head of design studio
Introduction - come up with 2-3 sentences
The style is interesting, multifaceted, which looks great even in small spaces. It is characterized by simplicity and conciseness, everything is very functional, convenient and, of course, beautiful. 
Modern living room design
. Clear geometric lines and patterns in the interior are one of the features of modern style.
Signs of style
. White and black, gray and beige are the main colors of modern style. Bright accents are also needed, because without them the interior can become faceless and monotonous. Large size posters or paintings are welcome in modern design. There shouldn’t be a lot of decorative items, but they are all original, bright and support the style of the room. Comfortable, practical furniture, but at the same time quite minimalistic and simple in shape.
Read more
Sofa seat
in the design of a modern living room
Visual planning
. Draw a plan of the room with future furniture, observing all dimensions - this will help you look at the entire arrangement as if from the outside. Perhaps your original idea will change radically after such planning.
The sofa does not need to be placed in a draft
. This means that it shouldn't be on an imaginary line from window to door - if you've drawn a floor plan of the room, this will be just easy to follow.
The location of the sofa in the living room
. Below we offer several options for the location of the sofa. You will see that the place for this living room item changes depending on the task.
1. A sofa opposite the TV, diagonally from the door - an excellent location. As if inviting you to sit down
2. Sofa near the door. A good solution if you often have overnight guests.
3. Corner sofa in the living room. It is best to place it in the far corner from the door. This will make the room look more spacious.
Correct opening of the door in the living room
In or out?
Opening the door in the living room
. If you don’t want to attract unnecessary attention to the front door of the room, then you can choose this invisible model without platbands. If you paint it the same color as the walls, it will completely disappear into space.
Open inward or outward? There is no clear rule here, because everything depends on the layout and the furniture placed. The main thing is that the door leaf opens freely and does not interfere with entry and exit from the room. The door should not interfere with free access to the closet or dressing room. Sometimes it makes sense to move the doorway altogether or choose the option of a sliding sliding door or a folding book door.
1. Suitable door location option. It does not block the corridor and, as can be seen in the picture, does not interfere with the passage into the room. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that when open, the door touches the cabinet doors.
2. Worse option. The door seems to block the entrance to the room and “eats up” a lot of space. If it is not possible to change the direction of the door, then it makes sense to install a folding door-book or accordion.
3. Bad option. To open the door to the living room, you have to step back - this is inconvenient, especially if the apartment has a narrow corridor. It makes more sense to install a folding or sliding door.
4. Convenient door location option. Does not interfere with the approach to the room, and is also good from a fire safety point of view.
TV in the living room
size and location
Placing a TV in the living room
. The larger the diagonal of your TV, the more beautiful and logical it looks in the interior.
Location
. The TV is placed on the wall opposite the sofa - this is the most logical and reasonable place for it in the living room. Moreover, the distance to it does not really matter: modern TV models can be placed close to the sofa.
Cabinet or bracket?
To your taste. The main thing is that the television area looks neat and presentable. Provide in advance a cable channel in which all the wires and numerous sockets for the receiver, modem, set-top box, and sound bar will be hidden. Nothing spoils a design more than protruding wires!
Height from floor
. It is optimal to place the TV 1 m from the floor to the middle of the screen - this is exactly the eye level of a sitting person.
Diagonal size
. If you have the financial opportunity, consider options from 50 inches - smaller screens look lonely and lonely on an empty wall.
Film projector as an alternative
. Unless you have flat white walls, you will need a screen for the projector. It can be lowered manually, there are also electrically driven screens - in this case, it would be wise to provide power for it in advance. Remember: no protruding wires! Next is the place for the projector itself. Decide for yourself what it will be: a permanent mount or a removable option that is installed only during the movie screening. Provide thick blackout curtains to completely darken the room, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy the bright picture.
TV in the living room
Loft
This style should create the appearance of a non-residential building into which a family consisting of completely non-standard individuals has just moved.
Despite the apparent simplicity of decoration, the style is quite complex to decorate. Natural texture is required in all elements, so you should not try to cover the wall with brick-like wallpaper.
The unconventional style will also manifest itself in the amazing mixture of antique (or better yet, old) pieces of furniture and modern appliances, grandma’s rugs and a cozy sofa.
The main emphasis is placed on upholstered furniture. These could be antique armchairs or a leather sofa located near a coffee table.
Furniture in the living room
Furniture in the living room
. In a delicate neoclassical interior, a bright blue armchair acts as a color accent. A very convenient and comfortable accent. :))
- Armchair.
