Arranging furniture in a small room is different from how to do it in a spacious room. In large rooms, you don’t need to rack your brains about how to find extra meters, you don’t need to squeeze in and look for a specific furniture configuration. In small rooms, visual enlargement of space and its optimization are used - this is a whole science consisting of many techniques. And if for large rooms the visual perception of size is not such a significant concept, then for compact rooms all the details play a role. Furniture for a small room should be selected wisely, because all mistakes are immediately visible.
In the wrong environment, a small room looks more like a box filled with cabinets. It is difficult to achieve any order, and even a small-sized sofa against the general background may seem like an unnecessary element. The basic principles of selecting furniture for compact spaces are to have a minimum of unnecessary parts. Everything should be as functional as possible, but this should not negatively affect the appearance of the room. Features of products for small rooms:
- If we consider the furniture that is used most often, namely wardrobes, then we need to focus on camouflage. The room's shortcomings are masked by a high-ceilinged wardrobe. The doors of the wardrobes must be closed - this will allow you to place clothes in any order. Transparent doors oblige you to arrange clothes beautifully, which reduces the useful interior space of the furniture;
- If it is not possible to install such furniture, you can limit yourself to standard cabinets. However, it is advisable to paint them the same color as the wall. This visual technique helps to smooth out the feeling of heaviness;
- It is not necessary for the room to have exclusively compact furniture - there are other nuances here. At least one element of furniture must have a reflective effect. Furniture should be placed opposite the window, and a mirror should be hung above it;
- As for functional furniture for small apartments, there is a division into frequently used furniture for small rooms, and furniture that is used less actively. The table can be folded and the chairs can be stacked. You should choose transformable furniture.
Varieties
In the bedroom you can install a bed that can be put away in the closet after use - this will save a few more meters of free space. There are several advantages here. The sleeping area will be compact, which is very important for limited space. The closet will also act as a place to store things. All bedding will be stored with the bed in the closet, eliminating the need for a chest of drawers.
In the case of the guest room, the situation is somewhat different. The following types of furniture are popular here:
- Built-in cabinets - they are popular because they take up space in empty niches. Owners of compact premises cannot afford not to use free space. All that remains is to order the furniture according to the required sizes;
- Modular cabinets and walls are made up of individual elements. They are easy to use because, if necessary, you can buy only the necessary parts. If there is no money for the entire cabinet, then you can buy the missing elements later;
- Corner cabinets and walls also help save space, but not always, since certain models simply will not fit in a compact room. Since corners most often sit idle, design ideas for corner furniture of small shapes may be appropriate;
- For a small room, you can choose a straight sofa of rectangular, square or round shape - it all depends on the shape of the room. It is important to take into account the height of the model, since sofas with a high back are installed against the wall, and the version with a low back is placed near the window;
- There is also a wide variety of corner sofas, the shape of which directly depends on the room. For standard rooms, the classic L-shape is suitable; for rooms with a bay window, sofas in the shape of a semicircle are suitable;
- If you need to arrange a room in a minimalist style, then you should opt for an island sofa - it is installed in the center of the room.
Upholstered furniture can be modular. Parts are moved or removed altogether if necessary. The shape of the furniture or its dimensions can also be changed.
Additional features and functions
Arranging a compact room requires the use of predominantly functional furniture or items that would not work in spacious rooms. Sofas should be narrow, but this will not affect their practicality. In one room you can use several different sofas at once, and at the same time there is enough space in the room for a table. Necessary furniture in a small room should be laid out only at certain times. At all other times it must be assembled.
There are several bold solutions for the kitchen that are not applicable in ordinary cases. For young people, a compromise option is to install a bar counter. It can be made as a continuation of the kitchen unit, although the stand can be placed separately. Comfortable eating will not be disrupted, and free space can be used wisely. Since bar counters are mainly made to order, they will be adjusted to the specified room parameters.
A popular solution for small children's rooms is the use of bunk beds. They are quite functional, but at the same time look stylish. Such beds may have a box for storing linen. Also, if necessary, they can be divided into two separate sleeping places.
Arrangement methods
The correct arrangement of furniture directly determines whether it will be possible to bring a design idea to life, taking into account the limited space. Professionals have several useful recommendations in this regard:
- You should draw on paper or using a computer program a floor plan of the room with furniture. Having estimated the scale, you can begin to move objects until you get an adequate arrangement of furniture for a small apartment;
- The placement of furniture in a small room, particularly a guest room, involves creating a focal point. This is the object that holds the main attention of visitors. The focal point can be a wall with a TV, a sofa or a bedside table. Upholstered furniture should be installed opposite the point;
- A bedside table for storing items is installed next to the upholstered furniture. You can also use a table;
- Crowding of furniture in a compact room is not allowed. The recommendations are as follows: place less furniture in a limited area. It is important to move comfortably between furniture.
When arranging objects, you should take into account the shape of the room - most often small rooms are an elongated rectangle. And it will be difficult to fit a traditional piece of furniture into the space.
Criterias of choice
Furniture for a small room is chosen not only according to two criteria - small and comfortable. It’s not enough to just look at a photo of a cabinet or sofa, since there are many more subtleties than it seems at first. Even before ordering any piece of furniture, it is important to calculate in advance how many centimeters of space in the room you can count on. The resulting calculations allow not only to correctly divide the space into zones, but also to select items according to strict parameters. There is no need to purchase furniture just to fill an empty space. You should choose an exclusively necessary and in-demand model, and also highlight secondary items. Any interior should have enough free space.
