Increasingly, modern double-bed apartments are appearing on the housing market, replacing standard two-room apartments. They are distinguished by their low cost, which sometimes scares uninformed buyers; is it a pig in a poke? The main contingent of owners of such apartments are young families and bachelors. Let's talk in more detail about the features of such housing and how to competently plan the design of a Euro-room apartment.
What is European layout
The European layout includes a small room (up to 40 sq.m.) with a bedroom, a bathroom and a living room area combined with a kitchen. Of course, the owners will not expect a stove standing forlornly in the middle of the room, next to the sofa. In an interior design project, they think through the proper delineation of two areas: for cooking and for relaxation. In fact, a two-room apartment with the prefix “euro” is a more expanded version of a studio apartment, which has a separate, additional room. Of course, the layout in which the premises are divided into a bedroom and a living room with a kitchen is the standard option. Only the owners decide what and where to place it. A separate room can be equipped as a nursery or a living room, and in the combined area there can be a bed and, again, a kitchen. Inexperienced designers will be helped to plan a project for placing zones by professional designers or their advice contained in specialized literature.
Total
One-room apartment is suitable for buyers who want to have a separate kitchen. For example, families without children, pensioners and older people. In the odnushka there is less space for eating and cooking, but the resting and working area is separated from eating.
For a family with a child or expecting a new addition, it is better to choose a two-room apartment. Although this apartment is comparable in area and cost to a one-room apartment, its layout is more convenient. The spacious kitchen-living room will be a place for cooking, family dinners and gatherings with friends. A small bedroom can be converted into a children's room.
Pros and cons of a “Euro-apartment”
Among the advantages of the Euro-kopeck piece, the following aspects are noted:
- Its cost. Perhaps the most important and undeniable advantage of housing is its price. Euro-bedroom apartments occupy an intermediate position between one-room and two-room apartments. That is, the buyer can purchase housing that is only slightly inferior in functionality to a two-room apartment, and at a price slightly higher than for a one-room apartment. The savings are obvious.
- Opportunity to develop a custom apartment design. For some this aspect will be a plus, but for others it will be another difficulty. In the second case, we are talking about conservatives at heart who do not accept the line of modern styles and fashionable combinations of spaces.
- The best option for young families. Young couples often face the problem of a family budget that is too small and does not meet their needs. It’s good if your parents help you buy an apartment, but it’s a completely different matter when the family is left without support and will have to cope on its own. Previously, there were only two options: the eternal yoke of a mortgage and a good apartment or a cramped room in a communal apartment. Now there is a third option with Euro-kopeck units. Taking into account the regularly increasing popularity of this housing, it becomes clear what young couples prefer.
- Convenient location of rooms. Usually a square-shaped apartment is divided by a conventional straight line almost in half. On one side of this line there is a separate room for a bedroom and part of the hallway, and on the other side there is a living room with a kitchen.
Odnushki
One-room apartments have long remained the most sought-after product on the real estate market after studios. Developers are experimenting with layouts and bringing new “models” of one-room apartments to the market. But some parameters do not change.
Square
The average size of a one-room apartment in St. Petersburg is 40 m² and has remained unchanged for the last 10 years. Kitchens in one-room apartments are built from 8 to 15 m². If the kitchen is larger, the apartment can be sold as a two-room apartment.
Price
The price range for one-room apartments in new buildings is large. At the construction stage, a full-fledged one-room apartment can be purchased for an average of 2 million rubles. Apartments in completed buildings already cost from 3 million. And in a comfort-class residential complex - all of 5 million. Ready finishing from the developer adds another 300-500 thousand to the price of a one-room apartment.
Layouts
A one-room apartment will definitely have a separate kitchen, room, corridor and bathroom. Their size and configuration vary. However, in the last couple of years, developers have been trying to make layouts more convenient - they are abandoning elongated “pencil cases” in favor of square and rectangular spaces. If the house is built according to an unusual architectural design, the room may have obtuse and sharp corners, round walls and even bay windows. These elements will complicate repairs and selection of furniture.
Pros and cons of classic one-room apartments
A one-room apartment is ideal for one person who does not spend too much time at home. A young couple will also fit in a one-room apartment. But with the birth of a child, you will have to move to larger housing, because a crib, high chair and other necessary furniture will take up half of the apartment. A one-room kitchen is not suitable for large dinner parties, only for intimate gatherings and quick breakfasts and lunches.
Who is it suitable for?
Singles or young families without children.
