Living room layout: rules, options, examples
The living room combines attractiveness and functionality. Family members and guests of the house spend time in this room. Its correct layout will create a unique, attractive and thoughtful interior. Much depends on the area of the room and the personal preferences of the owners.
Basic planning rules
The living room plan is drawn up taking into account the size of the room. This room will have a different purpose in a private house and apartment, which is also important to consider.
- It should be light in the hall. The sun gives a sense of peace, so the windows should not be curtained or forced. Flowers on the windowsills will be superfluous, they create a shadow. An empty window sill is light in color, better than white, reflects light and makes the room more lively. For the same purpose, glossy materials are used to decorate walls, floors, ceilings.
- Ease of movement around the room. You need to arrange furniture so that you have free access to everything. A minimum of 50 cm of free space is required between objects. For the central passage, about 90-100 cm should be allocated. This is especially important if the hall is a walk-through room.
- It is not worth overloading the interior with details and trifles. The living room is a rest and rest room, so a lot of dazzling trinkets will be superfluous here. The abundance of shapes, textures and flashy colors leads to a feeling of discomfort, stiffness.
A long time in such a room will make a person irritable and constantly tired. Symmetrical lines in the interior create a sense of security and tranquility.
In a private house
Usually the living room in the house is located on the ground floor and is the central and largest room. Sometimes the room is combined with a dining room or kitchen. In such a layout, the entire first floor is a common space, divided into zones.
If the house is built according to an individual project, then the room is often combined with a bay window. So the room gets more interesting geometry.
It is important to arrange everything in the same style. Large or panoramic windows will visually make the space larger and lighter.
In the apartment
Usually, living rooms are less spacious in such conditions. Here it is recommended to abandon the mass of details and decorative elements. They will overload the space and make cleaning much more difficult.
It should be borne in mind that the living room in the apartment should accommodate the storage system. Wardrobes allow you to store clothes, bed linen, towels and much more, relieving the space in the bedrooms. Open shelves or shelves provide space for books and photographs.
Dark curtains steal space, so in the hall it is better to use light and light curtains or tulle. Modular furniture will allow you to efficiently use the entire area. It can be folded up if necessary. The sofa can be folding, transforming into a large sleeping place for guests or apartment owners.
We take into account the size of the room
The layout of the living room directly depends on the size of the room. On the preliminary drawing, it is important to note all the exact dimensions, especially if the room is with a balcony. Features of the layout of a large living room:
- The fireplace will add warmth and comfort. In an apartment, you can use its electrical counterpart.
- The rejection of visual partitions in favor of an open plan is appropriate in a classic interior.
- Folding partitions, screens, podiums and beams will make the interior more interesting. The space is literally cut into zones.
- You can install one central object, such as a TV. The rest of the furniture is lined up around it. It is worth putting a sofa, a dining group nearby. Cabinets and racks are installed near the opposite wall.
A large living room is usually found in new buildings and private houses. In ordinary apartments, rooms up to 30 sq. m. When planning a design in this case, the following should be considered.
- The balcony can be used for expansion. They equip an office or a recreation area there.
- The rectangular room allows you to hide the storage system. The entire wall around the door can be finished with cabinets and shelves.
- In a Scandinavian and minimalist style, you need to equip a recreation area closer to the window.
We divide into functional zones
The living room can combine not only a place to relax, but also be used to perform other tasks.
Usually people try to differentiate between different functional areas. The best options for this.
- Column or partition. You can use both portable and stationary structures. The latter are being installed at the stage of renovation.
- Light distribution. Above each zone, you can mount a separate light source, and it can be not only ceiling lamps, but also sconces, floor lamps.
- Textile... Curtains, curtains, and carpets can separate or hide parts of a room.
The presence of certain areas in the living room depends on the preferences of its owners.
- Rest zone. Usually this is a sofa or several armchairs, or maybe both. A table is placed near the upholstered furniture. It is worth considering that there should be about 1 meter between the interlocutors for comfortable communication. To equip such a corner, on average, you need 10 square meters. m.
- Canteen. Usually represented by a small dining group. In a large living room, this area can serve as a place for receiving guests.
- Work zone. It can be represented by a table with a computer or a small console. If there is space, it is worth supplementing it with a rack for papers and office supplies. A small craft workshop is also appropriate in the living room.If everyone in the house has different activities, you can simply put a convenient work table here that will suit everyone.
- Game Zone. It is of great importance if there are children in the family. A small toy box and foldable rug will fit even in a small living room. A large room will accommodate a sports corner with a Swedish wall or a large dollhouse. A children's tent with toys in the corner of the room looks interesting.
- TV area. It is important to calculate the distance from the screen to the sofa. It should be 6-8 times the length of the TV. The speakers should be located at a distance of 2-3.5 meters from people.
Planning the design of a hall with a fireplace
The living room should relax and tune in to rest as much as possible. The fireplace helps to create the right atmosphere of coziness. It can be both a key element of the interior and an additional one. To achieve the desired result, it is worth considering the following nuances.
- The recreation area must be located near the fireplace.
- A round or irregularly shaped rug near a sofa or chair looks good. It is better to choose a long pile, this creates a more pleasant atmosphere.
- It is not necessary to install furniture around the fireplace. It can be just an element of the interior, and not its center. This solution is suitable for Scandinavian and modern styles.
- Modern classics look noble and attractive. To decorate a living room in this style, all cabinets should be hidden, inconspicuous. The rest of the furniture is installed in a semicircle around the fireplace.
- The dining group in the middle of the room looks good, and the fireplace and TV are on opposite sides of it. In this case, you can choose the type of rest at your discretion. There may also be a recreation area in the center.
It is important that the film and the fire can be seen from any place.
Where to place the TV?
The living room is designed for relaxation and entertainment. The TV set can become the centerpiece of the interior here. The main ways to place it.
On the wall
The solution is standard and involves placing the TV in front of the sofa. In some cases it is worth using swivel mount instead of the usual one, so that it is comfortable to watch movies from anywhere.
In the corner
A great way to reclaim wasted space. You can use all the same mounts or choose a suitable corner cabinet.
In a niche
A special recess is made in the wall to fit the TV. This can make the interior more interesting. and protect equipment from children, animals.
Between two windows
In this case, sunlight will not interfere with your movie viewing. You can mount it on the wall, however, a special stand looks more interesting.
In the center of the room
Installing in such a location allows you to concentrate all your attention on the TV.
On the ceiling
Placing in this way significantly saves space. The ceiling TV looks aesthetically pleasing and original. For this, rotating mounts are used, so you can turn the screen in the desired direction.
Interesting ideas
The living room should delight the owners and pleasantly surprise the guests. We present examples of interesting layouts.
- Example zoning light, color and podium.
- The living room combines the area of rest, sleep, work. The screen hides the part where the owners sleep.
- The dining group and seating area share lighting... It is convenient to watch TV from any point.
- A striking example of an open plan. The room is bright, spacious and evokes positive emotions.
- The classic interior with a fireplace looks luxurious. The living room is light, cozy and warm like a home.
For 3 types of furniture arrangement: symmetrical, asymmetric and circular, see the next video.