How to optimize the area of a one-room apartment. Home workshop - optimization of space and convenient storage of tools. Original light kitchen decor
1.Hide the pantry in the most visible place
If there is a catastrophic lack of space for a pantry, it doesn’t matter. It can be constructed from practical shelving. Equip it with everything you need - from shelves on which you can place books or objects, to spacious baskets where things or even food feel cozy. Dishes on open shelves can serve as additional decor.
2. Expand the boundaries upward, not across
When decorating a room with paintings or simply hanging shelves and placing furniture, the space above should be fully utilized. This approach, in addition to saving space, forces the eye to move upward, which allows the interior to visually appear more spacious.
For book lovers who are limited by the space in their home, American designer Lauren Lees suggests increasing their storage space with the help of very high shelves. Another thoughtful step is to avoid using cabinets as such, but to stack books in small piles.
3. Space under the stairs - why not use it too
Usually there is no staircase in a small apartment, but if it is still present in the interior, then it is worth considering the enormous possibilities for storing things that this part of the house suggests. Chicago architect Tom Stringer harmoniously places recessed drawers under clients' staircases. In addition to this approach, you can occupy the empty space under the stairs with other various options.
4. Curtains right up to the ceiling
“About 5 cm left between the cornice and the ceiling will allow you to achieve desired result“says designer Allen Brett. The secret to the success of visually high ceilings lies precisely in this easy approach. The curtain rod is attached as close to the ceiling as possible. It is worth making sure that the cornice will extend at least 10 cm on each side of the window. Now the window lets in a lot of light and appears wider due to the fact that the curtains are hung at a greater distance.
5.Bring retro items into your home
Antique or retro items take up much less space than modern pieces of furniture. In addition, they add charm and bring a bright note to a modest home. For example, a Smeg refrigerator. This 50s-style model is less than 60 cm wide, while modern similar equipment will take up about a meter of space.
6.Universal functional furniture - worth purchasing.
A striking example of such a piece of furniture would be a modern bed, which is equipped with a variety of shelves. Its use increases the storage space in the bedroom.
7.Mirrors in every room - stylish and spacious
The technique of using mirrors to expand space has not been a secret for a long time. Designer Christopher Breuning says, "Mirrors can brighten a space by diffusing light throughout the room." But you should choose the place for the mirror carefully, because this item can both help expand the space and aggravate the situation if you hang it in the wrong place. So, a mirror placed opposite the window will reflect all the light back, that is, to the street. To reflect light, illuminate a room, and deceive the eye - these are the main abilities of large mirrors that are placed in the right way. A little secret: a mirror panel in the kitchen, located behind the sink, can visually transform a modest space.
8. Use a neutral shade
Correctly chosen colors, shades and their combinations significantly help to visually expand the boundaries of the interior. You can use bright, rich colors, for example, choose deep brown for the library - this will create an incredible feeling of comfort. And yet, when neutral colors predominate in a small space, this makes the image of the house more collective and holistic.
Those who live in Khrushchev and small apartments panel houses, are forced to put up with cramped kitchen space. It’s good for those housewives who have learned not to notice inconveniences, taking them for granted, but if a small kitchen is a constant source of irritation, then this is no good. Every housewife is a creator in her kitchen, and when she cooks in a bad mood, this inevitably affects the quality and taste of her culinary dishes.
CHOOSE COLORS FOR THE KITCHEN
I wrote about this in detail in my topic “Choosing colors for a small kitchen,” so I’ll touch on the most basic points. First of all, our task is to visually expand the space, so it is worth taking the following actions. For walls, choose white, cream, cocoa, and for furniture - pastel colors, yellow, light brown.
For a small kitchen, the ideal solution would be smooth lacquered facades that reflect light. Focus on the rule - the fewer convolutions, depressions and corners to which the light clings on its way, the better. By the way, the Internet often recommends using roof rails to the maximum in a small kitchen, hanging them as much as possible. I categorically disagree with this opinion; not only does the kitchen look untidy and cluttered, but all efforts to visually expand the space will be nullified. Railings - really useful thing, just don’t overload, approach their design creatively.
Another one, quite fashionable in Lately technique - highlighting one or two walls of a small kitchen with a bright color. Playing with contrasts bears fruit: the room comes to life, looks more cheerful and does not shrink, as would be the case with a full paint job.
It is better to put glossy tiles on the floor, or a laminate that imitates a plank floor (lay, of course, not across, but lengthwise). It is better to take a plain white or cream tile; you can combine it with black (dark brown, dark blue), laying the pattern in a checkerboard pattern. In general, you should not underestimate the ability of tiles to reflect light; there are options when, for the sake of visually expanding the space, designers lay out the entire kitchen wall with tiles under the ceiling, as for example was done in this apartment.
Of course, it’s worth listening to advice on expanding the kitchen space using visual techniques. But, as you understand, the walls of a small room will not move apart, and you will continue to experience inconvenience when there is another person in the kitchen besides you. But at least it will be easier to breathe!