Life story
Marina and Oleg got married in June, and in July they began looking for a new home. They wanted their own apartment instead of a rented studio on Zvezdnaya. The newlyweds saved up 300 thousand, and their parents gave them another 200 for their wedding. It was decided to spend the money on the down payment on the mortgage.
They turned to Trend to find an apartment. The couple did not intend to have children in the next five years, but there was absolutely not enough room for two in the studio. We decided to take a one-room apartment with a full kitchen. There Marina could bake branded pies without interfering with Oleg working at the computer in the room.
A real estate specialist helped make the choice. We settled on a one-room apartment for 2 million in the “Dear Friend” residential complex in Murino. 5 minutes walk to the metro, 10th floor, decoration as a gift - the newlyweds were satisfied with everything. Trend's mortgage specialist helped to obtain a loan under a preferential program, and the manager accompanied the transaction until the last signature. A month later, Marina and Oleg moved into a new one-room apartment.
Zoning options
The convenience of staying in it primarily depends on the zoning of the combined room. It is not recommended to install massive furniture or a decorative wall in a small space. Segmenting the room into small areas will make it even smaller. Professionals recommend paying attention to lighter obstacles: furniture (bedside tables, sofas), mobile partitions, or conditional zoning with symmetrical decor. An original, popular option was the arrangement of a bar counter, which will serve as a buffer zone between the living room and the kitchen. Conditional separation is also sometimes used using artificial light, color and various finishing materials. For example, in the currently fashionable loft style, one accent wall is decorated with brickwork, and the rest are plastered. The contrast in the textures of the materials is obvious. In some options, if the ceiling height allows it, the living area is raised onto a podium, into the “step” of which spotlights are built. The symmetrical difference in levels on the ceiling looks organic.
In rare cases, differentiation is made using textile curtains. The method is relevant for combined bedrooms and kitchens. It is not recommended to place audio systems close to the culinary area, without which the hall cannot function. Likewise, you should not decorate the border zone with textiles. It will quickly absorb odors and will have to be washed regularly. In general, the kitchen and living room are incompatible spaces. Their microclimates and functional purposes are polar, that is, they do not coincide at all. The delimitation of zones in this case is pursued not so much by an aesthetic goal, but by the need to isolate the aggressive kitchen, from which the main dirt comes from the calmer living room, where household members should relax.
How to create comfort in 40 m2
You don't need a lot of space to express yourself and create an interior design. A small apartment can be very affordable if you follow these tips.
Color is the best way to zoning
Use color
Start with color first, as this is the best way to zone. Use color to enhance your space. It’s really cool when the same color can be found in different parts of the room, but in different proportions, feel free to experiment.
Use glass for zoning
Glass does not absorb space, and this is the main thing we want to achieve - maximum space. Therefore, feel free to use glass partitions in your layout to achieve effective zoning.
In addition, glass can visually increase space (and not only mirrors), as well as its functionality. Such an interior will look flexible and functional, will really save money, and will look beautiful and cozy.
Also pay attention to the solutions of professional designers who also actively use color and glass zoning.
Glass does not absorb space
Kebabs on the balcony
The converted loggia can also be turned into an original relaxation area where guests gather and chat over a cup of coffee.
By installing a bar counter, an electric grill and a stove on the balcony, you can arrange fun picnics at home with the participation of many guests.
Furniture arrangement
In the kitchen, you should pay attention to the L-shaped furniture layout. In this case, two areas of the working triangle are located on the same line, and the third covers the adjacent wall. It is better to refuse the popular and beautiful island layout, since it is implemented in large spaces, and this is not our case. The dining area is located here, near the boundaries of the kitchen and living room. By the way, a table and chairs can also act as space zoning. Audio and video equipment is placed on the accent wall, which is opposite the kitchen area. The sofa is turned “to face” her. Its back will “look” at the kitchen, which is also considered a zoning option. If the back side of the furniture does not look very good, then it is complemented with a cabinet of the same height. By the way, it is better to use a corner sofa, which will partially overlap the wall with the only window in the room. A low coffee table is placed in front of it. The wall with the TV can be supplemented with a shelving unit. In some cases, when the area of the apartment allows (about 40 square meters), a wardrobe is placed in the corner. This option is relevant if the bedroom is too small and there is nowhere to store things.
Old story in a new reading
Having given preference to European design, after the renovation the apartment owner will not have the use of mossy classics, but a fresh look at traditional things. A voluminous, bright room conducive to relaxation can become a magnet, thanks to which all family members strive to get home as soon as possible after a working day. An apartment, decorated in the chosen style, is ready to hospitably open its doors to welcome visitors and envelop those who live inside its walls in a cloud of calm comfort.
