Owners of small apartments always face a number of difficulties that arise due to the shortage of square meters. A small space creates big problems and constantly poses a choice: what to add and what to abandon. A competent design project will help to resolve a number of issues that, at first glance, seem like dead ends. The apartment should be used not only for sleeping and eating, but also be a “fortress house” for a person where he will receive emotional relaxation during rest and will be able to calmly engage in hobbies, receive guests and arrange holidays. Of course, magic, “sliding walls” do not exist, but there are a number of openings and tricks that will help to deceive the visual perception of space or to compactly fit the atmosphere in a cramped room. About how to plan the design of a one-room apartment of 32 square meters. m. and talk in this article.
There are apartments of thirty-two square meters. m. of two types:
One-room in standard Khrushchev. Typically, such apartments are a “gift” of Soviet-era buildings.
Studios. They can be found in modern new buildings.
The second option is considered optimal for small spaces. Following the principle of “down with the barrier and the wall”, you can create an original interior design and compactly fit the necessary furniture in one large room, divided into zones. Of course, redevelopment is not always possible. If the owners want to tear down the load-bearing wall, then the whole project can be put an end to, since not a single housing inspection will approve such architectural changes. By the way, even if successful, you will have to be patient and visit many instances before permission to redevelopment is obtained. To create a cozy, comfortable apartment in a cramped apartment, you should listen to the opinion of professional designers and take into account a number of their tips:
if the apartment has a nice addition in the form of a loggia or balcony, they are combined with the rest of the area. They equip a study, workshop, restroom, library or dining area;
light shades and surfaces with horizontal stripes are used in the design to make the space seem larger and the room wider;
in studios or apartments with a changed layout, only light partitions or conditional zoning are used. The monumental walls will divide the room into separate tiny zones, which will be very difficult to tie into a single composition. In addition, the space will look like a puzzle assembled from separate fragments;
use multifunctional furniture. The bed turns into a compact sofa, the countertop is fixed directly to the wall, the sofas are folded, and the built-in wardrobes will hide the flaws of the non-standard shape of the room and allow you to use more space for organizing the storage system;
they do not recommend experimenting with bright, catchy and slightly chaotic styles, in which the interiors are filled with trifles and decor.
It is also worth paying attention to the shape of the main room. If you are dealing with a square, then it is possible to place zones around the perimeter or the central location of the accent area with additional ones near the walls. Rectangular rooms will have to be adjusted to visually bring them closer to their correct shape. In such cases, you cannot use a parallel layout and place furniture sets on opposite walls.
Space Management - Ergonomics and Zoning
If the redevelopment was approved, then the kitchen is combined with the living room, and for a sleeping place, a separate corner by the window is allocated. The study is carried out on the balcony or equip next to the bed. When combining it is important to follow simple rules for combining functional areas:
The bedroom needs to be separated from the rest of the space as much as possible so that nothing interferes with restful sleep.
Between the kitchen and the living room, it is desirable to place a dining area, which will serve as a "buffer".
The living room can be combined with a workplace, since both sites are designed for active pastime.
Furniture is chosen ergonomic, compact and performs several functions at once. The rational use of each meter should become the main credo of the designer. There are no restrictions in the materials for decoration, but experts do not advise using a combination of a large number of different textures in apartments with a small footage. This will negatively affect the perception of space.In the kitchen-living room you can carry out zoning using a combination of plaster or brickwork and vinyl wallpaper. In expensive apartments use veneer, cork or solid wood. In more budget options, they use plastic, wallpaper, plaster. High ceilings are finished with drywall according to frame technology. For minimalism, laconic white plaster is suitable. A stretch ceiling of light shades with a glossy surface will fill the room space with freedom and ease. For flooring use linoleum, laminate or a more expensive parquet board. In the kitchen area, it is recommended to use ceramic tiles, which are easy to clean and will last for more than one year. The berth can be hoisted onto the podium, the contours of which will be repeated by the frame ceiling. Zoning is carried out using screens, curtains, thin partitions made of frosted glass or plastic. Alternatively, you can use a through rack, a table, a sofa to separate zones.
