Features of zoning in a rectangular living room
Work on the interior of any room begins with the designation and distribution of functional areas. When thinking about filling a rectangular living room, it is important to follow two rules:
- Do not place furniture along long walls of the room. Otherwise, instead of a living room, you will end up with an uncomfortable and cramped corridor;
- Avoid symmetrical arrangements, which look good in square rooms but highlight imperfections in other layouts.
When distributing the areas of the future living room on the room plan, it is important to take into account the location of the window and the entrance door to the room. Let's look at the main layout options and ways to implement them:
Option 1. The window is located along a short wall, and the door is opposite it. There is a great temptation to place furniture along long walls, which is not possible. This will emphasize and enhance the feeling of a long and narrow room. It is necessary to zone the room into squares, place furniture not along long walls, but with the end facing it.
Option 2. The window is located on the short wall, and the door on the long one. A more successful layout that allows you to harmoniously place two or three zones in one room. For example, a dining area at the entrance, a relaxation area with a soft corner in the center and a work area by the window.
Option 3. The window is located along a long wall. It is also quite a convenient option for planning, allowing you to think in terms of a square and place 2-3 functional zones in the room.
The living room may include several zones:
- For rest and relaxation. This is usually upholstered furniture - a sofa and an armchair, a TV, a coffee table.
- For meals and guests. If the apartment has a small kitchen, then the living room can take on the functions of a dining room. In this case, a stationary or folding dining table and chairs are placed in the room. It would not be superfluous to locate a sideboard or display cabinet here for storing cutlery and dishes.
- For work. Oversized apartments rarely boast a separate office. Therefore, a desktop for a laptop and a small shelf for books and papers can be placed in the living room.
- For children's games. In the absence of a separate children's room, the living room can accommodate a children's corner. Its contents depend on the age and number of children: a toy rack, a bookshelf, a children's table, an easel, etc.
The content of a particular living room depends on the lifestyle, marital status, and personal preferences of each person or each family member. When creating a room plan, it is necessary, first of all, to determine for what needs this room will be used. Otherwise, there is a high risk of creating a beautiful, but non-residential interior.
Which set of furniture to choose for a small bedroom
A classic set of bedroom furniture includes a bed, bedside tables (for a lamp, alarm clock, night light, books) and a wardrobe or at least a chest of drawers. Practice shows that they are exactly what is needed in a comfortable bedroom. If the space allows, the furniture set can additionally include:
- dressing table with pouf; large floor mirror; 1-2 chairs; low coffee table; a regular desk for placing a computer, a vase of flowers and other small things (placed by the window along with a work chair or computer chair); banquette (an oblong bench with a soft seat, placed at the foot of the bed).
These items are not required for the bedroom. They are worth buying for spacious rooms, where their installation will not create a feeling of cramping.
Arranging furniture in a rectangular room
At the next stage of planning the design of a rectangular living room, you should decide on the furniture that will fill the room. In an effort to visually bring the room closer to the ideal square shape, you should carefully consider the following furniture options:
- A corner sofa has the ability to gather space around itself and bring it closer to a harmonious square. The main thing is not to push this piece of furniture into the far corner of the room, otherwise the room will take on even more elongated outlines. It is best to place a sofa with a banquette or a corner in the center of the room, as if highlighting a square in its center as the main zone.
- A round dining table, like a corner sofa, can become the center of the dining area, bringing its outline closer to ideal and pleasing to the eye. It’s not a bad idea to take a closer look at the transforming table, which, if desired, extends and becomes oval. This will be convenient if you need to place all guests at one table.
- A tall display cabinet, due to its verticality, will help to divide the room into zones, shifting attention from its length to its height. On the contrary, a long modular wall of the same height will aggravate the “tunnel” of the room, especially if it is placed along a long wall.
- A wardrobe in a rectangular room can only be placed along a short wall. Visually the room will be reduced by its width. If the room has a small area, then mirrored doors can save the situation. The reflection of the window in the mirror will expand the room, add light and air to it.
Where to put a closet with things
The second most important thing when arranging furniture in the bedroom is the closet. To save space, a wardrobe is often used. If the width of the room allows, it can be placed opposite the bed. The main thing is that between it and the cabinet, if it has sliding doors, there is a passage of 70 cm, if it has hinged doors - 100 cm (for comfortable use). Before purchasing, you should study useful tips for choosing a wardrobe.
Most often, the closet is placed on the side of the bed, parallel to it and against the wall opposite the wall with the window. Often the cabinet is placed in the far corner by the window, but so that its side is adjacent to this wall, otherwise it can reduce the amount of natural light in the room. The cabinet can be used as a zoning element. Then it is not necessary to place it with its back plane to the wall.