Almost all items for a small room are purchased to order, since their parameters are non-standard. Even if the required item is not on sale, there is no need to deviate from the planned plan, especially if it took a long time to draw up, and it was not possible to include all the necessary items the first time. In this case, you cannot purchase traditional large items. A large item will not fit into the design of a small room, even if you manage to place it there. Useful space will be wasted.
Any furniture can be present in a small room, as long as it is comfortable. But based on reality, transformable furniture is the most convenient. There is simply no alternative, since transforming items are capable of making established work areas floating. That is, when the table is dismantled, a guest room is obtained; as soon as the table is reassembled, the guest room will turn into a dining room. And only transformers are able to make the most efficient use of space. It is simply impossible to do this with bulky furniture. There is no need to give up walls or cabinets, as even in a small room you can find space.
As a result, the following theses can be highlighted:
- Furniture should not have high legs, and it is better if there are no legs at all;
- The storage area should be a closet. Another cabinet formation is not able to save space so well. It is also worth choosing a closet with installed mirrored doors - this helps to visually increase the space;
- If you can take a transforming item, then you need to take it. Unused items should be discarded.
Dressing tables and cabinets should be installed indoors only if there is confidence in their active use. These are not items that cost limited square footage. Wall lamps should serve as lighting, since floor lamps can also be considered an unnecessary piece of furniture in a small room. The same applies to the TV - it is better to hang it on the wall.
Photo
Do you own small real estate? Do you want to carry out high-quality repairs? Don't know how to work with space? Then it’s time to familiarize yourself with the materials on this topic. The design of a small room, which helps expand the space, requires performers to follow certain rules and principles in the decoration of walls, ceilings, floors, decoration, textile design, and lighting. There is a small room in every house and apartment. It is not at all necessary to mention such premises exclusively in the case of small-sized real estate. In general, the majority of modern residential real estate projects involve the presence of one or several small rooms. When starting a renovation or landscaping of a room, it is important to make it so that a small room becomes more spacious, visually larger than it is.
On average, a small room in a standard apartment has an area of about 10-12 square meters. It happens even less. It is difficult to work with the interior in such a space. A design project requires maximum patience, attention, and free time. As a couple in a small hall, bedroom, or nursery, it is difficult to select furniture and arrange it. One slight mistake, a small room becomes a cluttered, uncomfortable, uncomfortable room. Designers, when decorating a small space, are recommended to use some tips and tricks when working on landscaping square meters. The result of painstaking work is a free, stylish, beautiful, cozy small room.
The secrets of improving small spaces concern working with color, light, natural lighting, technology for finishing walls, ceilings, floors, decorating space, and textile design. By following the recommendations of interior designers, organizing a bedroom, study, living room, children's room in a small area, you can achieve good results and comfortably arrange your own home. First of all, all the basic rules of specialists in the field of interior design are aimed at creating a visual effect to expand the interior space. With their use, even the smallest room will become more spacious. At the very beginning of design planning, the interior designer should familiarize himself with information regarding existing objects, things, and finishing materials that clutter up the interior space. The list includes dark, bright colors, shades, abuse of contrast, use of furniture more than necessary.
What color looks best in a small room?
When working on the interior for a small room, you should choose the color scheme in which the design will be made. Experts strongly do not recommend experimenting by mixing different colors and shades. If your plans include creating contrasts, it is better to hire a designer. Under his sensitive guidance, a small room in several colors will remain as free as possible. When working on a renovation plan on your own, stick to one color palette. Furniture, textile interior, walls, ceiling, floors, everything should be in harmony with each other. Monochrome interior design always looks advantageous in small spaces.
The ideal solution would be to choose a light, soft, pastel tone. Bright, flashy, overly saturated, dark shades negatively affect the feeling of space in a room with a small area. Interior designers consider the choice in favor of white to be the most ideal solution. A small room in white significantly increases the interior space. The feeling of heaviness, tightness, and lack of air disappears. The ceiling, walls, even floors can be painted in white. Certain interior design styles are characterized precisely by the superiority of white in the design of interior space. For example, Scandinavian style. A small room in this design will become cozy, spacious, and comfortable.
Design project for a small kitchen
A small room - the kitchen may well be decorated in light, cool shades. For example, the walls in the kitchen perfectly combine light gray, blue, and green shades. Having chosen a similar palette for their kitchen, the owners will definitely feel the additional space, lightness, and airiness in the room after the renovation is completed. The effect is achieved through visual deception, an illusion arising from the inherent characteristics of blue and green colors. They move the plane away, lengthen the distance, making the real distance much greater. The kitchen is perhaps the smallest room that has a large number of functions. Here food is prepared, food is eaten, food is stored, dishes are washed, and even laundry is washed in pairs. You understand that it is very difficult to fit everything needed for these purposes into a few square meters. Therefore, when landscaping the kitchen space, it is important to use every centimeter of the room with maximum rationality. Furniture and household appliances should not be bulky. It is worth abandoning massive, carved facades. The ideal solution would be a furniture set in light beige, milky, white, grey, blue, and light green tones. Furniture with a glass facade, straight glossy doors made of chipboard, MDF, sanded wood. Designers recommend using built-in household appliances. Textile design in a small kitchen is best done discreetly. Blinds, roller blinds, thin curtains, and curtains will look good on the windows. A small room will become larger if it is illuminated by built-in spotlights. Traditional wall and ceiling lamps take up additional space. It is better to refuse them in case of insufficient availability of free square meters. Interior designers strongly recommend using built-in artificial light around the entire perimeter.
