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Living RoomFurniture
Lyudmila Zavyalova
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If you have long been interested in what a wall cabinet should be like in a living room, then this article will help clarify many questions.
What should a closet be like?
Today there are a huge variety of shapes and types of cabinets. To optimally select furniture, you should focus on the following criteria:
- Compactness. In addition to the closet, the living room usually contains a sofa and a couple of armchairs. All furniture should occupy a relatively small space.
- Practicality. The main advantage of a convenient closet in the living room is a large number of shelves and sections for storing CDs, books, dishes, and souvenirs. It is also better to choose models with additional sections for installing speakers.
- Strength and reliability of fastenings.
- Material of manufacture. Preference should be given to models made of durable materials (natural wood, metal).
The design of the selected cabinet is of great importance: its color design, size, decorative finish. When choosing, be sure to take into account the purpose of the furniture being purchased or manufactured: it could be a wardrobe for clothes, books, toys.
The so-called wall cabinets are very popular this season, where there is a “window” for installing TVs, all the shelves are open, and the lower contours contain storage drawers.
Manufacturing materials
The external design of furniture is extremely important when creating a cozy living room interior. However, the material from which it is made is an equally important characteristic, because the operational parameters of the product, its service life, and methods of care depend on this fact. Be sure to pay attention to the quality of materials that are used in the process of creating a specific cabinet model. The most popular of them are described below.
Material | Dignity | Flaws |
Natural wood | Natural, environmentally friendly, safe for human and animal health, pleasant natural aroma, long service life | High price, low degree of resistance to prolonged exposure to moisture and sunlight |
Laminated chipboard | Attractive aesthetics, external similarity to natural wood, environmental friendliness. | It gets scratched, which cannot be fixed later. |
MDF | A wide range of colors, various textures that imitate surfaces made of other materials, no need for specific care. | It is afraid of moisture, under the influence of which the film can peel off from the base. |
Plastic | Affordable, moisture resistant. | Low relevance in the living room interior, prone to scratches and fading. |
We also note that when creating a wall in the living room, metal fittings, glass, and mirror surfaces are used.
Wooden Laminated Chipboard MDF
Types of cabinets by shape
The shape of the furniture is an important parameter that allows you to place the cabinet in the available free space. When working independently or before purchasing, be sure to think through the shape and future location of the cabinet in the room. Depending on the shape, the following types of cabinets are distinguished:
- Linear models.
- Corner options.
- Radial cabinets.
- Modular cabinets.
- Built-in options.
For each living room, decorated in a particular style, you should select furniture individually.
Intended use
If the closet is intended only for storing outerwear, it should be used only for this, because it simply does not have additional shelves and crossbars. If you modify the structure yourself, its strength may be greatly reduced, which may result in failure.
That is why it is recommended to use cabinets strictly for their intended purpose; this will ensure proper storage conditions for things, in addition, the furniture will last the specified service life, and possibly even longer with proper care.
Corner cabinets
The body of the corner cabinet in the living room has two blocks, which are installed along two adjacent walls. Today you can find interesting options where one block contains open shelves, and the second is designed for hanging hangers.
They are used for small living rooms, in miniature studio apartments, where there is a need for zoning.
Installation Methods
The entire set must not only be harmoniously combined with each other, but also meet the requirements of practicality, convenience and functionality. Often, when working on a design, the owner cannot decide where to put the wardrobe. As a result, he gives up this idea and buys storage bedside tables or chests of drawers. The decision is highly controversial.
It is also very important when choosing a wardrobe to take into account its future location and installation methods:
Angular. By using the corners, the owner gets a much more practical use of space, as well as a stylish filling of the interior;
Suspension. The use of hanging cabinets is becoming very popular. The latter are installed on internal mounts built into the wall. This solution allows you to save useful space, and also gives a unique look to the whole idea;
Modular. This type of furniture consists of a set of bedside tables, shelves, racks, small compartments, made in the same direction. The advantage is the ability to adapt to any, even non-standard, layout and change the appearance by rearranging the modules.
Modular furniture
Almost all modern design styles are based on the optimal combination of comfort and maximum practicality. Any furniture should be used in all possible variations.
One of the new products on the furniture and accessories market is modular cabinets. They do not have a solid body, but can consist of several open or closed drawers. The boxes are installed on top of each other, attached to the wall, and there may also be hanging options.
