Today, more and more people are thinking about expanding the area of small apartments. This is a natural desire, caused by the desire for a comfortable and convenient life. The combined space allows you to feel free in a relatively small area. In order to complete the design correctly, first of all, the kitchen-living room 18 sq. m design must be carefully worked out. Before carrying out work, it is necessary to draw up a design project that will help visually imagine the future environment.
When it comes to personal space, apartment owners are willing to go to great lengths to be able to expand the premises. Such an area is considered quite small, so the quality of life of the residents largely depends on the quality of the redevelopment and design.
In order to create a kitchen in which you can cook and a living room for proper relaxation, you need to make every effort. It is important to take into account taste preferences.
Before renovating a kitchen space of 18 meters, you need to familiarize yourself with the apartment plan, which shows where communications are laid, windows and doors are located, where the load-bearing wall is located.
Things to consider
- Before starting renovation or after it, it is imperative to coordinate the redevelopment with higher authorities.
- It is necessary to study issues that relate to strict prohibitions. For example, wet areas should never be located above lower living areas.
- It is important to resolve the issue with the gas point, since if you have a gas stove, it is prohibited to combine the kitchen with the living room.
When all these important issues are settled, you can begin to distribute zones. This process needs to be given time, since the long-term convenience of all family members depends on its correctness.
Successful zoning of the kitchen and living room for 18 sq m
Zoning is an individual process that cannot be performed in the same way in different types of apartments. Before starting real zoning, it is important to decide for yourself where and how it will be convenient to locate the work and recreation areas.
In order to perform zoning correctly, you may need the help of a designer. But you should only expect advice from him, which the owner of the apartment can accept or reject.
For arranging an area of 18 squares, the same space zoning laws apply. However, they are not static and can vary.
- Decide on a set of standard actions performed in the kitchen and in the hall.
- Measure the distance needed to move comfortably in the combined space.
- Draw a floor plan and indicate the most frequently used places.
- Draw the routes that will be the most frequent. Determine the degree of their convenience.
- Arrange furniture in a convenient and space-saving manner.
All zoning rules can be changed depending on the individual taste preferences of the apartment owners.
Design of a kitchen-living room 18 sq m: furniture options
Tips for choosing furniture:
- Choose materials that will easily withstand moisture and frequent contamination.
- Furniture should be ergonomic and simple. It should not become an obstacle to movement.
- It is best to purchase furniture that can be easily transformed. This will help save space and provide additional convenience in its use.
- It will be convenient to use partitions.
It is then possible to organize the room functionally and at the same time stylishly. When apartment owners know exactly their desires and requirements for space.
Kitchen-living room-bedroom 18 sq.m: color decoration
The right color schemes will help to visually enlarge a small area and make it bright and cozy.
You need to choose a color depending on the overall style of the interior. For example, a space in the Provence style should be decorated in light colors; high-tech involves the use of more saturated and contrasting shades.
Wall decoration can be done using paint or wallpaper. Today it is not a problem to buy high-quality finishing materials that are ideal for furnishing a kitchen-living room.
Examples of color design:
- Light and warm shades for wallpaper or painting;
- Catchy contrasting combinations;
- Black and white design;
- Use of natural materials.
Choosing a color to decorate a room is a personal matter for everyone. Here one goal should be pursued - a harmonious interior.
Varied layout of kitchen-living room 18 sq m
The most common type is square. This type of layout makes it possible to use several methods of distributing furniture to choose from.
On an area of 10 square meters, the most convenient type of layout is considered to be L-shaped and U-shaped furniture arrangement.
Such a construction can be additionally decorated with a square or round island part. The future arrangement of furniture depends on the location of the kitchen unit. If done correctly, the space will be practical and beautiful at the same time.
Layout example:
- The kitchen set, located in one row, involves demarcating the area for cooking and relaxation. You can use a bar counter or island as a delimiter.
- The dining table can take place against the opposite wall.
- The L-shaped layout involves arranging the opposite corner with a cozy table and a seating area.
The choice of layout largely depends on the original shape of the space as well as the taste preferences of the apartment owners.
Other layout options
The layout of the kitchen-living room is of great importance. When the apartment owners have decided on the choice of layout, which depends on the shape of the space, they can begin zoning the room.
You can do the planning yourself or hire a professional to help you place the right accents.
There are several common types of layouts that are considered most successful for kitchens with a small area.
Breading options:
- U-shaped;
- L-shaped.
When distributing furniture, it is important to consider that it should in no case interfere with movement around the room.