“The lighter a small room, the more spacious it is - the main rule for creating a high-quality interior in small spaces!”
In parallel with artificial lighting, it is important to achieve maximum penetration of sunlight into the room. For these purposes, it is important to abandon thick fabric for curtains in the kitchen, flowers on the windowsill, and old window frames.
The bedroom does not always have a room with enough square meters. In pairs, these functions are performed by a small room with a total area of no more than 10 square meters. The interior of this part of the house can be done in a number of ways.
Types of small room design:
- Minimalism.
- High tech.
- Classic.
- Retro.
- Country.
- Provence.
- Modern.
- Art Deco.
- Techno.
- Ethno.
- Scandinavian.
- Venetian.
- Oriental.
- Asiatic.
These are the most acceptable types and methods of improving sleeping areas. Each of them has separate distinctive characteristics. Among the listed interior designs, there are general, generalizing points. This makes it possible to combine styles in one space. Lack of experience and knowledge in interior design issues excludes this possibility. Only a competent specialist can create a beautiful, harmonious alliance. If the renovation takes place without the involvement of third parties, it would be ideal to decide in favor of one, unified style. A small bedroom looks good in green, milky, and white colors. Here you can work with textile decor. All kinds of draperies, covers, bedspreads, curtains, pillows, blankets. Everything is appropriate in a small room designed for sleeping.
Owners of the property being developed can experiment with design by developing a 3D project. The presence of special software online, often distributed free of charge, will allow you to easily work on a digital project and create an action plan for carrying out repair work. Such software is often the best alternative to independent interior design and hiring designers. With its help, creating a unique design project will not be difficult, work will move faster, and the arrangement of every meter of living space will be more efficient and rational. You can decorate a small bedroom by covering one wall with photo wallpaper, glass partitions dividing the room into zones, beautiful transparent curtains, and photographs on the walls. Such decorative elements will complement the interior of the room, giving it a feeling of freshness and spaciousness.
The main impact of the textile design of a small space is taken by the window. To be more precise, curtains covering a window opening. A small room with excessive textile design will seem cramped and tastelessly decorated. For this reason, the choice of curtains, drapes, curtains should be treated with maximum attention. Textiles placed in the window area should not hurt the eye or clutter up the interior space. It is better to sew curtains in a small room from light, thin, airy, transparent fabrics. Save lambrequins and massive draperies made of thick fabrics for spacious rooms with large, bright window openings. Transparent curtains made of organza, chiffon, nylon and other lightweight materials help to increase the space and make the room more spacious.
Furniture
A small room does not tolerate unnecessary objects in the room. There should be as much furniture as the user needs in everyday life. Anything unnecessary should be left in the store! Otherwise, from an ordinary bedroom, hall, living room, a trading floor of a furniture store will appear in your house/apartment. When going for new furniture, pay attention to light-colored sets, products with glass elements, mirrors, and glossy facades. It is better to avoid carved, solid wood. Such items look good in spacious rooms, where there is enough space for large interior parts. It is advisable to choose a light color for furniture sets - beech, maple, pear, cherry, apple, no darker.
Floors
A small room will look much larger if the author of the design project suggests laying the flooring diagonally during the renovation. It can be parquet boards, laminate, tiles, linoleum with a striped print, wood pattern, tiles. The disadvantage of such masonry will be the increased consumption of materials. An alternative would be to purchase flooring in the lightest possible color, perhaps even off-white, milky, or ivory. Thus, the family budget will be saved.
Creative approach
A small room will become more interesting and creative if its walls are decorated in an original way. Designers do not prohibit the use of wallpaper of different textures, or the combination of light and dark walls, ceilings, and floors. To visually expand the space, you can paste white wallpaper exclusively on one or two walls. Choose a floor covering to match them. Finish the ceiling in the same way. It is popular today to stick photo wallpapers on the walls of residential premises. By choosing a suitable ornament or print, you can create a unique interior design in your bedroom, hall, living room, hall, corridor, kitchen.
Ceiling
In a small room, it is important to properly design the ceiling plane. This part of the interior space plays one of the leading roles. If the floors can be covered with rugs, carpets, or furniture, the ceiling always remains visible. The choice of color and method of finishing ceilings is traditionally made based on the total area of the space being landscaped, the height of the walls, and the shape of the room. If the ceilings are high, the small room has the shape of a rectangle, in no case should you choose light colors to decorate the upper zone of the space. This approach will visually raise the ceiling even higher, turning the room into a box or cabinet. Here it is more appropriate to use a suspended structure. This method steals the height of the walls, which is acceptable in the case of a very high ceiling in a small space. If the ceiling is located low above the floor, experts recommend giving preference to other finishing methods - plaster, wallpaper, painting. Naturally, there can only be light colors here. Additionally, you can use a vertical strip on the walls; it will raise the ceiling space, creating a visual illusion. Stretch ceilings are the best option. A perfectly smooth, glossy surface of the ceiling plane is the best solution for expanding space in a small room. A small room seems more spacious, brighter, more airy. Stretch ceilings are easy to maintain and are famous for their long service life. The only drawback may be the high price. Small room + stucco, incompatible. It is better to avoid such methods of decorating the ceiling in small rooms. Excessive slop is a sign of bad taste.