Small tricks for a harmonious interior
Any interior is made up of little things, and they can either save it or destroy it. Here is a small list of tips for harmonizing an elongated living room:
- Laying laminate or parquet should go across, not along, the room. Such a little thing can visually make the room wider.
- A square or round rug laid in the center of the room will work a miracle and gather the entire space of the room around it. On the contrary, a long carpet with an incorrectly chosen pattern (too dark or with stripes running along the room) can ruin the entire interior.
- You can bring a room closer to ideal with the help of light. Proper placement of lamps for each zone will help visually delimit the room. You should not hang several lamps along long walls, this will only emphasize the shape of the room.
- Thick frosted curtains can magically reduce the space of a room. This trick should be used if the window is located on the far short wall. And you shouldn’t use it if the window is located along a long wall. In this case, it is better to opt for light, airy tulle in a neutral tone.
- A mirror located in the center of a long wall will help open up the space of the room. By the way, large paintings will also do this.
- Filling the corners of the room will help to move away from the living room in the form of a corridor. For example, large plants in designer flower pots. Plants can also be used to zone a room.
Feng Shui bedroom colors
According to best feng shui practices, colors should be chosen according to their relationship to the bagua, the energy map of the home. Each zone in the house has different energy needs, and their satisfaction leads to harmony between physicality, spirituality and psyche. However, we can do without mapping and still keep good energy in our bedroom.
Just think about what colors you like and what we need in a place intended for relaxation. The best base is warm shades of brown, ivory and beige, which you can add an accent to your taste. If you need more energy, let's add some red to the interior. Earth colors will provide relaxation and security, while green and blue will support health and vitality. On the other hand, pink and peach tones will have a positive effect on strengthening ties between partners.
In Feng Shui, each color represents one of the 5 elements: earth, metal, fire, wood and water. Focus on the strengths and weaknesses of each color to find out what suits your bedroom best. The rule is to use colors that add intimacy, so avoid colors that are too bright.
Colors associated with water, like blue and black, bring lightness and abundance. Colors associated with wood, like brown and green, bring growth in your life. Some of the best feng shui colors for a bedroom are earthy and soothing tones such as terracotta, brown, beige, cream and soft shades of green, blue and lavender. These colors bring calm, peace and positive energy to your personal space.
According to experts, the color that brings love and romance to the bedroom is the color of passion - red. From deep maroon to bright crimson red, this color is one of the best for the bedroom. However, it is important to limit the use of red to highlight your room. Too much red can be overwhelming.
Color scheme for a rectangular living room
The most important part of planning a living room is choosing its colors. When working with a rectangular room, it is best to use the following color schemes:
- Bright monochromatic room. In such a room, a feeling of spaciousness and light is created, and the feeling of constriction disappears. This technique should be adopted by owners of small living rooms.
- A plain room in a neutral pastel shade. It is best to opt for colors such as green, beige, delicate shades of blue, and coral. They create a feeling of spaciousness, are close to natural shades, and set the mood for rest and relaxation.
- Highlight a short wall with accent wallpaper. This will bring it closer and eliminate the feeling of a corridor. For the same reason, you should not use accent options on long walls.
- Decorating the wall with two types of wallpaper, pasted from the floor to the middle of the wall and from the middle and above. Oddly enough, this option successfully divides the space, diverting attention from its configuration.
In a small rectangular room, it is better to avoid dark colors and wallpaper options with annoying patterns.
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What to do if the living room door is opposite the window: interior design
Properly selected doors perfectly complement the interior of any room, making it cozy and comfortable for relaxation. In order to get a beautifully organized environment, the doors should not stand out from the rest of the interior, but should be harmoniously combined with the room and its decor. Choosing a suitable door is not as easy as it might seem at first glance; it is a responsible and important step. On the one hand, the door must be beautiful, delighting not only the owners, but also delighting the guests; on the other hand, the material must be natural, and the door itself must be durable and soundproof.
Design ideas
Some design techniques will expand the functionality of the bedroom. Inconspicuous smooth facades or light doors without handles fit perfectly into a small room and allow you to highlight the dressing room without harming the design.
The bedroom-living room can be easily arranged using zoning or a hanging bed: 14 sq. enough to hide the bed from prying eyes. An unusual bed (for example, a loft) is also suitable for a teenager. Below you can arrange a workplace or place a sofa.
In the photo there is a bedroom of 14 sq. meters, part of which is allocated for a dressing room. At first glance, it is not easy to notice, since the light facades practically dissolve against the background of the walls.
By separating yourself from the recreation area with a closet or shelving, you can equip an office. For the same purpose, an insulated balcony or loggia, niche or storage room, which can be combined with a room, is suitable, thereby increasing the usable area.
The photo shows a bedroom design of 14 sq. m. with an insulated balcony in eco style.
