Project of an apartment with a kitchen and living room. Studio design kitchen-living room photo
The scale of redevelopment depends on the area of the premises and the goals you set when starting any renovation. The design of the kitchen-living room should be not only functional, but also cozy, so it is important to think through every detail.
Kitchen-living room design: convenient and practical
Creating multifunctional spaces in the home has long been popular in Western Europe and America, and in recent years it has migrated to our country. In spacious houses, the combination of rooms is dictated mainly by aesthetic preferences and the desire to diversify the environment by increasing its functionality.
IN small apartments, especially in apartment buildings old building, the determining factor will be the desire to visually enlarge and free up a modest-sized dwelling, getting rid of unnecessary partitions. But in both cases, the design of a living room with a kitchen is subject to a number of rules that should be followed if you want to create a room designed to delight you for many years.
Interior from studio Simply
Design of a kitchen combined with a living room: safety comes first
Before starting repairs, you will need to pay special attention to the specifics of the ceilings and communications in the room. There are a number of prohibitions due to safety requirements that cannot be ignored. First of all, it is impossible to dismantle load-bearing wall and combine the kitchen with any other room if you are a consumer of natural gas. A compromise option in both cases would be to refuse to demolish the wall and replace it swing doors on sliding mechanism or a mobile partition.
The transition to full electricity supply by abandoning gas appliances and installation electric stove, water heater and a new meter. Both options will require special permits from state and municipal institutions that manage the housing stock. Try to take these nuances into account when thinking through the future design of a living room combined with a kitchen.
Designer Varvara Shabelnikova
In addition to the additional usable space, the indisputable advantages of combining will be the ease of use of each of them, the ability to design a convenient dining area, thereby simplifying preparation for friendly gatherings.
Communication with loved ones is easier, since you can cook something, cut something and carry on a conversation while being in different parts rooms. One of the few disadvantages of this layout can be the culinary aromas that will spread throughout the room. A high-quality hood, selected to suit the parameters of the room, will help to minimize this effect.
Design by TS Design studio
Design project for the kitchen-living room: how to take into account the necessary
When combining a kitchen - a space that is not easy in terms of functionality - with a living room, you will encounter a number of difficulties that can bring chaos to the entire redevelopment process. Drawing up a design project at the renovation planning stage will help to anticipate and take into account most possible difficulties. Its main points should be:
Analysis of the features of communication networks
Optimal zoning of space
Selection of lighting
Choosing ergonomic and comfortable furniture
Determining the color scheme and accessories
Even if you would like to completely change the principle of placing electrical and water supply networks in the future kitchen-living room, you will have to come to terms with the fact that it is better to leave the pipes near the wall where they were intended by the creators of the building. This means that the main working surfaces of the kitchen will also be located approximately in the same part of the room.
The work of design studio Special-Style
With wiring, you can look for options that are more convenient in terms of the location of future switches and sockets, at the same time replacing the cable with a more reliable one. Because the more electrical appliances you want to install, the more serious the load on the electrical wiring will be.
Specify the basic physical parameters of the future room - the height and width of the walls in different places, the area of the kitchen area, the dimensions of the door and window openings, their location in the wall. Along with water, wiring and sewerage, these are the starting points, which will dictate the entire subsequent design - from furniture to the location of the stove in the kitchen.
Project from the studio of Marina Poklontseva
Interior design of the kitchen-living room: furniture, color and light
The undoubted advantage of combining two rooms into one is the increase in usable area. But in the process of reorganization, it is easy to reduce all the advantages to zero if you do not preserve the functions inherent only to each space. If you decide to get rid of the wall separating the kitchen and living room, then the rules of effective zoning will help you achieve visual differentiation. It could be:
zoning using special structures and furniture
differentiation by color and texture of materials used in surface finishing
The first option involves using the design features of the room as advantages of the future design. So, if there is a load-bearing beam in the ceiling, then it can be used as a natural separator between two zones.
When getting rid of a wall, save part of it as a future partition or false wall to create privacy in the living room area and hide kitchen work surfaces from prying eyes.
Interior from Lavka-Design
A popular zoning option is a bar counter, which can serve as a dining table if you are a supporter of a dynamic lifestyle and your household members do not like noisy family gatherings in the kitchen.
Different levels of the floor or ceiling of the kitchen and living room are one of the techniques that can emphasize the differences between these rooms and keep them in the same style. In the photo above you can see several solutions mentioned at once - two-level ceiling and a bar counter.
Design from Tatyana Radishevskaya's studio
But remember that for older people and small children, a floor with a step or podium may not be safe. An alternative could be different floor coverings and wall colors. Tiles in the kitchen area and warmer flooring (for example, parquet, laminate, wood) in the living room will make further cleaning easier and will become a necessary accent in the overall picture.
The choice of furniture should be subject not only to the requirement of convenience, but also to aesthetic compliance with the chosen style. By using shelving or a table with drawers, placed as an island between the kitchen and living room, you can perfectly accentuate each of the zones. In addition, such multifunctional elements make the interior design more utilitarian.
Comfort comes with upholstered furniture and warm light. Correct lighting complete with light shades of walls and furniture will add harmony to the interior. This is perfectly illustrated by the kitchen-living room, made in Provence style.
