Living room 12 sq. m.: design, styles and design features of small living houses and apartments

Advice from professionals

Standard twelve squares is a more than modest-sized room. However, on the Internet there are a huge number of successful photos of a living room of 12 square meters. m. Analyzing the best options, we can highlight several principles that designers use to visually increase space:

• light tone walls
• matte ceiling
• dark floor
• one accent wall
• multifunctional furniture

Correct arrangement of furniture

Using pieces of furniture and arranging them correctly in a small living room, you can zone the space, creating an area for relaxation, work, and communication with friends. All pieces of furniture for such a room should not be massive. Preference should be given to compact and at the same time functional items.

Furniture should allow relatively free movement around the room

It is advisable to maintain the necessary access to a window or balcony

Create an interesting design by choosing neutral shades and functional furniture. Cozy pillows, nice little things, and a vase with bright flowers will be a beautiful solution for decorating a room.

Today, such little things can be seen and purchased in specialized stores, which offer a wide range of designer items for the home. In addition, now you can decorate your home at an affordable price, which is important. Interesting ideas can be found on the Internet and information catalogues.

Light walls

As you know, light walls are not only an excellent backdrop for the rest of the decor, they also visually expand the space. Scandinavians love to use white in the living room interior, adding bright accents to it.

In addition to dazzling white, which is not so practical to care for, and for some people it evokes associations with a hospital ward, you can use the warm color of baked milk or a noble shade of ivory. Shades of light gray and whitened blue expand the space well.

Furniture filling for the living room

Before purchasing furniture for the living room, you should determine for what purpose it is needed:

1. For placing and storing things.
2. For receiving guests.

The standard option for the living room interior is the presence of:

• Wardrobe.
• Armchairs.
• Sofa or sofa.
• Coffee table.
• Showcases.
• Dining table (if space allows).

Read: Zoning the living room
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Matte ceiling

The idea that reflective surfaces add complexity and dimension to a space does not apply to ceilings. Glossy stretch ceilings form a mirror surface that doubles all the objects in the room.

Oddly enough, this does not lead to a feeling of increasing the size of the room; rather, on the contrary, it creates the impression of it being overloaded with things and chaos. Matte, flat ceilings are good for small rooms.

Complex structures made of plasterboard are out of fashion, and even in such a small area, the cost of their installation is not worth the effect produced.

How to decorate the interior of a teenage boy's bedroom

First, we want to determine the basic requirements for a teenager’s bedroom:

1. Comfortable place to sleep. This could be a sofa or a bed with an orthopedic mattress of medium hardness. Buy a longer bed as your child grows quickly at this age.
2. The place is equipped for training. There should be a sufficient number of bookshelves and drawers for various things of the owner of the room. Do not forget about the ergonomics of the child’s workplace: the height of the table should be correlated with the chair so that the child does not hang his elbows on the table during classes, but also does not reach the table - this spoils his posture. The table should be wide and long enough, and there should be enough space for both the computer and homework. The corners of the table should be even. Buy a chair with adjustable height to ensure it lasts a long time; the back should be high and comfortable for long periods of sitting.
3. Adequate lighting. Be sure to have a chandelier on the ceiling and several table lamps: one on the table, the other by the bed; a teenager will probably want to read a book before bed.
4. Storage space. The room should have enough space to store clothes, everything should be at hand, thoughtfully and conveniently organized, because here lives a restless guy who is always in a hurry to do business.
5. Color spectrum. Since a boy will live in the room, choose a suitable color scheme: blue, gray, dark blue, brown, burgundy, green, purple. Contrasting color combinations look especially good: black and white, brown and orange, emerald and gray, and so on, a young, nascent psyche. Hang tulle and curtains in the room so that the boy can rest peacefully during the day, after lessons or training.

Room for a boy 10-12 years old

Children between the ages of 10 and 12 are just beginning to develop more conscious adult tastes and interests. At the same time, the baby is still growing very quickly, which means that he needs the most adaptable environment possible. Choose simple neutral finishes, furniture

transformers and think about storing your favorite toys.

Room for a boy 13-15 years old

The period from 13 to 15 is quite complex and changes for all teenagers. Freedom of expression is especially important for a growing child, so give him the freedom to make changes in his room. To prevent this from causing problems in the future, choose materials and furniture that are easy to replace or put in order.

Room for a boy over 15 years old

You can approach the layout of a room for a teenager over 15 years old in a completely “grown-up” way. Before renovation, find out your child’s preferences: what style and color scheme he likes, what furniture and what areas. Usually at this age boys already have a fairly clear idea of ​​the environment they dream about.

Traveler's bedroom

Not only grown men love travel and the sea, because they were children too, and it was then that this topic began to fascinate them. The colors and materials in such a room will be appropriate: colors and shades of sea and sand, many decking boards imitating natural or painted wood.