Room zoning techniques:
- Installation of a bar counter;
- Installation of a dining table;
- Using a dividing island;
- Installation of different floor levels;
- Use of screens and partitions;
- Installing a sofa.
There are many techniques for planning and zoning a room. Their numerous options can be found on the Internet or in specialized magazines. The following series of interior design examples are known: “Grand”, “Taganay”, “Europe”, “Virage”.
Kitchen-living room 18 sq. M Video)
In order to combine the kitchen and living room, you will need permission for redevelopment. After receiving it, you can begin to combine the space. After this, it is necessary to develop a design project that will help arrange the combined rooms: set priorities, perform a tentative layout of a room with a small area, see options that will help save as much free space as possible.
Interior of kitchen-living room 18 sq. m (photo)
The living room is the central room of a house or apartment, where guests are received and the whole family relaxes in the evening. A living room with an area of 18 square meters is not small, however, it is not spacious enough, so in the design process it is necessary to resort to a number of tricks.
Decoration Materials
First you need to decide on the flooring. Here, the best option would be a monochrome, no-frills material: linoleum, laminate or parquet with shades of wood. A dark floor is used to provide depth to the room, but the floor needs to be complemented by light colored walls.
In order to visually enlarge the room, you can “raise” the ceilings. For this effect, it is necessary that the color of the ceiling be one or two shades lighter than the walls.
An alternative option for raising ceilings is to use wallpaper with vertical lines and stripes or use a floral pattern directed upward.
Also a very effective and popular option is to combine wall coverings, so one wall can be made to look like stone or decorated with photo wallpaper, and the rest with light, monochromatic ones. 
Choosing the Right Color
The living room, which has an area of 18 square meters, should be discreet. Too bright or dark will quickly begin to irritate, and will not cause such aesthetic pleasure. It is preferable to use light, pastel colors, which predispose to relaxation and comfort.
A number of optimal color solutions for decorating a living room:
- Beige or white.
- Brown.
- Green (salad) and blue.
- Light shades of gray.
- Pink and purple.
- Orange.
If the room is divided into several functional zones, then it can be combined with color, using warm and cold colors here at the same time. Thus, the dining area can be made in bright colors (yellow, red, gold), but the relaxation area can be made in more pleasant colors for relaxation (green, blue, pastel).
Curtains and lighting
The organization of lighting must be approached responsibly and very carefully. A large and massive chandelier will not feel cozy; it is better to use spotlights, placing them around the perimeter of the living room. Such lamps are also convenient because they can be placed in any convenient way. For example, you can group them in such a way as to create the feeling of a room divided into several zones.
The abundance of lighting points does not mean that the room should be closed from natural light, it should also be present. Heavy structures on the windows will be inappropriate and will deprive it of the necessary rays of the sun, which is not entirely correct.
However, leaving the windows completely open is also wrong, because it will attract attention from the outside, and it will also be uncomfortable for the homeowners, because it creates the feeling that someone is looking at you. Moreover, few people want to admire the view of the neighboring house or be distracted by the light of street lamps at night.
There is only one way out of the situation - you need to use thin materials, for example, veil, organza or tulle. The color should match the walls or be close in shade to them. Blinds or Roman shades are a good thing, however, they can attract unnecessary attention to themselves, and therefore distract from the overall picture of the room.
Equipping living room furniture
You can spend a long time and carefully working on the design of a room, making it almost ideal, but choosing the wrong furniture and ruining everything. A living room with an area of 18 square meters should be functional, without any frills or clutter.
The modern market is very rich, which means you can use the right designer furniture, distinguished by its compactness and sophistication.
Furniture that should be in the living room:
- Sofa. It is best to buy a corner sofa and place it in the corner farthest from the exit.
- A neat coffee table for tea parties.
- Shelving. They are able to replace large “walls” and cabinets and are characterized by their practicality and original appearance.
In general, of course, it is worth saying that general recommendations cannot be given to everyone at once, because everything depends on the individual case, the shape of the room, and the taste of the owner. That is why the design of the room promises to be original and unique. The main condition when decorating such a living room is: functionality, lack of excess furniture, and a free central area of the room. It is preferable that the furniture be located around the perimeter of the room; in addition, you can use the space not only horizontally, but also vertically, using additional levels. 
Decor
The living room is an excellent place for rich decor; here you can place various figurines, family photos, souvenirs donated or brought from vacation spots, certificates and medals for various achievements. The living room is a room to demonstrate the success of each member of the family in particular and the residents of the apartment/house in general. However, you need to know when to stop; turning your living room into a museum exhibit would be wrong and inappropriate.
