attractive. It fits perfectly into all interior styles and gives the living room a cozy, respectable look.
Original ceiling design
With the help of plasterboard, you can not only create the perfect ceiling in a short time, but also make various decorative designs.
The decoration of the perimeter of the living room with a plasterboard rim with built-in spotlights and hidden LED lighting looks beautiful. This is often how a room is zoned, highlighting a certain area with ceiling structures.
Stretch fabrics look no less impressive. They can be matte or glossy, plain or have a pattern with photo printing.
For a small living room, the best option would be a plain glossy canvas, the mirror effect of which will visually enlarge the room.
Ceiling decoration
Classic design presupposes the presence of luxurious elements in home furnishings. That is why the upper part of the room is decorated in white and decorated with stucco. The picture should be completed by a chic chandelier, decorated with several arms for excellent illumination of the room. This option is shown in the photo.
Modern materials allow you to create unique masterpieces without resorting to expensive techniques. So, if it is not possible to decorate the ceiling with real stucco, you can use decorated blanks made of polystyrene foam. Of course, this is a budget option, but in some cases it is quite acceptable.
It is recommended to use tension structures made in light colors as a ceiling covering. For small rooms with low ceilings, this option is most suitable.
If you have a low ceiling, you can decorate it with a beautiful cornice around the entire perimeter. A frieze is attached lower, at a distance of 20 cm from the cornice. Experts emphasize the distance between the two elements with a light tone compared to the main color of the walls. This move makes it possible to visually make the ceiling higher.
Divide the living room into zones
Determine the functional areas and place them wisely! In small apartments, the living room often plays the role of a bedroom, an office, or is combined with a kitchen. Since you probably won’t be able to install a partition due to the small area, use furniture and finishing materials for zoning.
You can define a relaxation area using a sofa, placing its back or side to the surrounding environment. The kitchen work area will be separated by a bar counter, and the sleeping area can be hidden behind a shelf with books, magazines or accessories.
Zoning a small living room with the help of lighting and finishing materials that differ in color and texture looks impressive. For example, a wall with a TV can be decorated with a contrasting color, photo wallpaper, or decorative stone.
80 living room design ideas in Khrushchev (photo)
The influence of housing type on bedroom decor
As already mentioned, the type of home has a great influence on the design of the bedroom.
- Own house.
The peculiarity of interior design in a private house is that residents can choose a room for a bedroom based on their own preferences - they have this opportunity.
The main selection criteria will be the direction to the cardinal points, the location of the windows, the area of the room and its location relative to other rooms.
If there is a second floor in the house, designers recommend equipping the bedroom there. Absolutely inimitable design options are available for creating a bedroom in the attic.
Photos of finished projects will surely attract your attention.
- Panel house with improved layout.
In this case, the owners have slightly less choice than in the previous case, but there are many opportunities to equip a spacious, bright bedroom without worrying about cramped spaces.
The only limitations in design can be your stated budget and your own preferences.
- Khrushchevka.
This type of housing is one of the most common in our country, and this is where difficulties arise with interior design. The main reason is the small area of the room and low ceilings. There is no need to talk about any space here.
Interior designers have a dozen techniques and tricks in their arsenal, thanks to which even the arrangement of furniture in a bedroom of 12 square meters. m will turn out to be advantageous and attractive.
Correct lighting
For a small room it is very important to be illuminated in a variety of ways. Try to free the windows from massive curtains - let them be short structures such as Roman or roller blinds. To “domesticate” the interior, add light or transparent fabrics and light tulle.
Select small lighting fixtures for the living room and place them at different levels so that every corner of the room does not go unnoticed.
You can install a ceiling chandelier and add spotlights around the perimeter. Install a floor lamp or sconce in the recreation area; pendant lamps look beautiful above the bar counter.
Choose compact furniture
A small living room should not be “loaded” with furniture - you need to leave enough space to move it. A spacious modular sofa and a pair of armchairs will be enough for seating.
Install a folding coffee table in the recreation area, which, if necessary, can be transformed into a spacious dining platform. Along the perimeter of the living room, install compact modular systems with glossy facades and glass shelving.
