Interior and layout of a studio apartment
A studio apartment is a special type of living space preferred by creative people or young people. The spacious, free space, devoid of partitions and walls, is an excellent field of activity for the use of creative and innovative ideas in design and furnishings.
A studio apartment can become a comfortable workshop, a meeting place for cheerful companies, a cozy corner for a quiet rest. Our article will tell you about the features and advantages of this room, options for furnishing, choosing a stylistic solution for the interior.
Peculiarities
A studio apartment is a concept that came to us from the United States at the beginning of the last century. During this period, the country faced a huge influx of immigrants from European and Asian countries. The emigrants were in dire need of affordable and comfortable housing. Therefore, small, budget apartments soon appeared, which later became known as studios.
The apartment was a small room with a kitchen, bathroom and living space. A cheap type of housing for immigrants has gradually turned into an elite living space for bohemians thanks to unusual and original design projects that were ideal for implementation in such apartments.
Today, apartments with such a layout are quite common. Moreover, they can be in categories of housing with a diametrically opposite price category. Budget options are built on the basis of 1-2-room apartments of a small area. Prestigious studio apartments are distinguished by a huge area, modern design, original space zoning.
The advantages of such premises include:
- The size. A free, spacious living space that is not limited by walls and partitions can be converted into a modern functional living area with the help of correctly selected and placed furniture and zoning.
- Ideal for non-family people. Such an apartment is suitable for meeting friends, work and leisure.
- Free space can be designed in a single stylistic direction or in a combination of several styles at once.
- The freedom of movement that standard apartments with their partitions and walls do not provide.
- Ideal room acoustics (an important fact for musicians).
Thanks to these advantages, today a lot of people are thinking about redeveloping their own apartments in the studio. However, this requires the solution of certain questions:
- panel buildings exclude the possibility of demolition of load-bearing partitions;
- old buildings are not subject to redevelopment;
- dismantling walls, laying new heat and water supply systems, sewerage systems, wiring will require significant financial investments;
- such an apartment is not suitable for families with children or a large number of residents;
- special attention should be paid to the ventilation system due to the combination of the kitchen and living space.
Among the disadvantages of housing, only the same open space can be noted. The slightest mess (unwashed dishes, scattered things, books, toys) will be instantly noticeable to a stranger who comes to visit. In addition, the presence of guests or relatives does not provide an opportunity to retire, as an apartment with a conventional layout allows.
Design projects
Before creating a design project for a studio apartment, you need to master its basic principles: free space and a minimum of items. It is quite possible that you will have to part with some of the things and furniture, as they will not fit into the new interior.
A new apartment should be spacious, comfortable, functional, cozy and beautiful.
- The first stage of work is associated with redevelopment. It is necessary to obtain an official permission in advance for the reconstruction of a building or apartment.
- Then you can start working directly on the design project. The entire usable area, even the smallest, should be maximized in the project.
- The layout options depend on many parameters, including the configuration, size, functional purpose of the premises, and the financial capabilities of the owner. Rooms can be square, rectangular or tunnel-shaped.
Layout of a rectangular studio room
It is desirable that the interior be designed in light, dull colors. Furniture must be selected sufficiently compact and mobile, for example, transformers. The room should be bright. If natural light isn't enough for this, consideration should be given to placing different artificial light sources.
By the way, surfaces made of glass or mirrors not only visually enlarge the room, but also make it lighter. That is why these materials can be used as small partitions for space zoning.
Fancy decoration should be avoided. The most essential parts are enough for decoration. Heavy classic curtains or drapes eat up the space, so blinds or light curtains are best.
Competent zoning is one of the main aspects of planning. Firstly, it concerns the location of the bathroom and its isolation from the rest of the space.
For the bedroom, it is better to choose a place away from the front door and bathroom. It is good if it is fenced off by a wardrobe, a screen or a small partition. This creates the feeling of a small, separate room.
The kitchen area can be located in any place convenient for this. Most often, with a rectangular layout, it is located at the opposite wall to the windows. If the area of the room allows, then in this way you can create several functionally different zones (work, living room, playroom).
A square apartment or studio house has a number of advantages over rectangular rooms:
- despite even a small area, the room still turns out to be light and spacious due to the correct geometric shape;
- the layout can always be changed (it is more difficult to do this with a rectangular room);
- functional areas in a square room are more mobile, as well as furniture that can be used as partitions;
- the absence of "long" and "short" walls makes all zones equidistant from each other.
