Owners of one-room apartments have to take a very thoughtful approach to the issue of using every centimeter in their home. At the same time, using the developments of modern designers, even in a modest-sized room you can create a cozy island where everyone will feel comfortable.
Where to begin
There is never too much space! A large area is usually spent irrationally. And those of us who live in one-room small apartments, willy-nilly, get used to the fact that we need to use every centimeter of our home in the most thoughtful way.
From the plan. We make a plan for our one-room apartment, taking into account our requests for it. The main task is to increase space, both physical and visual. To realize your plans, first of all, you should competently remodel the apartment. At the same time, one should not forget about compliance with its legality. The redevelopment project must be approved by the relevant services.
The most common and easiest option for increasing physical space is to eliminate partition walls between the main room and auxiliary rooms. Most often, the partition between the hall (living room, if you will) and the kitchen is removed. Combining it with the kitchen is not the best option, because the kitchen should be separated from the general space of the apartment. Not all kitchen smells please the sense of smell. But your desire to be in free space pushes this negativity into the background. In the end, “delicious” smells are heard more often from the kitchen.
Here you will learn what rules for creating the perfect interior in the living room
High-tech style
High-tech style is often called the style of the future. When you are in a space decorated in this style, you can often catch yourself thinking that you are on board a spaceship. This is because most of the decorative elements are built-in, right down to the door handles. Most of the home space is decorated with chrome surfaces.
Plastic and glass are mainly used as finishing materials. Despite this, this does not mean that it cannot create a feeling of comfort. This style is well suited for a young family, especially if the couple works in the IT field.
Beautiful kitchen in high-tech style
A glass partition will not burden the space with bulkiness
When decorating the interior, the high-tech style is characterized by the use of the latest materials
Interior design of a small apartment
Most of us will not always be able to think through the interior of a one-room apartment correctly on our own; we often have to resort to the help of professional interior studios. This is especially true for project development, since it is very difficult to combine all functions in a small space. A small apartment should have a recreation area, a work area, a place for meals, a children's area, and at the same time, everyone in a small apartment should have free space!!! Not an easy task... But there is no need to worry, I will give you many tips and rules for arranging and renovating a small apartment, which will become the subject of admiration for others.
Kitchen
For those who like to place souvenirs on shelves and leave behind a mountain of unwashed dishes, the minimalist style will not suit them. If your home is like a studio apartment, where the dining area of the room does not attract much attention, then a kitchen that can accommodate a huge amount of built-in equipment will be a suitable solution.
Modern interior design of a one-room apartment does not accept the use of any small items in the kitchen. To properly divide a room into zones, use color approaches and different surfaces. To do this, you are provided with an endless range of materials - wood, stones, glass, plastic, brick, gypsum tiles, aluminum profiles.
In turn, you can use surface lighting. Divide the kitchen area into three parts: for cooking and storing food (the so-called work area); a refectory, in which there can only be a dining table or a built-in counter instead; an area that promotes free movement around the kitchen.
All kinds of patterns and unnecessary decorative elements are not suitable for a minimalist kitchen. Cover the walls with single-color wallpaper or plaster. Floor coverings such as stone, relin or parquet will be more relevant. Kitchen decorations should not be combined with a large number of useless elements, be sharp and catchy.
An ideal option for a kitchen in a one-room apartment would be a continuous row of cabinets with a single plane of surfaces. The lightish upper part and dark base of the set will help to enlarge the apartment. For large windows, use Roman drapes, roller blinds or curtains. Use soffit lighting for the ceiling, floor or shelving as a lamp.
