The living room is a kind of visiting card of the house. It can be used to judge the taste and style of the owner of the house. By connecting your imagination, you can independently create a unique design that all family and friends will be delighted with. But in order to create a dream interior even in an old panel house, it is not necessary to turn to professionals. You can develop a plan, choose the style and color scheme of the living room with your own hands. To do this, it is enough to have a sense of taste and style, to have a little knowledge and imagination.
Features of the
We spend most of our time in the living room. It is here that the whole family gathers after a working day and celebrate significant events with family and friends. And it is this room that should always look spectacular. The mood and general atmosphere depend on how its interior and design will be thought out. That is why the living room should be attractive, comfortable and unusually cozy.
But in order for the interior in an ordinary room in a panel house to become cozy and harmonious, it is not enough to use beautiful furniture and decor. Just a few decades ago, the required list of living room furniture included:
- sofa or sofa;
- armchair;
- large wardrobe or wall-slide;
- TV set;
- floor lamp;
- Coffee table.
Today, the hall is perceived not just as a room for watching TV. This is a place where you can do various things, play board games with friends, read books, etc. Although the modern list has changed little, adjustments have been made to the number, shape, size and color of furnishings.
Designers advise whenever possible give up this or that furniture if it is used very rarely or use functional furniture, for example, a transforming table, which easily transforms from a small coffee shop to a large dining room. Or a console table, which is no different from a narrow console and takes up minimal space when assembled, but also easily disassembled and can accommodate up to 14 people at dinner.
Key features of a modern interior:
- plain and smooth walls;
- simple and concise forms;
- thoughtful and desirable decentralized lighting;
- a minimum of furniture and decor;
- evenly distributed furniture throughout the room;
- simple window decoration.
Living rooms can vary in shape, size, height, and even in purpose. Decorating an irregularly shaped one-room apartment is much more difficult than creating a dream living room in a cottage.
With a small housing area, it is necessary to accommodate all the necessary zones in a compressed space. And in a country dacha, the area, as a rule, allows fantasies to roam.
Although, when decorating the interior in a cottage, there are also rules and regulations. And first of all, it is advisable to observe the general style of the house in all rooms. Rooms of different style look ridiculous and tasteless. And it will be uncomfortable to be in such a house of chaos. But as experts advise, the style of the bedrooms in the house may differ from a single direction. This is a kind of personal intimate area, in contrast to the living room. For each apartment or house, it is necessary to select individual ways of decorating the living room.
Living room decoration in a private house
When registering, you must use:
- thick curtains, multilayer blinds on the windows;
- various wallpaper options depending on the chosen style and direction;
- multi-level plasterboard or stretch ceiling with spotlights and a beautiful chandelier;
- large upholstered furniture and a spacious cabinet.
Living room decoration in "Khrushchev" or in a panel house
The following nuances will be appropriate here:
- light translucent and neutral curtains on the windows;
- preferably plain light and neutral colors for wall decoration.
- stretch ceiling covering to hide flaws in slabs and ceilings;
- compact and functional furniture, built-in storage systems.
Living room-kitchen decoration
When combining a living room with a kitchen, you should adhere to certain tips:
- light fabric curtains on windows, roman blinds or blinds;
- plain light and contrasting saturated colors when decorating walls;
- regular or stretch ceiling;
- compact, multifunctional light furniture, preferably built-in appliances.
For an example of the living room interior, see the following video.
Bedroom-living room decoration
Zoning is successful when you consider the following:
- light curtains and blinds on the windows;
- monochromatic light and calm colors in the interior;
- any methods of finishing the ceiling are suitable;
- compact and multifunctional furniture, built-in storage systems.
But practicality and functionality play an important role in interior design.
If the chosen style of the living room is minimalism, then you need to adhere to it in everything: when choosing furniture, curtains, wall and floor decoration.
Zoning
When creating a project and living room interior, modern designers use certain rules. They dictate where the individual zones will be located, beautiful decorative objects and how the finished furnishings will look like. These rules must be followed in order not to disturb the harmony of the interior.