Selection of building and finishing materials... For the floor, designers recommend linoleum or tiles. These are very practical, wear-resistant and durable materials.
When decorating windows, you can use wide window sills as a table top, bar counter or computer table. This will save the usable area of the room and organize another functional area.
For wall decoration, you should not choose wallpaper or paint of the same color. The zoning principle involves the combination of several colors and shades in one room. For example, the kitchen area can be finished with a material that imitates brickwork, the living room - with photo wallpaper, the bedroom - with decorative plaster or textiles. A mirror must be an obligatory element of the interior.
A properly selected lighting system will help to beautifully decorate the room and make it more convenient for living, as well as focus on individual zones.
For example, for a hallway, LED lighting can be used, located along / around the perimeter of the room, or 1-2 sconces placed near the entrance. For the main room, you can use a system of spotlights located along the entire ceiling or a chandelier. Both built-in and suspended light sources are suitable for the kitchen. A compact floor lamp will be enough to illuminate the bedroom.
Arrangement of furniture
Do not clutter up the space with a large number of pieces of furniture. Each element must carry out a certain load. It is recommended to pay attention to multifunctional furniture such as a sofa bed. It is compact, comfortable and looks good in any interior. Furniture modules can also be made to order. They will not only make life easier, leave the room more spacious, but also give their own "zest" to the interior. You can consider such an option as a bed that hides behind a wardrobe and unfolds when you open it.
In the kitchen-living room
The bar counter will help to separate the kitchen from the main space. An open rack is useful for placing kitchen utensils; the sink can be placed in a free corner of the room. For a more competent and ergonomic solution of free space, it is better to choose a built-in panel-panel. A powerful hood is required. Do not forget that the kitchen space is practically not closed by anything from the living room, so smells will spread throughout the apartment.
The dining area will be helped to equip a bar counter, a folding table, a pedestal table, folding chairs, stools.
The corner of the room is usually used to place the kitchen. Therefore, it is better to select a furniture set (if such is provided by the plan) with a corner. The space must be used as efficiently as possible, choosing a compact size dishwasher, washing machine and other gadgets.
A small cozy living room must be provided even in the smallest studio apartment. Most often, a small sofa located in front of the TV will be enough for this. To save space, it is better to place the TV not on a separate cabinet, but inside the wall or wardrobe.
The living area can also serve as a bedroom at the same time, so a sofa bed or chair bed is optimal for decorating a room. Furniture should be compact, not clutter up the space and quickly move from one state to another.
To store books, dishes, clothes, household appliances, accessories, bed linen and other things, you should definitely purchase a wardrobe. It can be built-in or free-standing. This is the most practical, compact, convenient and beautiful option for placing and storing household items.
In order to fence off a sleeping place or just select a small corner for privacy, you can use screens or a beautiful curtain.
If noisy parties and gatherings with friends are planned, then it makes sense to purchase a compact folding table and the same chairs. They will help to accommodate guests with sufficient comfort and do not take up much space when folded.
Among other furniture options that can be used to furnish the living room: coffee table, poufs, pillow chairs. As for household appliances, it is best to choose the most compact things. For example, plasma TVs can be placed not only on the table, but also on the wall.
Low furniture (tables, poufs, cushions) will perfectly outline the boundaries of a particular functional area, while not cluttering up the space.
In the corridor
Since it is assumed that a studio apartment is a dwelling for 1-2 people, there should not be a lot of furniture in the hallway either. A small partition that separates the hallway area from the rest of the apartment can be an excellent base for creating a compact wardrobe.It can accommodate several hooks for outerwear and shelves for shoes and hats.
You can put an open wardrobe or 1 - 2-fold wardrobe, a small pouf or sofa, a mirror - and the hallway is ready!
In the bathroom
It is most rational to combine the premises of the toilet and bathroom. Moreover, so that the room does not take up much space, instead of a bath, it is best to consider the option of a shower stall.
Plumbing is selected in the smallest possible size: shower cubicle, compact, sink, washing machine. Several shower shelves can be attached to the walls.
Styles and colors
The choice of stylistic direction largely depends on the degree of natural light in the room. If the apartment is located on the sunny side, then for decoration you can use both light, delicate, and rich, heavy tones. However, the first option is still preferable. Pastel colors (milky, white, sandy, creamy and other tones) do not irritate the eyes, fill the room with light, make it more airy and light.
The same goes for the choice of furniture. If you plan to furnish the room with wooden furniture, then it is best to choose wood in light shades. Dark wardrobes, beds and chairs will visually reduce an already small area.
