Upholstered furniture is the main element in arranging a living room, especially a living room, the purpose of which is to comfortably accommodate visitors, have a pleasant pastime for the whole family, comfort and coziness. A well-chosen sofa should first of all be comfortable and create coziness in the room.
This is a widely known fact, so most people who have decided to renovate their apartment on their own are wondering how to choose a suitable sofa for the living room in modern cramped apartments. How to choose a suitable sofa for a small living room? What other aspects, besides matching with the overall design and mood of the room, need to be taken into account?
Sofa in a small room
It seems that the most important thing in choosing a sofa is not to make a mistake with the size and find a color that is in harmony with the decor. However, a small living room makes its own adjustments. You can buy the first sofa you like, but it will crowd the living room and it will seem like there is even less space in it. Therefore, we will tell you the tricks that designers use when choosing furniture.
Mechanism
There are only five of them:
- classic book. The form, known since time immemorial, is still relevant today. And all because if you sleep alone, then you don’t need to lay out anything, there’s plenty of space. Plus a spacious drawer for linen. And the downside is that both unfolded and folded, the external dimensions of the sofa are almost the same;
- Eurobook. The differences from a regular book are minor, but they still exist. And the main thing is the mechanism used. It was he who made it possible to get rid of the hollow between the halves that is so unloved by many, which is formed when unfolding. Although the disadvantage of this option is the same - the size;
- roll-out When folded, it is very compact, the sleeping place folds forward, so it will not be difficult to fit it into the existing decor of the room. But the advantages also come with disadvantages - the low height and very small thickness of the mattress;
- click-clack. The developers of this particular sofa will be especially proud of its versatility: there are several options for folding and unfolding. It also has a large niche for bedding. Minus - it cannot be placed close to the wall, as abrasion will appear on it very quickly;
- accordion. It unfolds and folds with one hand, while the sleeping place will be perfectly flat. With compact assembled dimensions, it will be as large as possible. Plus there is a spacious drawer for linen. The downside is that the mechanism is not the simplest, which can scare off the choice. However, this particular sofa option will be a real salvation for small rooms.
There are plenty to choose from, but the first three are the most popular.
Color solution
Don't forget about our perception of color. It is important not only the color combination with other objects and decoration of the living room, not only the psychological impact of color, but also the effect of approaching and moving away. Deep cold shades such as blue, cyan, aqua, violet visually distance the subject. Warm red, yellow, orange - bring you closer. This means that it is better to choose a cool shade of color for the sofa.
The darkness/lightness of the color is also very important. Dark color, despite the fact that it removes the object and makes it visually smaller, also absorbs light, thereby reducing the surrounding space. It is better not to make the sofa completely black, but black vertical elements are allowed. If, on the contrary, you make an object too light, it will appear larger. Therefore, it is better to choose a middle ground.
Wall decoration: manipulations with prints and shades
One of the most popular ways to decorate walls is wallpapering. To create a successful interior, designers give preference to light colors. Pastel colors will create the effect of free space, spaciousness, and light.
Most often, walls are covered with wallpaper.
Prints
Prints for the living room should be chosen small, not in flashy colors, but with a laconic design. It is not advisable to introduce large bright elements into the interior, not only when decorating walls, but as accessories. A large pattern on the walls will create the impression of a small, cramped space.
Advice For a small room, it is important not to overload it with details, including drawings and details. In order for the space to be harmonious, it is advisable not to use prints en masse. If the wallpaper is chosen in a small pattern, then it is better to choose plain curtains, as well as upholstery. And vice versa.
It’s better not to choose wallpaper with large patterns
Colors
A light shade that dominates the living room may look boring and uninteresting. It is necessary to dilute such a “bland” interior with unusual decor and the use of original solutions. Several colors in the design of a room will help create a dynamic atmosphere and even improve well-being.
When using multiple shades, try to limit the number to five. A good option is to use gradient coloring.
Light wallpaper can look boring
Pastel shades have many tones and undertones. Choosing the most suitable one for the living room should be based on the concept of the room itself, the brightness of the lighting and the objects present in the room.
Warm shades with a yellowish tint have a calming effect on the nervous system and look neutral. They allow you to create a versatile backdrop in your living room.
Cool shades, combined with warm ones, can be used in small rooms without the danger of making them uncomfortable and cold. Warm and cool colors when combined with white allow you to create a bright, comfortable room for living. White can be introduced as an accent.
Dominant white color
Cool shades include:
- lilac;
- grey;
- mint;
- blue.
Cool interior colors
Warm tones include the following:
- golden;
- sand;
- ocher;
- pink;
- beige;
- peach, etc.
Classic color combination
Tip For rooms facing north, it is better to choose warm colors as the predominant ones. For sunny windows, you can pay attention to a cool color scheme, which “quenches” a large amount of sunlight.
Recommendations for decorating a living room
Practical tips:
- Light colors will visually expand the room.
- A print with a horizontal pattern visually “lowers” the ceiling.
- Bright shades can be used as companion colors when placing accents.
- If there are pets, it is better to choose wallpaper with a small print (for example, with a spray effect), as well as a textured top layer. This approach will allow you to hide minor damage caused by animals.
- A vertical strip or other pattern going from bottom to top visually increases the height of the ceiling, but can hide the area.
Light colors will visually expand the room
Proportions
Another important point when choosing a sofa for a small living room is its proportional combination with other items. It is better to place the sofa on a large carpet and not hang too small images above it - the contrast in sizes will affect the visual proportions of the sofa.
Floor decoration
If there is an opportunity to refuse carpeting in a small living room, then it is better to do so. A rug on the floor can break up the space and create a cluttered appearance.
It's better to do without carpeting
If a carpet is necessary, then it is recommended to try to decorate the interior based on simple rectangular models. A rectangle can harmonize the space and give it the correct shape.
Advice It is better to give preference to a single-color coating or one that has a smooth transition from dark to lighter tones.
Combination of living room with kitchen
This option is considered a fairly simple solution to the problem of small space. The combination of two rooms can be done using an expanded opening between the rooms or in the form of an arch, combined with a bar counter.
Zoning of space in this case can be emphasized by different designs of walls, floors and even ceilings, as well as the use of different textures and shades. The commonality of design can be achieved by a kind of “flowing” of colors from one room to another with differences in tones or patterns. In this case, the combined premises must be organized in the same style.
Option to combine the kitchen with the living room
Tip The visual separation of the kitchen and living room areas can also be emphasized with a curtain made of wooden beads or gauze fabric gathered on one side.
If the living room is combined with a kitchen, then you should pay more attention to the choice of flooring. In this case, it may be necessary to remove the long-pile carpet, leaving the laminate or linoleum exposed in the living room area.
We pay attention to the choice of flooring
The kitchen floor may differ from the flooring material in the living room area. Non-slip tiles are better for the kitchen. It has high resistance to influences, including water.
