Many residents of modern cities complain about the lack of free space in their apartment. To expand your living space, you don't have to demolish walls or combine two apartments into one. It is enough to use the available space correctly. An example of such a rational solution is the use of a balcony for a living room. This article will show you how to transform your balcony into a cozy bedroom.
Advantages and disadvantages
This design solution has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include the fact that such a room will immediately solve your main problem - a lack of space. If your family is expanding or children are growing up, then it will definitely be useful for you to equip a balcony for an additional sleeping room.
This option is also good for those who need a bedroom for a short time - to let relatives or friends live, for example. Such a room can then be easily converted into a living room or a place to relax. Another plus of this redevelopment is that the bedroom on the balcony, regardless of its design, will look original and unusual.
In addition, balconies usually have large windows and a lot of light, which means that even in gloomy weather, all the rays of the sun will go to the inhabitant of this small room.
The bedroom on the balcony will also delight lovers of minimalism. In a small space, you can only install everything you need, which means you can do without all the unnecessary details. And the order in such a small room is much easier.
But the compact balcony bedroom has its drawbacks. First of all, we must not forget that a balcony is, as a rule, a territory separated from an apartment. There is no lighting or central heating, so the installation of all these vital things will have to be taken care of during the redevelopment, doing everything from scratch.
In addition, you will need special permits for this, which you may not be given. And you will have to spend time on this. Another disadvantage is that even if your balcony is glazed, there will still not be a sufficient level of sound insulation. Therefore, for normal sleep, it will need to be isolated.
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It is quite obvious that a small space is not a plus for everyone. Many are only upset that the new bedroom is so small. In some cases, only a bed and a few hanging shelves can be placed there.
There is also a psychological factor - some people are uncomfortable in such conditions.
Project preparation
If, after weighing all the pros and cons, you still decide to make a bedroom out of your loggia, then you should familiarize yourself with all the nuances of this procedure in advance.
The most difficult process is getting all the necessary permits. In order to place a bedroom in a non-residential space, you must contact your local BTI. You need to do this already with the preparation of the project, where all the procedures that you plan to do will be spelled out.
Remember that according to all the rules, the equipment of the bedroom on the balcony is permissible only if its dimensions exceed two meters in length.
The balcony on which you plan to arrange a bedroom must certainly be glazed … For glazing, it is best to use double glazing. This will allow you not to freeze even in winter, especially if you additionally insulate the room. To save space, windows should be either sliding or with sashes that open outward. The side walls are best left blank.
The features of insulation completely depend on what type of balcony you have. It is necessary to insulate not only walls and windows, but also the floor and ceiling. Today there is a huge amount of materials for warming a room. The most common of them are different types of foam, mineral wool and foil insulation.
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Since there is usually no standard heating on the balcony, you will also have to take care of the installation of heating devices separately. For heating, it is worth using a convector or radiator. But remember that they should be as safe as possible. The use of an electric fireplace on your balcony is prohibited!
An additional plus in the bedroom will be the insulated floor. It is most often installed under the tiles. For a balcony, this combination is considered the best. A simpler option is an infrared film floor. It can be placed under laminate flooring.
How to arrange a sleeping place
When planning a bedroom, it is important not only to equip it in the right way, but also to decorate it stylishly. There are balconies with access to the living room and bedroom. The style of the new bedroom depends on which room is adjacent.
It is desirable that the room be made in the same style as the balcony space. Then the interior will be more organic and attractive.
Decorating a bedroom on the balcony begins with defining a general idea that will set the tone for the entire interior. To visually expand the space, it is best to use light colors for the walls, floor and ceiling. Such a room, and even in combination with large windows, will make your room more spacious and more beautiful.
In order to avoid being woken up by persistent sun rays in the morning, and by the light of headlights and street lamps at night, it is worth picking up blinds or curtains. The choice of curtains or blinds depends on the style in which your room will be decorated. So, laconic blinds will better fit into the interior in the Art Nouveau or loft style. And in a small bedroom in the Provence style, light curtains with floral or plant patterns will look good.
In general, curtains, like walls, should also be light - this is a great way to expand your space and add lightness to the interior.
The next, no less important stage is the choice of furniture. Since you have little space, every detail of the interior should be not only stylish, but also functional. No extra tables or cabinets on the small balcony will fit.
The most important element of any sleeping space is the bed. You can add a single bed, pull-out sofa or even an ottoman to save space. If you wish, you can even make a custom-made bed. In this case, it will exactly fit in size to the parameters of your balcony. If you have it wide enough, then you can try to install a double bed there. Just be prepared for the fact that it will take up almost all the space.
You can also simply put a regular spring mattress on the floor or on a special wooden frame. In an Art Nouveau room, such a solution will seem stylish and modern.
Classic cabinets and bedside tables are unlikely to fit in such a small space. Therefore, it is better to choose hinged shelves and corner cabinets. They do not take up much space and can be placed on the wall directly above the bed.
The final stage in the design of the new room will be the decor. Decorate the bed with a beautiful blanket, and decorate the shelves with your favorite books, photo frames, paintings, flowers in pots and other details. The floor can be additionally insulated with a colored carpet, which will not only decorate your room, but also make the room more comfortable. It is all these individual little things that make the home truly "ours", and therefore it is worth using them even in such a small space.
As you can see, in a modern apartment, a new room can be created literally out of nothing. Redevelopment of a previously unused balcony, its insulation and minor cosmetic repairs will allow you to create a cozy sleeping space for a child or an adult. Use every square meter of your home wisely, show your imagination, and all your friends will admire your comfortable living space.