Related article:
From the publication you will learn the functions, types, materials of manufacture and types of partition designs, and also find photo examples of glass, plasterboard, wood and other products.
Separation of kitchen and living room using a podium
The use of podiums to separate the kitchen from the living room is appropriate only if the room is wide enough and has high ceilings. Elevation may be with strict geometric shapes or rounded outlines, but it should not occupy more than 1/3 of the entire area and fit harmoniously into the interior.
A comment
Designer of the studio "Cozy House"
Ask a Question“When creating a podium, it is necessary to accurately calculate the load and select correct type structures, and also provide free access to communications that will be laid under the elevation.”
Bar counter as a delimiter between the kitchen and living room
Zoning with an arch
You can separate the living room from the kitchen using an arch, which can be made from an old interior partition or built from plasterboard or plasterboard. The arch allows you to visually expand the space, which is important in small apartments. There are several types of arched openings, the choice depends on style solution kitchen-living room interior design. The disadvantage of this solution is the spread of odors, so it is advisable to immediately install a powerful one.
Related article:
Photo good options, types of arched openings, materials from which they can be made, how to make an arch with your own hands from plasterboard and decorate it, recommendations from experts - read in the publication.
Sliding screen-partition as a divider between the kitchen and living area
Another good way zoning of space - the use of screen partitions, which can be a solid canvas or a folding structure. Screens are lightweight, mobile and made from the most different materials, which allows them to be used in almost any interior. However, it is worth saying that this is a rather unreliable design, which also does not prevent the spread of odors and sounds from the kitchen.
The video shows tips and rules for proper zoning:
Related article:
In the article you will learn the advantages of screen partitions, the types where they can be used, an overview of manufacturers and prices. And also how to make a design with your own hands: detailed step-by-step instruction with photos and videos and recommendations from specialists.
The nuances of decorating a small kitchen-living room
Combined spaces in apartments and houses are no longer a novelty for Russian citizens. This method will not only visually expand the space, but also make it more stylish, comfortable and functional. However, you should know that creating, for example, in a kitchen combined with a living room, has its own nuances.
How to properly plan a kitchen-living room
Before you start combining the kitchen with the living room, you need to know the basic requirements for and do it. Following the rules will allow you to avoid some unpleasant moments, in particular:
- Dismantling or relocation interior partitions must be approved by the BTI or similar government agencies. Coordination must be done before drawing up the final plan and developing the interior design.
- It is strictly forbidden to change places between the kitchen and living areas.
- It is not recommended to combine the kitchen with the living room if it contains the only sleeping area. This is due to poor sound insulation and the spread of odors.
Important! The first step in combining a kitchen with a living room is to create on paper detailed plan, which indicates the location of communications and furniture.
Zoning using color and lighting
Above we looked at how to zone a room using podiums, arches, screens and bar counters. However, you can also divide the room into functional zones through properly selected and. Light, discreet tones allow you to visually enlarge the space, while rich and dark colors, on the contrary, reduce it. When creating an interior, do not large kitchen-the living room is best used in white, gray and pastel shades. IN large rooms It is appropriate to use bright accents and contrast, whereas this is not recommended in small kitchens. The presented photos show the design of kitchen-living rooms from 20 m² with zoning using color.
Since the combined kitchen-living room is two rooms with for various purposes, then they need different things. In the kitchen area there should be bright light for sufficient lighting, and in the living room, which is also a place for relaxation, soft diffused light is required. To illuminate the kitchen-living room, it is recommended to use multi-stage systems.
Finishing materials for creating the interior of the kitchen-living room
When decorating a kitchen, it is necessary to use materials that have high moisture, steam and heat resistant characteristics. If this room is combined with a living room, it should use Decoration Materials with the same characteristics. When decorating a living room combined with a kitchen, it is recommended to use only high-quality and environmentally friendly materials (ideally natural): wood, marble, granite, etc. Firstly, the decoration looks expensive and prestigious, and secondly, do not forget about health.
Flooring
To arrange the flooring in the living room, you can use almost any materials: carpet, or tiles, but for the kitchen, especially in the work area, it is recommended to use only granite or flooring.
Flooring combination options:
- natural stone or wood in the living room and ceramic or porcelain tiles in the kitchen;
- the use of linoleum or laminated boards of various textures and colors in the living room and kitchen areas;
- zoning with a carpet in the living room.
Architect: Denis Krasikov
If you want to remodel a small apartment, then the ideal option is to remove the wall between the kitchen and living room. This way you will get more space, and will also be able to implement the most daring kitchen-living room design. It is important to take into account one trick here: the combined space requires zoning.
Quite simply and effectively you can divide the room using furniture and a bar counter. Try to design a living room combined with a kitchen in a modern Art Nouveau style.
To decorate the rooms, choose colors in gray and brown tones. If the ceilings are low, paint them with light gray paint and lay laminate flooring made from light wood. Feel free to combine light beige with silver.
The living area can be highlighted with a soft sofa. You can finish furnishing the room with bookshelves and a small coffee table. Don't clutter up the space. Kitchen furniture It's better to make it to order to save space. Choose chairs with high legs for the bar counter. Emphasize your chosen design style with modern lamps.
We combine the kitchen, dining room and living room correctly. Style: modern classic
ART WORKSHOP
If you own a spacious, open-plan apartment, here are a few tips to consider.
In a studio apartment, the combined kitchen, dining and living areas look quite organic.
To visualize final stage renovation and decoration of the room, it is better to order a design project for the kitchen-living room.
If you are a fan of light colors in the decor and prefer elegant lamps and furniture, then feel free to choose a design in the style of modern classics.