Do not neglect spotlights in addition to the central chandelier and floor lamps in the living room area. Lighting above the work surface and dining area is perfect for the kitchen.
Kitchen-living room in a private house - freedom for imagination
The tips given will have practical meaning if you consider them applied to a specific room, for example, a private house. In this case main goal renovation will be not so much an increase in useful and free space, but rather filling the room with functional attributes for more comfort and amenities.
Distribute the entire area into separate activity islands, select appropriate furniture and equipment for each. For the kitchen - a stove, a refrigerator, a powerful but quiet hood, all kinds of cabinets and shelving, without which cooking will turn into a difficult obstacle course :)
For the dining area, you should choose a comfortable table with the ability to place chairs around its perimeter, the number of which is optimal for the usual number of people in your home. The table can be of any shape, but if the space of the room allows, then opt for a round or oval dining set with elegant but comfortable chairs.
This way you will get a sophisticated and comfortable interior detail. In the living room you will need a sofa, a coffee table, a TV and possibly speakers. An easy chair in addition to the sofa will perfectly highlight the island of relaxation.
Interior from I.D.interior design studio
Kitchen-living room in an apartment: a creative approach will suggest a solution
The requirements for a similar design project in a small apartment, where limited space dictates its own rules, will be somewhat different. Minimalism in the design of both zones will be justified if the room area is modest or the apartment in which renovation is planned is one-room. Remember that by combining two rooms into one, you will not be able to return to the original version, at least in the near future.
Carefully consider the layout and only then choose furniture and appliances. Refuse bulky partitions and massive furniture, divide zones using subtle details and visual effects. As a rule, for this purpose designers use a bar counter or a small dinner table.
Walls of different but similar shades, differences in the nature of lighting, different textures of fabrics and flooring will perfectly separate the kitchen from the living room without compromising the usable space. Above the dining table and in the sitting area, you can hang pendant lamps of different styles, but well combined with each other. This lighting technique will help set the final accents.
The interior is the work of Ruslan Kirnichansky
When choosing furniture, be guided by its functionality and ease of use. The sofa will require periodic cleaning due to the abundance of kitchen odors and proximity to the dining area. Therefore, it is better to choose a wear-resistant and mobile model, since dry cleaning is not always available at home.
We hope that the various kitchen-living room design options presented in this article will help you find interesting solutions for your future renovation!
If the area of the apartment allows, you can design an impressive interior of the kitchen and living room. Designers divide the room into appropriate zones and, in general, the interior turns out harmonious.
IN modern apartments The kitchen area can serve not only for cooking. It can also be a dining room and a small living room. The design of a living room kitchen is influenced by many factors. This is the number of family members, the area of the kitchen space, the presence or absence of a separate dining room, and the personal preferences of the owners.
Do you like open spaces like studio apartments, or do you prefer standard kitchens?
In both cases, you can combine the kitchen with the living room. The main thing is that the interior design project for this multifunctional room is drawn up correctly. Then you will have perfect kitchen– one that combines stylish appearance and functionality. In such a kitchen, furniture and equipment are correctly located, and the lighting system is thought out.
You can combine the kitchen with the room. Of course, permits will be required to demolish the walls. If you like cozy small kitchens, you can leave part of the wall, make a low partition or arch.Or you can divide the cooking and eating area with a sliding partition, a portable screen or even curtains. It will be beautiful and original.
Do you know why in the West it is common to combine the kitchen with the dining room or living room? Because women there don’t cook the way they do in our country. They don't cook food there, but for the most part just warmed up. Therefore, they do not need to worry about furniture or other things that are in the kitchen-living room.
Remodeling apartments to combine the kitchen and living room is a common thing these days, although sometimes it can be troublesome to obtain all the permits. This is especially true for old buildings. There interior walls often load-bearing, so no one will allow them to be broken. It is easy to remodel a new building.
There are positive and negative aspects of combining the kitchen and living room.
The main problem that arises when combining a living room and a kitchen is the smell. No matter how powerful the hood is, it is impossible to completely get rid of the smell of food. The second problem is cleaning this room. Every housewife knows that the kitchen is used much more often, so it has to be thoroughly cleaned. When combining the kitchen and living room, you will have to clean the resulting large room.
But there are also positive aspects to the redevelopment. Firstly, combining rooms visually increases the space. If your apartment is small, this is a definite plus. Modern designers know many ways to combine a kitchen with a living room. The result is a wonderful multifunctional space. Combining the kitchen with the living room makes receiving guests more convenient and allows you to spend more time with relatives and friends.
Methods of functional zoning of space
If you decide to combine the kitchen with the living room, take care of proper zoning of the space. It shouldn't put too much pressure on you large area. Consider also psychological moment: Cooking and working in the same room is difficult from a psychological point of view.
Method one: floor. It is easy to divide the kitchen and living room space into zones using different materials as flooring. They can be not only different color, but also of different textures. For example, you can put ceramic tiles in the cooking area, and carpet, laminate or parquet in the living room area. It’s good if the floor boundaries are duplicated by the ceiling level. Moreover, these boundaries (both on the floor and on the ceiling) can run along both straight and curved lines.
Method two: walls. Another popular way of zoning a kitchen-living room is various finishes on the walls and ceiling in different areas. This method can be combined with the first.