Abundant decor will not create style, but will only hide it, so there is no need to use carpets, forged candlesticks and similar decorations here.
You need to think about a recreation area. The living room must have a TV in its arsenal, located opposite the sofa. If you strive to protect yourself from the excesses of technology, then it can be replaced with a fireplace or an aquarium.
Ideal styles for decorating a living room: Japanese, Scandinavian and, of course, minimalism. These are exotic, functional and thoughtful styles that allow you to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for the family and its guests. Each of these styles is based on the use of light colors when decorating a room, translucent and light materials. Wood is especially welcome here, in particular its light shades and natural decor.
A bright room always seems spacious and promotes relaxation, so the use of mirrors, transparent partitions, and a wardrobe will always be interesting and appropriate.
The living room is the most important room in any apartment. Here we meet guests, celebrate celebrations and simply spend time with family.
Since more time is spent in this room, the living room should be very cozy, comfortable and functional.
Nowadays, interest in the design of apartments has grown; individuality in the premises is of great importance. The most common living room sizes today are 18 square meters. m.
What kind of living room can be 18 sq. m. The photo shows it best.
However, the interior of such a room needs to be approached competently, so simply photographs of design projects are not enough to bring any idea to life.
Popular interior design styles
As statistics show, a living room of 18 square meters is especially common. m in Russia and the countries of the former USSR. Most often these are the well-known Khrushchev buildings.
Among residents of such apartments, it is especially popular to decorate the living room in a classic (traditional) style.
Developing the design of a living room of 18 sq. m. in a traditional style, special attention is paid to the comfort and functionality of the room. As a rule, family vacations are spent in the living room, so a sofa and TV are required in the room. The owners here display family rarities, crystal - everything should be visible.
It is not an easy task to combine new design trends and functionality assigned to a given room. Traditional design implies a combination of all of the above. Despite the fact that this style is a generalization of all eras, it never goes out of fashion and does not lose its appeal.
This design concept is characterized by a combination of details from the following epochal styles:
- Rococo;
- Classicism;
- Italian Renaissance;
- Baroque.
Of course, there is a modern interpretation of the classic style. The atmosphere also evokes family warmth: photographs of family members with memorable moments are posted, souvenirs and crafts are placed around the room.
There is creative chaos, which is combined with a clear and symmetrical arrangement of all objects. In such a living room you always want to spend time with family and friends.
Basic design rules
Before you start updating a room, you should decide on its purpose. The important factors here are the number of family members and their age characteristics.
It is worth considering the number of items that need to be placed in the living room. The living room can act as a bedroom for one of the residents or is rarely used.
It is necessary to pay attention to all these nuances, because the needs of each family member matter.
Optical zoom
A room with an area of 18 sq. m, not the most spacious. The layout of such apartments usually has low ceilings. We have to visually increase the space with the help of colors, textiles, and proper arrangement of furniture.
Ceilings and lighting
Arranging the interior of a living room of 18 sq. m., special attention should be paid to the design of the ceilings. For the ceiling you should choose a light color scheme; cold, soft shades are also possible.
These colors visually increase the space.
Lighting plays a very significant role when creating an interior. The use of several types of lighting will help to optically enlarge the space. They can be sconces, floor lamps, table lamps, ceiling lighting around the perimeter.
Spotlights on multi-level ceilings will be especially effective in this case. It is original, stylish and performs the main function - it visually enlarges the room, the ceilings seem higher.
Walls that expand space
As with the ceiling, when choosing wall colors for the living room, you should avoid dark shades. To visually expand the room, it is better to use pastel colors:
- Shades of beige;
- Sand;
- Coffee with milk color.
When using this color scheme, the room becomes cozier, more spacious, and brighter.
Today, individuality is at the forefront when choosing a design, and just pastel colors of walls and ceilings may seem boring and ordinary to some. If you want to add personality to a small room, add contrasts to the room.
It is enough to paint one of the walls in a darker shade that will match the color scheme of the rest of the walls.
For example, with ivory-colored walls, one wall of a richer coffee color will look perfect. This will create the desired effect of expanding the room, as well as add depth and personality.
It is better to choose wall coverings (wallpaper, painting, primer) with vertical stripes. This trick helps increase the height of the walls.
Gender selection
Now designers are actively using zoning techniques in the interior; this adds functionality to the room, but at the same time, if done incorrectly, it can make the room even smaller.