The main advantage of modular furniture is the possibility of installation in any position, in conditions of lack of square meters.
Common design trends
The appearance of the apartment is built in accordance with the chosen style. Today there is a wide variety of solutions. Some strictly adhere to the chosen concept, others have very unclear boundaries. Mixing looks is becoming a fashionable phenomenon. All this is reflected in the selection of the environment.
Let's consider the most popular directions:
Modern. Used to create storage systems suitable for city dwellers. It is characterized by the presence of glass, glossy panels in the design and has simple silhouettes. Thanks to this, there is no “pressing” effect and the interior looks simple.
Classical. The fashion trend has always been classic. The proven style for years will fit perfectly into the design of the apartment. For such a living room, an excellent solution would be a large wall made of natural materials with mirror doors and gold frames. The ornament of flowers on the surface will add richness.
Japanese. Fans of the Land of the Rising Sun will appreciate this design solution. Sliding doors, pastel colors and Japanese ornaments will create a unique oriental ambiance.
Minimalism. Dedicated to the young and advanced! The basic philosophy is nothing superfluous, a minimum of design and details. Modern cabinets take up all or most of the wall. All multimedia equipment is harmoniously built into them and shelves and compartments for clothes are hidden.
Ethnic. Northern patterns, African frescoes, Egyptian hieroglyphs are becoming widespread among young designers. A distinctive feature is the various shapes and exotic designs.
There are a great many photographs of living room cabinets on manufacturers' websites. These resources will help you easily decide on your style choice.
Built-in wardrobes
To maximize the organization of free space, apartment owners use existing construction niches. Furniture built into such alcoves is called transformable furniture.
The cabinet can be made with open shelves or closed fronts (at the discretion of the owner). If you wish, you can always make a similar option with your own hands, because a huge number of instructions and drawings are freely available.
Note!
- Coffee table: rules for choosing the best table models and their use in interior design
- Leather sofa in a modern interior: ideas for placement and combination
- Closet for the toilet - basic cabinet options and rules for the location of toilet cabinets (photos of the best ideas)
Facade design options
The design of the furniture facade is considered a very important element. The external image of the facade should complement the overall style of the room, or add a “zest” to the design. In this case, the material of manufacture is important. The most popular include:
- Tree. Natural materials are widely used in classic interior design;
- Plastic. Furniture doors made from this material are suitable for homes designed in the modern and minimalist genres;
- MDF panels. Sawdust and substandard wood fibers are used for production. This material is cheap and versatile, but has low reliability;
- Glass. Allows you to apply various decorative patterns and designs to the surface. Can be used in almost all interior design options.
Types of cabinets by door design
Door fronts on furniture may simply be missing. In this case, the cabinet is called a wall. Such wall cabinets are often located in the living room. There are many reasons for this:
- A large number of open shelves allows you to place souvenirs on them.
- There is always a “window” for a TV, stereo system, or home theater.
- Convenient linear shape and small transverse dimensions. This design is very compact and does not take up much free space.
If there are doors, there is a whole collection of possible options:
- Wardrobe in the living room. The model has one door on a movable roller, which rotates along a built-in groove. A very convenient type of furniture design. The production version is often equipped with mirror panels on the facades.
- Wardrobe with traditional swing doors. A classic example of living room furniture. It has internal horizontal shelves and one section for hangers.
- Furniture with sliding doors.
- Models with folding or lifting door facades. When manufactured independently, it requires the master to use special fittings (a movable piston and reliable fastening).
Closed cabinets are most often used to store things, pillows, and books.
We select according to the style of the room
Obviously, in different apartments, and in different rooms, the general style of the interior may differ, and it is worth choosing a wall in conjunction with the design of the rest of the apartment. If your house is decorated in modern style, then you can afford to make such a bright accent. You can look for a wall that is completely different from the rest of the room, but then you will have to find a model in bright colors and with an interesting finish.
Advice Modern is a new generation style that has captivated many with its originality. It allows anyone to express their imagination and satisfy their desires. By the way, additional decor in the form of LED lighting is often used here.
Art Nouveau style
If you are going to stick to the classics, then, as already mentioned, you should select standard sets made of natural wood. This would fit well here:
- beech;
- cherry;
- oak;
- Red tree.