Method three: lighting. There are many options for dividing a room into functional zones using a well-thought-out lighting system. This is the installation of multi-level ceilings with built-in lamps, light bulbs in the floor and walls, chandeliers, lampshades, sconces and table lamps placed in a certain way. Professional designers will be able to think through the lighting system.
Method four: bar counter or podium. You can divide the space using a podium or bar counter. Often the food preparation area is raised onto the podium. Or you can combine these two methods - put a bar counter on the podium.
Method five: using partitions. These can be glass or plastic partitions, false walls, partitions with climbing plants, movable screens, counter partitions that can be used as cutting or serving tables.
Method six using furniture. You can divide the room into zones by placing the sofa perpendicular to the wall. You can use glass shelving, the height of which is approximately 2/3 of the height of the room. Remember that the dining table should not be located too close to where food is being prepared. This also applies to carpeting.
Optimal color scheme
When choosing a color for a kitchen combined with a living room, consider the purpose of individual zones, the amount of natural light, and the furniture that is supposed to be placed there. But in any case, the color scheme of all functional areas should not strongly contrast with each other, since then there will be no feeling of a single space. After all, this is exactly the effect you wanted to achieve when you decided to combine the kitchen and living room. Otherwise, the association is meaningless.
Large surfaces– walls, ceilings, curtains, bedspreads, tablecloths – it is better to decorate them in pastel light colors. If large surfaces are neutral in color, and small details are bright and rich, the design of the living room kitchen will be very original.
Each color in the interior performs certain functions.Optical features include visual increase or reducing the room. For example:- Blue color makes the room more spacious, and blue visually reduces its height.
- Orange, brown and black colors narrow the room and make it smaller.
- White and yellow colors expand the room.
- Green and gray colors are considered neutral, but green also has calming properties.
Cool and neutral shades are best suited for the cooking area. It is known that blue color reduces appetite, while red and orange, on the contrary, increase it. It will be beautiful if you decorate the living room in warm colors. It is very important to combine several shades of the same color in the interior, a combination of contrasting colors.
What to look for in the living room area
When installing lighting fixtures In the living room, you should take into account the location of furniture, audio and video equipment. Remember that the light should not be pointed directly at the display or monitor. Workplace in the living room combined with the kitchen, place it near the window and provide local lighting here. It is most necessary for those areas where you plan to read or do handicrafts. You should not place one chandelier in the center. First of all, this is not enough. Secondly, ceiling chandelier visually reduces the height of the ceiling.
The role of furniture and household appliances in the harmonious design of the kitchen and living room
Remember that the furniture of the recreation area and kitchen furniture should be in harmony with each other and fit well into the general style kitchen living room. Special attention Please note that the furniture must have a high degree of protection from moisture. Furniture for the living room area should be comfortable and functional. It is better if you install household appliances along with furniture. Built-in appliances look much more interesting than conventional ones.
Having selected upholstered furniture, install it at such a distance that it is convenient to move around the kitchen-living room and do cleaning here. The use of movable or transformable furniture is very important. For example, if you place the TV on a bracket, you will save space and create conditions for comfortable viewing.
Modern renovation of an apartment or house involves various non-standard solutions. With the help of design tricks, a tiny apartment can be turned into stylish apartments. Combining the kitchen with the living room is enough bold decision. It is necessary to weigh in advance all the advantages and disadvantages of such redevelopment.
In order for the room to be functional, practical, comfortable and cozy, to meet modern requirements, to look stylish and attractive, you need to carefully consider how to properly combine the kitchen work area and the relaxation area in the living room. What type of lighting should I choose? Do you need a dining table? Or can it be replaced with a bar counter or island table? How to properly highlight each zone so that they do not merge into one whole, but complement each other? What style should you use for such planning?
You can deal with all these issues yourself by studying the recommendations of professional interior designers of residential buildings and apartments who can offer different ideas regarding the design of any type of premises.
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Features and advantages of combining premises
Combining the kitchen and living room is in high demand today. This redevelopment allows you to visually significantly expand the space. A small and uncomfortable kitchen is transformed into an original and stylish room. A thoughtful and correctly executed layout, as well as a well-chosen design style, will make such a room useful and functional, emphasizing the decorative design of the interior.
The main advantages of combining a kitchen with a living room:
- visual expansion of the home, the footage is visually larger;
- increasing the light space;
- big choice original design solutions for interior decoration;
- the opportunity to save on household appliances (for example, the TV in the living room can also be watched from the kitchen);
- convenience when organizing and holding holidays at home (the hostess has the opportunity to be with the guests, and not torn between the kitchen and festive table);
- practicality and comfort if there are small children in the family (the mother has the opportunity to simultaneously cook and look after the baby/children);
- If necessary, local repairs can be performed.
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Flaws
Kitchen-living room – interesting solution in terms of interior design and functionality. Despite many positive aspects, this combination of two rooms also has a number of disadvantages that should be taken into account before starting redevelopment.
The living room is a room where household members can relax, spend time together, and receive guests. The kitchen has a completely different purpose. Various culinary delights are prepared and meals served here. To properly combine these two different rooms, you will need the help of specialists. And not only a construction and repair team, but also a designer-stylist for decorating the interior of a house or apartment.