The living room-kitchen will look in the same style if flooring the same is chosen for the entire area, all walls are painted white or beige color.
But you can divide the space by arranging the furniture correctly. Place in the living room soft sofa and an armchair, designate the dining room with a beautiful white table, and equip the kitchen with a comfortable and functional set.
It is important to place an independent light source in each part of the room.
A kitchen combined with a living room in a private house is simple!
Design and architecture studio:ART WORKSHOP
The layout of a country house and a city apartment are noticeably different. But usually the kitchen and living room are located close to each other. So why not combine them? The result is a space in the same style with different functionality.
If you want to combine the convenience of city life with rural leisure, choose eco-style. The design of a kitchen-living room in this style will require the use of only natural materials for surface finishing.
Furniture must also be selected from wood or stone. The design of a kitchen-living room in a private house will require the fulfillment of several more conditions:
- paint the walls with paint water based neutral color;
- for the floor, choose light parquet;
- build the decor of the rooms on a combination of contrasting colors: brown and white;
- decorate the room with living greenery - potted plants, decorative trees in tubs, etc.;
- separate the kitchen and living areas glass panel- this way you can easily divide the open space.
How to expand the area of a one-room apartment? A bold answer
Design and architecture studio:ART WORKSHOP
Do you think that in a small one-room apartment Is it absolutely impossible to find a place for a hall, a dining room, and a kitchen? Everything is possible. Combining the kitchen and living room will increase the free space, which can be safely used to equip the dining room. The design of the kitchen with the hall must be done in the same style, removing all non-load-bearing walls.
Try to renovate in the style of modern classics. You can use a combination of brown and white colors and choose comfortable, high-quality furniture for the decor. To visually unite the area, lay on the floor dark laminate. And in order to mark the boundaries of the zones, paint the walls in the living room beige and in the kitchen white.
Be sure to pay attention to the decor of the premises. Round mirror in beautiful frame, fresh flowers in transparent vases will highlight the beauty of the design.
Pay attention to the design of the dining area. A round dining table is located on the border of two zones. It smooths out corners effectively. The dining room is highlighted by a large round lamp above the table.
How to properly divide an elongated room? Making a kitchen-living room out of it
Design and architecture studio:ART WORKSHOP
It is believed that a room that is elongated in length is in itself uncomfortable. It is difficult to decorate because many problems arise during decoration. But there is one very simple solution - to place two zones in one room at once. The kitchen-living room will very harmoniously connect with each other, dividing the length in half. The interior design of a living room combined with a kitchen in a small apartment is best done in a laconic .
To increase space and light levels, Scandinavians boldly use White color. The ceilings, floors and walls are all white. But cabinet and upholstered furniture can contrast. A combination of light and dark brown on a white background will look advantageous. Lighting will help to divide the room in half: it should be separate for the kitchen and living room.
To avoid cluttering a small area, use a minimum of decor. A few animal-themed paintings and one beautiful plant will be enough.
How to combine the living room and kitchen using a bar counter?
Architect: Russu Ruslan
The interior design of the kitchen in the studio should be combined with one idea with the living room, dividing the space . This technique has been used for several years, but has not yet lost its popularity. A unified interior design will make the room more spacious and modern. And the stand will serve as a convenient and functional zone divider. The design of a kitchen combined with a living room with a bar counter is always fashionable and beautiful.
If from the set modern styles you can't pick just one. No problem! Feel free to combine them with each other. Then your apartment will be decorated in fusion style.
Take the design of surfaces in light colors from Scandinavian style, add a little brickwork from , pick up lamps and chandeliers, and emphasize the overall color with a variegated range of pop art colors. Voila! The modern and comfortable space of the studio apartment sparkles with new colors!
Combine the kitchen and living room. Orange good mood!
Architect: Russu Ruslan
Are you tired of renovating your kitchen and living room? Do not re-paste the wallpaper, this will not save the situation. It’s better to remove unnecessary walls and turn your apartment into a studio, in which the design of a kitchen combined with a living room with a bar counter will delight you for many years. It is the bar counter with geometrically correct shelves that will replace former wall, filling the space with air and spaciousness.
How can a kitchen-living room be decorated? You can look at the design and photos of projects on the Internet, choosing the most suitable option.
For example, a room that combines echoes of modernity and retro can turn out to be very cozy.
Walls and ceilings are made white, but furniture and textiles are selected in rich warm colors. The harmony of ocher, cocoa, and terracotta will play well against the background of white and beige. Feel free to choose a high-gloss kitchen set with a modern shine. And next to it, place a massive, good-quality dining table with comfortable chairs in the spirit of yesteryear. Chandeliers can become the finishing point of the interior that will make it unique.
How to decorate a kitchen and living room in a high-tech style?
Design and architecture studio:Art Angol
High-tech is chosen by brave, conservative people who prefer and correctness of forms. If the philosophy of this style is close to you, try decorating several rooms in it at once. For example, a kitchen-living room in a studio, decorated according to the canons of geometry and style, can turn out not only comfortable, but also cozy. Design of a kitchen combined with a living room, see photo below.
What is important to consider?
- color combination: neutral brown, light and dark gray, metallic, glossy black and white;
- mandatory availability of modern technology and equipment;
- using lighting to the maximum: spot lighting, hanging streamlined lamps, hidden neon lighting;
- separation of zones using furniture: the back of the sofa and the bar counter will replace the wall between the rooms;
- textiles should only be plain, without patterns.
How to create a chic interior of a living-dining room in a classic style?