To visually raise the ceilings, designers advise installing 14 square meters in the bedroom. meters a bed without legs and other low furniture, and decorate the walls with vertical stripes. An accent wall painted a contrasting dark will add depth to the room.
Doors to the living room: selection factors
Interior doors can open in different ways; each buyer chooses a door depending on the structure of the room and his preferences. They can be double, glass, folding, sliding, and it is not uncommon to have double doors in the range of doors. Each type is installed depending on the location of the doorway and its size. For example, if the width of the opening is less than one meter, then in this case a single-leaf type is suitable; it is also chosen if the opening is located in the corner of the room. If the opening size is more than a meter, double doors are ideal. In large rooms, you can install sliding doors if the walls allow such installation.
Doors for the living room can be made from various materials. The most durable and long-lasting doors are those made from natural wood. When purchasing this type, you need to remember that they are heavy in weight and are suitable for large rooms. If installing such a door is impossible, it is best to choose a product made of chipboard or glass.
You need to choose doors based on the following factors:
- Determining for what purpose the door is needed - the material of manufacture depends on this;
- The dimensions of the living room and the size of the doorway, according to these parameters you can choose the type of future door;
- Required appearance;
- The desired material, the service life depends on its choice;
- The ratio of cost and quality of purchase, it is not always possible to purchase high-quality products at a low cost.
Framing the balcony exit with curtains
As a rule, curtains are used as a frame for a balcony exit if there is a window-door unit. Otherwise, they may hide the decorative trim of the opening.
What to pay attention to
There are more than ten criteria for choosing beautiful and practical curtains. However, specifically for decorating the exit to the loggia, it is important that they:
- They ensured unimpeded movement between rooms and the opening of swing doors.
- Easy to clean. When windows are opened regularly, curtains become dirty quite quickly.
- They corresponded to the interior style of the main (adjacent to the loggia) room.
- They ensured good insolation of the room during the day and its shading at night.
In principle, everything is quite simple. All that remains is to decide which type of curtains is right for you.
Almost weightless tulle easily moves to the side
Types of curtains for balcony doors
Each type of curtain has its own advantages and disadvantages and distinctive features.
Roller blinds are suitable for interior decoration of a room in a modern, minimalist or hi-tech style. They are attached directly to the frame. The canvas is wound on a special shaft and can be fixed at the desired height. This ensures the required degree of shading of the window.
Roller blinds for balcony block
Blinds are also suitable for modern, sleek interiors. They can be horizontal or vertical, greatly changing the visual perception of the room. For a small room up to 12 sq. It is recommended to choose an option with horizontal slats, which will visually expand it.
Don't skimp on blinds if you use them regularly! The movement mechanism of the lamellas must be reliable. The slats themselves can be made of wood, plastic, fabric, metal, bamboo.
Traditional fabric curtains are a timeless solution. Combine them with each other in color, texture, translucency and other characteristics. For classic interiors, fabric curtains made from expensive fabrics with lambrequins, tassels and original stylized holders are suitable. But do not forget about the convenience of opening doors.
If the window and the balcony door have a large difference in size, long floor-length curtains will help visually correct it.
An equally good option is tulle. Dense, translucent and completely weightless - choose and combine to get the desired degree of window shading. Tulle can be successfully combined with roller, fabric curtains and even blinds.
A combination of curtains and tulle to decorate a window and door unit
White doors in the living room interior
In addition to the material, when choosing a door, its color is important. The overall image of the living room and the impression it will create depends on the color scheme of the doors. So, for example, using classic doors is possible for any interior, but if you want to use colored or white doors, you will have to create the necessary interior in the room; dark colors will be inappropriate.
White color is universal, it will suit almost any environment. The white color will look perfect in the living room. Absolutely everyone will admire white doors.
White color, carrying nobility, purity, sophistication, thanks to a door of this color the whole living room will seem light and spacious. It is best if they are complemented by light wallpaper and wallpaper in light colors. In addition, an important point is the choice of the right accessories such as door handles and latches. They can be made in gold tones; often the handles are designed to match the shade of the floor. This is easy to organize if the flooring is the same around the entire perimeter of the apartment and causes difficulties if it is different.
The main disadvantage of white doors is that they quickly become dirty and require regular cleaning. Therefore, when choosing a manufacturing material, it is best to give preference to smooth surfaces. It is also important to pay attention to the fact that if the door is located opposite the living room window, then the door leaf can fade from the sun's rays. In this case, you need to make sure there are thick curtains that will not allow light to enter the room.
Photos in various styles
The most suitable style for a small room is minimalism. Its brevity in decor, furniture and textiles will help avoid overcrowding in the bedroom.