It is also important to take into account the fact that after redevelopment, these two rooms become one; such premises are also called a kitchen-studio. If the family has Small child, then it is important to think about whether the baby will be comfortable and comfortable in a place where there is noise from household appliances.
When choosing colors for furniture and textiles, you will have to abandon light shades. Since they will get dirty faster under the influence of temperature changes and fumes released from food during the preparation of any dishes. Of course, you shouldn’t completely abandon light colors, you just need to take into account that it will take more time to clean a kitchen-living room made in this color option.
To prevent odors, grease, soot and fumes from spreading into the rest room, you will have to purchase a good, high-quality hood. A practical and functional hood should be powerful and high-speed, but not make too much noise. This kind of Appliances cannot be called a cheap pleasure.
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If previously an apartment or house was an inconspicuous room with the same type of wallpaper and the same tiles, then today everyone can afford to decorate their home taking into account their own tastes and preferences. Various design styles are used in interiors, among which the most popular are traditional or classic, European, Scandinavian, oriental, marine, country, modern, hi-tech, minimalism, neoclassicism, play of contrasts and others.
Neoclassical style
Neoclassicism is often called modern classics. Fans of this trend prefer furniture correct forms. In the design of the room, everything should be thought out and executed strictly according to plan. Main characteristic neoclassicism - calm light colors. Furniture, wall decoration, lamps, curtains, drapes, decorative elements - in everything you should adhere to a calm color palette.
Scandinavian style
The Scandinavian trend in interior design is becoming increasingly popular. What is characteristic of this style? Naturalness, naturalness, naturalness. These features are present in everything: lighting, design of walls and windows, materials from which furniture is made, etc.
Sea style
This stylistic direction is more suitable for the southern regions, where there is a lot of sun, light and warmth. The proximity of the sea symbolically affects decorative design residential premises. All shades of turquoise, blue and blue flowers, imitation of water space, flooring in the color of a sandy beach, a lot of natural light, rattan furniture, marine decor - all this is typical for fans of this style.
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Black and white contrast
The combination of contrasting colors always looks advantageous in the interior. Designers call the combination of black and white the most successful option. Thanks to the play of contrasts, all zones in space can be clearly defined. The black and white combination is characterized by minimalism, since the main emphasis is on the play of contrasting shades.
Symphony of color style
A symphony of color implies the arrangement and decoration of a room in a single color scheme, but different shades are acceptable. According to fashion trends, the lilac-violet color scheme is gaining popularity. This direction is characterized by three main features: minimalism, maximum open space and functionality.
Space zoning rules
A combined kitchen and living room do not lose their intended purpose, therefore, when planning and designing, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the issue of zoning.
The most common options for dividing the territory into zones:
- Application of the multi-level flooring method. For example, the floor in the kitchen has a flooring several centimeters higher than in the recreation area. Also, designers often recommend using different floor coverings. For kitchen the best option will be tiled, ceramic or marble tiles, while laminate, parquet, linoleum or soft flooring are suitable for the living room.
- Using different light. All food preparation processes take place in the work area, so the kitchen should have good lighting, but for the living room you can install softer light, which will make the environment as cozy and calm as possible.
- Zoning using functional interior objects: columns, beams, arches, transparent sliding doors And so on.
- The use of diverse wall finishes. For working area you should choose more practical and wear-resistant materials.
- Separating the living room from the kitchen with a dining table, bar counter or island table.
Very many modern projects multi-storey buildings do not involve dividing the total area of the apartments into separate rooms - this is left to the future owners. And some potential owners purposefully select just such options - because of the opportunity to independently determine the areas of the kitchen, living room and recreation rooms, with subsequent planning of their design. And, naturally, they are interested possible options and examples of already implemented projects.
And in houses of old construction, with traditionally cramped rooms, owners are increasingly going to not an easy process, in order to optimize the available space as much as possible. Thus, in recent years the trend has become increasingly popular open kitchen, that is, combined with the living room. This option, of course, is not without its drawbacks, but it is still often seen as optimal. The design of a living room kitchen requires careful consideration, as there are some nuances that should be taken into account when choosing such a layout.
Advantages and disadvantages of combining kitchen and living room
First, you should understand a little about all the positive and negative aspects of combining the living room and kitchen. If this is not done, some of the nuances may well turn out to be an unpleasant “surprise” already during the operation of the apartment.
This layout is most often chosen by owners who can be classified as sociable extroverts. People of this type cannot be without contact with others, even a short time, feel discomfort in small rooms, surrounded on four sides by walls.
Combined rooms in the studio format look more spacious, bright, and filled with air. With this arrangement of rooms, everything is in full view of the hostess when she is preparing food. That is, it is possible to keep the child under control, continue communication with the family, and not interrupt watching television programs.
But if the psychological makeup of family members is such that it requires a calm environment to perform any responsible actions, someone is irritated by extraneous sounds and smells, preventing them from concentrating, then it is better to refuse to combine rooms. It naturally follows from this that much depends on the nature of the individuals who will live in the apartment. And taking into account these circumstances should come first, certainly outweighing fashion trends or the momentary “whims” of the owners.