Design and architecture studio:Archivizer
Does the area of the house allow you to implement beautiful projects? The design of a kitchen-living room in a private house combines luxury and convenience. They did not divide the large area using a wall, assigning this role to an ordinary cabinet with open through shelves. Thus, the open space combined two rooms, making each of them independent. The interior design of the living room combined with the dining room was developed in .
Much attention is paid to surface finishing. The walls are perfectly plastered. The ceilings are decorated with stucco. They are crowned with a stunning chandelier with pendants in the living room. No less unique lamps were selected for the dining room.
The tables in front of the sofa on openwork legs invite you to drink tea or play board games, but the dining table is quite solid, large and harmonizes perfectly with comfortable armchairs. Tastefully selected curtains decorated the interior, because they go well with decorative pillows and other textiles.
Maximum space in a small apartment
Architect: Elena Andreeva
The most daring kitchen-living room design project can change the appearance of an ordinary small apartment beyond recognition. Designers are able to equip a small space with industrial elements in a loft style, making it cozy at the same time. Do you want to do this type of repair yourself? Then look at the design of the kitchen-dining-living room in the loft style.
Note:
- All partitions in the room that do not play a load-bearing role have been removed;
- Only a few colors were used for decoration - white, gray and black;
- Lamps were chosen as industrial objects, complemented by mesh chairs and a writing board;
- For each zone, appropriate furniture has been selected: a soft sofa for sitting in front of the TV, high chairs placed in front of the bar counter.
Thanks to the clear division of zones, the kitchen, dining room, and living room are visible. However, they have the same area. As a result, the most ordinary apartment turned into a cute cafe with a stunning green area.
Living room-Kitchen for lovers of modern style
Architect: Artem Shelipov
The living room-kitchen in a studio apartment occupies, perhaps, the most important place. One space is suitable for family dinners, for tea with guests, and for enjoying cocktails at a noisy party. This is precisely the appeal of a loft in combination with a modern layout. The design of the living room combined with the kitchen is based on the use of industrial objects.
The designers thought through not only the multi-level ceilings, but also their color scheme. The surface imitates concrete and therefore goes well with lamps made from raw iron rods, as well as sparkling chrome lamps. All furniture has the correct rational geometry, starting from the bar counter, kitchen surface and ending with a soft corner.
Decorative objects and non-standard furniture can make an industrial interior more comfortable. For example, tables resembling mushrooms and a ripe pumpkin on one of the shelves.
Let some air into the interior!
Architect: Stanislav Kaminsky
If you are planning to make a major renovation in your apartment, then, firstly, remove everything unnecessary. Old things that have not been used for a long time are unlikely to be needed in the future. Secondly, get rid of unnecessary walls. Space is so necessary in a small apartment. And thirdly, think carefully about the interior design of the kitchen in the studio.
Maybe minimalism or and is there an optimal option? The combined kitchen-living room after renovation will make you see the space of the apartment in a new way.
To visually raise ceilings, use white. It is also useful for decorating walls. You can decorate them a little with the help of artistic painting. Select scenes from your favorite movies and display them on your walls.
Make furniture appear slightly lower than the ceilings by lighting the top of it. This effect will help increase the height of the ceilings. Don't close the windows thick curtains, let daylight enter the room. Also take care of artificial lighting. Pair original lamps They will not only divide the room into zones, but also decorate it. Don't overdo it with the amount of furniture. Only everything you need.
If you understand and accept the essence of Scandinavian minimalism, then your studio will always be spacious and cozy.
Modern interior trends tend to increase the area of small rooms whenever possible. One of these trends is the design of the kitchen-living room. As a rule, the kitchen area is expanded at the expense of the room next to it - the wall between the rooms can be demolished or moved if it is not load-bearing.
Advantages of a kitchen-living room
The kitchen-living room allows you to solve a number of problems that arise with a classic layout. The first of these is the small kitchen area. In many houses, even modern layout, the cooking area is made small to increase the area living rooms in the apartment. This space is often not enough for comfortable cooking.
The second problem that the combination of two premises solves is the ability to welcome guests. Kitchen in modern house- not only a place where food is prepared, often the family spends more time there than in the bedrooms. In addition, this is where guests are often greeted. In such a situation, additional kitchen space becomes vital.
And the third advantage, arising from the previous one. If a large family and guests often gather in the house, it becomes not very convenient to monitor the preparation of food and at the same time be in the same company. Combining the kitchen and living room solves the problem of inconvenience for the hostess.
In addition, the kitchen and living room together allow you to spend more time as a family. The housewife can, without being distracted from household chores, watch TV, spend time with her husband and children, and other family members can go about their business in the large living room without interrupting communication with their wife and mother.
Possible disadvantages
When thinking about the design of a kitchen-living room, you should take into account not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages that such a design creates. For example, creating a shared space can lead to the loss of some of the intimacy of the cooking process. For those for whom it is important to cook alone, without being distracted by extraneous matters, such a redevelopment is not suitable.
Another significant drawback is hygiene. The hood system in the kitchen is usually designed for a small room; it cannot cope with an increased area. Therefore, the odors that inevitably arise during cooking, and not always pleasant ones, will spread throughout the apartment. To avoid this, additional ventilation must be provided. In addition, the living room requires upholstered furniture, and the kitchen requires frequent wet cleaning. Proper zoning of the room helps to combine these conflicting concepts.
The design of the kitchen-living room is more complex than the design of these rooms separately. It is necessary to delimit the room (for this there are various ways), provide additional ventilation (hoods above the stove may not be enough). Also You should think about the convenience of combining two rooms with different purposes.
