Nuances of space zoning
In practice, it is usually impossible to do without dividing the room into functional parts - fortunately, designers have come up with quite a few ways of zoning.
Namely:
- Using furniture elements (sofa, bar counter, shelves with books, flowers and small items, etc.) instead of a partition;
- Designed like arched openings;
- Using different floor or wall finishes that visually emphasize certain areas;
- By constructing special niches for the sleeping bed, hiding a place to sleep;
- By providing special partitions (slatted, sliding, for example), curtains, light screens;
- You can use different autonomous lighting sources;
- By building floors of different levels or podiums with steps, etc.
Even if it is decided to divide the area of the hall into separate sections, we must not forget that all the elements are in some way interconnected without disturbing the overall picture of the space.
5 by 5 room layout options
In apartments, the layout of a 5 by 5 room may include:
- balcony;
- bay window;
- a niche in the wall;
- several windows on both walls;
- several doors.
It is recommended to take these features into account when creating interior design. For example, use a bay window as a seating area, and a niche as a bed or closet. If the windows are located on both walls, then instead of curtains it is preferable to use Roman blinds, which will not interfere with the arrangement of furniture.
A bay window in the bedroom is a suitable place for a relaxation corner or workplace
Additional planning elements make the room more interesting in terms of design and give new ideas for interior design.
Optimal color solutions
It is also worth remembering that the emotional mood of family members will depend on the choice of color palette. It is important that there is no room for irritating, overwhelming or anxiety-inducing shades.
It is better to be more careful when choosing bright colors - sometimes a combination of too saturated colors or sharp contrasts, although it will look stylish, can be very tiring for everyday use.
For many, calmer and “softer” colors can be a win-win option, especially since the hall remains a universal place for rest and relaxation after work and study.
Important! Before determining the color scheme, it is worth testing how it will behave under electric lighting in the evening.
The main criteria for selecting a range of colors are:
- Room area.
- The degree of illumination during the day.
- Number and location of window openings.
Small spaces, especially those with limited natural light, require light shades. It would be good to “warm up” a hall on the north side with warmer colors, while sunny southern rooms, on the contrary, would be better balanced with cold or darker tones.
Sofa seat
in the design of a rectangular living room
You should start designing a rectangular living room with visual planning
. To do this, it is necessary, first of all, to draw a rough floor plan and also arrange the furniture. It is important to observe the dimensions, as this will help you look at the arrangement from the outside. In this case, several planning ideas can be considered at once to select the most suitable one.
When choosing a place for a sofa, you should avoid placing it in a draft.
. It is important that the imaginary line stretched from the window to the door does not intersect the furniture. Otherwise, sitting on the sofa will be uncomfortable.
The location of the sofa in the living room
. The images below show possible options for arranging furniture in a rectangular living room.
1. The most optimal option for positioning the sofa is to place it opposite the TV. Guests and apartment owners will be able to sit comfortably on the sofa and watch an interesting program or movie.
2. A good option for those who like to leave overnight guests. The living room allows you not only to have a pleasant time in a friendly company, but also provides additional sleeping space.
3. A corner sofa will fit perfectly into a rectangular living room and visually make it wider. It is better to install it in the far corner of the room to make the room more spacious.
Decoration of the ceiling part
The choice of color will depend on the height and area used - light colors (slightly paler than the walls) will help to visually “raise” the ceiling.
If you want the opposite effect, it is not necessary to choose dark colors; it is enough to use warm and rich shades.
- Complicated multi-level structures made of plasterboard or powerful chandeliers in small rooms will look unnatural and heavy.
- In such cases, it would be preferable to opt for a monochromatic or suspended glossy ceiling and built-in spotlights - in combination with the shine of the gloss, such a “cloudy” glow will create the illusion of additional height.
- If you have a large height, you can afford more complex coffered and suspended structures with paintings, chandeliers, volumetric designs that “steal” centimeters, or stucco decorations.
Sockets
rectangle shape in the living room
When performing visual planning for a rectangular living room, you should also draw up a plan for outlets, where you need to take into account their location. The maximum number of sockets for a given room should not exceed 15 pieces. This is quite enough to connect basic electrical devices, as well as to additionally provide electricity to temporary equipment.
When choosing the location of outlets, you should pay attention to where the TV or projects will be located. Additionally, it is recommended to provide for the laying of cables and ducts in which the wires will be hidden.
Hall floor design
As with the ceiling, the selection of floor color is interconnected with the design of the walls - it is recommended to choose it a couple of shades darker, although an overly dark floor tends to visually make any room smaller and add austerity to it.
From the point of view of receiving a large number of guests, there are also special requirements for floor coverings in this area:
- Wear resistance;
- Maintaining comfort;
- Presentable appearance.
Based on practicality, you can pay attention to laminate, a fairly durable and beautiful material that also has soundproofing characteristics.
Of the high-status coatings, perhaps, parquet can ideally fit into a classic interior - the most “resistant” would be oak or beech.
Natural stone is more appropriate for cases where you plan to host numerous receptions. It is quite acceptable to use combinations of several options, especially when you want to emphasize certain areas.
What does the designer recommend?
Natural wood and stone are among the most preferred materials for decorating a living room in a private home.
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Design tips
- Use wooden beams. They can zone the space or install them on the ceiling.
- Install a wood-burning fireplace. It will organically fit into the atmosphere of a private home. Finish the walls with natural stone.
- Let the mantelpiece be wooden. This will complement the fireplace masonry.
- Cover the floor with light-colored wood parquet. Complete everything with fluffy carpets.