Lighting
It has already been said above regarding the need to abandon large chandeliers, lamps, floor lamps, sconces, and all kinds of lampshades. Such lighting fixtures take up a lot of free space. In conditions of insufficient square meters, it is better to use built-in lamps. They can be placed along the entire perimeter of the ceiling plane, on walls, in window openings, near the baseboard, on furniture.
A small room is a very picky room when it comes to renovation. When planning to put things in order and create a cozy interior, enlist the support of specialists and read their individual tips.
How to choose a small room design:
- Budget.
- Total area.
- Availability of natural light.
- Ceiling height.
- Shape of the room.
- Users' lifestyle.
- Number of users.
- Personal preferences of users.
By comparing all these conditions and familiarizing yourself with the details of each of the acceptable interior design styles, you can choose the most optimal option. A small room after transformation will give coziness, comfort, a feeling of homely warmth, and a unique style. In order for the renovation to take place without additional expenses, unexpected, unpleasant moments, start it with design, drawing up a plan, step-by-step instructions on paper, in digital format!
In the interior design of a small room, wallpaper plays an important role. Small apartments in five-story buildings from the times of the USSR, which are usually called Khrushchev buildings, cannot boast of large room dimensions. Solid walls inside the apartment do not allow increasing the square footage and in order to make small rooms seem larger, it is better to follow some proven tips. Properly selected wall coverings will not only expand the room, but also create a unique, memorable image for it.
What wallpaper color makes a room look bigger?
Using color or a combination of certain colors you can visually expand a small space.
- When decorating the ceiling in white, a small room will appear larger if you use cool colors for the walls.
- Blue, light gray walls will add air.
- Walls in shades of gold will make the room sunny and bright, but will not increase its size.
- Black and dark blue colors are not suitable for a small room. Walls or ceilings of this color will make it even smaller.
For a bright room
If the room is bright, the walls can be rich, bright colors - blue, turquoise or green. It is better for small rooms, even light ones, not to use wallpaper in dark shades.
The photo shows a bright children's room with a large window. Pink and blue wallpaper with floral motifs brought sophistication and coziness to a small room.
For a dark room
To make a dark small room seem larger, the ceiling and walls should be as light as possible. Sometimes the best design trick is to make them white. Then, against their background, the furniture will not seem bulky and may be dark.
Which pattern makes the room bigger?
Every year, wallpaper factories offer new collections with a variety of patterns and textures. With the help of some types of drawings you can change the visual impression of a room.
- Plain wallpaper with a small floral pattern gives even a small room lightness and coziness.
- A vertical stripe adds the missing height to a low room.
- If the pattern on the wall does not contrast with the background, but harmonizes with it, then even if the pattern is large, it is an advantageous background for furniture and decorative items.
The photo shows a successful use of wallpaper with a small geometric pattern to decorate the corridor of a small apartment. A white ceiling balances the proportions of the room and relieves the saturation of the walls.
Room design ideas that expand space
There are several design techniques that can visually increase the area of a small room. One of these techniques is to cover the view wall of the room with photo wallpaper or 3D wallpaper. High-quality photographic images that have appeared in recent years are not inferior to frescoes in terms of the impression they make, and benefit in price and speed of execution. 3D walls can change the space of a small hall or studio beyond recognition.
Wallpaper for a small living room
The living room is the main room in the house and should be decorated most expressively. To decorate and expand the space of a small room, you can use photo wallpaper. Most often, the wall against which the sofa is located is most suitable for this purpose.
In the photo, the wall of a small living room is effectively decorated with vintage photo wallpaper and images of predatory animals, which adds dynamics and originality to the interior.
In the photo, the end wall of a small hall is decorated with photo wallpapers, on which images of bright house facades look very attractive. This design technique will not leave any guest indifferent.
In the photo, the combination of stripes and plain wallpaper not only added austerity to the boy’s children’s room, but also brought dynamics and variety to the small room.
The photo shows a nursery for a little princess. The walls are covered with wallpaper with birds. The small room looks gentle, bright and sunny.
A small toilet is a characteristic feature of small-sized Khrushchev apartments. Wallpaper in such toilets is an interesting design technique that can refresh the room. In these small rooms there is no furniture and you can make the walls bright and expressive.
In the photo on the left is a toilet with exquisite patterns on the walls. The room gained style and expressiveness and gained in visual impression.
Visually expand a small bathroom
The use of wallpaper in bathrooms is becoming increasingly important. These small rooms only benefit from such a bold decision. Here the wallpaper on the walls looks like frescoes or artistic painting.
When you want to decorate the dining room in an unusual way, but there is not enough space in a small apartment, you can use images that will expand the space and effectively highlight the eating area. The dining area in studio apartments, covered with expressive wallpaper, looks very nice.