Kitchen-living room design in detail
You can find it online beautiful photos premises that will be obtained during redevelopment. It is important to consider several factors. The convenience of the resulting room and its safety depend entirely on the skill demonstrated during the work. The planning possibilities are practically unlimited, so artistic taste and a correct assessment of one’s capabilities are of particular importance.
Key Features
When planning your design new kitchen it is necessary to take into account certain rules for redevelopment and combination of premises. For example, combining a kitchen and the room next to it is unacceptable if the wall between them is load-bearing - this can lead to the gradual destruction of the entire house. If it is impossible to demolish another wall, redevelopment should be abandoned. An arch can be a substitute for demolishing a wall. This design allowed in load-bearing walls, but requires approval from the housing office in order to avoid damage dangerous to the building.
The same rule applies to windows. Their size cannot be increased, much less combined several window openings between themselves. Redevelopment external wall can only be carried out after a construction examination. In most cases, it will show that tampering with a given wall is dangerous for the building.
It is relatively easy and without problems to demolish only a non-permanent partition between rooms. In this case, all you need is a commission conclusion that the wall is not permanent, ordering a new technical passport premises. No other documents are needed.
Move unnecessarily kitchen equipment It’s not worth it - it leads to a deterioration in ventilation performance. In addition, if you place a stove or sink above the living room of the neighbors below, some of the unpleasant odors, as well as the risk of being flooded with water, will reach them. And, of course, you need to think about enhanced hood when designing the design.
Space zoning
If in an ordinary kitchen zoning is not always important, in a kitchen combined with a living room it is mandatory. The main zones of the resulting room are a food preparation area, a food storage area (sometimes these two zones are combined into one), a food preparation area, a work area (may be absent or combined with a dining area). Separating these zones from each other will make the space harmonious, allow it to be used to its maximum benefit, and make cleaning easier.
Food preparation and storage area ( economic zone) – actually, the kitchen. From necessary equipment it should have a stove, sink, cutting table, refrigerator, cabinets for storing food and utensils. The main principle of constructing this zone is compactness and functionality. All of these items should be convenient for the housewife, in maximum accessibility. The economic zone must be separated from dining area(means of delimiting space will be discussed below).
Eating area(combined with or without a work or entertainment area) occupies about half or most of the kitchen combined with the living room. In this area you need to place a large dining table, chairs and/or a soft sofa. If desired, the dining area is complemented with decorative elements, a TV, a bar counter, and other interior details. The basic principle of constructing space is aesthetic.
Various styles for the kitchen-dining room
In order for the room to look harmonious, it is important that all elements of furniture and decoration in it are selected in the general style. Advice will help you choose a practical and beautiful architectural style professional designer. But you can independently familiarize yourself in advance with what may constitute the decoration of the room.
The classic style allows you to feel the delicate taste and material security of the owners of the house. Its main features are the use of expensive high-quality materials, strict geometry of forms, and symmetrical outlines of furniture. Items should have graceful outlines, interior details should be as laconic as possible. Color range - preferred bright hues, especially beige, gray is often used, and brown “wood” shades are used as finishing. Black and white colors are rarely used, red is practically never used.
Arches and columns are used as zoning techniques; sometimes curtains can be used, but this is rarely convenient. Some areas of the room (for example, hob) can be designed in the form of a portal - a structure that visually separates what is inside it from the rest of the room. The dining area is often decorated with flowers, curtains, paintings and other elements that add solemnity to the interior.
Kitchen design in Provence style requires large spaces. Large pieces of furniture will not look good on an area of less than 20 sq.m. Therefore, combining the kitchen and living room in a design project is simply created for Provencal decoration. The main feature is strict zoning of space using arches, semi-partitions, multi-level floors, projections on the ceiling, furniture and other methods.
The color scheme is white and light shades of yellow, green, blue and purple. Floral patterns on furniture and decoration elements, vintage styling, are welcome. Not used bright colors, shades of red, black, dark shades. Geometric patterns are rarely used; it is advisable to use soft lines and color transitions.
Furniture for a Provencal living room is preferably large-sized, stylized as antique (sometimes an artificial aging procedure is used for this purpose). The dining area can be decorated with textile elements, fresh flowers, decorative fireplace. There will be a plus big windows giving a lot of light. It is best to arrange a kitchen-dining room in the Provence style in rooms facing south or southwest, then it will have bright natural light all day long.
Minimalism, in contrast to the previous two styles, is designed to be laconic, functional, and comfortable. The minimum in this style is everything - the area(it is suitable not only for large ones, but also for those rooms that, even after merging, remained small), color scheme (2-3 shades at a time, the usual combinations of white and black), simplicity of lines.
Preference is given to finishing practical materials, which are easy to put in order. From furniture - only the most necessary. Decorative elements are not completely excluded, but their number is kept to a minimum; their task is not only to decorate the interior, but also to advantageously emphasize its minimalism.
Partitions, bar counters
The use of partitions is one of the ways to zone a kitchen-dining room. They allow you to separate the cooking area from the dining area, and such a separation has not only an aesthetic, but also a practical meaning - it is much easier to keep the dining and dining areas clean. work area. Partitions can be erected on the site of a demolished wall or moved to any other place, in accordance with the general concept. Partitions can reach the ceiling or be incomplete (Provencal style).
A bar counter can replace a partition in a design - it performs the same functions, but in addition to delimiting space, it serves a more practical purpose - you can put food and drinks on it. If desired, the size of the bar counter can be made small so that it does not take up much space. This is the preferred method of zoning in the minimalist style.