The second aspect that cannot be avoided is operational features kitchen area. No matter how powerful the kitchen is, it is always a source of odors and fumes. Some of them are capable of being absorbed into the textiles of furniture, curtains, and other interior details, which becomes completely unacceptable for some homeowners.
The noise from water being turned on, kitchen appliances running, or dishes being prepared on the stove can also become a serious irritant. Such an environment is often not conducive to normal rest for the people in the living room.
You can get rid of some unpleasant problems by using modern technologies climate control. But other aspects, one way or another, will have to be put up with throughout the entire time you live in the apartment.
And only if this layout is approved by all family members, is it worth moving on. Of course, listening to the advice of professionals - both on the choice of finishing materials and on zoning and design of premises.
Drawing up a project for combining premises
To simplify further actions related to the distribution of zones, planning the arrangement of furniture and the choice of finishing materials, it is recommended to draw up a project that reflects all these listed points.
The project can be drawn up in the form of a drawing or a sketch, but it is better to carry out both one and the other option. This way it will be possible to visually assess the rationality of space distribution.
In design art, there are several ways to identify specific zones according to their functionality:
- Using furniture as a continuous partition - this can be a dining table, a bar counter, a wardrobe, a sofa turned towards the living room and other objects.
- Installation of transparent or opaque, solid, island, partial or sliding partitions of various configurations.
- Isolating zones using colors or finishing materials.
- Designating one of the zones as a podium.
- Thoughtful placement of lighting fixtures of various types.
An original combination of several similar approaches is also quite acceptable.
Dividing the room with pieces of furniture
The easiest way to divide the room where the kitchen and living room are located, without resorting to large-scale construction work, is the arrangement of furniture in a certain way.
For example, interesting option is the design of the partition cabinet. By the way, it can become not only a decorative element of the interior, but also a functional one - acting as a bar counter, a work surface, or a container for storing kitchen utensils.
Such a wall will clearly demarcate the areas of the kitchen and living room. But at the same time, it will visually preserve the integrity of the space due to the common floor covering and a single color scheme. At the same time, despite the fact that the structure is a dividing element, it brings lightness to the interior and adds light, due to the white color and decorating its upper part with glass panels.
Another approach is to have a dining table set on a “dividing line,” which is defined by different colors and materials. If total area the room is not large enough, this option for allocating space will be especially relevant.
Often, to organize two zones of different functionality in one room, a bar counter is used. If it is wide enough, it can simultaneously be used as a dining table, only on the kitchen side or on both sides. In the demonstrated project, on the living room side, in addition to the bar counter, a sofa is installed, emphasizing the living room area.
Saving free space, you can use something like this complex furniture structure as a dividing element. The wall becomes a support for the dining table top and, at the same time, serves as a backrest for a sofa turned into the living room area. This option is especially good if you need to divide a small room.
The space can be demarcated simply by the back of a sofa installed in the middle part of the room. Moreover, it will be better if the sofa model provides the possibility of rearrangement. Then, if necessary, moving it to one side or the other, you can expand the desired area, for example, to accommodate a large number of guests.
Considering the size and configuration of the room, you can, using your imagination, come up with your own options for dividing it using pieces of furniture. For this they use wardrobes, furniture walls or even ordinary screens.
Demarcation of zones with partitions
A good solution for defining zones in a large room would be to install. It can add a special decorative accent to the interior design, and also provide some kind of protection for the living room from smoke and odors.
To achieve a “protective” effect for the living room from the negative factors of the kitchen, it makes sense to install a sliding partition, matching its design to general design rooms. If you need to maintain the effect of free space, then glass version a mobile partition, which, if necessary, can be completely moved to the side, and two zones combined into one. Today it is possible to order products from different materials, any configurations and design options. Therefore, if you have financial resources, problems with purchasing a separating structure should not arise.
Plasterboard partition in the form of an arch with an additional bar counter attached to it will become both a decorative and completely functional element of the interior. It will visually divide the common room into two zones, but will not be able to protect the living area from noise, smell and fumes. This option is acceptable in cases where installation is planned in the apartment effective system climate control.
Separating the kitchen-living room with a shelving-type partition is also a completely acceptable and original option for zoning the room when organizing a reliable ventilation system in the kitchen area. Moreover, the rack can be made in the form decorative partition with the inclusion of natural materials, such as bamboo or stone, with the arrangement of exotic indoor plants.
Another option is functional design with numerous shelves. They can be used for open storage of holiday tableware, containers with spices, decorative jugs, cookbooks and other kitchen interior items.
Isolation of zones with a podium
Some apartment owners who do not accept the use of room division vertical partitions, can use the podium as a “boundary” for the kitchen and living room areas. The height of such a structure can vary from 100 to 500 mm, depending on how much the ceiling height of the room allows.
A low structure can have a smooth or curved shape along its contour. A patterned bend, by the way, can visually expand the space of a room, especially in cases where the surface of the podium is lined with a material that differs from the living room area in its texture and color.
The convenience of a high podium also lies in the fact that part of its internal space can be used as a mini-cellar, a pantry for storing various things or canned goods.
The podium will divide the room into two different levels in height, and this separation is very clearly visible visually. If desired, it can be supplemented with one of the types of partitions or a bar counter. True, the level difference somewhat reduces the degree of safety of moving around the kitchen-living room, which should not be forgotten.