Design options for the dressing room
Even the dressing room can be decorated with taste. Interesting patterns will expand the space of a small room reserved for cabinets and shelves. Bright wallpaper is suitable for this purpose; light or dark depends on the designer’s idea.
Small kitchens, especially kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings, can be visually enlarged in size if you do not limit yourself to traditional tiles when decorating the walls, but use expressive, bright wallpaper. Geometric patterns, stripes or shapes perfectly emphasize the geometry of kitchen appliances and appliances. And bright accents add dynamics and a small room seems larger.
Ways to visually enlarge the hallway
The entrance hall in the house is the first room that welcomes owners and guests. To visually enlarge the hallway, the pattern on the walls can be chosen with horizontal stripes or a small pattern. To make the corridor seem larger, a design technique using horizontal stripes will reduce the height and move the walls apart.
How to visually enlarge a small bedroom?
When choosing wallpaper for a small bedroom, it is better to decorate it in unobtrusive colors and patterns that are pleasing to the eye, promoting relaxation and restful sleep.
One of the design techniques for expanding space in small apartments and studio apartments is the use of photo wallpaper. When it is not possible to purchase a ready-made fresco or invite an artist to paint it, you can cover the view wall with photo wallpaper.
A perspective image of nature or a panorama of the city with plans of different sizes will create a certain mood in the room. In a studio apartment, proper zoning with photo wallpaper will help avoid clutter.
Style features to visually enlarge the room
Different interior styles have their own characteristics of using wallpaper to visually enlarge a small space.
Provence
To make a small Provence style room seem larger, you can use light furniture. If the walls are covered with dark wallpaper, it would be appropriate to complement them with a white ceiling cornice.
The photo shows an office in Provence style, the walls are successfully combined with furniture and a white ceiling. The room does not look small and cramped.
Classic
The classic style is characterized by the use of wallpaper. Silky wallpaper with patterns, monograms and floral designs decorate this style.
The photo shows a bedroom in a classic style. The color of the walls follows the color of the furniture, which creates unity and adds sophistication to the interior. In small rooms this technique will always be relevant.
Minimalism
Style is also not complete without such decorative material as wallpaper. This coating is ideal for decorating accent walls and highlighting important surfaces.
The photo shows a bedroom with an accent wall imitating mosaic. This technique creates a feeling of greater depth and size of the room.
Modern
Modern style or modern is exactly the style in which wallpaper is used in almost all rooms of the house. Light pastel colors on the walls create a feeling of airiness and lightness, which increases the size of a small room.
In the photo, light furniture in the Art Nouveau style is harmoniously combined with wallpaper of the same shade in calm geometric patterns. The absence of lines and colors that disrupt the composition creates a feeling of spaciousness and transparency.
Design options for a long narrow room
Long, narrow rooms can be made to look larger by using the right color and pattern on the walls. Geometry, especially with clear graphic contours, can create a feeling of freedom and permeability in a small room. Light walls with a glossy surface add light and space.
In the photo, the wall at the head of the bed is covered with wide striped wallpaper. This design technique allowed us to visually expand the narrow space of a small room.
In the photo you can see an interesting solution for expanding a narrow small room for a child. A long boring wall of a small room is decorated with expressive 3D wallpaper with imitation shelves with books in cheerful colors.
In the photo in a narrow arch, bright inserts in certain places serve both as a visual accent and to expand the long narrow passage. The use of expressive, sunny wallpaper adds light and joy to a small room.
In order to visually raise the height of ceilings, there are some design techniques. Wallpaper with vertical stripes and a dark wide cornice between the wall and the white ceiling will help achieve the desired effect
The photo shows a small bedroom with a low ceiling. The stripes on the walls evened out the proportions of the room and added lightness and comfort to it.
The photo shows an example of using wallpaper in a small room with a low ceiling. The white walls were highlighted with maps filled with colorful wallpaper. The vertical arrangement of the cards added height and originality to the room.
How to combine wallpaper for visual enhancement?
We cannot ignore such a design technique for visually expanding space as combining different wallpapers.
There are several ways to combine:
- Contrasting combination of wallpaper on opposite walls of the room,
- Highlighting an accent wall with photographs or contrasting colors,
- A combination of different colored walls to zone a room,
- Combining different colors and patterns for horizontal division of walls,
- Highlighting with active wallpaper - bright against a pale background, with a pattern against a plain background to highlight the main area of the room.
Photo gallery
Using wallpaper, you can experiment with the interior of a small room, decorate the walls in an original way and visually expand the space. Below are photo examples of the use of wallpaper on walls in rooms for various functional purposes.
The implementation of design ideas can bring new colors to life, create a corner of comfort and warmth that fully meets the interests and hobbies of its owner. Following certain design rules will transform even a small room into a more spacious and functional one. The design of a small room is not only the right choice of color scheme that allows you to visually enlarge the space, but also a successful selection of interior details that allow you to intelligently use every centimeter of space.
The color scheme plays an important role; it can visually expand the boundaries of the room.