Often a chair becomes an accent item in the interior, then its shade, and sometimes its shape, differs from the rest of the furniture. When choosing a chair, also focus on your habits: for example, it will be more comfortable to sit up and read a book in a chair with dimensions of 90x90 cm, but you can “just sit comfortably” in a fireplace chair with a high back, comfortable armrests and a seat of 80x80 cm. - TV stand.
Large TV stands are no longer as relevant as they used to be, when it was necessary to store a player, cassettes and discs there. Nowadays a console table or a narrow elegant cabinet is enough. - Coffee table.
A nice piece of furniture that creates a cozy atmosphere. Some models, if necessary, can be transformed into a more spacious table for receiving guests - however, it is not easy to find comfortable and beautiful examples, plus they usually cost a lot. - Side tables.
If the size of the living room does not always allow you to install a full-size coffee table, add-on options are an alternative: they are convenient, easy to move around the apartment and do not take up much space. You can find original designer models, then the side table will also become an art object. - Rack.
An extremely useful type of furniture. Firstly, a large number of decorative items can be beautifully arranged on the rack. And secondly, it can also serve as a light through partition, which divides the room into zones and does not take away light. For small apartments this is a very big plus. - Additional storage cabinet.
If the size of the living room allows, you can place the sofa at a distance from the wall, almost in the center of the room - this will free up space for the closet, and you will not have to choose between spacious storage space and a large, comfortable sofa. Carefully study the apartment plan and use all the walls and niches to maximum advantage; space in houses is often poorly organized - Fireplace.
Here we are talking about electric fireplaces. Some of them come with a humidifier function and heating, so 3 in 1 models can bring obvious benefits. Fireplace portals have different styles: classic, antique, modern. A discrepancy with the overall style of the living room can greatly spoil the impression of the room, so be careful with creativity. Sizing is an important issue. A large wall with a high ceiling also needs a proportionate fireplace, otherwise a small portal will look lonely and ridiculous.
Fireplace
If furniture is the “physical” shell of the living room, then fire is its soul. It will give a special atmosphere of relaxation, warm and soothe. As a rule, the fireplace is located near the media area, but often it becomes the central element of the composition around which the space of the room is formed. If the living room area does not allow you to equip a full-fledged fireplace, bioethanol fireplaces come to the rescue - they are as spectacular as “living” ones, and quite environmentally friendly. In this case, the bio-fireplace is usually placed in combination with a media zone.
Fireplace in the living room, led into a separate area. Photo from the site mebel-go.ru Bio-fireplace in the living room. Combination with media zone. Photo from the site el-ab.ru
Kitchen + living room
The option of demolishing the partition between a tiny kitchen and a small room, thereby creating a decent and bright space, is becoming more and more common. Of course, this solution is not suitable for everyone, but the combined space has many fans, so let’s take a closer look at it.
Kitchen-living room design
. A bright accent in the interior does not have to be just one - it can be several shades.
By combining the kitchen with the living room, we automatically get a room with at least two windows - that is, a space filled with air and light. Another plus is a full-fledged dining area, which is not always possible in a separate kitchen. By the way, when choosing a dining table, you need to count on at least 70 cm for each person.
Ideas for the kitchen-living room
We break down the walls correctly
As already mentioned, living rooms can combine conflicting functions. In other words, the living room is both an area for children and adults, and, therefore, should serve both as a children’s playroom and serve as an office. This is a room where evenings are spent in a close family circle, but where noisy, cheerful groups of friends are also received. And such a division can be successfully emphasized not only by the arrangement of furniture, but also with the help of a thoughtful redevelopment of the room.
So, if you want bold experiments, then you can demolish the old partitions or, on the contrary, build new ones. Thus, it is possible to combine living rooms with a kitchen or dining room, which will entail additional decoration with dining room furniture. In this case, it is convenient to conditionally delimit two rooms with a bar counter with chairs, and the dining table will now be an element of furniture for the living room. By correctly forming the lighting zones, you can, with the click of a switch or remote control, transform your living room from a home lounge to a dining room, cinema room, etc.
However, in practice, combining a living room and kitchen is not always a good solution. The reason for this is foreign odors. And although modern household appliances and ventilation systems can effectively solve this issue, if you cook a lot often, it is better to look for alternative ways to expand the living room, for example, combining it with the dining room. And if you have made such a decision and are already starting to tear down the interior partitions, then it’s time to think about purchasing furniture for the dining rooms.