Furniture
The choice of furniture is determined by two main factors - convenience and style of design of the kitchen-living room. No matter what you choose designer style, you should remember that the main purpose of kitchen utensils is to prepare and eat food. The convenience of these processes should not be neglected - an inconvenient kitchen will not improve, but rather ruin the interior of the house.
However, the aesthetic side is also important. Furniture must match the design style– strict and elegant for a classic style, vintage and artsy for Provence, as simple and convenient as possible for minimalism.
Furniture arrangement is another way of zoning space. Therefore, furniture placement is no less important part of the design than other techniques. In the food preparation area, the only furniture needed is cabinets for dishes and food and a cutting table. In modern kitchens, it is fashionable to make a common countertop that combines several small bedside tables, providing space for working with products, as well as wall cabinets on the walls.
The dining area furniture provides enormous scope for imagination. The only required items are a dining table, as well as chairs or sofas. The design of the “seats” can be very different - laconic simple chairs, small armchairs, sofas on which a large group can sit. Decorative elements complement the style.
Multi-level floors
Different floor heights, a kind of step between two in different parts rooms are an excellent solution for a narrow kitchen-living room. The step is created by a concrete screed used to level the floor.
It is important that the transition between one room and another is clearly visible, and that the owners and guests of the house do not trip over it.
Different floor levels can be emphasized with different materials - floor tiles in the kitchen area, laminate or carpet in the recreation area. In this case, the materials should be combined in color and style to maintain the overall appearance of the room. You can use the same material, for example, linoleum.
Planning options
Modern materials and furniture create almost limitless scope for imagination. Combining the kitchen and living room allows you to transform modest kitchen Khrushchev apartments into a spacious room, sometimes it is possible to carve out up to 30 square meters of space for cooking, eating, relaxing and spending time together. A variety of materials allows you to create a luxurious-looking interior even on a limited budget.
IN modern apartments More and more people are combining the kitchen with the living room. This solution is usually used in studio apartments, because they don't have a lot of space. By combining two rooms, you can save space in the apartment.
The living room, which is combined with the kitchen, has both pros and cons.
The advantages include:
- The space will increase significantly if you combine these two rooms. This is the best option for a small apartment.
- The living room, combined with the kitchen, will allow guests to be accommodated as they please. Plus, you won't have to run from room to room to bring or take away treats.
- The hostess can easily cook in the kitchen and communicate with the guests who will be in the living room. It will be convenient for parents to keep an eye on their children in the living room while they prepare food.
- A huge plus is the savings on purchasing equipment. For example, you can buy one TV for two rooms.
The disadvantages include:
- All odors coming from the kitchen will spread into the living room.
- Cleaning combined rooms will take longer, because dirt from the living room will somehow end up in the kitchen, and vice versa.
- It can be difficult to choose furniture so that it looks harmonious in both rooms.
- Despite some difficulties when combining a kitchen with a living room, this option is ideal for a small apartment.
Thinking through the layout
To combine the kitchen with the living room, you will have to remodel and demolish the walls. You need to understand that the living room, together with the kitchen, must perform several functional tasks. The room should have a work area and a relaxation area, but in such a way that one complements each other.
When designing a kitchen, you need to divide the space into three parts: a refrigerator, a sink and a stove. The living room should include a seating area and a dining table.
When drawing up a project, you need to accurately indicate the scale of the room and indicate how the space will be zoned.
In order to make changes to the design of the apartment, you need to find out from the relevant authorities which walls are load-bearing. This is necessary in order to know which of them can be removed and which are not recommended to be touched. You should not change the design of the house without permission - this is fraught with consequences.
When planning to combine the kitchen with another room, for example, with a hallway, remember that it will not be possible to radically change the working part of the kitchen. Moving the stove and sink a little is the maximum.
Under no circumstances should you remodel the apartment yourself. This should be done by professionals. Otherwise, when trying to create an arch, the wall may crumble.
We apply space zoning
Zoning helps to divide a room into several zones. The style remains the same. To correctly zone a space, you need to take into account the size of the room, the height of the ceiling and the functions that the resulting zones should perform.
Dividing space is necessary for both small and large kitchens and living rooms. In a large room, zoning helps to create conventional boundaries so that the owners and guests feel cozy and comfortable in the room. In a small room, zoning is intended to separate zones from each other.
Zoning methods:
- Visual– division of the room using lighting solutions, decor, color shades walls and floors.
- Physical– division of space using furniture and architectural solutions(columns, consoles).
The following can help separate zones:
- Bar counter. This method of delimiting space is convenient because the bar counter can serve as both a serving table and have a work area. On the kitchen side, the bar counter can be equipped with a sink and a cutting table. You can make a bar counter yourself, and you can use various materials such as drywall, plastic and wood planks.
When choosing this method, you need to rely on the fact that the rack needs constant care. When installing a bar counter, you need to take into account the size of the room and its design.
- Floor and ceiling. Visual border – The best way separation of kitchen and living room. A podium can help with this, creating a transition on the floor. The design on the ceiling can also help in delimiting the space. For example, if the color design of the ceiling in the kitchen differs from the color of the ceiling in the living room.
- Two-level floor- Another one interesting way visually delimit the room into two zones. When installing steps from the living room to the kitchen, you need to take into account that not all family members will find this method convenient. For example, older people or small children will have difficulty going up or down from room to room.
- Furniture. A sofa or table is also a good way to create a border between two areas. Using furniture, you can divide a room without harming its functionality. A long sofa or large round table will visually divide the room into two zones. Plus, it's very convenient. The delimiting table can serve as both a dining table and a serving table. And if it is a sofa, then the hostess will be able to communicate with the guests while she cooks.