To design a small room, you should choose the furniture wisely
Even the smallest room can be turned into a comfortable and functional room
Basic rules for decorating small rooms
In modern apartments, rooms with limited space can serve as a living room, bedroom, office and nursery. But, more often than not, even such a small space is multifunctional. At the same time, remodeling a house or apartment is not always necessary; using your imagination, even in such conditions, you can create truly original interior decoration. To make the interior of a small room as comfortable as possible, you need to follow a few simple rules.
- Make sure every corner is well lit. Darkness, of course, is the friend of youth, but the enemy of tiny rooms. Insufficient lighting literally compresses space.
- Use pastel colors to decorate all surfaces: walls, ceiling and floor. One wall can be highlighted with a brighter shade. The ideal option is photo wallpaper with a landscape image or an optical illusion, which further enhances the impression of space.
- You should not glue wallpaper with small patterns; a classic print is more suitable: vertical stripes, large patterns. This solution will make the room more noble.
- Choose elegant modular furniture, do not overload the interior with unnecessary details, especially massive ones.
- Small decorative elements are more suitable for the interior, as they create a false impression of space: miniature photographs or paintings, a small carpet that leaves part of the floor open.
Following these simple principles will allow you to create a comfortable interior even in a very cramped area.
For small rooms, everything needs to be calculated down to the smallest detail.
If you follow the rules, the design of the room will turn out bright and cozy
How to decorate a window?
The window is a key element of the interior of small rooms; successful design can create an atmosphere of comfort and harmony. The best options for decorating it are:
- curtains made of light fabrics;
- transparent, flowing tulle;
- curtains with drapery.
The choice of textiles for window design largely depends on the purpose of the small room. For a small bedroom, curtains with drapery are more suitable, for a nursery - curtains with an unusual print, for an office combined with a library or living room - tulle, which easily lets in natural light.
If you don’t want to make the window an accent piece, hang a rectangular white or cream curtain on it, so attention will be concentrated on the remaining area. For this purpose, you can hang roller shutters or exquisite blinds.
Roman blinds are perfect for bedroom windows
You can decorate windows with curtains
The window is the main element in small rooms
Choosing a stylistic direction
The area and architectural features dictate strict conditions when choosing the style of interior decoration. In a 12-meter room, Baroque or Rococo styles, overloaded with details, will look ridiculous and unnatural. But an excellent solution would be:
- high tech;
- minimalism;
- Scandinavian;
- Japanese;
- modern style.
These styles have in common a small number of decorative elements, smooth surfaces and straight lines. It is with the definition of the general concept that all work must begin: the selection of furniture and finishing materials will become much easier.
The use of light colors will visually expand the boundaries of the room
Small rooms need a lot of light
Usually modern styles are used for small rooms
Interior of a small room depending on its purpose
Planning design work always begins with establishing the functional features of the room.
Features of the design project depending on the type of room
Bedroom design
When decorating, carefully consider the color scheme and lighting. You should not give preference to dark shades, it is better to choose delicate tones: beige, cream, white or light blue will make the room a real center for relaxation and rest after a busy day. These shades are optimal for relaxation and psychological relief. In addition, light colors visually enlarge the room, which in the case of a small area is no less important than creating an atmosphere of relaxation.
Sources of soft, diffused light are the best solution in a small bedroom. Your eyes will not get tired from too bright lighting. Hang sconces with caps over the bed or place lamps with shades on bedside tables, install tall floor lamps. This way, you can illuminate every corner without straining your eyesight.
In the bedroom it is better to use soft diffused light
When designing a small bedroom, you should think through everything down to the smallest detail.
Kitchen decoration
Create a room design plan, think about the layout and zoning of the space. In the work area, pay attention to the “sink-stove-refrigerator” triangle; access to them should be free.
Choose a set with glossy finishes, glass doors and metal elements - this will make the kitchen seem more spacious. If possible, move the refrigerator to another location. It is better to choose light aprons, walls and countertops, so you can avoid the effect of weighing down the interior decoration.
The design of a small kitchen needs to be thought out carefully
Design of a small living room
The main rule: do not overload the interior with bulky items. Even if you have a large family or you often receive guests, do not install a massive sofa and large armchairs; it is better to opt for an elegant sofa with light upholstery and small armchairs with carved wooden armrests and ottomans. It is appropriate to use large pillows as additional seating (especially if there is a group of young people), which can usually be put away in the wall.
The best location for a TV or plasma panel is the wall opposite the sofa.
Smart interior of a room in a Khrushchev building
Such houses have long been outdated, but still make up a significant part of the housing stock in the post-Soviet space. Once such a separate apartment was the ultimate dream of an ordinary Soviet person, but now the inconvenient layout, poor sound insulation and small size cause a restrained smile or irritation.
But the times when such apartments were strongly associated with carpets on the walls are long gone. Even a “Khrushchev” building can be made truly relevant and comfortable for people accustomed to modern conditions.
Modern style, minimalism or Provence are most suitable for decorating “Khrushchev” buildings. When choosing furniture, finishing materials and decor, you need to follow the general principles of design of small rooms.
Decorating a small room in a Khrushchev building is not difficult
It is best to use light shades
Even in a Khrushchev building you can create a cozy and functional design
Successful color solutions
One of the main tasks facing people who independently create a design project for their own home is not to make a mistake with the choice of color combinations. The limited size of housing imposes a number of additional conditions. To visually expand the space as the main tone, use:
- white and all its shades;
- baby blue;
- beige;
- light green;
- pale pink.