What does dining room furniture include first? Of course, there is a large dining table and chairs that can accommodate a large number of guests. But just a dining table will not be enough, so dining room furniture is complemented by chairs, display cabinets, kitchen chests of drawers, a serving table, etc. Dining room furniture will allow you to organize a feast with childhood friends or work colleagues, or simply celebrate a family celebration.
They often combine the living room with the hallway, since the hallway is the smallest room in the house. Then here you can put a wardrobe to accommodate guests’ clothes, a small sofa, and other furniture for the living room.
Although living rooms are multifunctional rooms, when decorating them and selecting furniture you have to focus on one style or another.
So, in what style can the living room be decorated?
Bedroom + living room
A living room combined with a bedroom is not the most common option. This arrangement is not suitable for a large family, but young owners of a one- or two-bedroom apartment might take a closer look at it.
Use a shelving unit as a partition to divide the room into zones, retain natural light and get additional storage space for books and various small items.
Bedroom design with living room
. An excellent example of a bedroom-living room design for a one-room apartment!
Color scheme for a small apartment
In a small apartment, the living room is universal. The family spends their evenings there eating a delicious dinner, watching movies, and playing games. It is also where guests meet and important holidays are celebrated. Sometimes it plays the role of a sleeping place. Small dimensions will not interfere with making the room as functional as possible. There are certain design tricks for this.
- Use light shades. You can safely use beige, milky, brown, olive, and white tones. They decorate walls, floors, and textiles.
- Application of mirror surfaces. Mirrors increase space. If you need space-saving, functional furniture, then it is better to give preference to a wardrobe with mirrored doors.
- Rugs, pillows, vases can be chosen in bright colors. For example, in green, orange, coral. Only the personal preferences of the owners will play a role here.
- The room can be divided into zones. It is better to use a multi-level ceiling with lighting for this.
In a small apartment, the living room becomes the real center of the universe
The color scheme embodied in a small apartment should not immediately include a huge list of different tones. It’s better to choose a few light ones for the main decoration, and a few bright ones for accessories. When choosing, it is better to be guided by publicly available data on color compatibility. This approach will allow you to avoid basic mistakes.
In the design of a small living room with a light color scheme, bright color accents are allowed
For a small living room it is important to have good natural lighting
Living room + office
In a small apartment it is not always possible to carve out a full-fledged place for a desktop. It is often placed either in the bedroom or in the living room. The size and location of your desktop will depend on how often you will use it. For a table for a laptop, a width of 50-60 cm is sufficient, and for a desktop computer it is better to choose models at least 70 cm in depth.
Living room design
. In this project, we made a small work table and shelves invisible due to color - they literally merge with the wall. The chair, on the contrary, has become an accent chair.
I offer three convenient options for placing a desktop in the living room.
1. Desk in the far corner. A good option if you rarely need to work in the living room. To make your workplace less noticeable, you can make it match the walls or place a beautiful screen or shelving nearby.
2. A large desk by the window is a solid option for freelancers working from home. This table, with an extended window sill, is perfect for working with a desktop computer. If the living room has the elongated shape of a narrow trailer, such a tabletop will visually expand the room.
3. Desk built into the closet. An ideal option to hide “artistic clutter.” I did some work and immediately hid my workplace from prying eyes.
Desk in the interior
Curtains
Heavy curtains, of course, are still used in private homes and some apartment interiors, but quite rarely. After all, high ceilings are desirable for such window decorations, and washing them is a below-average pleasure, considering that they do not fit in a regular washing machine.
There are a huge number of ideas for decorating a living room, and you can generate dozens of them yourself. If you approach the choice with a fair amount of imagination and understand what exactly you need, the ideal interior will appear before your eyes.
Small living room - the best design ideas and options for decorating small rooms (115 photos)- Tulle for the living room - modern, spectacular ideas, tips for choosing and features of living room design (video + 105 photos)
Wall in the living room - 135 photos of beautiful walls and fashionable new items for the 2019 season
Air conditioner
in a modern living room
An important rule: cooled air should not blow on people sitting on the sofa or at the table. Moreover, the farther the internal housing of the air conditioner is located from the window, the more difficult and expensive it is to install - after all, you will have to trench the wall.
Air conditioner indoor unit
- not the most attractive detail in the interior and you always want to disguise it somehow so that it is not too noticeable. A white block on a white wall is easier to hide. :).
We propose to consider the three most common options for the location of the air conditioner.