In a modern interior, the technique of zoning a room and organizing space is often used in such a way that for each family member there is a free place to relax and do something to their liking in their free time. And the first thing to consider when planning is how many people the room will be designed for, that is, how many people live in the apartment and how many guests you plan to receive. It is necessary to arrange the room so that everyone is comfortable in it. And even 15 sq. m to do it is absolutely real.
Basic recommendations for dividing a room into separate functional zones:
- Rest area - it is recommended to arrange upholstered furniture here: a sofa, an armchair or poufs. You can put a TV in front of the sofa, and place a rack with books along the wall.
- Working area, it is also a workshop or a place for hobbies. This zone requires a comfortable table with a computer and a rack with the necessary accessories for work or creativity. Easels with paints, embroidery kits, as well as a synthesizer or other musical instrument can be stored here. The zone must have individually lighting - a table lamp or a floor lamp next to the chair.
- The guest area is usually one place with a seating area. Here you can also place a comfortable beanbag chair or a table for drinks and snacks.
At the same time, try to put only the necessary furniture in the room, give up the bulky wall-slide for the TV and stereo system. Place the TV on the wall on a bracket and use the spacious storage system in the hallway or bedroom.
It is better to place furniture along the walls and in the corners, but not in the center. The main thing is to leave as much space as possible for free movement around the room.
When zoning a rectangular room, it is important to harmoniously combine different zones so that they literally merge together.
There are several ways to achieve zoning:
- use different colors when decorating walls;
- different colors of flooring in separate functional areas;
- ceiling with different levels or with a combination of stretch and classic;
- curtains and sliding doors;
- upholstered furniture and wardrobes to separate a separate area;
- decorative partitions, screens or shelves with open shelves;
- plasterboard partitions.
Often, in modern layouts, the living room is a walk-through room. Such an apartment cannot be called unsuccessful, because the walk-through room will detain guests and will not allow the guests' curious glances to the bedroom or study.
In some houses and apartments, the owners prefer to combine the living room with the kitchen. In this case, the division into zones is conditional. It is important to correctly beat such an interior and correctly organize the space, then you can get a stylish and modern kitchen-living room. And for this, the design of two zones in different colors is best suited.
The owners of one-room apartments do not have many options for decorating an apartment. In any case, the living room either connects to the kitchen or to the bedroom. But if we talk about a studio, then in this case, the entire space unites different zones, based on the required minimum.
In the case of combining the living room and bedroom, you can use a simple plasterboard partition. And if the layout of the room has an additional room in the form of a niche, then you can fence off the sleeping area using sliding doors or curtains.
In some apartments, it is possible to raise the floor a few centimeters in order to transfer a separate area to the podium and thereby separate it from the rest of the room. But, as a rule, in a square room it is necessary, on the contrary, to visually expand the space, because the low ceilings in the apartment compress the space even more.
Subtleties of design
When arranging a living room, it is important to choose the right accessories and plan the interior, and then the atmosphere in the room will be filled with comfort and sparkle in a new way. Professional designers can create a sketch of the future living room in advance and show how the interior of the room will look like. And at the same time it will be possible to immediately abandon some ideas, or vice versa, add individual details to the decor of the apartment.
The main advantage of a small living room can be a large window. The absolute absence of curtains makes the room even more spacious. Therefore, it is advisable to leave the window space completely open. You can use light translucent curtains in combination with thick curtains or blinds. Roman curtains also fit perfectly into the interior of the living room. They protect from sunlight during the day and the prying eyes of neighbors in the evening, while at the same time leaving the window space open and free.
Basic rules for decorating a living room:
- one, maximum two, elements can act as the main element;
- furniture should not always be placed along long walls;
- use no more than three colors in the interior.
But the walls, ceiling and floor also play a significant role in the interior.
Walls
When decorating walls, as a rule, many apartment owners prefer classic wallpaper. And even light and monochromatic canvases without a pattern look harmonious in a modern interior.
The main types of wallpaper for walls:
- vinyl - are considered the most durable and practical;
- textile - great for a living room, bedroom or study;
- non-woven - often used for painting;
- paper - they are inexpensive and easily glued;
- metallized - a modern novelty, such wallpapers are made on the basis of aluminum foil;
- liquid - in the literal sense, this is not wallpaper, but they perfectly hide the flaws and flaws of the wall.