The combination of different colors according to the principles of contrasts or analogy will also hint opaquely where one site ends and another begins.
The combination of different textures and pair decor, placed symmetrically on the sides of the conditional border, will not load the room, but will affect the visual perception of the room as a single space divided into sectors.
Hallway
In order for the small entrance hall to become a cozy “face” of the apartment, which is the first to welcome guests, it is designed in accordance with the principles of minimalism. Light shades in the walls and ceiling can contrast with a dark floor. A large black tile will become a stylish solution. If the dimensions of the hallway allow, then a built-in closet is placed in it, which will become the main storage system in the apartment. Instead of massive furniture, an open hanger is preferred. For umbrellas and canes, a metal container of oblong shape is installed nearby. A low pouf or bench will complete the design.Shoes can be hidden in hidden shelves under the place for shoes.
Sleeping area
Each person wants to have at their disposal a spacious, luxurious bed, where you can sleep in any comfortable position without the risk of falling to the floor. A large bed for a small apartment is not the best solution. Unfortunately, it will take up too much usable area, which is not permissible in conditions of meter shortage. For this reason, it is better to give preference to a folding sofa. If there is enough space, then in the sleeping area they put a sliding wardrobe with ergonomic sliding doors. Swing options are not considered at all. The bedroom is traditionally decorated in bright colors. For decoration, natural, hypoallergenic materials are used. Optimum wood and its safe derivatives, in the manufacture of which toxic bonding compounds were not used. In light styles (provence, shabby chic, classic) wallpaper with floral patterns is used. The floor is finished with laminate or parquet board.
An unusual option will be the arrangement of the sleeping area on the balcony or loggia, if their width, of course, allows you to put a full bed.
Recreation area and guest room
In the living room sofa, a pair of pouffes and a coffee table is enough for a comfortable stay. Opposite the furniture set, a large rack with a niche for a TV in the center is installed. In the loft style, the accent wall is finished with brick or masonry of light colors. The traditional brown color of the material can visually reduce the space. Wood and plastic panels will look good in combination with a classic and modern interior, respectively. Wallpaper and embossed Venetian stucco accentuate the solid setting.
Workplace arrangement
About a comfortable office in an apartment of 32 square meters. m will have to forget. A small place with a computer table is conveniently located in a corner by the window next to the sleeping and living areas.If a library is also included with the work desk, then you should think about moving the office to the balcony. Here you can also arrange a workshop for needlework. Books are also placed on low shelves under a couch or a trestle bed near a windowsill. Alternatively, the workplace can be disguised in a fake cabinet. Its internal content will consist of a countertop with the necessary attributes, and on the doors there will be shelves for small things.
Kitchen
The kitchen is separated from the living room by the dining area. Vinyl wallpapers, ceramic tiles and sometimes PVC panels are used to decorate the walls of the room. The floor is covered with linoleum or tiled. It is not recommended to use wood, textile or paper wallpaper in the decoration of the kitchen. These materials go poorly with its special microclimate. In the living room they also try to minimize the use of textiles, which are difficult to remove and wash. Since the border between the zones will be conditional, the smells from the cooked food will invariably spread throughout the studio and be absorbed by the fabric. To design the kitchen, several layout schemes are used, which take into account the location of the vertices of the "working triangle" (stove, sink, refrigerator):
Parallel
Two working areas are located at one wall, and a third - at the opposite.
U-shaped
Each vertex of the working triangle is located at one of the three walls.
L-shaped
The kitchen and work areas occupy only two walls.
Island
The layout is usually embodied in spacious rooms, but in the studio the kitchen can be separated from the living room with the help of a bar or worktop, which turns into a dining area.
In a number of modern styles, this room is decorated with marble or its imitation, and the facades of the headset are made of chromed material with a glossy sheen.
