Corner for planning and decorating the apartment

HOME DECOR IN STYLE

When we decorate a home or a room according to the principles of a single style, it provides us with a stylish homogeneity and a harmonious, aesthetic ambience, and if we know the rules of that style, we get a ready-made template for decoration. Nowadays, combining styles is increasingly common phenomenon.
Meet the five popular styles in interior design:

• Classic and traditional style

A style that is very little subject to change and is inspired by past. The emphasis is on comfort and durability, the colors are calm and elegant, the materials are inconspicuous and of high quality, while the warmth is achieved using a lot of textile (curtains, carpets, cushions, etc.).

• Contemporary and modern style

This style is based on geometric shapes, clean and straight lines and sharp corners, as well as neutral colors. Decoration is reduced, and the forms of furniture and decoration are dominated by rectangles, squares, circles and oval shapes.

• Industrial style

This style creates the impression of the industrial past of interior. When we are not redesigning the space that used to be a factory or warehouse, we are trying to mimic this appearance using, above all, materials that look rough and industrial.

• Boho style

The essence of this style is to depict the spirit of freedom, casualness, seeing life as an adventure. A somewhat negligent appearance should be achieved, with many nomadic vibrations (achieved by introducing ethno elements) and associations with different cultures and travels.

• Scandinavian style

It is inspired by snow, fjords and Nordic countries. By its purity, this style is close to minimalism, however, it creates a warmer atmosphere with an emphasis on nature and its elements. It is distinguished by simplicity, the dominant use of white color palettes, neutral elements, such as pressed wood, and the decoration of bright, pastel shades.
 
COLOR CHOICE IS IMPORTANT

Did you know that every color in the room affects our mood? If you are in the process of decorating your living space, take care of a few basic things.

• How much time we spend in the room

Always remember that different colors have different impacts. For example, warm colors affect the increase in appetite.

• Exposure of the room to sunlight

The colors will look different depending on how much the room is exposed to sunlight. It should be remembered that lighter and warmer colors make the room illuminated, while dark and cold ones darken it.

• Room size

One of the basic rules in interior design is that in larger spaces we can freely play with colors, while in smaller spaces we should be careful with dark and strong colors.
 

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CHOICE OF DECORATION IN THE LIVING ROOM?

• Comfortable at first touch

Textile decoration contributes most to the feeling of warmth and comfort. Choose it carefully and enjoy its charms.

• Decorative cushions

Decorative cushions can be replaced depending on furniture and living habits, and you can also arrange them in several ways:

1. combination of monochrome cushions of the same or different size,
2. combination of monochrome and patterned cushions, and
3. combination of multiple patterned cushions – when combining multiple patterned cushions, make sure that the patterns are proportionate, i.e. do not conflict.

• Curtains

When buying ready-made curtains, you should pay attention to the dimensions, height and width, as well as the method of hanging, and if you buy tailor-made curtains, take into account the dimensions, material and hem of the curtains. They should touch the floor. If they are longer, they will drag on the floor and collect dust, and if they are shorter, they may look a little unsightly. It will look more elegant if the lower hem is larger than the classic hem (about 10 cm), and keep in mind that the curtains should be draped, so the width of the curtains should be 1.5-2 times the width of the window.

• Carpets

If the room for which you are choosing a carpet is full of colors and different patterns, you should choose a carpet of neutral color or a single-color variant, and if you want a carpet with several colors, choose the color of furniture and decoration according to it. If your sofa is made of plush, the right choice would be a carpet made of jute or some coarser material, while a softer and fuller carpet would fit perfectly with the leather sofa.

Ideally, the carpet should be under the furniture, but it is also enough that only the front legs of the furniture should be on it (while sitting, your feet should be on the carpet and not on the floor).
 
THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IN THE LIVING ROOM – SOFA, THEN THE REST

When you select a sitting sofa for the living room, half of your work is done. Choose a sofa according to the shape of the room and lifestyle.
Some rooms have a suitable shape for a corner sofa, while some are more suited for a three-seater with the addition of a two-seater and an armchair. Whether you should choose a corner sofa, a three-seater, a two-seater or a combination of a three-seater, a two-seater and an armchair, also depends on your lifestyle – how much room for seating you need in the living room, whether the sofa should also be used for sleeping or just for sitting, how much time you spend watching TV, etc. Remember – the sofa must be oriented directly to the TV, the footstool can serve as an additional place for you to sit.

• Maintenance

Natural materials, such as cotton, linen, wool, etc., are more difficult to maintain than synthetics, but synthetic ones can be unpleasant to the touch. Our advice is a combination of natural and artificial materials, in order to get the best of both.
 
MAKE YOUR SMALL LIVING ROOM LOOK BIGGER

• Bright colors and curtains from floor to ceiling

Bright colors of walls and furniture will always visually expand your space, while long curtains emphasize the third dimension of your space, so it looks more spacious.

• Choose furniture of smaller dimensions

In spacious furniture showrooms, all sofas look miniature, and when we bring them into our apartment, they “get bigger”. Therefore, always carry a meter with you and a sketch with the dimensions of your living room. Keep in mind that transparent, raised furniture, gives the impression of uncongested space, and therefore greater spaciousness.

• Mirrors visually increase space

If you place the mirrors against the window, you will get more light, and your living area will look more spacious.
 
YOU DON'T HAVE A REGULAR LIVING ROOM, BUT AN OPEN SPACE. HOW CAN YOU DECORATE IT BETTER?

Modern life has offered the concept of open space as a solution for the area in which the family can stay together, engaging in various activities. Pay attention to a few important points when organizing such a room.