Strictly follow the rule of three: one color is used as the main one, there can be quite a lot of it, usually used when decorating walls, floors and ceilings; no more than two other shades should be present as additional shades. These tones can be really bright and rich even in cramped spaces.
It is better to use warm shades in the bedroom
Lighter colors are suitable for the living room
Zoning a small room
The problem of division into zones is especially acute in a one-room apartment, when a single living space must perform all the functions that exist. When several people live in an apartment, you can divide it with a partition. But under no circumstances use monolithic, heavy materials. It’s better to put up a translucent partition that will diffuse and reflect light. In this case, one part can be decorated as a living room with a work desk, and the second as a small children’s room or bedroom.
If this option is not suitable, because you want more privacy, sliding partitions would be an excellent choice; if you choose such “doors” with a mirror coating, they will also visually enlarge a tiny room.
If the ceilings are high enough, a place to sleep can be equipped on an improvised second floor. In this case, you can place spacious cabinets under it and install a work desk. This way you will unload the rest of the area.
If the ceiling height is low, install a podium on which to set up a guest or work area, and hide a pull-out bed inside.
A wooden partition will look very beautiful
Zoning can be done using partitions
Decorative partitions with lighting will be an excellent option for zoning
Furniture selection
Small rooms need to be furnished with very compact and functional furniture. Furniture items of simple shapes and clear lines look harmonious. To make the interior decoration more “alive”, select furnishings so that the horizontal surfaces are at different levels.
Experiment with so-called “transformers” - pieces of furniture that can completely change their shape and even purpose.
Do not overload the interior, place only the essentials: a bed or sofa, a table, places to store various things. Don't clutter the space.
Wallpaper for small rooms
When choosing wall decoration and window decoration, you need to consider some of the most common design techniques that will help make the interior decoration more comfortable and interesting. Wallpaper should be:
- light colors;
- with a simple texture;
- without a pattern or with very small patterns.
Of course, you can experiment a little, but very dark shades definitely won’t work. Cool colors are ideal, but only in very good lighting, otherwise choose warmer tones.
Wallpaper with patterns will look very good
Wallpaper must be light shades
Design nuances for boys and girls
Of course, the rooms of girls and boys differ significantly from each other. There are several nuances that will help you navigate the myriad of design ideas and create a truly impressive interior yourself.
So, for a girl’s room it is better to choose:
- delicate shades;
- elegant furniture;
- a large number of decorative elements.
Suitable for the space in which a young guy lives:
- strict tones;
- minimum decor;
- functional environment.
Don't be afraid to show your imagination. With a little effort, even tiny rooms of 5 or 6 square meters can be made original, functional and, most importantly, comfortable for their owners.
Video: Design of a small room
50 photos of small room design ideas:
Most residents of cities - large and small, peripheral and metropolitan areas, most often own small apartments. But how I want to organize even this space so that the interior is completely comfortable, cozy, ergonomic and beautiful! It is believed that in order to make the most efficient use of the space of a small apartment, its layout should be organized as simply as possible. It is undesirable to oversaturate the space functionally. Each room should have its own purpose. There is no need to combine them contrary to the prevailing stereotype of open space, but rather to separate the living area and kitchen, living room and bedroom.
Design tricks to visually increase space
So, where does the transformation of a small-sized apartment into a cozy, comfortable and functional home begin? That's right, starting with drawing up a simple project that you can sketch out yourself on a piece of paper.
Of course, unfortunately, it will not be possible to physically solve the problem of space shortage, but it is still worth trying to make housing more ergonomic and comfortable for life. Moreover, many positive reviews from owners who decided to resort to small design tricks that help visually increase the space in their apartment speak of their successful experience.
Corridor and hallway
When decorating the interior design of your small apartment, it would be appropriate to use neutral and simple things. However, these things can be simple and at the same time stylish or even designer. Also, do not complicate and clutter an already small space. For such apartments, the most suitable style is -, in the interior of which only the most necessary things are present, and other unnecessary junk is thrown away.
The main task of pieces of furniture is to make maximum use of the free space of the rooms along the walls, while using corners and hidden volumes. For example, a corner cabinet, while visually occupying little space, will accommodate a fairly large number of items, and access to it will be facilitated by self-extending shelves.
Having thought through every little detail, you can get a functional and stylish art object that attracts attention.
Objects built into each other will allow you to store them more compactly when not in use, the main thing is that their appearance is not complicated and intricate. It is appropriate if the furniture of one room is made in the same style and from the same materials or companion materials.
Narrow corridor will not be cluttered if the shoes are placed not on the floor, but in a special shoe shelf, which is compact in size, spacious enough and closed.
And in general, the fewer open surfaces on which objects are located, the more neat and uncluttered the design of a small-sized apartment looks.
Bathroom
Bathroom space will allow you to save money by properly placing all its elements. It is convenient to place the washing machine under the shelf on which washing accessories will be stored. This shelf can be multi-story, which will allow you to place rarely used or purchased hygiene products there.
The space under the washbasin can be used to store towels and a basket with things, and under the bathtub - buckets, brushes, cleaning or other plumbing supplies.