Bathroom and toilet
The bathroom is tiled, artificial stone or plastic.It is better to use the sink as a sink, since the bowl will free up storage space in the cabinet under it. In addition, such a solution looks stylish and unusual in high-tech, eco-style, Scandinavian direction, minimalism. The bath is abandoned in favor of a compact shower. If the room does not differ in large dimensions, then use a storage system from narrow hanging cabinets. In the combined bathrooms, the toilet is separated from the rest of the space using an opaque partition made of glass or plastic. Ceiling choose a stretch. This option will protect the room from floods from above and emphasize the style of the interior.
Stylistic directions
Almost all stylistic diversity is at the service of owners of small apartments. It is not recommended to embody classics, futurism and loft in cramped rooms. These styles are better revealed in spacious apartments of private houses or luxury apartments with a large footage. But this does not mean that they cannot be used. It is possible, but choosing compromises with great care without compromising the main concept of the direction. Conservatives and supporters of traditions choose Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Biedermeier, colonial, Mediterranean, antique style, retro, Gothic, contemporary. For those who are young at heart and follow everything new, high-tech, avant-garde, minimalism, grunge, constructivism, fusion, Scandinavian direction are suitable. Fans of cozy, “warm” interiors should pay attention to provence, eclecticism, country, shabby chic, romance style.
Color spectrum
Light colors prevail in the color scheme. An exception can only be a bright accent decor and dark floor (in the presence of high ceilings). In modern areas, they use “tasty” shades that are akin to a breath of fresh air: olive, mint, tangerine, mustard, cherry, walnut. In classical interiors, the brown scale in all its variety is taken as the basis: coffee with milk, beige, mahogany, terracotta, chocolate, vanilla, ocher color. In high-tech styles, a combination of white with dark (asphalt) and light (abalone, silver) gray is used.Also in the palette apply blue, yellow, pink, green, coral. If there is little natural light in the room, then it is made more comfortable due to the warm range. Cold tones, on the contrary, are suitable for rooms whose windows face the sunny side.
Lighting Features
In a studio apartment, they either refuse central lighting altogether or supplement it with groups of lamps located above each of the zones. If the ceiling chandelier is still present, then choose a simple, not too massive model. Be sure to install local lighting in the form of floor and table lamps, wall sconces. Decorative bulbs, point light sources are placed on the ceiling around the entire perimeter of the room or on the walls. In zoned rooms, some sites are partially devoid of natural light, so it must be compensated with artificial. If the room has a podium or frame ceiling, its relief must be emphasized with the help of spotlights.
Conclusion
The final and, perhaps, the most pleasant stage of repair will be grinding the interior with decorative elements. For these purposes, they use vases, caskets, baskets, boxes, sculptures, indoor plants, paintings, framed photographs, posters, watches, dishes, mirrors and souvenirs brought from travels. The placement of decorative details in the apartment should be uniform. An abundance of small decorations should be avoided so that the room does not look like a warehouse of unnecessary things. Being the owner of an apartment of 32 square meters. m., do not despair and put an end to its beautiful and rational interior. A small space can always be transformed beyond recognition if you use authoritative sources of information about design projects and use your imagination to design your own creative ideas.
Owners of small apartments always face a number of difficulties that arise due to the shortage of square meters. A small space creates big problems and constantly poses a choice: what to add and what to abandon. A competent design project will help to resolve a number of issues that, at first glance, seem like dead ends. The apartment should be used not only for sleeping and eating, but also be a “fortress house” for a person where he will receive emotional relaxation during rest and will be able to calmly engage in hobbies, receive guests and arrange holidays. Of course, magic, “sliding walls” do not exist, but there are a number of openings and tricks that will help to deceive the visual perception of space or to compactly fit the atmosphere in a cramped room. About how to plan the design of a one-room apartment of 32 square meters. m. and talk in this article.
Content
General recommendations
There are apartments of thirty-two square meters. m. of two types:
The second option is considered optimal for small spaces. Following the principle of “down with the barrier and the wall”, you can create an original interior design and compactly fit the necessary furniture in one large room, divided into zones. Of course, redevelopment is not always possible. If the owners want to tear down the load-bearing wall, then the whole project can be put an end to, since not a single housing inspection will approve such architectural changes. By the way, even if successful, you will have to be patient and visit many instances before permission to redevelopment is obtained. To create a cozy, comfortable apartment in a cramped apartment, you should listen to the opinion of professional designers and take into account a number of their tips:
It is also worth paying attention to the shape of the main room. If you are dealing with a square, then it is possible to place zones around the perimeter or the central location of the accent area with additional ones near the walls. Rectangular rooms will have to be adjusted to visually bring them closer to their correct shape. In such cases, you cannot use a parallel layout and place furniture sets on opposite walls.