The classic wall model should be made in strict lines with a simple, unpretentious decor, perhaps in gold.
French glass is a good choice for additional finishing. It is this kind of wall that will look expensive and very elegant, and most importantly, it will suit the atmosphere of the room. The nobility of the classics will be emphasized and highlighted by such an elegant decoration.
Classic style model
In the high-tech style, chrome and chrome-plated metal in general are most valued. It is also customary to use glass as a finishing material, but it is better to avoid wood - it does not help achieve the effect of lightness and airiness in the furniture design. In addition to materials, one should not forget about the shape of the elements, which should be minimalist, useful and practical, but at the same time remain stylish. What is noteworthy is that such wall cabinets are much cheaper than classic ones.
High-tech style
As for plastic structures, they are not used practically anywhere except for non-residential premises, and are often installed in game rooms, recreation rooms and offices. Plastic walls are simple and convenient, mobile and easy to replace if broken, so their appearance matches the business office style. They do not play the role of decorating the room, but only help in storing various items.
For a large room
Advice Try not to buy structures whose elements are attached with screws, because such fasteners are too short-lived and unreliable, as confirmed by reviews. The optimal and worthwhile option would be confirmations. Remember that you cannot attach even the smallest wall cabinets to a plasterboard wall.
Preparation of parts for the cabinet
According to the prepared drawing, parts of the appropriate size are cut out of solid wood. Sharp edges are treated with sandpaper, removing nicks.
All parts must be impregnated with antiseptic solutions and other compounds. This approach will protect the surface of the cabinet from pests, rotting and fire.
Application in the interior
The furniture we are considering can be used to store small items, food, and clothing. Household appliances and a multimedia installation can be built into it. The scope of application is very wide:
- Transformable wardrobe: how to choose stylish design options. 104 photos of modern types of folding wardrobes
- Corner wardrobe - choice according to the interior. 128 photos of using the specific advantages of a corner cabinet
- Wardrobe with a mirror: how to choose the right one depending on the type of room (105 photo ideas)
Storing things. The most common function. In the living room, such a closet is used to store clothes and linen.
Cupboard for dishes. The doors are made of glass. Family dishes, souvenirs and figurines are usually placed on the shelves of such a sideboard.
Book storage. Installed in spacious rooms. In cramped apartments, it is recommended to use shelves.
Shelving. A universal option. Most often it is made without sashes. Suitable for storing collectibles and for placing a multimedia installation.
Wall. For the living room, a wall cabinet serves as a universal option, combining the advantages of other types.
Product assembly
After drying the parts, begin assembling the cabinet. Instructions on how to make a wall cabinet yourself:
The parts are assembled in stages, focusing on the prepared diagram.
The drawing must include a “window” for the TV. Standard window sizes can be found on web resources or in the regulatory framework (GOST building codes).
For reliable fastening, the principle of double assembly is used: parts are fastened along the outer contour using screws. Metal corners are laid along the inner contour. In the diagram, it is better to find the weakest points of the structure, and install additional fasteners at these points.
The next step after assembly is to install the wall to the underlying wall.
In practice, a well-made cabinet does not require additional fastening and is sufficiently stable. If there are flaws, you can use several fasteners to limit the mobility of the product (attached to the wall at several points).
Decorative finishing is carried out at the discretion of the master: coating with stain and acrylic varnish, using films with a pattern, stencil painting. Such materials allow you to decorate a closet in the living room in a modern style.
Varieties
The interior of the living room must certainly be comfortable for each family member, so when choosing furniture it is important to take into account the needs of both children and adults. The following cabinet configurations are most relevant in the living room. Based on the specifics of installation, cabinets are distinguished:
- suspended - do not have supports, as they are mounted on the wall surface. In recent years, this has been a very popular subtype of cabinets for living rooms, because such items allow you to rationally use the space of a small room. They do not visually burden a small room, allowing you to use the internal contents of the product as rationally as possible without compromising the space. The main thing is to choose reliable fastenings and avoid mistakes during the installation of such structures;
- stationary floor - rest on legs. Such furniture can be easily moved, and installation in place does not require drilling into the walls.
Hanging Stationary
Based on the purpose, there are lockers:
- book - used for storing books and magazines;
- wardrobe - used to store a person’s personal wardrobe;
- racks do not have doors, so they are relevant for arranging decorative accessories.