HOW TO PLACE EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN A SMALL KITCHEN
In a small kitchen, it is very important to optimize the space so that the housewife has everything she needs at hand, but at the same time nothing prevents her from cooking and moving freely. Owners of small kitchens try to occupy the entire free space of the kitchen up to the ceiling with furniture, and there is a reason for this. But it doesn’t always look beautiful, it’s not always convenient, and moreover, it’s often completely impractical! Especially if you approach it from the position: there would be somewhere to put it, but there would be something to remove. The photo below is a great illustration of this approach. This is how women are designed - no matter the size of the kitchen, we will still fill it to capacity. Remember the joke about the handbag? Then, following the analogy - in the smallest area, we will still find a place for the most necessary things. Let's dance from this statement.
Ideally, the kitchen should be designed so that after cooking and eating, all utensils are put away in cabinets. But our shelves are already full. Just what?
Housewives usually have a lot of dishes, while in daily cooking they use two frying pans and a couple of pots. Ladies, it's time to go through your drawers and get rid of the junk, because it's choking us! Divide all the content into two categories: what you “really need” and what you “just need.” Place things from the second group in a box and put them away. For example, I moved her to the mezzanine. And over the past three years, I turned to them only during the period of “big” cooking for New Year! Don't be fooled, we can actually get by comfortably with a small set of dishes.
Another problem of a small kitchen is household appliances. It takes up a lot of space, there is nowhere to put it away, we don’t use it every day. I discussed this issue in detail in the topic: “Household appliances in a small kitchen: everything is at hand,” I advise you to read it, there are interesting photographs there, perhaps you will find useful ideas for yourself.
Well, and separately about our strategic reserves. On this point, I give credit to Ikea for its space-saving food storage ideas. Buying rectangular containers to replace the original packaging significantly reduces space in our small warehouse. Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary to store them in drawers, as in the photo. For example, I store supplies on the top shelves, and in order not to use a stool, I put the cans in rectangular plastic baskets, which, if necessary, I take out with all the contents - quickly and conveniently.
CABINET IDEAS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR KITCHEN SPACE
Only after you have sorted out the question of how many necessary kitchen utensils you have left, can you proceed to planning the furniture. To optimize space, I can suggest this idea - make one tabletop corner kitchen already standard. The main problem here is the distribution of household appliances, the depth of which is usually 55-60 cm, it will go along the standard side. First of all, this is a refrigerator, dishwasher (or washing machine), oven. But sinks and stoves can be narrow, you just have to choose what to sacrifice.
Another idea is to organize an additional row of drawers literally “on the floor”, at the base level. They can hold a lot of useful things (for example, salt, sugar, canned food in jars). And an additional tabletop can be built into one of the top ones.
Furniture designers offer many solutions for small-sized kitchens - retractable grids and carousels, built-in tables, lifting and sliding mechanisms for doors and shelves. In most cases, they really make our lives easier, although they are not cheap.
If you have worked hard to optimize your small kitchen, then as a reward for your efforts you will have the opportunity to install a small bar table by the window. For example, like the one in this photo. I hope this material was interesting and useful for you!
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A mirror reflects light and visually expands the space - you can even create an ensemble of several mirrors different forms so that a small room begins to seem twice as large.
Same gender
If the floor throughout the apartment is made of the same material, then all the rooms and corridors will seem to be part of one large space.
Same color
If you paint the walls, baseboards and doors with the same paint, this will make a small space visually more voluminous.
White
Usually people think that only brilliant White color Suitable for decorating small living spaces. But also dark colors- for example, blue and gray - can help blur the stuffy boundaries of a room.
Dual use furniture
It's better to choose small table, which can be expanded to a larger size in case of celebrations. It’s better to choose not a bed, but folding sofa. It is better to choose not just an ottoman, but an ottoman with a drawer inside, like a chest, where you can hide rarely used things.
Transparent furniture
Glass furniture. Shelving slim design. Sofas with graceful high legs. All this visually lightens the space.
Light
In a small room there should be about 6 artificial light sources located in different places.
Weightlessness
Avoid heavy and bulky furniture. For example, a bedside table can be made from wire mesh.
Sliding doors
If the furnishings of the apartment do not allow the door to be opened 90 degrees - sliding door would be an ideal option.
Walls
Walls in small rooms should be used to the maximum: wall shelves, Wall lights, hooks for clothes, etc. It is especially good to equip corner shelves in a small room.
The new review collected practical examples of how you can take and transform your home. The suggestions collected here will be especially useful for those whose apartment is not very large. In any case, it is worth taking note of examples of work done by professional designers.
1. Dressing room in the corner
Small piece water pipe or railing will allow you to turn any empty corner of the bedroom into a modern open dressing room for your favorite things or outerwear.
2. Hanging bedside table
A hanging bedside table is a stylish and ergonomic alternative to a standard nightstand. A table like this will allow you to place the little things you need in the bed and save valuable space in a small bedroom. In addition, you can make such a piece of furniture yourself, thereby saving your own finances.