Design tips
This section contains the most interesting tips from designers that will greatly ease your headache about small-sized interiors. So, let's begin:
- The best style for decorating the interior of a small apartment can be considered minimalism. And this does not mean at all that the only furniture in the house will be a table and a sofa, and even worse, a mattress on the floor. No, this does not apply to the minimalism movement at all. You really don’t need a lot of furniture, but each item should combine several purposes at the same time. When choosing furniture, pay attention to transformable items. It could be a table that turns into a bed in the evening. Or a sofa with a built-in tabletop instead of a coffee table. And of course, the ideal option for small apartments would be custom-made furniture. This will significantly increase the free space, since the furniture will occupy only that part of the room that is necessary.
- The interior should be “airy” - we will definitely need mirror surfaces, partitions made of thin translucent fabric or frosted tempered glass. Small spaces need to be zoned correctly!!! If there is no need for partitions, we can delimit the room when finishing. You just need to combine finishing materials correctly. The floor can also be covered with different materials - for example, in the kitchen and in the hallway there are tiles, and the guest area is separated by laminate. At the same time, it would also be nice to lay out a small rug in the “sleeping area.” This is one of the possible zoning options for a small space. We still need to emphasize different zones in the apartment with light, then the overall picture in the house will become accurate.
- Dark shades or, conversely, too bright shades cannot be used everywhere in a small apartment. Even if you really want to, you can and even need to make a couple of accents. The interior looks very unusual, in which the ceiling is made in a rich dark color, and the walls and floor are made white. Or a more traditional option, when everything is the other way around. The ceiling and walls are light or white, and the floor is made in dark colors. Well, naturally, it is better to give preference to light shades.
- If the apartment has non-load-bearing walls that can be dismantled without permission, then it is better to do this. They cut up space and make small things even smaller. Studio apartments may not be suitable for everyone, but on an area of 36 square meters there is a lot of useful items that, if properly arranged, will turn the apartment into 56 square meters... Only, unfortunately, visually.
To make our one-room apartments visually more spacious, we need to avoid overcrowding one single room - stop buying figurines while traveling! Windows should also not be overloaded with fabric; it is better to use thin veils or Roman blinds than lambrequins. You can hide from neighbors' eyes by installing roller blinds on glass made of thick fabric. And by the way, I forgot to say about household appliances. Small apartments must have mobile equipment, or rather the owners, that is, you and me, must have it. It is better to install the TV on a swivel bracket, and immediately mount the acoustics on the ceiling of the room.
A small one-room apartment should be functional and modern; grandma’s closets should be removed and replaced with transformable pieces of furniture.
Where and how to place a washing machine in a small bathroom? The answer is here.
Selection of furniture for the interior
To quickly change the interior and create a new functional area, your furniture should be monochromatic and not include bright decorative elements. Furniture should be of a regular shape without unnatural detailing, and have as few finishing elements as possible.
If you are using auxiliary furniture, then you can design it into whatever you want. When you arrange a certain area, then you will be able to create the design yourself using various decorative elements, various things, lighting fixtures and all kinds of textiles.
Tricks for organizing storage
Modern man needs a fairly large space to place things. At the same time, everyone wants to ensure that storage systems are practically invisible in the interior, but are spacious and ergonomic. Make sure that there is enough space allocated for them, taking into account the growth of things in the future. At the same time, it is important to organize everything so as not to turn the apartment into one continuous closet.
To make the space of a one-room apartment seem wider, you can install a stylish aquarium in the blank partition between the room and the kitchen, the beauty and uniqueness of which will be admired by absolutely everyone. At the same time, you can easily separate different sectors of your “nest” from each other. All household members will be delighted with this proposed option.
In addition, you can insert an aquarium into the opening between the room and the wardrobe. You can improve this option by taking the example of aquariums (a wall of water and glass). The only negative in this whole composition is that it will be difficult for you to relax next to such a beautiful living corner.
About the design of an apartment in Khrushchev
A room, a kitchen, an entrance hall, a combined bathroom, a small storage room and a balcony, if the floor is not the first - that’s all the space of a one-room Khrushchev apartment in Moscow and other cities in the post-Soviet space. There is only about 28 square meters of area on which we must place everything we need. I can already see the rounded eyes of the readers, and the silent question - how?!? The organization of space in such apartments is on par with functionality. Nothing is impossible - and that's true.