It is not recommended to use partitions and screens in such a living room. It is better to place a small rug that will match the rest of the decor in the room.
Tools that will help visually increase the area:
Installing doors in a small living room would not be the best solution; they will look rough. It is better to decorate the doorway with beautiful curtains or an arch;
For some, the option of expanding the doorway will be convenient. Just don’t forget that this requires official permission;
Today, it is common to combine rooms in an apartment by demolishing walls. In this way you can achieve an optimal increase in space;
It would be correct to visually enlarge the room through transparent doors and large windows.
Furniture selection
Choose simple and functional furniture to create a feeling of lightness. It is preferable if it is transparent and also in light shades. The best choice would be a wardrobe. With a large mirror, the closet will expand the visual perception of the room.
You can play on the contrast of colors, the main thing in this case is not to overdo it and not overshadow the design.
Don’t overly clutter the space with small trinkets; remove them if possible. If you still need to place a lot of accessories, give preference to niche shelves.
Well-chosen design of a living room of 18 square meters. m. - this is comfort and pleasant family evenings.
Photo of living room design 18 sq. m.
Bedroom interior 18 sq. m. is not at all difficult to complete, because there are so many different options for how to plan it.
Consider a simple, standard-sized bedroom. How to divide the available space into zones, how to place furniture?
- Bedrooms 18 sq. m. provide that a compact soft sofa will be used.
- Even designers with many years of experience cannot fit a double bed, a guest sofa into a bedroom of 18 m2, and also create a work “office”.
The furniture is positioned so that nothing interferes with the sofa.
Bedroom with double bed and office:
- In the middle of the room there is a guest area and a work area, so to speak, close to the hallway.
- The seating area is enclosed by a neat shelving and is located near the window.
- It is most convenient to place a TV in the “guest area”.
18 m2 without zoning
Bedroom design 18 sq. m. is planned even without the use of screens.
In the photo there is a bedroom of 18 square meters. m. you can easily consider an interesting project when a double bed is “hidden” under the ceiling.
The bed “works” via a remote control and a special lift. The idea will fit perfectly into the techno style, minimalism.
If the bedroom renovation is 18 sq. m. is carried out exclusively on its own, and the interior design is planned independently, then as advice, hide the sleeping place in a niche.
So, using this technique with a niche, you can easily plan three different zones in the room at the same time - a bedroom, a guest area, an office for work, or, if necessary, a children's corner.
New layout
Most often, at least one room in an apartment has a loggia or a balcony, and it is this space that can be used to expand a little.
So, it’s easy to get a more spacious bedroom.
How to combine?
Light colors are used to decorate the walls, and the zoning of the bedroom is 18 square meters. m. is carried out by combining different finishes.
A bed podium divides the space.
You should not set up a sleeping area near the door. The sleeping place should not be accessible.
Saving available space
Instead of a TV stand, you can use a hanging shelf. The sleeping place can be arranged on the podium.
It is not appropriate to use walls or large cabinets. Instead of a chair, it is permissible to use an ottoman.
Space zoning
To divide into zones, you can use partitions. It is rational to divide the room with glass partitions and a closet-rack.
The head of the bed can also act as a partition. Interior decoration - partitions made of bamboo and fabric.
Lighting
You need to let as much natural light into the room as possible. Each zone should consider its own lighting, not only ceiling, but also wall.
Bedroom design style
To choose the ideal style for decorating a room, it is important to know the features of each direction.
Classic - suitable for conservatives. The room has the correct shape, there are no unnecessary details. Mostly light colors and pastels are used for surface finishing; furniture is made of wood. Natural textiles, soft, pastel shades.
A distinctive feature of the country style is that the furniture used is rustic.
Eco style means that natural materials should predominate in the design of the room. The range of colors used is warm and light.
A distinctive feature of the French Provence style is the light range of colors used in combination with the decor of bright and rich colors. We use only natural materials in finishing.
You should never lose sight of the fact that the bedroom is the very place whose purpose is coziness and comfortable rest.
Photo of a bedroom 18 sq. m.
Not all of us are lucky enough to own a large apartment with a bedroom, living room, and spacious kitchen. Many people have to live in so-called “small families” - small apartments with a very small kitchen and a combined bathroom. But even a small apartment can be remodeled so that all your household members will feel cozy and comfortable in it. You can radically change the space by remodeling it. And you can achieve a good result only with the help of design tricks and techniques. Here are some tips to help you open up the walls in your small apartment and be even happier for it.