Kitchen
In the kitchen, the space above the refrigerator is often neglected, where you can install a cabinet with shelves for storing rarely used dishes. The narrow space between base cabinets or a cabinet and a wall is well suited for a pull-out shelf that can accommodate pot lids, rolling pins and other compact items.
It is undoubtedly better to use color to decorate a small kitchen; this will visually expand the space. Tall wall cabinets will also visually increase the height and overall volume of the kitchen. It is better to have an extendable dining table, which will free up space. When 1-2 family members take food, the table does not need to be moved apart; when the whole family gathers for dinner, its size can be increased.
It's a good idea to have a couple of folding chairs that can be stored hanging on hooks behind the door or in a pull-out structure between floor cabinets. These chairs can be taken out as needed and do not take up space when not in use. 
Living room
The living area, if possible, should be divided into separate rooms allocated for the bedroom and living room. Having your own private bedroom creates a feeling of comfort, security and stability.
The design of modern beds allows you to use all its elements. Bottom part- for storing bulky items or bedding. Headboard- as a shelf, and sometimes even a bedside table, on which you can place night lamps (or reading lights), favorite photographs, souvenirs brought from travel.
If room layout has a niche, it is advisable to install a cabinet in it. It is better if it occupies the entire space from floor to ceiling. Then all things – seasonal and everyday – will be conveniently and accessible in it. Mirrors are perfect for finishing cabinet doors. This will visually enlarge the room and avoid installing a separate dressing table.
If the layout of the room does not require a niche, then you can install a corner cabinet. This design will not be visually cumbersome, but will allow you to use hard-to-reach corner space.
If after all apartment layout forces you to combine the living room and bedroom, you need to be more careful when choosing a sofa and the mechanism for folding it out. It is worth giving preference to a reliable and convenient design, because you will have to use it every day. It is also necessary to provide a built-in box for storing bedding.
Children's room
Under it you need to allocate the brightest room in the apartment. The one that receives sunlight most of the day. Let it be small, but exactly Light room. Children of any age need a table, and it should be placed near the window. It would be quite beneficial to use the same plane as the window sill as a tabletop.
This will save money and make it interesting to decorate the workplace, and along the side walls to the right and left of the window there will be bookshelves that can accommodate not only a children’s library, but also a family one.
If there are two children or the room is very small, then it makes sense to install a loft bed. In the first case, another sleeping place will fit under it, in the second, it will free up space for games or storing toys. Based on the size of the rooms - the master bedroom and the nursery - you need to determine where to store children's clothes.
If it doesn’t allow you to place a wardrobe in it, but in the parents’ room it is spacious enough, then all the children’s things can be stored in it. And for everyday items and underwear, allocate a couple of closed shelves in the closet for books or toys in the nursery. This is especially true when children are still small, and the choice of clothes is made by parents. For teenage children, you already need to allocate a separate storage space (wardrobe). The main requirement for pieces of furniture for children is reliability, safety And environmental friendliness!
Choosing shades for decorating a children's room, do not forget that the child not only spends his leisure time in it, but also studies and relaxes. Therefore, the desire to dress everything up in bright elements and colored paints can result in fatigue and excessive excitability of the child.
Zone the space, brightly decorate the part of the room in which the child will play and where his toys are stored. And if the furniture in the nursery is already quite colorful, then it is better to make the surfaces of the walls and floors in calm, light colors.
Materials
Now a few words about the choice of materials and shades for decorating the interior of an apartment with a small area.
In a small apartment, you need to give preference to light colors and balancing pattern geometry. In irregularly shaped rooms (long and narrow), short walls can visually stretch out the horizontal lines in the wallpaper pattern, as well as a lighter shade relative to the long walls.
The floors in such a room are preferably parallel to short walls (if it is laminate or parquet boards). In the case of linoleum, a pattern with a horizontal transverse direction is suitable.
Decorating it in a white or light shade, as well as vertical geometry on the walls, will help to visually raise the ceiling. Verticality does not imply the presence of strict verified lines.
Such an ornament will be boring and dull. Give preference to a design that is only perceived as a whole, as vertically directed.
Its elements themselves can be abstract or of your favorite theme. Do not use saturated colors, rough and variegated fragments. If all the walls of the room are decorated in pastel colors, then one of them can be highlighted. To do this, it is good to use companion wallpaper, photo wallpaper, and frescoes. The main thing is that the drawing is not too loaded and heavy.
A bed hidden in the wall is an excellent choice for a small room
Lighting
Make sure there is sufficient lighting in the apartment. A poorly lit room seems to “hide” the darkened areas, creating the feeling of an even smaller space. A flat-shaped central source is suitable as central lighting if the ceiling is too low (less than 2.5 meters).
Point sources on the ceiling, operating from one control center and uniformly illuminating the entire room, are always appropriate. In the rooms you can additionally use sconce And desk lamp, if they correlate with the main lamp. The fewer diverse and dissonant interior items in a room, the simpler and more spacious it seems. In a small apartment, sliding doors or accordion doors would also be very appropriate. Then, when open, they will not take up much space.
The variety and availability of modern finishing materials and materials for the manufacture of furniture allows us to overcome the limitations imposed by square meters. By properly planning the space, you can always visually compensate for its volume.
And by following the simple tips outlined in this article, you can organize your small apartment interior cozy, comfortable, and most importantly, as functional as possible.