For a room with a low ceiling, wallpaper with a vertical pattern is most suitable. It can be a discreet, barely noticeable print. Also, a winning and simple way to decorate walls is decorative plaster. It is a stable and durable material. And at the same time, you can create unique and inimitable patterns on the walls. And the thick consistency will hide all the flaws and unevenness of the coating.
Brick is great for decorating one wall in a living room. Also, mosaic panels in the interior do not lose their popularity. The mosaic has an unusual and attractive appearance, and is also resistant to damage and durable.
Often, when decorating walls, modern designers use moldings.
And despite the fact that there is nothing difficult in using them, but if you are doing repairs yourself, we advise you to study in advance your favorite successful interior projects.
Such a decorative element must be used correctly, otherwise, instead of a stylish and harmonious space, you can get a ridiculous and funny design.
The moldings are mounted to the wall in a square or rectangular shape. They can be used to decorate paintings, reproductions, posters, exclusive handicrafts or photo wallpapers. Mirrors and photographs also look original and beautiful in such voluminous frames.
An original and fashionable way to decorate walls - 3D wall panels. And thanks to the variety of materials, panels can be selected to suit any budget. They amaze not only with their appearance, but also with improved properties. The main advantage of such volumetric panels is their versatility - they hide any flaws and flaws of the slab and, at the same time, do not require special preparation of the wall.
Floor
There are a lot of materials for decorating the living room floor. But it is worth choosing not only a beautiful and practical coating, but also a durable one, because it is in this room that a colossal load on the floor is found. Therefore, it is better to immediately abandon the carpet in the living room. The most suitable option is laminate and a small soft carpet near the sofa.
At the same time, laminate boards must be durable and resistant to damage and scratches. And the coating should not be slippery, otherwise it can be traumatic not only for children, but also for adults.
A dark floor is best used in a large living room of a country house. And in a small apartment, choose a light floor with a natural wood pattern.
Also, some laminate flooring perfectly mimics tile and stone. It's nice if the color matches the doors.
A more expensive and attractive option is to use a parquet board instead of a laminate. Natural wood will add warmth, coziness and comfort to the interior. But it is worth remembering that natural parquet is very capricious and requires proper maintenance.
Ceiling
Ignoring the design of the ceiling is a big mistake. The ceiling can be plain and even or have a multi-level color structure - it all depends on personal preference and taste.
The main methods of finishing the ceiling:
- plastered - the work process is not very complicated, but it requires accuracy;
- tension - by far the most common option;
- suspended - additional preparation of a special structure with a frame and facing material is required;
- dyed - it looks beautiful and stylish, after dyeing, you can apply an additional pattern;
- multi-level plasterboard structures - allow you to create bizarre shapes, but thereby visually reduce the ceiling.
But not all methods are suitable when decorating a small living room. In a small room, it is undesirable to use multi-level ceilings - on the contrary, they will visually reduce the room and compress the space.
It is recommended to choose neutral, and preferably light colors. Ideally, to achieve the effect of expanding the space, choose a whiter color for the ceiling than for the walls.
If a beam or ventilation duct runs along the ceiling, which cannot be dismantled, then you can advantageously beat the hanging structure. The easiest way for a classic style is to use ceiling molds. Volumetric and beautiful figured elements, more like stucco molding, in combination with a beautiful crystal chandelier, will take you to the era of aristocracy with exquisite interiors.
A light ceiling finish and a dark bottom finish will allow you to create a spectacular interior. Particularly courageous and decisive owners of apartments with a large living room can use an unusual technique: a black and white multi-level ceiling, but this design method is not suitable for all layouts and dimensions. therefore before you radically change the interior, think how quickly it will tire with its exclusivity and boldness.
When decorating a ceiling, it is important to remember about well thought out lighting. Ceiling lights should illuminate the room well. With focused and directional lighting, the room will visually appear larger and more expressive.