The room should be well illuminated by daylight, and the teenager will especially like it if there is a porthole, like on a real ship. Marine paraphernalia is another indispensable attribute of a bedroom in a nautical style: paintings in a nautical theme, statues of ships, nautical circles, compasses, a telescope, pirate hats and flags, wall maps, globes, oars, decorative nets and ropes.

Sports bedroom

The color scheme in such a room can be anything, from your favorite colors to the corporate colors of your favorite football team. Consult with your child and be sure to take his preferences into account when choosing a color. The sports bedroom should have many appropriate attributes: posters and photos with your favorite team, flags, cups and medals - if the owner of the room is an athlete, a variety of sports equipment: balls, clubs, helmets, helmets, rackets, etc. - Shirts. Do not limit the child’s possibilities: let him hang everything that is dear to him on the walls and arrange it on shelves.

Monochrome

Developing the design of a living room of 12 sq. m, give preference to modern styles; modern or minimalism are best suited for small rooms. They do not overload the space with details, leaving enough “air” and space for life. Rooms in one color look beautiful.

Different shades of blue from pale blue as a background to deep blue in accent details look very noble and modern. Shades of purple look interesting; light ones create a feeling of lightness and romance, while rich ones add depth and mystery to the interior.

Creation of lighting and decor

In a small living room, the lighting should be as intense as possible so that not a single corner is left unattended, hidden in the dark. A great idea would be to use multi-level lighting: use a chandelier as the main light source, install spotlights, local lighting to illuminate individual areas. A floor lamp next to the sofa will create a cozy atmosphere for relaxation; hanging fixtures will look great above the bar counter.

If the ceiling is low, you should abandon the chandelier in favor of built-in lamps, sconces and floor lamps

A small living room should not be overloaded with a large number of decorative elements. Decorative pillows and family photos will look beautiful in the room.

There should not be too many decorative items so that the interior does not look too cluttered

Color accents

When placing accents, the main thing is not to overdo it. If one wall is decorated with bright photo wallpaper or wallpaper with an interesting pattern, everything else, including curtains, should be plain.

If the color spot is the sofa, then the sofa cushions should either be the same shade or match it perfectly. Multi-colored pillows can “cheer up” the living room only if the color of the sofa is neutral.

Stylish interior design for a young man’s room – a selection of photos

Properly selected wall decoration will help hide the shortcomings of the room. For example, wallpaper with vertical stripes is often used in a room with low ceilings. Neutral striped wall trim makes the ceiling appear higher.

A dark floor is a practical option for a boy's room, and it's easy to freshen up the floor with a light-colored rug.

A bright chandelier adds zest to the interior and breaks up the monotony. Furniture in a fashionable woody shade of Chamonix oak will fit perfectly into a young man’s room.

Tired of bright colors? So avoid them completely. Today, monochromatic interiors are in fashion, so don’t be afraid to show your individuality. A monochrome interior can be created based on grey, black, white or brown. Some men prefer dark purple, blue or marsh colors, which are also used to create monochromatic interiors.

Monochrome colors create flexibility when modeling the interior, so a guy in such a room will be able to hang paintings, photographs, musical instruments and transform the interior. Decorative elements not only add zest to the atmosphere, but also emphasize the taste and character of the apartment owner.

Living room-bedroom

A small area imposes several tasks both on one room and on each piece of furniture. The sofa in the combined bedroom-living room should look presentable during the day, be comfortable and accommodate many guests during friendly gatherings, and turn into a full-fledged sleeping place at night.

The choice of sofa model depends on personal preferences and the overall style of the room. The most practical solution is folding three-seater sofa beds with a durable, non-staining coating. It is ideal if the furniture is equipped with a removable cover that is easy to wash and, when replaced with a new one, brings a different mood to the room.

Design of the work area

Regardless of other hobbies, teenagers are constantly busy studying, so work is a necessity. Choose a table that is tall and, most importantly, has adjustable supports so that you can raise it as your baby grows. And immediately buy a high-quality office chair for him - it is constant incorrect sitting at the table that is the most common cause of back problems.

Sofas and armchairs

Corner sofas with a daybed are too massive, and whether they should be used in small rooms is a moot point. Their advantages are that they form a large sleeping area and are convenient when you want to spend the evening in front of the TV. But occupying most of the free space, they do not allow for an additional chair.

Options with a three-seater sofa and a free-standing chair look much more interesting. Firstly, you can choose items from different collections that differ in color. And secondly, such a space is more “complex” and mobile. The chair can be moved to different parts of the room, and does not force everyone present to sit in one line.

In addition, the sofa can be complemented with a soft ottoman, which is comfortable to stretch your legs on after a working day, or use it as an additional seat. In addition, such ottomans often have a built-in storage niche - and this is always important.