I'll start from the entrance. The first room is the hallway. Usually this is a narrow corridor, full of everything, but nowhere to step. To make the hallway in a Khrushchev building spacious and at the same time preserve the functions assigned to it, you can do this:
- If there is an adjacent storage room, we convert it into a spacious closet, and on the hallway wall you can hang a couple of hooks for casual clothes. A mirror will visually expand the space and is convenient to use before leaving the house. You can install a narrow shoe rack with a seat on top or put poufs with voids inside.
- The geometry of the hallway in a Khrushchev building can be different. For elongated rooms, you can use a compact wardrobe or corner cabinet. But a mirror, preferably a tall one, should be in any home. But unnecessary details (vases, shelves for small items, etc.) must be abandoned. It is better to make the room light, and this applies not only to the color of the hallway, but also to the lighting. It is most beneficial to install the light source close to the mirror.
The second room that needs rationalization is the Khrushchev kitchen.
Usually six squares, we do not have the possibility of transferring communications (gas, sewerage). Therefore, they usually select a set of furniture with built-in appliances. The dining area is best placed near the window, and the table can be attached to the wall and removed if necessary. The window sill in the kitchen must be used. Moreover, if you install a wide window sill, you can make a table or additional workspace from it. The set is placed either on 2 walls, or along one. I personally have been bored with the last option for a long time. For small rooms and apartments, it is better to choose minimalism, hi-tech or Japanese interior design style. Even classics will do, but only in a compact version - small-sized furniture, a minimal amount of classic decor.
There should not be a lot of color in the room; decorative coverings with frequent small patterns will have to be abandoned. You can focus on one wall; it can be a bright color, a pattern, or a material of a different texture that matches the color. But rooms with the same covering, in which zones are separated by light or air partitions, always look more organic. Many people like open ceiling-length shelves, including me. The lower part can be closed with doors, but it is better to choose a level no more than 50 cm and leave the rest as is.
The best bathrooms
In bathroom design 2022, the necessary functionality is organically combined with interesting decorative ideas. And this is clearly visible in the photographs of the interiors created by the architects and decorators of “Foundation”.
True luxury
In the photo: Art Deco style bathroom in the Setun Valley residential complex
White marble, golden decor, designer sanitary ware and retro accessories in the color of old gold - an art deco-style bathroom looks truly luxurious. And the bathtub built into the niche, despite its impressive size, does not overload the space.
Interior accent
In the photo: Bathroom in the Edelweiss residential complex
To design a modern bathroom with trendy sanitary ware in the Edelweiss residential complex, the designers of the Fundament Group of Companies used 3D panels with an original relief surface. They contrast well with the smoothly plastered walls, focusing attention on the central part of the room.
Tribute to tradition
In the photo: Classic bathroom in the Right Bank residential complex
Gray and white color scheme, a classic plinth, patinated furniture - the interior of the bathroom in the Right Bank residential complex embodies a traditional approach to design. Chrome accessories support the overall concept of the project and blend well with the finish.
Successful layout
In the photo: Bathroom in a modern style in the Grunwald residential complex
A corner bath can be integrated even into a room with complex geometry. So, in the Grunwald residential complex, the designers fit it into a small niche that was formed after installing the installation for a wall-hung toilet. And where the shower head was installed, the bathtub was separated from the washing area by a high screen made of tempered glass.
Minimum Required
In the photo: Modern bathroom in the Edelweiss residential complex
A shower corner with a transparent fence, a wall-hung toilet and a designer floor-mounted sink – the modern bathroom in the photo shows a minimum set of plumbing fixtures that provide the necessary functionality.
In the Scandinavian spirit
In the photo: Bathroom with a Scandinavian flavor in the Grunwald residential complex
Light wood brings a real Scandinavian spirit to the design of a small bathroom and harmonizes well with tiles that imitate natural marble.