Sofa in the bedroom - saving space
Many residents of small apartments install only beds in their bedrooms, sacrificing precious square meters and abandoning other important interior items. Whether it is worth using the same option is up to the residents to decide.
However, masters have long been proposing to use an effective solution to this problem - the design of a small room of 12 sq. m with a sofa.
A properly selected sofa will successfully replace even the most comfortable bed and here's why.
- Space saving.
This is probably the first thing that comes to mind, and this statement is indeed true. Unlike a double bed, an assembled sofa takes up 2 times less space, and therefore there will still be enough space in the room during the day.
Moreover, in this case, arranging furniture in a room of 12 square meters will not require giving up other necessary furniture.
- Functionality.
Manufacturers offer the use of a huge number of folding sofas, which differ in size and type of mechanism.
Thanks to this, the sofa unfolds in just a few seconds, turning into a spacious bed.
- Convenience.
Now you can choose absolutely any sofa, taking into account the size, level of softness and type of upholstery.
Gray sofa in a room of 12 meters.
- Functionality.
If you want to save some more space, choose models with drawers at the bottom.
You can place bed linen and other things here.
- Versatility.
The sofa will fit perfectly into both the matrimonial bedroom and all other types of rooms.
Pastel colors and textiles will add softness and comfort.
More mirrors
Mirror surfaces have the ability to expand space and provide it with additional light - use this in the design of your small living room. A large frameless mirror or panel can be placed above the sofa, as well as on the wall with the TV.
If you plan to install a wardrobe, let its doors be mirrored. Then the closet will not be conspicuous, and the living room space will become much deeper and brighter.
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The illusion of expanding space
In a small living room, all interior details should be selected so as not to make the existing space even less spacious. The correct selection of furniture, lighting sources and accessories allows you to preserve free space, and special illusions help to visually expand it. Among the latter are used:
- Playing with color. In order for the design of a small living room to noticeably increase in size, you should choose the right color scheme. Thus, expanding the walls is possible when using finishes in light colors - pearl, blue-gray, pale green. The illusion of volumetric space is created by white (with shades), yellow, beige and beige-orange, blue colors. Painting the floors with rich colors, for example, red with any shades, blue or yellow, helps to visually increase the height of the room.
- Experiments with texture. The finishing of the main surfaces and interior details is also important. Horizontal lines expand the space, slightly reducing it, while vertical lines, on the contrary, create the illusion of high ceilings but narrow walls. Small accessories, as well as white elements on a dark background, can make a room look wider. For the same purposes, you can use a large contrasting pattern on the floor.
- Light illusion. The ideal lighting for a small living room is built-in lamps, especially in combination with suspended ceilings with mirror inserts or simply a shiny surface. Additionally, you can place small lamps in the corners of the floor, the light of which, directed from bottom to top, will visually expand the space.
- Ideas with mirrors. Optical mirror illusions create the effect of spaciousness and unlimited space, so mirrors can be placed on the ceiling and walls, and you can also choose furniture with reflective surfaces.
Work on your accents!
The interior of a small living room, made in a neutral color palette, needs to be “revived” and introduced some dynamics. To do this, you can use bright decorative pillows or a contrasting carpet that attracts attention.
Decorative elements in cheerful shades will also help: a glass vase with sunny yellow tulips, a landscape painting on a photo wallpaper wall, a dish with colorful fruits or a pile of colored magazines.
Classic style
White color, symmetrical arrangement of things, a lot of crystal and gilding, expensive furniture, an abundance of stucco molding, cornices and arches, heavy curtains will fill the room with elegant luxury and sophisticated chic.
A living room in a small apartment, made in a classic style, thanks to its elegance, will be a wonderful place for receiving guests.
Nobility and prosperity will fill this room and make it visually larger.
Small living room - photos of real interiors
Summing up, we can safely say that even a small room in skillful hands can turn into a stylish, functional room. Now, our reader, you should definitely visit our photo gallery. Here are the most striking examples of small living room design that will help you avoid many mistakes if you decide to do the renovation yourself.