Arrangement of premises for various purposes

Further advice on arranging a small room will depend on its immediate purpose - these are the factors that influence the features of the arrangement of a particular room.

The design of a room depends on who is in it most often

For all family members

In some cases, even such a small space has to be divided among all family members. In this case, you will have to use the zoning method. It turns out that the room will be at the same time a living room, a bedroom for the child and parents, as well as a place for pleasant gatherings.

In this case, the primary task is the placement of beds. Of course, a small child may sleep with his parents for a period of time, but soon he will need his own bed.

A clear example of organizing a room for parents and child

It is worth noting that depending on the location of the window in the room, the child’s bed can be placed not only opposite the parents’ bed, but also in one line.

The placement of the crib is in line with the sofa, which can serve as a sleeping place

The crib can be placed next to the parents' bed or sofa. This will leave free space on the side, which will be useful for organizing a work area.

An example of proper zoning using different shades

In the case of decorating a room “for everyone,” it is advisable to exclude the use of too bright, active colors. Large wardrobes and heavy curtains made of durable textiles will also be superfluous here.

Table 1. Furniture options for a common room

Important point! It is recommended to abandon all sorts of bulky decorative elements when arranging a common room: flowers in floor pots, floor mirrors, voluminous floor lamps with long legs, and the like.

For a girl

When the need arises to organize a small room for a girl, the difference between decorative options in a romantic style and airy ruffles immediately comes to mind, but in reality this is not the case. Modern girls increasingly prefer laconic interiors with a large number of functional items for study and relaxation.

An example of organizing a room for a girl

When decorating a room for a girl, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Style. Here you should take into account only personal preferences, but in the case of a small room, the interior in a high-tech or loft style will look most harmonious.
2. Color. Here the choice should be made of soft pink, yellowish tones or mint, which has been fashionable for many years in a row (the “Tiffany” shade). As additions, you can add brighter color accents. It is not recommended to use too saturated, dark colors as a basis.
3. Light. Particular attention should be paid to the installation of lighting fixtures, because in almost every girl’s room there is a table with cosmetics. You can also hang a makeup mirror on the wall with several LED lights.
4. Decorative elements. Since this is a girl's room, you can diversify the interior with some decorations. These can be miniature vases for flowers, souvenirs. It should not be forgotten that there should not be many such objects in a limited space.

Typically, a girl’s room consists of several main areas, which include a bedroom, a wardrobe, a study area, and a dressing table.

Table 2. All possible options for dressing tables

Design of a 12-meter room for a girl

You can organize a living area and a sleeping place using a folding sofa. No less convenient would be the option of a loft bed with a work area below - you can put a large number of different functional items there, including a miniature sofa. In this case, the height of the ceiling is of great importance, because it does not always allow the placement of such a structure.

A loft bed with a work area is an ideal solution for a small apartment where all zones need to be rationally distributed. In order not to miss any important points, you should familiarize yourself with the features of beds of this type in advance. In a special article we will tell you more about loft beds and talk about how to make one with your own hands.

The best option for a loft bed

The design itself looks laconic, without any additional decorative elements. In the lower part we managed to place a sofa and a chest of drawers, and the side wall was used for hangers.

If a girl prefers more romantic details in the interior, then you can opt for a classic design or country style. In this case, pieces of furniture can be decorated with various details, decorated “antique” or choose a vintage option.

Romantic interior idea

For a guy

When decorating a small space for a guy, it is important to fill it with simple but functional elements. After all, young men rarely prefer having a large number of decorations. A young man’s room usually consists of the following areas: clothing storage, a study table, a sleeping area, and a mini-living room.

That is why the most optimal solution would be to buy a folding sofa, which will become a comfortable sleeping place at night, and during the day can be used to receive guests.

An example of decorating a small room for a guy

To store clothes, it is recommended to purchase a wardrobe, since the presence of swing doors is unlikely to be convenient in such conditions. Hanging shelves can be arranged as auxiliary elements.

Placing functional items in limited space

A young guy's room must have a table and a chair. It is not necessary that this table be too large, but at the same time it is necessary to place a computer, office supplies and possibly some other personal belongings of the young man on it.

In this case, it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the various options for transformers. It can be a table-bed or a table-sofa.

A practical option for a transforming sofa

When arranging a room for a young person, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Don't choose too bright colors.
2. The best solution would be to create a laconic interior. In this case, the ideal option would be the same high-tech or loft. Almost any guy will probably not like elements of classics or Provence.
3. It is necessary to avoid having objects in the room that do not serve any important purpose (large flowers, extra cabinets, armchairs).
4. It is recommended to choose the simplest finish that does not require any special care.
5. The amount of textiles should be limited. This means that there should be no multi-layer curtains, furniture covers, or the like in the guy’s room.