It is convenient to zone the living room space using cabinets for any purpose, if their design is successfully combined with the style of decoration on the walls. But you should refuse to replace the closet with a chest or chest of drawers. Such interior items will not be as functional and will not allow for the placement of a large number of clothes, accessories, and personal wardrobe items of the home owners. Especially if the room is not spacious.
Book Wardrobe Rack
Photos of cabinets in the living room
Tips from the designer
We learned how to properly organize the interior space of a home from a professional designer. Here are some tips from an expert:
- Black cabinet: 78 photos of the benefits of using black furniture in interior design
- IKEA cabinets - 150 photos of new designs from IKEA. The most popular series, collections and lines
- DIY wardrobe: 101 photos of ideal designs of different types of stylish wardrobes
Use of space. Hinged doors can take up space when opened; use a wardrobe with such doors in spacious rooms. A rational option for storing clothes in the hallway would be a wardrobe. The functionality of the latter allows you to make maximum use of the corridor area.
Very often, when designing an interior, corners are bypassed. An excellent solution would be to use a small corner cabinet. This method will help to use unoccupied areas of space and increase the useful potential of the storage system.
Visually expand the volume of the room. Use furniture with mirrored fronts. Install such a cabinet opposite the window so that the light falls on the mirrors. This will make the room seem lighter and wider.
Don't be afraid to show your imagination. Furniture manufacturing companies are ready to fulfill any wishes of customers. Think creatively, mix styles and materials. The main thing here is not to overdo it, do not “load” the interior.
Avoid unnecessary details. In small rooms it is better to abandon dark colors, artistic flourishes and bright prints. Choose materials in light shades, so the interior will look lighter. If you choose a gloss or matte coating, this will visually increase the internal space.
In a modern apartment, a closet is an integral part of the interior. When choosing, pay attention not only to the external characteristics, but also to the compliance of the size of your room with the size of the furniture you choose. Take time to study the market of manufacturing companies. You can always find the option that suits you, both in price and quality. If you doubt your choice, consult a specialist. The market for design services today is represented by many agencies.
Wooden facades are fashionable
Today, the world is caught up in the wave of naturalness and the fight for an ecological lifestyle, which is completely justified, and this is reflected in the fashion for interior design. For this reason, facades with large wooden doors are at the peak of fashion and popularity.
They can be made not only from veneer, but also from simple high-quality plywood or, if the material’s capabilities allow, from natural solid wood.
Combined wardrobe model with opening and sliding doors
Very smooth facades, lined with veneer, are not very relevant for almost no reason. Gradually they gave way to a demonstratively expressed plot of a living tree.
- A large number of knots on your closet door is the most “creaky” thing in fashion today. Such a piece of furniture can be placed in any room, but if you can support the presence of a wardrobe with similar decorations and other furniture, you can safely consider that you have managed to keep up with the changing fashion in the field of interior design.
This type of wardrobe design will be preferred by practical people.
Wenge color has always been distinguished by its nobility
Advice! When choosing types of wood as a material for cladding doors, pay special attention to the light milky shade.
A beautiful wardrobe that perfectly contrasts with the entire interior
This color combination helps to create not only elegance in the room, but also comfort. It will visually refresh and enlarge your home, and the wood texture in this color is great for many interior styles.
Mirror and stained glass
Some people like wide open spaces where the entire environment is visible from almost any angle. They choose completely mirrored doors. Mirrors look great in small rooms and hallways.
If someone finds them boring, they can be replaced with stained glass windows. Stained glass windows are an exclusive work of art, so they are quite expensive, but thanks to them the room will look unusual and elegant.
You can also use frosted or grooved glass. Such a facade will look stricter and more conservative, but at the same time it will be more universal.
Sandblasting drawing
Using a jet of air and sand under high pressure, any design is applied to the glass. It looks elegant, discreet and classy. This design is suitable for those who do not like to overload the interior with bright details and appreciate unobtrusive beauty. This is also a complex and expensive technology that will cost a lot of money, but you will definitely surprise all your guests.
Photo facades
Any photo can be applied to the surface of the doors. It could be a landscape, still life, panorama or family photo. The photo facade can be glossy or matte.
Which image to choose depends on the purpose of the room, its size and your taste.