You should not choose wallpapers with too colorful, bright patterns. It is best for the print to be discreet, small. An even more interesting option is a bright accent on one of the walls. For example, using photo wallpaper. Bright decorative pillows, an unusual bedspread or chair covers will help to make the discreet interior more spectacular and expressive.
Classic style. The room is decorated in fresh, light colors. Furniture: wardrobe or wall, sofa bed, coffee table and a couple of armchairs. Functional areas are separated from each other with a bar counter, a small partition, furniture.
Scandinavian-style interiors are great for small or dark spaces. Its distinctive feature is the use of white. Snow-white walls, floor, ceiling, furniture - such a cold, snowy interior visually makes the room quite spacious and very light. It is allowed to use colored carpets, chandeliers, curtains, textiles as contrasting details. Their number should be minimal.
The combination of several styles in one room looks even more interesting and unexpected. For example, a study can be decorated in a minimalist style; a classic is suitable for a living room. For lovers of more eccentric styles, we can recommend the direction of pop art with bright, catchy paintings, panels, carpets, furniture and decorative elements.
For those who prefer interior solutions that are completely radically different from pop art, we recommend paying attention to the loft style. It is especially suitable for a young bachelor's apartment. Concrete walls, brickwork, rough lines, lack of decor create a feeling of unfinished renovation. Doors or furniture can be used as dark accents.
A very fresh, original and stylish design option is the combination of black and white in one interior. Most often, white is chosen for cladding wall and ceiling coverings. The floor can be decorated with a black and white checkerboard. The furniture is also kept in these contrasting colors. This option always looks interesting, despite the traditional combination of classic colors. Silver-colored lamps and decorative elements add a touch of elegance and expressiveness to the interior.
For lovers of a more romantic setting, the Provence style is perfect. Warm colors (sand, lavender, pale blue, olive), fresh flowers and bunches of dried plants, elegant metal shelves, decorative pillows, low tables, chintz curtains on the windows - all these details give the interior a feeling of home warmth and comfort.
We increase the usable area - we make the second tier
A feature of the design projects of studio apartments is the maximum possible use of every square centimeter of usable area. The room should not only be spacious, it should also be comfortable. All human needs for eating, sleeping, meeting guests must be taken into account.
Therefore, very often designers offer a rational and creative layout option - the device of the second tier. Of course, this solution is only possible with a sufficient ceiling height. You can move a sleeping place to the second floor, arrange a small office or even a bathroom.
The second tier, as a rule, does not occupy a continuous space above the main living area, but a small area to which a staircase leads from the "first floor". The ladder can be permanent, folding or extension, so as not to take up a lot of space. Of course, the last two options are not suitable for children or the elderly.
Depending on the configuration and size of the second tier, you can actually increase the living area by 5-7 or even 10 square meters. The most common use for the second floor is the bedroom. A cozy, quiet, almost hidden from prying eyes corner, is the best fit for a good rest.
The ground floor can now be fully used as a kitchen / dining area / living room. Depending on the design of the staircase, it can also be used in different ways. For example, put in drawers for linen or use the space under the stairs as a small corner to relax.
The second tier does not have to be practically under the ceiling. You can use a high podium to highlight a separate area (study, bedroom). The body of the catwalk can also be used as a storage facility.
Interior ideas
To understand how interesting, original and multifunctional a studio apartment can be used, you need to look at different examples of the situation.
Even a very small apartment can accommodate several functional rooms at once, like a full-fledged 2 or even 3-room apartment. The living room, kitchen, dining area and bedroom are very compactly placed in a small space, thanks to a competent layout. Light walls, good natural lighting and an additional light source in the form of a wide, voluminous chandelier, make the room very bright. No extra furniture: the TV is located on the wall, a large suitcase is used as a stand for the DVD player. The wood furnishings give the interior a finished and modern look.
Studio apartment in a classic version. The bar counter and different flooring options help to separate the recreation area from the kitchen. The interior of the room is designed in a combination of different shades of brown and milky. Particular attention is paid to lighting: spotlights placed around the perimeter of the living room and kitchen, as well as several hanging lamps above the bar, allow you to correctly zone the space and place accents where necessary.
A small studio apartment can be made cozy and comfortable. An open rack separates a small work area from a sleeping place, and a podium allows you to select a dining area from the common space. Unusual decorative details (carpet imitating a lawn, modern finishing materials for wall cladding, original painting) give the interior a stylish and creative look.
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