Isolation of zones with finishing materials
Another option for a design solution for the visual distribution of areas of a room is to cover their surfaces with materials that differ in color and texture. However, in this case, when choosing colors, it is necessary to ensure the harmony of their combination.
One more important factor What should be taken into account when choosing this option for delimiting the kitchen-living room space is the practicality of the material chosen for the flooring.
Tiles in the kitchen area and laminate or parquet in the living room. It is important that the transition be harmonious and consistent with the overall design of the combined room For example, the floor in the kitchen area is subject to cleaning more often, so the coating should be resistant to abrasion and easy to clean from dirt. Due to this ideal material the kitchen floor will be ceramic floor tiles with a safe relief surface. Moreover, under this material, for the comfort of staying in this zone, a “warm floor” system can be installed.
How to create a floor heating system in the kitchen?
Almost any heating systems can be installed under tiled cladding, with the possible exception of infrared film ones. Which one is better to choose - read in the special publication of our portal.
To decorate the floor in the living room area, a covering that is more comfortable for walking in house shoes is usually chosen - this can be linoleum, laminate, carpet, wood flooring etc. All these materials go well with ceramic tiles with the right selection.
Zone lighting
As a complement to all the above-mentioned techniques for highlighting areas of different functionality, broken lighting is used.
The kitchen area should be well lit, since if there is a lack of light, a housewife who spends a long time in the kitchen will have tired eyes. Therefore, in addition to ceiling lamps, it is recommended to provide illumination for the working surface - for example, above the countertop and stove. At the same time, any pretentious, complex designs, for example, multi-arm chandeliers.
If a dining table or bar counter is a dividing element of the room, then a separate lamp should be provided for it - this can be a height-adjustable chandelier, sconce, spotlight or strip lighting.
This is a recreation area, so soft, muted, but at the same time, not dim general light would be more appropriate. Separate areas of the living room may have additional, local lighting fixtures. For example, next to a sofa or armchair you can install a floor lamp or table lamp, which will enhance the illumination while reading or doing handicrafts. Additional zone lighting will create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere in the living room, conducive to rest and relaxation.
In addition, if the kitchen area and the living room, located in the same room, are separated by a partition made in the form of an arch, it can also be equipped with lighting, for which an LED tube or strip is perfect.
Another area that can be used to separate or, conversely, combine different zones into a single complex, can be a ceiling that has a common backlight, or one intended for each individual area.
Several interior design options for the kitchen-living room
To decide on the choice of interior, as well as the method of highlighting zones, this section will present implemented projects developed by professional designers.
Design of a kitchen-living room in a standard apartment
If you decide to organize a kitchen-living room in one of the rooms of a standard apartment multi-storey building, and for this there are all communication possibilities, then it is worth considering two similar design options, made in a modern style.
As you can see from this project, it is quite acceptable to place two functional areas in one room that complement each other perfectly. In the far part of the room, located closer to the source of natural light, there is a small cozy living room with all the necessary furniture and household appliances.
Closer to the exit from the room there is a place for kitchen furniture, installed in the form of a wall into which household appliances are built. The worktop is connected to the dining table, which divides the living and kitchen areas. Due to the fact that the area of the room is very limited, it is necessary to use any available opportunity to place storage cabinets kitchen utensils. Therefore, under the dining table, in continuation of the floor part furniture set, there is an additional, quite spacious cabinet-cabinet.
It will be difficult to accommodate guests in a small living area, but a dining table is perfect for this purpose.
In terms of color scheme, the kitchen comes to the fore thanks to orange color, helping to lift your mood and give a surge of vivacity. The recreation area, on the contrary, is decorated in restrained, calm colors, creating conditions for psychological and physical relaxation.
This design option can be called optimistic. It is dominated by light combinations of the so-called “summer” colors of textiles in the living area - white, sea green and pastel yellow. Thanks to a well-chosen color scheme, despite its remoteness, the living room comes to the fore.
The arrangement of furniture in this design solution is similar to the first option, so it can be used both for everyday use and for receiving a small number of guests.
IN small apartments In order to set aside a separate room for arranging a nursery, a food preparation area and a living room can be set up in the combined room, which sometimes even turns into the parents’ bedroom at night.
It should be immediately clarified that such free placement is possible only if an electric stove is used. Redevelopment involving moving the gas main is strictly prohibited.
Interior in Provence style
The Provence style, which has remained popular for many decades, was born in the French province (which gave it its name), and does not lose its relevance in modern design. They beat him in different options, decorating bedrooms and kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms.
"Provence" is dominated by bright hues, floral designs, painted lining, glass furniture facades, decorated with exquisite thin frames. When decorating a living room, it wouldn’t hurt to have a fireplace or its imitation. I also liked this style because it does not limit one’s imagination, allowing one to incorporate modern appliances into traditional furniture accessories, which one cannot do without in the kitchen today.
In the presented version of the interior you can clearly see how well you can combine modern materials and elements traditional for this style. For example, in the kitchen area there is a plasterboard ceiling with modern lamps built into its surface, next to which three lamps with a configuration corresponding to the Provence style are installed above the dining table.
The dining table is a cross between a bar counter and a side table. But its decoration is painted white wooden clapboard determines belonging to the main direction of design. This piece of furniture in this interior can be called both dividing and uniting zones of the room, since it fits into them very harmoniously.