DESIGN OF A ONE-ROOM APARTMENT IN VARIOUS STYLES
MODERN HI-TECH
The interior looks more like a clear blueprint than a simple room. The main finishing materials are plastic, metal and glass; the decoration is a black and white photo or a drawing in an abstract style. Another distinguishing element is the blinds.
The style has a neutral color palette and consists of black, white, gray, beige and silver shades. An exception may be a bright spot, for example, a picture, a lamp, a table. Thus, you can enliven the room, make it more attractive and comfortable.
MAD FUSION
Fusion is the fusion of all style trends. You can take a piece of Provence, loft and other style trends.
But designing a fusion style must be approached wisely. Namely, take into account the commonality of textures, color shades, and take one basic style that must be consistent. Otherwise, the merging of all styles will look stupid and violate the unity of style.
The advantage of fusion is its originality - every person is free to fantasize and create a unique atmosphere in the apartment.
EXCELLENT ART DECO
The distinctive features of Art Deco are the correctness of geometric patterns, zigzags, the presence of black and white tones, complemented by the colors of sapphire and emerald. Also, natural materials predominate in Art Deco - fur or leather upholstery, velvet or satin material, and the like.
The face of Art Deco is considered to be wide mirrors, shiny and glossy surfaces. It is very difficult to transfer this style, but the harder the work, the more beautiful the result. What can you learn from Art Deco:
- Black and white shades;
- Furniture made of leather and velvet;
- Massive mirrors;
- Ceramic and bronze figurines;
- Carpets with geometric and zigzag patterns.
Hall design ideas
High-tech Provence style Hall in a classic style
English classic style
Hall in black and white
LOFT style
EXAMPLES OF DESIGN OF A ONE-ROOM APARTMENT OF 40 SQM
40 sq. m. - this is the average area of one-room apartments in most modern high-rise buildings. Unlike Khrushchev, whose area is 28-32 square meters. m, these “one-room apartments” offer more variety in the layout and design of the space, and even open up the opportunity to arrange 2 separate rooms – a bedroom and a living room or a common room and a children’s room.
In this article you will learn that the design of a one-room apartment of 40 square meters can be very comfortable, free and admirable if you approach it correctly.
Beautiful design of a studio apartment of 40 sq m - photo and floor plan
The owner of this apartment wanted the design of her apartment to be clean, simple, elegant and timeless. What do you think: did the designer manage to achieve this?
To make the interior look more spacious, all the separate areas of this apartment were directly connected to each other. The kitchen is combined with the living room, a transparent door leads to the bathroom, and the bedroom is separated from the living room by a semi-open partition in the form of vertical blinds. And now, instead of several small rooms, we got one, but very free and stylish room!
Among other important design elements of this 40 sq. m apartment, it is worth noting the light color palette and the absence of massive pendant lamps that “steal” the air from the interior. Please note that the built-in spotlights along the perimeter of the living room ceiling seem to separate this area from the rest of the apartment.
Ukrainian apartment design 40 sq m – photo and 3D project
As you can see in the photo, the kitchen here is much larger and more convenient than in the previous version. And the sofa and bed, despite the fact that they stand almost end to end, are separated by a transparent glass partition.
The result is an open and airy design, while stylish tiles in the kitchen and bathroom add an interesting twist.
Scandinavian design of a one-room apartment 35 sq m
This studio apartment design was included in our list of the best projects largely due to the fact that it features a loft bed. It is this piece of furniture, combined with a laconic Scandinavian style, that makes this home look spacious, stylish and very cozy. And, of course, the window in the wall between the kitchen and living room gives it even more charm and freedom.