• Arrangement of rooms by function and visual division

The dining room and kitchen are functionally connected, so it is a good idea to place them next to each other, to make it easier to serve meals, and if you want to separate the kitchen from the dining room in some way, set up a bar against which you can set the dining table and thus save space.

• Furniture size

Consider the dimensions of the room when choosing furniture. Choose a sofa whose size does not interfere with the passageways, heating bodies or doors.

• Defining functional units

Group the furniture, install the carpets, lower the ceilings above the individual zones and use the lighting to achieve this.
 

CREATE A FUNCTIONAL ARRANGEMENT OF ELEMENTS

• Functional triangle

The kitchen consists of three zones, which we call a functional triangle. The storage zone includes the area where the refrigerator and pantry are located, in the washing zone there are sinks and dishwashers, and in the cooking zone there is a stove. The kitchen is best organized when the sum of the sides of this triangle does not exceed 6.5 m.

• Kitchen types

For a long and narrow space, a line kitchen is best suited, in which the kitchen elements occupy one wall. If the kitchen area has a width, one solution is a parallel kitchen, and the other is an “L-shaped” kitchen. For very wide rooms, a “U-shaped” kitchen is appropriate.
 
DO YOU HAVE A SMALL KITCHEN? MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE

• Magnets

Place a magnetic board on one of the walls and hang knives and other kitchen utensils on it so that they are at hand, or you can hang other things such as jars, spices or small shelves.

• Kitchen cabinet doors

Make use of the back of the kitchen cabinet door by installing brackets, bars, hooks, door baskets, canvas or other shelves, and you can also install a trash can.

• Wall-mounted hanging elements

The space between the lower and upper cabinets in the kitchen can be used for storage and thus relieve the worktop. For this, you can use bars on which various elements can be hung - cutlery, spoons, knives and even herbs.

• Wall cabinets to the ceiling

Position wall cabinets up to the ceiling, and in hard-to-reach, upper parts you can store everything that you do not use often.
 
HOW TO CHOOSE A COLOR FOR THE KITCHEN

Kitchens in our part of the world are usually small and do not have a large direct light source, so white is the most suitable color for them, which gives the impression of a larger space. As an alternative to white, light beige or light gray can be used.

• Why neutral color

If your kitchen is not separated from the dining room and living room, neutral colors are a good base for fitting in with other rooms.

• How to avoid monotony

The worktop or fronts of the cabinets in the wood decor visually match the neutral background, do not violate its harmony, and enrich the visual experience.

• Large and bright kitchen

If your kitchen is large and adequately lit, you can take into consideration the influence of colors on mood and appetite. Warm colors (yellow, orange, red) stimulate appetite, while cooler ones (blue, green) decrease it.

• Black fronts

Many consider black color for fronts, because it is the color of elegance, and it is also practical to maintain. However, if the room is not well lit, make sure to install as good lighting as possible, and if the kitchen is not large, you can make a compromise and place black fronts on the lower cabinets, and apply a brighter color for the upper ones.
 
SELECTION OF MATERIALS IN THE KITCHEN

The surfaces we cover are the floors, walls, fronts of the cabinets and the worktop.

• Floors

When choosing floors, it is important to think about maintaining hygiene and material resilience. Ceramic or granite tiles are the right choice, because they are easy to install, and are available in a variety of shapes and colors. Vinyl has been significantly improved, and should be considered as an option, but it cannot be decomposed in nature, unlike linoleum, which is an ecological material.

• Walls

The walls are most often covered with ceramic tiles, but we also have waterproof wallpaper, as well as various wall coverings, such as wood, plexiglass and glass. With transparent coverings, some photo wallpaper can be placed underneath, and the glass can be sandblasted or decorated with foils. Please note that these coverings are more demanding for maintenance than ceramic tiles.

• Kitchen fronts

When it comes to kitchen fronts, we have several materials at our disposal:  plywood (Univer), MDF boards (painted or veneered) and wood. Plywood is the most economical and has been quite improved in recent years, so in terms of quality it has come closer to the MDF boards. If you are a fan of wood, consider whether you want to commit to maintenance, so that the quality and appearance of wooden surfaces remain at the original level for a long time.

• Worktop

The laminate board has a quality surface film resistant to moisture and wear, and is available in a variety of colors and designs that imitate various materials. Other materials have a higher price, but they are longer-lasting, of better quality and more beautiful. Lacquered wood, marble, quartz and granite can contribute significantly to the stronger impression that your kitchen leaves.
 

TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR SPACE USE

Here are a few ways to make the most of the space available, while still leaving enough room for your bedroom to “breathe”.

• Put mirrors on the door of the closet

If you can, place the closet opposite to the window. Because of the reflection, you will have more natural light and your room will look much cozier.

• Make the most of your closet space

Use smart storage solutions, such as different types of hangers, hooks, baskets, drawers, and inserts that improve the functionality of the closet.

• Bedside tables are not a good solution

Instead of bedside tables, choose smaller pieces of furniture, such as club tables under which you can place a wicker basket or a box. Another option is wall shelves above the bed.

• Space above the bed

If you are closing the space above the bed, observe the rules related to colors – the cabinet doors should be in light color, and the handles – to break the monotony – in darker.

• Space under the bed

Storage of bedding, pillows, quilts and blankets takes a lot of space, and this way you practically get another closet. An additional benefit of this solution is that dust will not be collected in this part and you will elegantly skip the worst part of vacuuming.

• Custom-made furniture

Making custom-made furniture can greatly enhance the interior. Measure the space well, make a sketch and take care not to overdo it. Too many closed surfaces can swallow your small room and make it look like a warehouse.