Kitchen floors are tiled with modern ceramic tiles white, which clearly defines the line of this zone. Flooring The living room is made of laminate in warm shades, giving the room a cozy feel. The general mood of the design, conducive to relaxation, is also facilitated by the presence decorative fireplace, on the wall of which is fixed modern TV, which also fits well into the style chosen by the designer.
Interior of a kitchen-living room with a sliding partition
The ideal design solution for organizing two spaces in one room is to install a sliding or folding partition. Thanks to this element of the interior, some kind of sound insulation of the living room from kitchen noise will be provided, as well as protection from the spread of smoke, steam and odors.
Installation of such a partition is possible both in a small room in an apartment and in a spacious room in a private house. It can be lightweight, made from metal profiles or heavier, made of wood. It is important to provide for easy movement of the structure’s doors so that there are no problems when separating and combining two spaces.
The example shown shows a fairly large living room, which is also a dining room - it has a separate spacious place for a dining table. The kitchen, if necessary, can be completely closed from the main part of the hall. At the same time, both in one and in the second zone, the rules for preserving the style and color scheme are observed. In addition, the unifying elements are chandelier lampshades and floor lamps, used in certain areas of the room that require brighter lighting.
The living room and kitchen area are made in the same color scheme, in which they found a harmonious combination of colors - white and “coffee with milk”, but they are used in a special way. The living room is dominated by soft coffee shades, which creates good conditions for good rest after hours. In the kitchen department of the room, more white color is used, which goes well with greenery and the color of fruits and vegetables, which look more appetizing against its background.
But when choosing light shades for the kitchen, especially for the countertop, you need to make sure that it has an easy-to-clean coating that does not absorb moisture and dirt.
Interior in loft style
Interiors made in this style are designed specifically for spacious rooms. “Loft” appeared due to the fact that studio owners, who did not have the opportunity to put their surfaces in order, as well as divide large halls into separate rooms, tried to create comfort with the help of furniture, small simple carpets, paintings of certain styles, as well as rough textiles in soft colors .
“Loft” is one of the directions of “minimalism”, therefore it does not involve a large number of pieces of furniture and accessories that create traditional comfort. His characteristic features is the exposed brickwork of the walls, a large number of metal objects, including lighting fixtures that match the style, plain textiles or leather upholstery upholstered furniture.
This design option is intended more for ascetics than for those who love coziness and comfort, since it should contain only the essentials for human life. Therefore, placing a living room and kitchen in a loft interior will not be difficult. However, do not forget that even for this option, a powerful exhaust system must be installed in the kitchen.
Cozy classic kitchen-living room interior
The design of this interior can be called a modern classic, since it combines elements and selected colors that are characteristic of several directions. But in textiles, the carpet in front of the fireplace, glass table, as well as the chandelier above the dining table, the designer’s commitment to the English style is most visible.
The project was designed for a spacious room, but with proper division of the area it can also be used for a small room.
To separate the kitchen from the living area, in this case, a partition with a passage and a window made in the form of semi-arches was used. In the living area, a semi-arch of the same shape is formed above the fireplace complex.
The window opening of the structure in the lower part is completed with a wide window sill, which can serve as a bar counter.
The interior of both zones is decorated in calm colors without bright accents or other expressive elements. But despite this, the design of the room does not seem boring. It is pleasant to be in such an interior, as it is conducive to relaxation. And the kitchen, although it is an open area, does not in any way disturb the harmony of the design solution.
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Having considered the proposed options and, possibly, choosing the project you like, it can be “tailored” to the specific area and configuration of the combined kitchen-living room space being designed. At the same time, it is quite acceptable to change or add some elements or colors, taking into account the preferences of the homeowners.
In addition, to select optimal design– We also invite you to familiarize yourself with a very rich selection of interesting projects:
Video - Kitchen-living room 20 sq. meters: ideas
Combining two rooms in one interior will not surprise anyone. This technique is used everywhere, since its use makes it possible to win in many ways.
A living room combined with a kitchen is a completely reasonable and stylish solution. Proper zoning of the room and carefully selected interior will make it simply ideal.
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen
Advantages and disadvantages of combination
The most obvious advantage of kitchen-living room design is, of course, space saving. Undoubtedly, the absence of a wall between combined rooms significantly expands the area of the room. The won square meters will be used to place furniture, household appliances, or simply become additional free space. You can also read more on the website dizainexpert.ru.
In addition, you will not be isolated from family communication. Now you can cook and at the same time communicate with your household, or watch TV.
In a combined kitchen-living room, it is customary to separate the dining area from the kitchen, where meals take place. Meals in such an environment take place in a more solemn and pleasant atmosphere.
Let's not hide the disadvantages of the combination.
- The spread of odors into the living room. Sometimes, of course, it smells delicious, but it’s better to install good hood and ventilation system.
- Noises from household appliances. It is unlikely that a vacationer will like the sound of a blender rattling under his ear. Therefore, household appliances will need to be selected with special care, giving preference to silent models.
- Difficulties in maintaining the functionality of combined rooms. To prevent everything from getting mixed up in your home, like the Oblonskys, be sure to use room zoning.