1. The indoor unit fits well above the door - excellent placement of the air conditioner!
2. The location of the air conditioner is close to the window. This option is especially good for those who want to save on a strobe for air conditioner communications.
3. Poor location of the indoor unit. Cold air from the air conditioner blows onto the sofa and the people sitting there.
Which is better to choose wallpaper or paint?
Even at the planning stage, the question may arise: what is the best way to dress the walls? With the abundance of finishing materials that can be found in construction stores today, paint and wallpaper remain the most popular for interior decoration.
When making a choice between one material or another, you also need to consider what the interior decoration of the living room will be like after the renovation. After all, for textured wallpaper or wallpaper with a print, you will need to select appropriate interior items. That is why in most cases preference is given to monotonous wallpaper without a pronounced texture or paint.
Lighting
in a modern living room
An important question, because the light determines how comfortable your room will be. There should be a lot of light! Consider several different lighting scenarios.
Living room lighting
. The brick wall was supported by minimalist lamps - all from different collections, but in the same loft style.
Lamps
- this is part of the decor, so they must be combined with the style of the room. Nowadays it is important to use different lighting fixtures in one room in the same style, but from different collections. It’s good when there is basic, local and intimate light in the living room, because when we change the lighting, we automatically change the mood of the room.
overhead light
- This is the main type of lighting and includes work lights (spotlights) and a chandelier. By the way, a chandelier can not so much shine brightly as it can support a design and be an art object.
Toward the local light
include all kinds of floor lamps, table lamps and sconces. Although, regarding the sconces, I would like to warn you: rarely does this type of lamp fit into the style of the living room, especially in modern interiors. It’s better to replace one sconce with two stylish lamps.
Intimate light
- these are garlands and candles. Interior garlands are those that burn with an even light, preferably warm white. They can create a surprisingly cozy atmosphere in the living room, or they can serve as a night light.
Candles
. There is no need to say much about them, except perhaps a few words about the choice of candles. In the interior, large-sized single-color candles of different sizes look best. A win-win option is white, with a slightly rough or matte surface.
Zoning
. The lamps are ideal for zoning, especially in combined rooms. The kitchen-living room should have task lighting in the kitchen area, one or more pendant lights above the bar counter or above the dining table. The living room area also needs both main and local light: cozy lamps behind the sofa, a floor lamp by the armchair.
Where does design creation begin?
The living room is a space that connects all the other apartments. Its interior must be thought out to the smallest detail. The most important thing is to determine the center of the apartment. The center can be a large dining table, a TV, a fireplace, or a huge sofa. It depends on the main purpose of the room. It can be different for each family: a place for leisure, parties, sports. Based on this, the rest of the interior is built.
The center of the living room can be a beautiful furniture wall and a large TV.
Make the center of your living room a cozy seating area in a well-lit area of the room
The next step is to determine the main color scheme. It is important to take into account all the nuances. First, you should highlight your own preferences, then use the shade compatibility table. It is easy to find on the Internet. This will make it possible to choose the right range of colors. We will look at some of the nuances of colors below.
Choose the right colors for your living room
Start planning your design with floor and ceiling coverings. The room should be dry, warm and comfortable. Consider installing underfloor heating. This is especially true if the living room will often be used by children for games. Floor heating will allow you to save on heating costs. A good system is absolutely safe and does not require large energy costs. Only professionals can install such a system.
The floor and ceiling must be insulated
Also, decorating a living room requires financial expenses. Determine your budget in advance. Its size will depend on the extent of the repair. For minor changes in the situation, a small amount will be required, for major changes, large cash injections will be required. You can save on accessories and decorative elements.
Classic living room design requires a lot of money
Classic living room style can use contrasting color combinations
Colors
Beige color in modern style living room design
It cannot be said unequivocally that to decorate a living room you should choose only light shades. There are many examples of original and bright designs with accent walls, both in classical and modern styles. But today I want to look at light living room options, for several reasons.
Beige visually expands the space
. This, you see, is the main task in modern apartments - to create the illusion of space.
Compatibility
. Delicate beige shades go well with many warm and cool tones. This “friendliness” of beige color allows you to add bright accents to the interior: furniture, textiles, decorative items.
Create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort
. In addition, they calm the psyche and do not become boring.
Beige color in the living room
. As a rule, warm shades of beige are used for design in a classic style. But cooler, grayish tones will look better in modern interiors.
A selection of beige living rooms
Gray color in a modern living room interior
Gray color in the living room
. Gray is the calmest and most neutral color.