- Finishing material. Wallpaper or plaster can delimit the room without having to install large structures. When choosing a material, keep in mind that it should be easy to care for. If you choose a complex coating, then frequent cleaning is inevitable, because... it will get very dirty.
- Curly partition. This method of dividing space is considered ideal. After all, an arch or columns will not create obstacles when moving from room to room and at the same time will give the room uniqueness.
- Color design. Visual separation of two zones - one more original way. But when decorating these two rooms, you need to stick to the same style. There should be one color scheme so that the room looks harmonious.
- Fireplace. Installing a fireplace on the border of two rooms is an original way to divide space. In addition, it will heat the room evenly, which is undoubtedly a plus. The fireplace can be electric if the combined kitchen and living room is located in the apartment. If you install a fireplace in a private house, you can make it yourself.
- Aquarium or plants. Such unusual way will give the room originality. A long aquarium will visually separate the kitchen from the living room and add uniqueness to the interior. But when deciding on such zoning, you need to take into account the presence of small children and animals in the house.
- Using a screen - an easy and mobile way to delimit space. A correctly selected screen will add originality and complement the design.
- Demarcating island. An island means a huge round table that stands strictly in the middle of the room. This method helps to save space, because... An island usually has shelves, cabinets, a sink, and sometimes a stove.
Some kitchens and dining rooms have a bay window (a protrusion on the facade of the building). Rooms with a bay window have a triangular, round or rectangular shape. When decorating a space, you need to select furniture and interior items, focusing on the shape of the bay windows. New projects take into account the presence of bay windows in the kitchen connected to the living room.
Interior ideas for small rooms
Do high-quality repairs possible in any apartment, even a very small one. Even in a Khrushchev house, which is not very large, you can decorate the kitchen in a stylish and cozy way. The main thing is to know how to do it correctly.
Kitchen renovation with an area of 8, 9, 10 or 11 square meters. m. can be done independently, without outside help. Despite its small size, the kitchen will look more spacious if you paint the walls in neutral colors. It is also appropriate to use photo wallpaper that will visually enlarge the room.
A white ceiling covering can help increase the space. This will make the ceiling appear higher. And the use light laminate on the floor will further increase the room.
By ordering corner furniture, you can save space and add lightness to the combined kitchen and living room. The sink should be installed in the corner, and the refrigerator and stove on opposite sides of it. Household appliances must be purchased compact, preferably built-in. The stove may have two burners rather than four. A microwave oven can be replaced by an oven.
You can enlarge a small kitchen or living room with the help of lighting and mirrors. This design solution is ideal for a small kitchen with an area of 7 to 13 square meters. m. Using mirror coatings and crystal chandeliers in the interior will help visually add space.
Interior solutions for large spaces
It is much easier to choose a style for a living room combined with a kitchen if the size of the resulting room is 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or 35 square meters. m. After all, such a large amount of space can accommodate many design solutions. For example, furniture and textiles can be chosen in the same style. This will help give comfort to the kitchen - living room, without creating chaos.
Big kitchen– the living room must have a powerful hood so that odors emanating from the kitchen do not spread into the living room. This is also important because furniture easily absorbs odors, which will not add comfort to the room.
Properly selected lighting will help create a unique style. In the living room, you can install lighting in the ceiling or floor area. IN dark time day lighting will add a feeling of subdued atmosphere to the living room.
Some tips for arranging a recreation area:
- In order for a large number of guests to gather in the living room if desired, you need to purchase a transformable sofa.
- The TV should be located in such a place that it is equally convenient to watch it both from the sofa and from the kitchen.
- To make the room cozier, you can place figurines, flowers or books on the shelves of the wall.
- If the kitchen - living room has an area of 40 to 70 square meters. m., then you can choose a design in the same style:
- Furniture should be in the same style and color.
- Having photo wallpaper or dynamic lines will add contrast between the two rooms.
- When decorating the ceiling and floor, you need to choose which of them will unite the rooms. For example, if the ceiling is the same color, then the floor in the kitchen should be different from the floor in the living room.
Style directions
To create a unique kitchen-living room design and add space to the room, you can use several style trends. To create a studio space, the following styles are used:
- Country. Inspiration from the rural landscape and village life are the main motives of this style. Furniture and interior items should be as close to nature as possible. The color scheme is shades of wood. Country implies a complete absence of unnatural materials. The floor can consist of wooden planks, parquet or laminate. To decorate the walls, use paints in natural shades, or thin wallpaper with small flowers or stripes.
- Classic. Creating a kitchen-living room design in classic style use graceful shapes and soft pastel colors. Plaster and wallpaper are used for wall decoration light colors and fabric. The floor should be covered with marble tiles, parquet or stone. The furniture should be wooden with gilded decorations. You can complement the room with columns.
- Modern. It's simple and functional style, combining wood and metal, contrasting colors. Appliances and furniture must be modern. In the Art Nouveau style, accuracy of proportions is important. Stained glass windows, wide window openings and multi-level floors can diversify the design.
- High tech. When decorating a kitchen or living room in this style, you need to use cool shades. Metal and glass are the main materials. Mobile furniture and innovative Appliances- another distinctive feature of high-tech. The high-tech style can be called the “house of the future”, because... it implies energy efficiency and ergonomics. Often such houses are equipped solar panels and systems for water purification.