Experiment with different types of wood to achieve an original design. Complete the fireplace with beautiful details. On the shelf next to it, install photo frames and watches. This will create a warm and cozy atmosphere.
A large window opening may not be decorated with curtains. And choose neutral shades for decoration and furniture. This will help not to distract attention from the beautiful view outside the window.
In such a room you will feel warm and cozy
On the walls you can depict drawings in the theme of the design
The fireplace can be decorated with decorative stone
See alsoHow to create a functional and harmonious design for a living room of 17 sq m
Which walls to choose
When creating the overall picture, the design of the walls in the hall is of no small importance.
The choice of color scheme will depend on many factors:
- Colors of furniture and decorative elements - walls can become a good background or the main accent of the room;
- The size of the room - in cramped spaces, “cold” options are preferred, and a spacious room allows for experiments with many colors;
- Layouts - a room elongated in length is visually corrected by vertical stripes and patterns on the long side or more saturated tones on short sections;
- The amount and nature of natural light - on the sunny side a cold palette looks organic, and cloudy rooms are beneficial for peach, mustard and other shades of yellow.
The texture of the coating will also affect the final result. Many design options are suitable for the hall:
- Paints (water-dispersion, alkyd, silicone or latex, etc.).
- Wallpaper (non-woven, vinyl, regular paper, liquid, photo wallpaper, etc.).
- Decorative plaster.
- Panels made of plastic or wood.
- Finishing with plasterboard sheets, etc.
Interesting combinations are obtained using painting and wallpapering.
Living room arrangement
Several real examples of arrangement.
Choosing furniture for a living room in a country house
In the interior of the hall, the central elements are a fireplace or a TV. Depending on their location, other objects are placed in the room. The sofa for the living room is selected taking into account the aesthetic qualities and style of the room. The size of the model must correspond to the number of people living in the house. A spacious living room can be complemented with a corner model with a pouf or a furniture set with two sofas.
A sofa structure equipped with a minibar is suitable for a guest room. Laconic chairs on thin metal legs will look beautiful.
A regular or multifunctional folding table is installed next to the upholstered furniture set. The construction material must be combined with the style of the surrounding interior of the house.
The photo shows a living room in a Mediterranean-style house, decorated with wicker upholstered furniture.
The living room is equipped with different storage systems, the selection of which takes into account the number of things and the overall design concept. Modern interiors are equipped with compact shelving and built-in wardrobes with good spaciousness.
Taking into account the lighting of the room
In the hall of a country house, general lighting and local light sources are installed in the form of small wall sconces, floor lamps or table lamps.
A large room can be decorated with an elegant chandelier, and the fireplace area can be emphasized with symmetrical sconces or a floor lamp with a subdued light output.
For design, the choice of lighting fixtures of a simple and lightweight form is encouraged. In a modern living room in the house, original chandeliers in an industrial style or lamps with adjustable lighting levels and colors would be appropriate.
The photo shows the lighting design of a spacious living room in the interior of a country house.
In a private home, reception with a second light is considered very relevant. An open room with the maximum amount of natural light looks much more spacious and airy.
Selecting accessories and decor for the living room
The interior of the living room is decorated with designer decorative items that attract attention. The room in the house can be decorated with large floor vases, figurines or original wall clocks.
It would be appropriate to place candles, live plants or flowers on the shelves, and decorate the walls with paintings, photographs, posters and mirrors in a wide variety of frames.
Curtains and textiles
For the hall in the house, textile elements are selected from natural linen, cotton, silk, dusted velvet and denim materials. Floral patterns are very common and fit especially harmoniously into the interior of a wooden house.
Velor, tweed, velvet or soft wool upholstery is suitable for the sofa. It is relevant to use plain textiles in gray, brown or beige tones. A combination of dissimilar materials in one color palette is encouraged. For example, a sofa can be decorated with pillows and a blanket of the same color, but with a different texture.
The photo shows a living room in a house with panoramic windows decorated with white translucent curtains.
Using textiles, original design experiments are realized. Dark fabrics are combined with delicate and neat pastel patterns, and plain textiles are combined with bright geometric prints. It is appropriate to complement Scandinavian style, rustic country or chalet with fur or its high-quality imitation. The skins will look great on the floor, in the design of a sofa, armchairs or chairs.
Choosing furniture for the living room
It is not advisable to clutter the space with oversized furniture - only a sufficient amount of free space will guarantee sufficient comfort in the room.
Items should be selected in accordance with the chosen style and the main color scheme of the room. One of the stylish solutions would be to install upholstered furniture with a similar shade to the walls, but only in more saturated colors. For example, a blue sofa on a light blue background or a brown set with beige walls.
Using bright furniture with “lush” walls is associated with some risks, but using tables of classic combinations you can, if desired, experiment.
Only by taking into account all the points and choosing the right accents and decorative components will you be able to create a practical and unique atmosphere for your room.
Modern tendencies
It will be very fashionable to highlight accent walls. Natural materials in various colors remain trendy. The same applies to wall and floor decor.
The design of a living room in a vintage style is considered popular, creating a special coziness in the home. Leather furniture, dark colors, dim lighting - all this will make the room luxurious and comfortable.
If the living room is intended for family relaxation, it is enough to purchase a couple of comfortable chairs, a sofa, shelving and a TV stand. If space allows, place a stylish coffee table with decorative items here.
Do you often receive guests? Consider a bar counter or table next to the sofa. An impressive and modern element organizes the convenient serving of drinks and snacks to guests.