An example of a room interior for a guy

Of course, when decorating a room for a young man, it is necessary to take into account not only the above recommendations, but also his preferences. So, some guys love exclusively dark colors, which are rarely used in small rooms.

An example of a stylish design for a guy’s room in dark colors without compromising the visual perception of space

Kitchen-living room

Since Soviet times, it has been the custom that guests are greeted in the kitchen. At the kitchen table they shared the latest news, celebrated holidays, and discussed politics. For people who can fit into kitchens with an area of ​​6 square meters, a room of 12 square meters. m makes it possible to combine the kitchen with the living room.

In modern interiors, instead of a boring kitchen corner with an adjacent dining table, the kitchen-living room space is formed from one line of the work area and an additional massive table - a kitchen island.

This device allows you to move freely around the kitchen and encourages communication. The owner can prepare a festive dinner and at the same time participate in a general conversation, because he does not have to spend most of the time with his back to the others.

The height of the kitchen island usually matches the height of the bar counter. It is suitable for both light buffets and long evening gatherings, because many models of bar stools are equipped with a comfortable backrest, and they can also be stacked when not needed, thereby freeing up such necessary meters.

Possibility of expanding space through adjacent rooms

If your apartment is still at the planning and finishing stage, then you can think of several options for expanding the space of the 12-meter living room. Such expansion can be either real or purely visual.

Kitchen-living room

Most often it is proposed to combine a small living room with a kitchen, making a common room. The kitchen area can be separated from the living room by a bar counter, which also serves as a place for a quick snack for family members instead of a full-fledged kitchen table.

The separation due to contrasting colors in the decoration of the kitchen and guest areas, as well as the use of a podium, also looks interesting. Decorative translucent panels, sliding or stationary panels, climbing plants, and bookcases can serve as partitions.

Combining a living room with a kitchen will be a good solution if friendly gatherings with guests are often accompanied by refreshments. This makes it much more convenient to serve. However, keep in mind that getting rid of food odors in such a living room will not be easy. Even a powerful hood over the stove does not always help. In addition, not every housewife is ready to show her kitchen to guests when preparing a dinner or dinner party.

Combining the living room with the corridor

If it is impossible or seems inconvenient to expand the living room by combining it with the kitchen, there is an option to increase its space by adding a corridor or hallway. Often a significant area is occupied by a corridor. By removing the partition, you will get a more spacious room, although it is a walk-through room.

In many countries, apartments do not have a hallway at all - a single room begins directly from the front door. For our traditions, the decision is unusual and quite controversial, since we will still have to allocate space for street clothes and shoes. It is allowed to partially separate it using partitions or cabinets. Note that combining the living room with the hallway is possible only with good thermal insulation of the entrance or if there is an additional door on the outside separating the so-called vestibule.

Sliding partition between the living room and bedroom or office

Sometimes a sliding partition is installed between the living room and bedroom. This option is suitable if large companies gather infrequently. Then the main option is two separate rooms. But if necessary, the partition panels move apart, almost doubling the space. To do this, it should be possible to remove the sleeping area in the bedroom or transform it into a comfortable sofa.

A similar option for expanding the living room area is possible at the expense of an office. In everyday family life, when the living room is used as a common room, a partition separates it from the workplace. When it is planned to receive guests, the partition is moved. After all, it would hardly occur to anyone to work while a fun party is going on in the next room.

All options with temporary combination of rooms require a special approach. After all, here it is necessary to think through the design of two adjacent rooms for different purposes, so that each of them in itself is comfortable, functional, and aesthetic. And being connected they looked like a single whole, without destroying the overall harmony.

Photo of living room 12 sq. m.

What to consider when repairing?

A win-win option in design is the simplest possible finishing. No furniture or decor will compete with plain walls, and besides, changing the interior by changing curtains or pillows is much easier than redoing everything from scratch again.

• Floor. When choosing a floor covering, remember that you will often have to walk on it barefoot. Therefore, warm materials such as parquet, laminate, linoleum or cork are best suited. Choose the shade of the floor in a 12 square meter bedroom that is several tones darker than the walls, but not too light. For even more coziness, lay one large rug on top or a couple of small ones on each side.
• Walls. Depending on your preferences and budget, choose paper, vinyl, liquid wallpaper or paint. The main thing is that all materials are environmentally friendly and do not emit harmful substances. If a neutral environment seems boring to you, hang interesting photo wallpapers behind the head of the bed. In a long narrow bedroom, this can be a panorama with urban or natural motifs, expanding the space.
• Ceiling. There is nothing better than a classic white ceiling - it makes a 12 square meter bedroom visually higher, fresher and more spacious. Whitewash, paint or order a tension structure. In the latter case, it is ideal if the film has a glossy or satin glow.

The photo shows the use of a floral print on the wall