- Art Deco. This style uses unusual lines and shapes. Ethnic ornament is another distinctive feature of the design. Color solutions– black and pearl. The use of bright colors in the art deco style is possible, provided that they are muted. Mirrors and mirror surfaces are another distinctive feature of this style.
- Red kitchen - living room. It has long been known that the color red actively affects the human psyche and consciousness. But when using this style, you need to know when to stop. You can dilute the abundance of red in the interior with white, beige and gray colors. If the room is small, then only some accents, for example, dishes or textiles, can be red. In a dark kitchen it is appropriate to combine red and yellow. This will add additional lighting.
- Modern style. This can be called a design that includes new items this year. The combination of minimalism and hi-tech creates a functional and high-tech design for a combined kitchen - living room. The color scheme has cool shades, and neutral tones are used in the kitchen decoration.
The interior of the kitchen combined with the living room has many original solutions to expand the space. Often this is associated with redevelopment, but it is more reasonable to provide for this option at the stage of designing the house. This approach is quite common abroad, when the walls or partitions between functional areas are rather conventional. But at the same time, it is expected to find a way to eliminate some inconveniences - the noise of household appliances or kitchen odors. And yet, combining the living room with the kitchen into a common area is one of the most popular design techniques for expanding space.
What is important to consider when combining the kitchen and living room?
1. Before combining the living room and kitchen in an apartment building, it is important to coordinate all the details of the redevelopment, in accordance with the legislation, with the relevant organizations to obtain permission, and contact the Moscow Housing Inspectorate or the BTI at your place of residence. This is necessary to prevent damage to the structure of the house, since during redevelopment sometimes part of the load-bearing wall is removed. Even the dismantling of a small fragment of the supporting structure can have devastating consequences for the residents of the house.
To make a preliminary assessment of the scale of work, you can determine by eye - this bearing wall or an interior wall? Secondary partitions are much thinner than load-bearing structures, and they provide support for floor slabs between floors. The thin wall between the kitchen and living room can be partially or completely dismantled, for example, rounded arched openings are cut out in it to preserve the wall structure as much as possible. In any case, the decision to redevelop the apartment will have to be discussed with an architect or other specialist in order to obtain permission, which involves certain costs for an expert assessment.
2. Second, no less important aspect that cannot be ignored are the features of the kitchen. This is a room with high humidity, which often produces excess steam from cooking various dishes. Vapors, fumes, and specific odors, for example, from fried cutlets or fish broth, are also inevitable. They will inevitably migrate into the living room, especially if there is no powerful hood above the stove. And even if it is available and works properly, it will not be possible to completely get rid of specific odors. Such a room must be ventilated more often, and before guests arrive, refrain from preparing dishes with clearly noticeable odors. And it’s difficult to deal with high humidity from preparing first courses.
Please note that even if redevelopment is allowed, for example, if there is no gas in the house and the partition is secondary, then it will not be possible to radically change the design of the apartment. The wall where communications and water supply are connected should remain the kitchen area. The so-called “wet zone” should contain the stove, sink and Dishwasher, and in the event of a water supply leak, it is advisable to think through the water flow and the threshold so that it does not fill the living room at least at first. But the dishes can be moved from a smaller kitchen to the living room - a display cabinet or kitchen modules. And it is advisable to cook in such a way that there is little steam, that is, do not cook corn, jellied meat and other rich broths at home.
Advice: Experts recommend using special dishes with a valve cover releasing minimal amount couple, bake more dishes in microwave oven, cook in a pressure cooker, use a multicooker and other devices.
The main advantages and disadvantages of combining two zones
The living room only in rare cases fulfills its main function - a place for receiving guests, or a room where the whole family meets for communication. Today designers offer a lot interesting solutions, taking into account the preferences and lifestyle of the family as much as possible. For example, sometimes the living room looks more like a movie theater, computer room, or Internet cafe.
Many families are away from home all day, and in the evening they use the kitchen only to quickly prepare semi-finished products and salads, make cuttings and tea. Today, many people do not have dinner in the kitchen - everyone rushes with plates to the sofa in the living room to sit in front of the TV to watch the news and favorite TV series. It is for such families that a combined living room with kitchen is best suited - photo:
In this case, there is no need to allocate a lot of space for the kitchen, where 1-2 people prepare dinner, and on weekends everyone relaxes outside the home. Then expanding the living room space by adding a combined kitchen is the optimal solution. But it also has its advantages and disadvantages.
1. Today, many housewives have a small TV in their kitchen to keep up with life. Some families have a TV in every room. But in the combined space of the kitchen and living room there is no such need - one large plasma panel is sufficient, and this is an additional saving of money, space and time. The same can be said about houses equipped with fireplaces and additional systems heating. One fireplace is enough for the living room, and the stove is already quite warm.
2. Most apartments standard layout are known for their stingy kitchen square footage. If you remove the partition and separate a couple of meters of the kitchen with a bar counter, an aquarium or a small partition below eye level, then both functional zones will visually expand.
3. The interior of a combined kitchen with a living room does not include a full-fledged dining table in the food preparation area. Sometimes in such an apartment there is no dining table at all. These functions are perfectly served by a bar counter that separates the kitchen from the living room, or a sofa table opposite the TV. If it is customary for a family to have lunch and dinner at the table, in the dining area expanded due to the kitchen, then there is always room for a large table and soft, comfortable chairs with high backs. In this case, they say that the living room combines the functions of the dining room.
4. The kitchen-living room also provides an opportunity to maintain visual contact and communication with guests or family members while preparing food when others are in another area. That is why the partition or demarcation is made below the hostess’s eye level. And serving new dishes to guests and removing empty plates through a conventional partition is easier than running back and forth.