Space Management - Ergonomics and Zoning
If the redevelopment was approved, then the kitchen is combined with the living room, and for a sleeping place, a separate corner by the window is allocated. The study is carried out on the balcony or equip next to the bed. When combining it is important to follow simple rules for combining functional areas:
Furniture is chosen ergonomic, compact and performs several functions at once. The rational use of each meter should become the main credo of the designer. There are no restrictions in the materials for decoration, but experts do not advise using a combination of a large number of different textures in apartments with a small footage. This will negatively affect the perception of space.In the kitchen-living room you can carry out zoning using a combination of plaster or brickwork and vinyl wallpaper. In expensive apartments use veneer, cork or solid wood. In more budget options, they use plastic, wallpaper, plaster. High ceilings are finished with drywall according to frame technology. For minimalism, laconic white plaster is suitable. A stretch ceiling of light shades with a glossy surface will fill the room space with freedom and ease. For flooring use linoleum, laminate or a more expensive parquet board. In the kitchen area, it is recommended to use ceramic tiles, which are easy to clean and will last for more than one year. The berth can be hoisted onto the podium, the contours of which will be repeated by the frame ceiling. Zoning is carried out using screens, curtains, thin partitions made of frosted glass or plastic. Alternatively, you can use a through rack, a table, a sofa to separate zones.
The combination of different textures and pair decor, placed symmetrically on the sides of the conditional border, will not load the room, but will affect the visual perception of the room as a single space divided into sectors.
Hallway
In order for the small entrance hall to become a cozy “face” of the apartment, which is the first to welcome guests, it is designed in accordance with the principles of minimalism. Light shades in the walls and ceiling can contrast with a dark floor. A large black tile will become a stylish solution. If the dimensions of the hallway allow, then a built-in closet is placed in it, which will become the main storage system in the apartment. Instead of massive furniture, an open hanger is preferred. For umbrellas and canes, a metal container of oblong shape is installed nearby. A low pouf or bench will complete the design.Shoes can be hidden in hidden shelves under the place for shoes.
Sleeping area
Each person wants to have at their disposal a spacious, luxurious bed, where you can sleep in any comfortable position without the risk of falling to the floor. A large bed for a small apartment is not the best solution. Unfortunately, it will take up too much usable area, which is not permissible in conditions of meter shortage. For this reason, it is better to give preference to a folding sofa. If there is enough space, then in the sleeping area they put a sliding wardrobe with ergonomic sliding doors. Swing options are not considered at all. The bedroom is traditionally decorated in bright colors. For decoration, natural, hypoallergenic materials are used. Optimum wood and its safe derivatives, in the manufacture of which toxic bonding compounds were not used. In light styles (provence, shabby chic, classic) wallpaper with floral patterns is used. The floor is finished with laminate or parquet board.
Recreation area and guest room
In the living room sofa, a pair of pouffes and a coffee table is enough for a comfortable stay. Opposite the furniture set, a large rack with a niche for a TV in the center is installed. In the loft style, the accent wall is finished with brick or masonry of light colors. The traditional brown color of the material can visually reduce the space. Wood and plastic panels will look good in combination with a classic and modern interior, respectively. Wallpaper and embossed Venetian stucco accentuate the solid setting.
Workplace arrangement
About a comfortable office in an apartment of 32 square meters. m will have to forget. A small place with a computer table is conveniently located in a corner by the window next to the sleeping and living areas.If a library is also included with the work desk, then you should think about moving the office to the balcony. Here you can also arrange a workshop for needlework. Books are also placed on low shelves under a couch or a trestle bed near a windowsill. Alternatively, the workplace can be disguised in a fake cabinet. Its internal content will consist of a countertop with the necessary attributes, and on the doors there will be shelves for small things.