Bright modern design of a one-room apartment 40 sq m
Next on our list is a bright and juicy design of a 40 sq. m apartment in the city of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The concept of this home was inspired by LEGO, so some parts of the interior - the TV stand, shelves, kitchen and even the pictures on the wall - look like an interesting puzzle. Despite the bright accents, most of the interior was still done in white, and the neutral bedroom design is ideal for rest and relaxation.
Unusual layout and design of a 1-room apartment 40 sq m
This small studio apartment stands out not only for its unusual layout, but also for its beautiful combination of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalism. Light wood tones and a neutral color palette are highlighted by blue and yellow accents, including cushions, upholstered chair seats and wall paneling in the sleeping area. What do you think of the idea?
One-room apartment 40 sq m for mother and daughter
The design of the home is designed to meet the growing needs of the child, for which purpose a spacious study area was equipped here, complete with hanging cabinets for books and other accessories. A low TV stand and a coffee table of the same height, combined with the overall minimalism of the design, make this apartment very light and fresh, and the dark wood against the backdrop of smooth white surfaces creates a simply chic effect.
Luxurious apartment design with an area of only 35 sq. m.
While we are gradually approaching the end of this article, it is already obvious that transparent glass partitions between the living room and the bedroom are a key point in creating a free and comfortable design for apartments up to 40 square meters and turning a small “one-room apartment” into a completely comfortable “two-room apartment”. This luxurious 35 square meter apartment is no exception. What makes it special is the bold design and color scheme - instead of light colors and minimalism, here we see bright purple and turquoise accents on a stylish gray background, as well as massive lamps (placed in the right place!), a fireplace and an absolutely stunning marble bathroom.
Who would dare say that this tiny dwelling is not luxurious?
Wall decoration
There are practically no restrictions here. Can be used:
- Wallpaper;
- Paint;
- Decorative and simple plaster.
In difficult places where walls are subject to increased load (hallway, work area, kitchens, bathroom), the most durable materials are used:
- Tile;
- Fiberglass.
To create an original design, accent walls from:
- Laminate;
- Natural or decorative stone;
- Wooden panels;
- Brick;
- Photo wallpaper.
But these methods of attracting attention must be used very carefully; sometimes they make the room too heavy.
Modern design of an apartment of 40 sq. m. in the style of Chinese minimalism
On the one hand, this design of a one-room apartment of 40 sq. m includes only simple decorative elements, but all together they create a very beautiful and cheerful atmosphere of the home.
Minimalist furniture with simple rectangular shapes looks very elegant and fresh against the backdrop of bright green, pink and purple accents. The bedroom, separated by a romantic translucent partition, has a large wardrobe, and the bathroom, which is accessed by a door from the kitchen-living room, has a narrow shower, thanks to which it was possible to accommodate a washing machine.
Read this article about which curtains are suitable for decorating a living room.
Pop art style
Expensive and luxurious furniture is not for pop art. This style is characterized by the use of bright plastic furniture with a glossy surface, in the image of “retro-futurism”. from natural materials. Forget about free-standing cabinets and other bulky furniture that will only clutter the space. For furniture, preference is given to built-in cabinets and shelves that are hidden from view.
Decorate the walls with cans, portraits of Monroe or Andy Warhol to create the impression that this is not a studio apartment, but an exhibition of contemporary art.
Bright colors look more vibrant on a white background
A bright coffee table and colored pillows will help to dilute the snow-white space.
A space decorated in this style shimmers with different shades. It sparkles and shines at the same time. It is characterized by flashy colors on a white background, which make the interior look stylish and modern.
Bright colors in the interior will give you a constant feeling of celebration
Original paintings in the interior of a studio apartment will decorate it and give it a special style
The light floor and ceiling are skillfully diluted with bright colors, without which the pop art style is not possible
A beautiful collage made up of the legendary four of the Beatles will fit perfectly into the original pop art style design
Design of a one-room apartment of 35 sq. m.
The difficulty of decorating a small one-room apartment lies in the need to place a kitchen and work area, living room, and sleeping area in a very limited space. And when the need arises to equip a children’s area of 35 square meters, it seems that the task is doomed to failure.