Design tricks in the interior
Furniture with legs
To visually enlarge the space and add more air to the interior, it is recommended to choose furniture with legs. By the way, if you buy a bed with thick metal legs, you can put cardboard or textile boxes with things under it. This will give the room another place to store things. It is better to avoid furniture with a flat bottom. It seems bulky and heavy and makes an already small room smaller.
Such a room must have bright accents - several objects that will stand out from the entire interior and distract attention from the modest size of the room. This could be a multi-colored carpet, a bright wall, a designer wardrobe or an original floor lamp.
Striped wallpaper
A small space can be expanded with the help of strips. Horizontal ones will help you raise the ceiling, and vertical ones will make the walls longer. To do this, you can buy striped wallpaper or use wooden or plastic panels. Additional lines are created using furniture and mirrors.
More mirrors!
In general, mirrors for such a room are a real find. After all, with their help you can make any room more spacious and brighter. To achieve this effect, it is recommended to place mirrors opposite a window or a light wall. The room will appear larger if you place a mirror in a massive frame opposite a bright cabinet or large flower arrangement.
Transformable furniture
It is very important to choose the right furniture for a small family - it should be comfortable and multifunctional. Pay attention to tables and transformable sofas. After all, they unfold only when necessary, and the rest of the time they take up much less space in the room. By the way, an ottoman can be a place to sit, a coffee table, and a bedside table at the same time. It is better to abandon cabinets that cover blank facades and buy cabinets with open storage systems or glass doors. A shelving unit that will occupy the entire wall from ceiling to floor will look great in such a room. It will look very impressive, and, in addition, it will be possible to rationally use all the space.
Say no to bulky furniture!
It is also better to avoid bulky furniture. It will overload the space and prevent the free flow of sunlight. The thinner the silhouette of the furniture, the simpler and more elegant it is, the better. It is better to avoid furniture decorated with carvings, gold or copper.
But to avoid the feeling that the room is cluttered with a large number of small things, you must definitely put one massive piece of furniture in it. This could be a closet, a sofa, a table. Then it will become the center of the interior and balance everything in it.
Choosing a color
You can visually expand a very small room with the help of color. You can paint the walls and floor the same shade, or make the floor a little darker than the walls. In this case, the clear boundary between the floor and walls disappears, and the room becomes more spacious. If you do not have the opportunity to change the covering on the floor, you can simply paint the walls and put a carpet of a suitable shade under your feet. If possible, it is better to get rid of the interior walls and highlight the kitchen and bedroom areas with color.
Many designers advise decorating a small family in a minimalist style. After all, it involves a minimum number of things and the use of laconic pieces of furniture. But the most important thing is that you feel comfortable in the room, so almost any style is suitable for its decoration.
In what style should I decorate a small family?
Japanese style
One of the suitable options would be Japanese interior style. After all, he is considered very calm and even ascetic. In this interior, only natural materials and calm tones are welcome. Therefore, the walls can be painted light brown, beige, or sand. Pale pistachio and green are also suitable. Make the floor dark brown. In a traditional Japanese interior, the bed should not have a flat base, but to make the room more spacious, you can buy a wooden bed with low legs. Such an interior should have a minimum of furniture items - tables, storage systems and a sofa, made from natural materials in a calm color. Japanese style does not imply unnecessary details - numerous photo frames, porcelain figurines, bright vases will not fit into it. Decorate this interior with fresh flowers in pots and bamboo stems in transparent vases. It is better to hang roller blinds on the windows. Massive curtains are not suitable for such rooms - they take up a lot of space. To prevent such a room from becoming boring, you can add bright accents - put orange pillows on the sofa or a red carpet on the floor.
High tech
High-tech style is also suitable for a small room. It is characterized by a cool color scheme: white, gray, black, metallic. Gray or cool blue can be used. Such interiors usually have a lot of plastic, glass and metal. Natural wood furniture rarely appears here. Lighting is very important in high-tech style. There should be as many sources of artificial light as possible: spotlights on the ceiling, laconic sconces on the walls, a floor lamp on a steel leg. In such an interior, you need to focus on technology. Place a plasma panel on one wall and install a stereo system - this will become the center of the entire interior.
Minimalization
Minimalization is also suitable for small apartments. After all, he is also very laconic. It is characterized by a minimal amount of furniture and the absence of non-functional interior items. The walls, floor and ceiling here are usually plain and not very bright. The furniture has strict geometric shapes - there are no carvings or other decorative elements. It can be wooden, metal or plastic. Sofas and armchairs upholstered in leather fit perfectly into such interiors.