Style selection
Many people's eyes will start to run wild from the stylistic diversity: Italian, Japanese, Baroque, Art Nouveau, classic, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Provence, loft, eclecticism, ethnicity, fusion, retro, minimalism, high-tech, futurism, constructivism. This list can be continued for a very long time. What style is suitable for compact housing? Options from the line of modern trends are considered optimal. High-tech will organically fit into the cramped two-room apartment, placing the technical component at the “head of the table.” Its primary colors (gray, white, black) will maximize the size of the room, visually expanding the spatial framework. If your soul requires “warm” country comfort, then you should pay attention to Provence. A light, airy style that chooses wood as the main material and white color as the basis of the composition. It is ideal for small spaces and will transform them with cute decorative details. Minimalism is considered the optimal solution for owners who value practicality and laconicism. It is also suitable for budget repairs. To furnish the apartment you will only need a minimum of furniture and decor.
Stylish color scheme: avoiding bright colors
In European classics, the use of a limited set of light colors is not a flaw, but an advantage. A huge number of shades of varying degrees of saturation create a rich palette of interior colors. Preference is given to pastel, whitewashed options, color accents are muted. Instead of pure, flashy colors, a more restrained range is used.
Against the background of light walls, upholstered furniture and fabric decor successfully sound old brick, matte chocolate, dark green, gray-blue, warm dark gray, and other complex color combinations.
When decorating an interior in a European style, avoid dark door panels and narrow baseboards that match the color of the floor. White reigns here. Doors and portals of any shade of white are preferred: creamy, snowy, bleached wood.
Arrangement of the kitchen-living room
A kitchen combined with a living room is considered a fashionable and stylish design move. These premises are united even in situations where there is no vital need for this. Simply because the solution looks fresh and beautiful. When developing a room design, you should consider:
- A small space that needs to be visually enlarged with light shades in the background. For the same reason, it is not recommended to overuse it with colorful decor.
- Lack of natural light in the kitchen area. The problem is solved with the help of good lighting not only of the working area under the apron, but also of the entire site as a whole. Also, do not forget about the dining area, which is located next door. The best option would be to install several ceiling chandeliers above accent areas.
It is not recommended to experiment with styles that are a priori considered a potpourri (eclecticism, fusion). They perfectly reflect the creative chaos in the head of the apartment owner and convey his mood, but they will spoil the perception of a small space.
A bathroom you don't want to leave
A European-style bathroom is not a utilitarian room with a limited amount of decor, the finishing of which requires a minimum of funds. This is a corner of relaxation full of soft warmth. A voluminous bathroom allows you to plan the placement of an ensemble of a ceiling chandelier and matching sconces near the mirror, and a light floor covering expands the boundaries of the room. Wall decoration is possible according to the “top-bottom” principle - a combination of laying wall tiles and painting. Against such a background, plumbing fixtures with discreet, streamlined configurations look more advantageous. The junction of different finishing wall materials is decorated with a figured tiled frieze. An interesting technique is to paint vertical surfaces with a color different from the main tone of the tiles, which makes the bathroom less conservative.
Bedroom arrangement
In the bedroom you will have to be content with little, that is, the maximum furniture that the owners can count on - a bed, a wardrobe and paired bedside tables. In some cases, the wall at the head of the bed is covered with an ultra-narrow shelving unit. The wardrobe is chosen as a “compartment” type, since its doors will not take up extra centimeters in the room. Traditionally it is placed opposite the bed. The bed usually takes up the lion's share of the room, so it might be worth installing a pullout sofa instead. During the day it will free up space to spread out in the room, and at night it will turn into a comfortable sleeping place for two.
Thoughtful lighting: we include different scenarios
The use of several groups of lamps allows you to demonstrate in the European style the entire necessary light range: daytime, evening, ceremonial, work lighting. Sometimes linear lighting is designed behind the ceiling cornices, but much more often light points are used:
- top chandelier;
- sconces that accent certain areas of the room;
- floor lamps for reading, creating the necessary lighting intensity near sofa groups or armchairs;
- table lamps with large lampshades.
Decorative lampshades of lighting fixtures are themselves elements of decoration. They create a soft, subdued light that echoes the glow of a live fire in the fireplace, making the atmosphere of the room more comfortable. Fireplace lighting in the evening, when all other light sources are extinguished, gives a fluctuating glow of reddish shades, adding mystery to the interior. At this moment, the reflection of the flames from the metal accessories of the room becomes especially interesting. The placement of a fireplace in the bedroom is extremely effective; thanks to the warmth and soft light, the private space turns into even more private.