The Scandinavian approach will appeal to connoisseurs of both minimalism and home comfort. Natural textiles, wooden furniture, and indoor plants will fit perfectly into a Scandi bedroom.
Room 14 sq. in the Art Nouveau style, it is devoid of clear straight lines. Functionality here borders on decorativeness, creating a perfect balance. Light materials are used for decoration.
The photo shows a bright bedroom of 14 square meters. m. in the style of minimalism, the only “excess” of which is a chest of drawers with personal belongings.
A bedroom in neoclassical style will suit sophisticated people. Expensive decoration, unobtrusive floral patterns and neutral colors do not contradict modern trends, but rather emphasize them. This style differs from the classic one, into which it is not easy to fit a computer or TV, but it is easy to install a fireplace.
If the owner of the bedroom puts luxury and status first, the Baroque style is suitable for the bedroom. Headboards with a carriage frame, carved chairs, and a massive chandelier will fit perfectly here.
The photo shows a discreet bedroom in a neoclassical style with access to a balcony.
Bedroom 14 sq. the loft style has a masculine character: brickwork, concrete walls, metal elements. But industrial style is also valued for its large amount of light. In a small room, reflective surfaces and lighting can help expand the space.
French Provence will be appreciated by lovers of comfort and home warmth. Floral patterns, antique furniture and decor with a rustic flavor will look especially cozy in the attic.
Living room door opposite the window: design ideas
It doesn't matter at all what size the living room is in the house. Planning everything in a large room is just as difficult as in a small one, especially when it comes to doorways. It would be wrong to give any specific advice on interior design, but if this situation bothers you, there are several options for exiting. As for the dimensions of the room, they play their role. So, for example, if the room is large, then with a high probability it can be said that there is a passage door and the living room with two doors has several windows and openings. Therefore, each situation must be considered separately.
The most problematic situation is considered to be the use of a wall where the window and heating system are located.
In private homes, this problem is solved by replacing radiators with heated floors or a special film. The window under which the heating system is located is not so easy to hide; it causes additional inconvenience. In this case, it is best to hide everything behind purchased curtains, installed furniture, or use decorative grilles. Also in these situations, special built-in structures are an excellent solution. If the living room has a square shape, then you can place a sofa near the window with its back to the window. Initially, this idea may seem strange, but with proper organization of the rest of the interior, the living room can only “win.”
Mirror opposite the window
mirror in the hallway opposite the window
In general, a mirror is an object that needs to be placed very carefully and with care around the apartment.
According to Feng Shui, a mirror can reflect the energy that enters the house. Therefore, it is undesirable to install a mirror opposite the window according to Feng Shui, since the energy that should enter the house may be reflected and not penetrate.
Which living room door design is best to choose?
As mentioned above, white doors are ideal for the living room, as they have certain properties.
The advantages of white doors are indicated by three points:
- Combination with any interior and design, since this color is neutral;
- The living room takes on the effect of airiness and lightness. Installing such a door visually enlarges the room; this detail is important for small rooms;
- Practicality. On this color, dirt is practically not noticeable, in addition, it always has a solemn appearance.
When choosing such a door, the owner will always be satisfied with the result. A beautiful option is a glass door; it is not only original, but stylish and modern. Photos of options will be provided by store consultants. They can have a variety of designs, such as stained glass or mosaic, and can be ribbed or smooth. Given the huge range of designs, anyone can choose a glass door for themselves.
Before purchasing a door, you need to start by designing the doorway. Its appearance depends on the size and overall design of the living room.
If we go deeper, we can highlight the following points:
- The size of the opening will be selected to match the size of the future door. It should be noted that door manufacturers mostly use standard sizes; if the opening is larger, the door will have to be ordered.
- The entrance to the living room is what the eye falls on first. It is very important to choose the correct sizes. So, for example, for a doorway of 80 cm, a 70 cm door and a set of necessary accessories are required so that later installation there are no unnecessary holes.
Bedroom and lighting according to Feng Shui
There are a few more Feng Shui rules for bedroom lighting and collection of objects. They should be followed to achieve the desired state. What to take care of?
- give up overhead light,
- use a curtain or blinds,
- You should put a salt lamp in the bedroom, which ionizes the air and makes it easier to fall asleep,
- give up unnecessary accessories, trinkets, it is better to focus on simplicity,
- put plants in the bedroom, but do not overdo it, because they take oxygen,
- get rid of things that collect dust, such as plush toys,
- avoid placing sharp objects or family souvenirs in the bedroom,
- hide the clothes you wore during the day, especially when it was a hard and stressful day,
- do not fall asleep with the TV or computer on,
- do not overdo it with the number of mirrors,
- don't go into the bedroom with shoes on,
- Avoid brown or gray on the walls if you don't want to fall into a nostalgic mood.