For example, black tones absorb light; their inept use in the interior can make the room too gloomy. The abundance of white in the room, on the contrary, will make it faceless and uninteresting. Gray color is between them: neutral for perception and not boring. It is truly versatile and goes well with all shades of the spectrum.
A selection of gray living rooms
Advantages and disadvantages
There are many pros and cons to the variety of color palettes. Let's consider the properties of a living room in light shades.
Pros:
- Color versatility. Light shades will always be in trend;
- Visual expansion of the area. Designers never tire of emphasizing that the entire range of light colors provides additional volume;
- Easy perception of light shades. Such a living room does not look busy and cluttered; people have fun gathering in such a room.
About the cons:
- Markedness. It is this minus that can be considered the main one. The slightest carelessness and all contamination are like palms;
- Over time, some owners find the decor boring and want contrasts, while others think that light shades are too simple and monotonous.
Design: Irina Lavrentieva
Other colors
In a modern living room design
White color in the living room
Blue color in the living room
Dark living room design
Classic style with upholstered furniture and relief on walls and ceilings
Basic elements and principles:
- Moldings, cornices, stucco;
- Pattern, relief;
- Symmetry in everything;
- Flooring made of valuable materials (natural wood, porcelain stoneware);
- Furniture from the 16th-17th centuries;
- Arches.
Basic colors:
- Pastel colors: white, shades of gray and universal beige
- Dense and noble shades of burgundy, brown, violet, salmon and olive as accents
- Brown (dull, desaturated and dark, with golden or muted red undertones);
- Muted yellow;
- Pastel blue, green or gray;
Possible decor:
- Art objects (paintings, statues,)
- Flowers of certain types (hydrangea, rose, lily)
- Natural textiles (linen, cotton, silk)
- Crystal
- Candles on candlesticks
- Antique
- Fireplace
Decoration Materials
in the design of a modern living room
Living room decoration
. Thanks to the moldings, the room immediately acquires a classic tone.
Moldings
. Moldings are an inexpensive and easy way to create the desired ambiance in a classic style. They are made from different materials: wood, polyurethane, plastic, foam. They come in different widths and shapes. With the help of these decorative elements you can zone and visually change the space. Depending on the material, moldings have different properties: polyurethane, for example, is flexible and durable, and with their help you can create round or oval shapes.
Skirting boards
. There are no clear rules, but a high and plain baseboard (100-140 cm) looks most impressive. As for color, it all depends on your taste and the style of the room. It can be white or to match the trim and doors, it can be wooden, to match the floors, or painted to match the walls.
Cornices
. Finding the perfect cornice is really difficult. Personally, I think that the best cornice is the one that is not visible. It is not difficult to hide it from view behind a ceiling plinth or behind ceiling panels, and this principle of attaching curtains and curtains will fit perfectly into any interior style.
10 tips for decorating your living room
High tech
The high-tech style is somewhat reminiscent of minimalism. Strict lines and a minimum of things are also valued here. But the main emphasis is on new products of scientific and technological progress.
The basis of the design will be a large plasma TV or home theater.
The interior uses artificial materials and the latest technologies: lighting control using a remote control, hidden doors, elevator systems for opening cabinets, photocells.
Decor
in the interior of a modern style living room
Living room decoration
. In any decoration, consistency of items is important. Furniture facades and curtains, carpet patterns and vases, lamps and paintings - everything should be in the same style.
Decor
. Decorative elements include not only vases and candles. These are carpets, curtains, rugs, paintings. Even indoor plants are part of the decor. In short, this is the interior itself, which means that its choice must be taken extremely seriously.
Textile
. Decorative pillows, an elegantly and seemingly carelessly thrown blanket, curtains and carpet - all these textiles should be combined in style and color. Otherwise, it will create a feeling of randomness of objects.
Accessories
. The same applies to all kinds of figurines, vases and various souvenirs. It must be remembered that they play the role of accents, which means there cannot be many of them. It is best to think through each item, its color and location in advance.
Plants
. Indoor plants are good in sizes larger than 50 cm, that is, quite large, there should not be too many of them either. Important addition: no flowers in colorful pots on the windowsill!
Paintings, photos, posters
. Each of these items should be considered as an art object, that is, any image on the wall should not be random or thoughtless. Landscapes and still lifes are appropriate in classic design. If we are talking about modern style, it is good when posters or paintings are large. For an apartment, the most optimal formats are A1 and A2 (A3 minimum). The exception is compositions of black and white photos in thin frames - different sizes are acceptable there.
10 Living Room Decor Tips