However, after carefully studying the recommendations of specialists, it is quite possible to create an individual design yourself. Which will combine style, functionality, lightness and comfort.
Apartment with an area of 35 sq. m.
In a one-room apartment, it is preferable to choose minimalism or Scandinavian style. Not to be confused with asceticism. This style simply implies the absence of overload with furniture and decor.
Photo 47
— Properly selected and custom-made furniture is a winning option. A bed that transforms into a closet during the day, pull-out tables are of course much more expensive, but will help save space. Instead of bulky walls, buy a wardrobe. It can be installed along the entire wall, or a storage room can be converted to accommodate it. The presence of mirrored doors will help visually enlarge the room.
Photo 48
— A palette of warm, light shades looks good in small apartments. Pastel colors, prevailing in the interior with proper lighting, create the illusion of visual expansion of the room. Choose plain wallpaper, and use bright spots as accents to add color: a carpet, a picture on the wall, a decorative insert on the wallpaper, unusual sofa cushions.
— You should not choose bulky ornate chandeliers with rich decor; they visually lower the ceiling. For lighting, use a variety of spotlights, with which you can effectively divide the space, giving coziness and comfort to each zone.
— To decorate the window, use light transparent fabrics, giving preference to roller blinds or Roman blinds. Heavy, richly decorated lambrequins are clearly not for small apartments.
Photo 51
— The presence of a balcony or loggia will add several much-needed square meters. If you insulate the external wall well, install a heated floor system or a radiator, then you can organize a working or sleeping place in the additional space. It is good to use it for a recreation area. On an uninsulated balcony you can place a variety of cabinets for storing tools or household appliances.
Photo 52
Bedroom
If the area of a one-room apartment allows, the main room can be divided into two zones - a living room and a bedroom. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that both rooms receive sufficient natural light.
Everything in the bedroom should be arranged so that nothing seems like an unnecessary detail. To solve this dilemma, use a closed system, such as cabinets or a chest of drawers.
To decorate the interior of a bedroom in a one-room apartment, you can combine two neutral colors, for example, take brown and beige, but exclude white. Such tones are mainly used for central surfaces.
To highlight the accent, use a bright color (red or orange), with its help you can highlight small details of the interior. Try decorating the walls with plaster, paint or mirror wallpaper.
On a note! Usually a suspended or plasterboard ceiling is installed, and small lamps are scattered along its boundaries. In such a bedroom there cannot be any frescoes or stucco moldings.
The main focus in the bedroom is always the bed. An addition to it can be a platform or a special canopy. Use furniture to a minimum - a wardrobe and a small table.
All items must be of the correct shape with a smooth, consistent surface. It is best if the wardrobe is built into the wall. If you want a mirror in the bedroom, then you will need to decide on the location of the toiletries.
Apartment design 35² for a family with a child
When there is a child in the family, it is necessary to allocate space for his sleep and rest. A lighter part of the room is left for the child.
Special furniture for a child can perform all the necessary functions. A bed located above a desk for lessons allows you to save space and equip it for games and storing toys.
Ideas on how to place the interior in the living room
Basic planning principles:
- Use furniture that is as functional as possible. Discard unnecessary items. You can turn a one-room apartment into a multifunctional apartment using transformable furniture
- Combine zones whenever possible. Let one smoothly flow into the other. For example, a TV wall can have a built-in desk or spacious wardrobes for a nursery or bedroom. Combining zones saves space, for example, a sofa can be part of the living room during the day and a sleeping place at night
- Use all the features of the room - niches, alcoves, balconies. If the ceiling height allows, make a second level. It is very convenient to place a sleeping area on it.
Niches or a balcony can be used to expand the space
Before you begin renovations, carefully consider the layout. Even a hand-drawn plan will help you preview the future interior, and thus avoid mistakes.