5. Combining 2 rooms is not only a visual expansion of the dining area, but also an additional window, that is, more light in the living room. This is very important in apartments on the north side of the house or when there are trees opposite the windows that take away a lot of light.
But all these options for combining the living room and kitchen have common disadvantages:
- increased humidity in the living room;
- everyone present has to listen to the background noise from the operation of kitchen appliances - hood, washing machine and dishwasher, baking timer, microwave;
- not everyone can calmly perceive the smells of cooking (pregnant women, sick and weakened people, allergy sufferers);
- You have to deal with untidy kitchen utensils, dirty dishes and leftover food.
Often families are enthusiastic about the idea of remodeling their kitchen, but are therefore faced with the problem of lack of time. Therefore, at the same time we have to solve such a problem as daily cleaning living room after preparing and consuming food. This is somewhat reminiscent of a “housewife’s nightmare”, that is, every day there are guests, a mountain of dishes and leftover food on the floor, chairs and sofa.
The most successful design solutions for combining kitchen and living room
A modern kitchen combined with a living room is an excellent idea for those who want to show their abilities in interior design. This idea is not new, but each option proposed by an architect or interior stylist specialist has to be adapted to fit your square meters.
When you have to choose one or another sample from which to base your home, first of all, you need to decide:
- you need a full-fledged kitchen without a wall separating the living room, or you can limit yourself to a small compact area for quick food preparation;
- the area of the combined kitchen should be reduced as much as possible in favor of the living room or simply fenced off with a bar counter;
- the kitchen will have its own stylistic decision or mutually complementary design;
- the kitchen area will be visually fenced off or remain a small functional addition to the living room.
Please note: These decisions will greatly affect:
- combined room design,
- degree of reconstruction,
- stylistic decision,
- techniques for zoning the living room and kitchen!
1. Decide what the conditional boundary between the 2 functional zones will be. It could be:
- a low indoor aquarium on a massive stand;
- elegant bar counter with high chairs;
- folding tabletop;
- part of an old wall;
- light partition on part of the wall;
- new false wall;
- thread curtain;
- figured partition with original lighting;
- transparent curtain on the ceiling cornice;
- glass partition.
2. We choose a method for zoning functional areas, for example, the division of rooms will be purely symbolic, or the kitchen will be noticeably smaller, but thoroughly separated. You can visually define your kitchen in different ways:
- kitchen floors of a different color and texture (washable tiles as opposed to living room parquet);
- multi-level floors and ceilings;
- different solution in color and lighting design;
- finishing from different materials (the kitchen is tiled with wild stone, and in the living room - wallpaper);
- the living room can be separated with upholstered furniture (a sofa with its back to the kitchen and facing the TV on the opposite wall).
The boundary between the kitchen and living room can be:
- in the form of a conditional or visible partition;
- along the floor line (straight or radial);
- at ceiling level with LED lighting or other autonomous lighting.
The design of a combined kitchen with living room is not limited to these techniques, but they are among the most common options. Even a specialist will not undertake to recommend any one method from those listed above. Competent zoning is a set of design techniques that together give the greatest effect.
Furniture for a combined kitchen and living room space
1. Sofas are the basis for zoning the living room. When the living room combined with the kitchen is of sufficient size, then the best solution there will be a big sofa:
- angular;
- U-shaped;
- bay window (rounded);
- island;
- modular;
- set of upholstered furniture.
Typically, sofas for the kitchen-living room are placed with their backs facing the cooking area. Sometimes upholstered furniture is placed so that the faces of those relaxing and communicating are facing the fireplace or TV panel on the wall. But you can use transformers when modular sofas can be easily arranged, assembled or moved around the required object. Mobile upholstered furniture should have legs on wheels and a light frame. When purchasing, pay attention to the back of sofas and armchairs - it should be the same on all sides.
2. A full-fledged dining table is an essential component of the dining area. It is desirable that it be compact, but its tabletop can be extended if necessary. The best option is when the table is complemented by comfortable chairs with backs, rather than stools. The living room table can be of any shape:
- rectangular;
- round;
- oval.
Tip: In an apartment or house where there are children, it is better to install a solid product with a rounded tabletop so that running children cannot get injured on a corner or push the set table.
3. Other types of cabinet furniture with countertops - too a good option, if there is no need for big table. The main thing is to have the opportunity to sit down and have a full meal. It’s not good when there is only upholstered furniture around without tables, and everyone is trying to sit down in front of the TV with their own tray. Suitable for this:
- small console;
- solid coffee table;
- decorative table with a wide tabletop;
- large cabinet with tabletop;
- folding shelves and tabletops provided for the transforming sofa.
Advice: All of these products will serve as worthy replacements in small apartment and a dorm room, in which they are trying to organize different functional areas in 4 corners, like a full-fledged apartment. A good addition to “small-sized” zoning will be light textiles instead of partitions and local lighting for each functional area.
4. A double-sided shelving unit as a zoning element is very convenient as a partial partition between the kitchen and living room. The main advantage is that kitchen utensils can be laid out on the side of the cooking area, and beautiful dishes are placed on the living room side.
5. Built-in household appliances and an aquarium cabinet not only give the interior a special charm, it is also very convenient when there is a shortage of space.
Whatever the choice of furniture for the combined space, it must correspond to:
- stylistics;
- configurations;
- design;
- fittings and moldings;
- shade of wood or color of cladding.
Advice: The best option- order cabinet furniture in a single key from a specialized company, and buy upholstered furniture as a set or reupholster it with furniture material common to armchairs, stools and sofas.