Personal photos are appropriate in the bedroom, but in a small room the view will look great. Large fruits and berries will look awkward in a small hallway or cramped bedroom.
When thinking about such options, keep in mind that the closet is one of the main elements of the interior. Will it match the new environment if you decide to repair or change the upholstered furniture?
Leather, bamboo and rattan
The latest fashion is the use of natural materials for finishing facades. It is always elegant, elegant and durable. Materials can be combined with each other.
This cabinet is universal and will match any interior. It can become the highlight of the setting, as well as its harmonious continuation. This option requires a lot. Cheap furniture and old wallpaper will look ridiculous next to it. Do not forget about it.
Combined facades
We often see that one cabinet door is made of glass and the other is made of MDF panel. The drawings are diluted with mirrors or other elements. Combined cabinets fit more easily into a non-standard interior and allow you to implement several ideas at once. In this way, you can please several family members at once by combining bamboo, photography, mirror panel and glossy plastic in an original way.
Shape and dimensions
The size and shape of the cabinet are determined by the personal preferences of the buyer and the free space of the living room in the apartment. The size of the furniture does not always affect its capacity; the important question remains the correct organization of the internal space of the storage room and its shape in relation to the geometry of the room.
As for the shape, cabinets in this regard can be different:
- straight
- triangular;
- radius; concave;
- convex;
Triangular Trapezoidal
Radial
Straight L-shaped
Here are some recommendations for choosing the shape and size of the cabinet:
- The height of the cabinet is chosen differently - with space between the ceiling and the top of the furniture or close to the ceiling. The space between the cabinet roof and the ceiling is completely closed to maximize the useful volume of the product. If the cabinet is not adjacent to the ceiling, then you should take care of free access to the gap for ease of cleaning;
- The bottom of a swing cabinet is made with a plinth. This will protect carpeting from friction of the open façade, and with a plinth height of over 70 cm, the residents’ feet will be safe;
- a tall cabinet will look ridiculous in a cramped room. It will cramp the already small space, looming menacingly over the residents;
- The thickness of the cabinet is a sore point for compartment facades. Unlike swing doors, the sliding front mechanism is approximately 100mm thick, added to the standard minimum 600mm thickness of the main cabinet space;
- corner cabinets are useful when there is a severe shortage of free space. This design will fit well into any corner of the room, without taking away precious square centimeters of usable space;
- There are certain recommendations for choosing the width of sliding wardrobes in contrast to cabinets with hinged fronts. The thing is that sliding doors with a width of less than 500 mm will not function fully and will lock when moving, so with a minimum number of three doors, you should count on a full cabinet width of at least 1.5 m.
Tips for choosing
There are a number of tips for choosing any type of furniture for a living room in an apartment that will help you save your family budget, avoid disappointment from an unsuccessful purchase, and enjoy organizing the interior of your home. We present to your attention the main recommendations:
- the quality of materials must be of a high level and meet modern standards of furniture production. The safest wood is one that is not treated with resins and glues, which are harmful to human health. It is also worth paying attention to cheaper certified products made from MDF boards, glass, or plastic. When choosing a wooden cabinet, pay attention to the species oak, cedar, ash;
- Safety concerns not only the issue of materials, but also the quality of workmanship. Product parts must be in good working order and also have the appropriate certificates. It is better to give preference to fittings and working mechanisms from famous manufacturers. All moving mechanisms should operate quietly in normal condition. Extraneous sounds of crunching or creaking indicate malfunctions that will soon result in serious damage;
- door handles are a part of swing doors that often hit walls or nearby furniture. Pay attention to how the wall is positioned relative to the corners of the walls and easily scratched surfaces;
- You should choose aluminum rollers in sliding doors - they are quieter and more reliable. Plastic parts are cheap and short-lived;
- Swing doors must have closers to ensure safe closing of the facade. This device is especially important for children;
- Calculate the needs for the interior space of the cabinet in advance and think about its internal contents before purchasing. It is worth roughly estimating the available number of things and the desired volume of future acquisition.
By following the recommendations, choosing a new cabinet will be easy, and the purchase will bring pleasure not only at the time of purchase, but also during its use. It doesn’t matter whether your goal is a standard wall or a transformable cabinet, proper planning and preparation will help bring your intended interior to life.