Kitchen
The kitchen is separated from the living room by the dining area. Vinyl wallpapers, ceramic tiles and sometimes PVC panels are used to decorate the walls of the room. The floor is covered with linoleum or tiled. It is not recommended to use wood, textile or paper wallpaper in the decoration of the kitchen. These materials go poorly with its special microclimate. In the living room they also try to minimize the use of textiles, which are difficult to remove and wash. Since the border between the zones will be conditional, the smells from the cooked food will invariably spread throughout the studio and be absorbed by the fabric. To design the kitchen, several layout schemes are used, which take into account the location of the vertices of the "working triangle" (stove, sink, refrigerator):
In a number of modern styles, this room is decorated with marble or its imitation, and the facades of the headset are made of chromed material with a glossy sheen.
Bathroom and toilet
The bathroom is tiled, artificial stone or plastic.It is better to use the sink as a sink, since the bowl will free up storage space in the cabinet under it. In addition, such a solution looks stylish and unusual in high-tech, eco-style, Scandinavian direction, minimalism. The bath is abandoned in favor of a compact shower. If the room does not differ in large dimensions, then use a storage system from narrow hanging cabinets. In the combined bathrooms, the toilet is separated from the rest of the space using an opaque partition made of glass or plastic. Ceiling choose a stretch. This option will protect the room from floods from above and emphasize the style of the interior.
Stylistic directions
Almost all stylistic diversity is at the service of owners of small apartments. It is not recommended to embody classics, futurism and loft in cramped rooms. These styles are better revealed in spacious apartments of private houses or luxury apartments with a large footage. But this does not mean that they cannot be used. It is possible, but choosing compromises with great care without compromising the main concept of the direction. Conservatives and supporters of traditions choose Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Biedermeier, colonial, Mediterranean, antique style, retro, Gothic, contemporary. For those who are young at heart and follow everything new, high-tech, avant-garde, minimalism, grunge, constructivism, fusion, Scandinavian direction are suitable. Fans of cozy, “warm” interiors should pay attention to provence, eclecticism, country, shabby chic, romance style.
Color spectrum
Light colors prevail in the color scheme. An exception can only be a bright accent decor and dark floor (in the presence of high ceilings). In modern areas, they use “tasty” shades that are akin to a breath of fresh air: olive, mint, tangerine, mustard, cherry, walnut. In classical interiors, the brown scale in all its variety is taken as the basis: coffee with milk, beige, mahogany, terracotta, chocolate, vanilla, ocher color. In high-tech styles, a combination of white with dark (asphalt) and light (abalone, silver) gray is used.Also in the palette apply blue, yellow, pink, green, coral. If there is little natural light in the room, then it is made more comfortable due to the warm range. Cold tones, on the contrary, are suitable for rooms whose windows face the sunny side.
Lighting Features
In a studio apartment, they either refuse central lighting altogether or supplement it with groups of lamps located above each of the zones. If the ceiling chandelier is still present, then choose a simple, not too massive model. Be sure to install local lighting in the form of floor and table lamps, wall sconces. Decorative bulbs, point light sources are placed on the ceiling around the entire perimeter of the room or on the walls. In zoned rooms, some sites are partially devoid of natural light, so it must be compensated with artificial. If the room has a podium or frame ceiling, its relief must be emphasized with the help of spotlights.
Conclusion
The final and, perhaps, the most pleasant stage of repair will be grinding the interior with decorative elements. For these purposes, they use vases, caskets, baskets, boxes, sculptures, indoor plants, paintings, framed photographs, posters, watches, dishes, mirrors and souvenirs brought from travels. The placement of decorative details in the apartment should be uniform. An abundance of small decorations should be avoided so that the room does not look like a warehouse of unnecessary things. Being the owner of an apartment of 32 square meters. m., do not despair and put an end to its beautiful and rational interior. A small space can always be transformed beyond recognition if you use authoritative sources of information about design projects and use your imagination to design your own creative ideas.