Decor and accessories
No interior will become memorable without separate decorative elements. A fireplace looks great as a decorative item in the design of a living room. It creates coziness and luxury in the room, as well as an additional source of warmth. Near the fireplace, you can quickly relax and discard all thoughts. There are different types of fireplaces:
- open fireplace - a classic wood-burning option;
- a closed fireplace with a cast iron firebox is a safer and more energy efficient option;
- gas fireplace - connection to the gas main is required;
- an electric fireplace - in fact, it is not a fireplace, but a stylized heating device.
Classic fireplaces are not popular today. The reason is the unsafe use, especially if there are children in the house. Gas and cast iron are more popular and less dangerous to use. At the same time, you can also enjoy the crackling firewood and the sight of real fire. But even an electric fireplace is fascinating and eye-catching.
You can also add a romantic mood with candles. They will also fill the living room with coziness and special mood and warm with the warmth of a living flame. To do this, you can use an original round candlestick or unusual aroma candles. And regardless of the overall composition and style of the interior, candles will always remain mysterious and attractive details.
Flowers have a special energy and mood. They fill the room with life and color. That is why many designers use fresh indoor and cut flowers as decor. But the beautiful buds of blossoming plants are short-lived. And often designers use vases with artificial flowers in the interior, which at first glance are difficult to distinguish from real ones.
It is worth noting that the decor of the living room does not always have to be standard and classic. So, for example, the aquarium will definitely become dominant and will always be in the spotlight. Just like a piano. But the style of the living room should be combined with a musical instrument. And the tree can become not only an irreplaceable attribute of the New Year's holiday, but also an interesting design element in the apartment. And now we are not talking about a green coniferous tree, but about a three-dimensional model of a decorative wooden Christmas tree.
An excellent decorative element in the living room of a large family can be a chest with photographs, which, like real treasures, will be kept as the most valuable and dear in life. And also he can act as a chest of drawers and place a lot of things and objects.
Another way to add variety to the living room interior is to use unusual and beautiful cornices. Even in the budget version, you can decorate the interior beautifully, stylishly and harmoniously using only curtains. And you can complement the interior with various reproductions or framed posters, exotic and rare accessories.
There are a lot of ideas and decor options. But it is important to make sure that the overall style and harmony in the room is not disturbed.
Color palette and current prints
When decorating walls and ceilings in the living room, ideally, you should choose warm shades. The combination of beige and brown is used by many designers and is associated with comfort and stability. Smooth transitions from light to chocolate are welcome in the living room interior and look harmonious and light.
Light rooms in pastel colors add lightness and airiness to the interior. But do not create an exclusively monochrome interior. Bright details and elements should be present in the living room. Otherwise, the room will resemble a dull hospital room. And besides, such a living room will quickly get bored and bored.
Dark and saturated colors are recommended for large living rooms with south-facing windows.
Light pink, pale yellow, green, olive, blue, gray shades look great and boring in the interior. For contrast, you can use furniture and curtains in rich colors. Correctly placed color accents will add coziness and comfort to the interior. Bright furniture and textiles will fit perfectly into a monotonous interior.
There are thousands of ideas and hundreds of original projects that show you how to make your living room interior modern and creative.
Designers recommend using no more than three colors in one room, among which one will be neutral and calm, the second will be contrasting and saturated, and the third will be ideally combined with the first two.
Beautiful examples in the interior
Fashionable modular designs perfectly fit into the interior of the living room. They have a strict and modern look and are compactly placed along the wall and do not take up much space. But at the same time, they perfectly fit important objects, small accessories, as well as dishes or books.
The living room can be decorated with various elements and details, including fresh indoor flowers or cut flowers.
The laconic and austere living room interior with modern appliances and furniture always looks impressive even in a small apartment.
Wall lights can be directed vertically upwards. Reflecting in a stretch glossy ceiling, the light will create the effect of a high multi-level ceiling and visually raise the ceiling.
The minimalist style has remained popular for a long time. Its main advantage is a minimum of furniture and equipment, but a maximum of light and space.
An extravagant floor lamp and an unusual shape, a bright corner sofa are ideally combined in the interior of a small living room. The selected bold shades are eye-catching but not overwhelming. The main advantage of this interior is not being overloaded with various pieces of furniture and decor.