Most of us have at some point faced the problem of living in a small apartment. As soon as the excitement about acquiring new housing fades, we begin to settle into the situation and often discover that our "palace" is rather cramped.
That is, there is quite enough space for sleeping, personal hygiene and cooking, but the living room could be bigger... Do not despair — use the suggested tips for increasing the living room space, or rather, for using it more rationally. Perhaps you will feel as if you have become the owner of a new apartment.
Planning Is Half the Battle
1. Before you move into a new apartment, carefully think through how you will arrange the furniture. We recommend drawing a plan of the room in a small scale and cutting "mock-ups" of the furniture with which you plan to fill the space out of cardboard. It is always easier to decide on the arrangement of objects on paper first and only then move the furniture. Not the least role in this situation is played by the fact that your wallet will not be depleted by excessive spending.
2. Think about how you can open up the space as much as possible. If the living room is next to the kitchen — unite both spaces by removing the partition between them (of course, if the structural scheme of the building does not prevent it). A bar counter that does not interfere with the perception of the entire space as a single whole can serve as the optical boundary separating the two rooms.
3. Unite the walls and ceiling of the living room and the kitchen with a common color solution. At the same time, there is no need to paint everything in one color — a difference in shades based on a common tone will be enough.
4. Doors that swing open take up a substantial amount of space, so it is better to replace them with sliding ones. Wherever possible, replace the solid "blank" filling of the door panels with glass.
What to Furnish It With
5. Most likely, the most difficult item of the program will be placing the sofa. This operation requires particular attention. Forget about the set with two armchairs. Pillows and ottomans can perform the same function. If the size of the room allows, choose a three-seater sofa rather than a two-seater one, preferably with internal storage space for bedding.
6. Despite the shortage of space, the sofa still has to be placed somehow. Place it so that a small gap of twenty centimeters remains between it and the wall: firstly, a folding table and the like can be stored in this space, and secondly, it will visually increase the depth of the living room.
7. A small space does not accept heavy furniture. The main criterion of your choice should be the multifunctionality of the furnishings. Furniture on wheels, which can be easily moved in accordance with your wishes, is very practical.
8. By leaving the space in front of the sofa empty, you thereby visually expand the room. At the same time, you are not being asked to give up the coffee table — it will be necessary. It is best to place two small tables at the ends of the sofa, so that when guests arrive, you can move them together and use them for serving light snacks.
9. The role of the table in front of the sofa can also be assigned to a stool, if it is stable enough and made of the same material.
10. When choosing furniture for a small room, you should give preference to simple lines and configurations, because excessive decoration creates an impression of clutter.
11. Do not experiment with the traditional wall unit. Even if you get it "for free". Remember that once you squeeze it into the living room, you are unlikely to ever get rid of it. It is better to buy open shelves, which you can hang on different walls. They can hold the same volume of things, while you preserve the sense of lightness so necessary for a small space.
12. The unquestioned favorites among accessories and additions for decorating a small space are glass and metal products, lacquered surfaces and plastics. When choosing furnishings for the living room, pay attention, first of all, to furniture with these inclusions. Glass and plastic, elegant metal structures create the impression that the furniture takes up much less space.
13. Even if you do not have children, sooner or later you will still need a table at which several people can sit. Where can you fit it? This can well be a drop-leaf table. It is enough to allocate a free section of the wall for it and use it as needed. The rest of the time it will not take up space. "Play" with its color and configuration — it can be turned into an effective decorative accent in the living room.
14. You will need chairs for the table. It is most practical to buy folding ones.
15. Connoisseurs of quality sound and image can be advised to buy a plasma screen, which you can hang on the wall and thereby save precious centimeters.
16. In a small room with open furniture, maintaining order is especially important — everything should be in its place. Scattered magazines and books do not create an impression of emancipation; if anything, they disrupt the harmony.
Playing with Color and Light
17. The use of light tones is the most effective: on the walls, on upholstery, in furniture structures. It is preferable to opt for delicate colors. Use dark and saturated paints sparingly, on small areas — then they will be appropriate and can contrast favorably against a light background.
18. Those who are not afraid to experiment can choose pastel tones. An ideal option for the main color would be light blue. It creates an impression of airiness and depth, although, of course, it belongs to the cold colors. A successful solution may be the use of its shades. Do not be afraid of warm tones either: lemon, peach and many other colors can be used successfully.
19. Curtains, drapes (and blinds) should match the general concept of the living room and create an impression of lightness. The more sunlight you let into the house, the better. Therefore, avoid dark tones in window framing and give preference to greenish shades.
20. The same applies to carpets — the most suitable ones will be plain carpets or carpets with an unobtrusive pattern. The use of vertical lines, elongated accessories and hanging plants in the decor of a small interior never hurts.