3. Hidden bookcase
Usually, an empty wall behind the door of a room is a great place to install a compact cabinet or shelving for books and other things. necessary little things. This idea will significantly save space. small room and make room for other equally necessary things.
4. Space zoning
Despite the crazy popularity of studio apartments, for living and relaxing a person needs a separate corner, hidden from prying eyes. Therefore, designers recommend that owners of studios and one-room apartments zone the space using curtains, which, unlike partitions, take up absolutely no space and will become a stylish touch to a modern interior.
5. Original dining area
If the size of the room does not allow you to install a classic dinner table- experiment. For example, get a wide table-shelf that can be hung by the window in the kitchen or on a free wall in the living room.
6. Bed with drawers
A bed, the frame and head of which is equipped with drawers and shelves, will allow you to accommodate a lot of necessary things and save you from buying an additional wardrobe or bedside table.
7. Storing products in the bathroom
A cheap tabletop wine holder is perfect for storing bottles of styling products and shower gels. This idea will allow you to restore order and significantly save space in your bathroom cabinet.
8. Organizer for household supplies
A metal bottle holder mounted on one of the walls of a pantry or kitchen cabinet is perfect for storing various household supplies, such as rags, household gloves and cleaning supplies.
9. Kitchen organizer
From an old louvered door painted in bright color, you will get not only a functional organizer for storing pots, pans and small kitchen accessories, but also a unique decorative item.
10. Shelf above the sink
The wall above the sink can be equipped with a stylish wooden shelf with high sides and compartments, which is ideal for storing all kinds of cosmetics, dental lyes and small cosmetics.
11. Transformable pouf
Transformable furniture is a real find for owners of small apartments. For example, if possible, you can get a stylish coffee table-ottoman, which folds out and turns into a full-fledged bed.
12. Bath shelf
Shelves for bathtubs and sinks are not a whim, but a functional detail that will increase the capabilities of the side of the bathtub or sink and place all the necessary cosmetics, soaps and washcloths.
13. Built-in shelves
You shouldn’t clutter up the already modest bathroom space with massive cabinets and a bunch of shelves. Instead, it is better to give preference to built-in shelves, which are perfect for storing a variety of things and will save a lot of space.
14. Open shelves in the office
An original system of interconnected shelves different sizes It will be an excellent alternative to the usual desktop, which takes up a lot of space, and an effective decoration for an empty wall.
15. Closer to the floor
To arrange a small living room with low ceiling It is better to choose low, compact furniture. This trick will allow you to visually enlarge the modest dimensions of the room and create a stylish, harmonious interior.
16. Second floor
A bed under the ceiling is a stylish and fresh solution that can not only significantly increase the possibilities of a room, but also make the interior unique. The freed up space under the bed can be used to create a mini-living room, wardrobe, workplace or play area.
Continuing the topic, without much difficulty.
Apartments are different: large and small, comfortable and not so comfortable, but almost every one has a room that is very small in size. You can make a good nursery out of such a room, which is well suited for a small household, or you can make a living room, if the location allows it.
It is not always possible to combine rooms. The partition, which is load-bearing wall, can destroy everything. Sometimes it happens that the owners simply do not want or are afraid to change existing look your apartment. However, you can change the furniture, then you can expand the visible space.
The question arises: what needs to be removed first? You DO NOT need large closets, useless ottomans, bulky tables and other similar furniture that is not useful and takes up space. The wardrobe can be replaced with a sliding wardrobe, which will occupy the entire wall and the entire height. You can make it to order, having discussed all the details with the master in advance. This is convenient because you can think in advance about how many shelves, hangers, drawers and others you will need additional functions. All things can easily fit in it, and the space in the room will increase significantly. The depth of the cabinet plays a big role in this. You can also think of a set of furniture that will include a table, shelves, a pencil case, and all these things will be in one closet. After work you can simply put them away.
Upholstered furniture is a separate issue. The choice falls on transformable furniture, which may not take up much space in the room, and at the same time unfold at the right time and take the desired shape. This could be a sofa bed, instead of just a bed, or a chair-bed on which you can sleep.
A sofa bed is also a good choice, which is suitable for a small room. It easily turns into a sleeping place. This will also save space.
However, you must keep in mind that each room has its own furniture. Whether it's the living room or the kitchen. An armchair-bed or a sofa bed would be suitable for the room, in the living room corner sofa. The main thing is not to make a mistake in choosing such furniture, otherwise you can achieve the opposite result. Despite the fact that the room is small, you need to choose quality furniture. Before purchasing, it is mandatory to check the padding, furniture upholstery, frame, etc.
It is best to choose a frame from natural solid wood. Beech is the best option. Chipboard and other lumber are too hard and short-lived, they can even aggravate health conditions. Can be combined well in a frame metal parts, plywood and MDF elements.
Padding is also important. Here you can consider a combination of springs and polyurethane foam or foam rubber. It is best to choose natural upholstery. Modern fabrics such as microfiber, etc. are not considered, but they are expensive. It is best to choose leather, tapestry or jacquard.