Where is it appropriate to combine
There are several types of apartments into which the design of a combined kitchen will “fit” especially well.
Large apartments
In small apartments, people sometimes need privacy, and they are forced to choose a living room or kitchen for this. If these two premises are combined, then they will lose this opportunity.
If each family member has his own room, a kitchen combined with a living room will not be a problem for anyone.
Studio apartments
In such an apartment, a combined kitchen is not just one of the design options, but an absolute necessity. In addition, a bedroom is usually placed here, using a sofa or built-in folding beds as a sleeping place.
Apartments with a small living room
A combined living room in them will redistribute the space of the room, making the apartment more comfortable for its inhabitants.
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen 
Interior of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen Zoning the space
There are many zoning methods. You need to proceed from the size of the apartment, the purpose of creating zones and financial capabilities.
- Using color.
Properly placed color accents work wonders. This design option is the most budget-friendly and is perfect for a small living room. Refrain from making drastic decisions. There is absolutely no point in painting one wall pink and the other green. It is enough to choose shades that differ by several tones. - With finishing.
Everything here is extremely simple: in the kitchen - tiles or laminate, in the living room - carpet or parquet, or in the kitchen - plastic panels, in the hall - wallpaper or decorative plaster. This will not only visually delimit the space, but will also be quite practical, since the finishing materials of the kitchen are constantly exposed to moisture, grease and detergents. - With the help of furniture.
Design of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Modern design living room combined with kitchen Furniture options can be completely different.
- Kitchen island. It is rarely used in Russian apartments, as it requires sufficient space. It is a small area occupied by a cutting surface and located in the middle of the kitchen.
- Dinner table. By separating the kitchen and living room in this way, you create an additional dining area. It looks quite advantageous. To emphasize the division, a row of lamps is sometimes hung above the table.
- Sofa. When choosing upholstered furniture to be installed between the kitchen and living room, do not forget to take into account that it will get dirty more than usual. Give preference to materials that are easy to clean. It is not recommended to place kitchen appliances or a dining table behind the back of the sofa. It is better to install a shelving unit or cabinet there, thus completely separating the living room area.
- Cabinet or rack.
It is not necessary to choose full-size models. Open shelves and the shelves will look much more appropriate. You can place books, photo frames, dishes or other decorative elements in them, but not kitchen utensils. - Bar counter.
Stylish and functional element. The remnant of the “past” wall is usually taken as the basis. You can emphasize the division of rooms with a row of wine glasses hanging above the bar counter or built-in lighting. - Fireplace.
Island fireplaces are widely used in zoning. This element of interior design not only looks luxurious, but also additionally heats the room. - Using part of a wall or arch.
This technique unites the rooms without mixing them, because the zoning will be obvious. When demolishing a wall, it is not necessary to remove it completely. Leave a narrow area between rooms, several columns, or build an arch. Additional contrast in the design of the zones will be created by the lighting built into the arch. - With the help of the podium.
This technique is only appropriate in apartments where the ceiling is high enough. Creating a multi-level floor in the kitchen-living room is an aesthetic and pragmatic solution. Numerous communications can be hidden under the raised kitchen floor. With the help of a slight elevation, you can separate the dining area. - Using the ceiling.
Are used ceiling beams, multi-level structures, or ceilings different colors and textures. - With the help of lighting.
In the right hands, lighting can work wonders. Proper combination of bright and dim light, use various types lamps and rotating spotlights can clearly divide the room into several functional zones. For example, a row of lamps above the dining table can highlight the dining area, and lighting built into the bar counter will separate the kitchen. - Using folding screens and partitions.
A neat translucent partition will not only stylish element design of the room, but will also allow you to separate the kitchen from the living room as you wish. - With the help of a hedge.
No, it is not necessary to plant shrubs in the middle of the living room. It will be enough to use ordinary pots with plants. Another idea is to put up an aquarium. This division will fit perfectly into an eco-style interior.
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen 
Interior of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen Features of design choice
A kitchen combined with a living room is a statement of style and originality. In order not to lose face, when designing an interior you need to carefully consider many details:
- the general style in which the combined rooms will be designed;
- presence of bright accents;
- furnishings;
- use of decorative items.
The choice of design for a kitchen combined with a living room has virtually no restrictions. The only exception will be the Provence style. The fact is that an interior in this style involves decorating the apartment with tableware on display. Therefore, by decorating the living room next to the kitchen in this way, you risk feeling like a guest in a china shop.
Classic is a universal solution that is appropriate in any apartment. Sharp lines, expensive furniture, monotony and lack of frills, by definition, cannot spoil any interior.
A high-tech interior will also look great. Glossy materials, hidden kitchen appliances, compact and ergonomic furniture visually increase the free space of the kitchen, look stylish and modern.
Design of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Modern design of a living room combined with a kitchen Recently, the popularity of the loft style has been gaining rapid momentum. It is used everywhere: in the interiors of bedrooms, hallways, kitchen and living room designs. This style appeared in America during the era of industrialization, when empty warehouses and industrial premises people began to move in and convert them into apartments. Such style will suit for the interior of a kitchen-living room with high ceilings. Despite the deliberate roughness of the finish and seemingly ordinary “factory” elements, you will have to tinker with the design of a loft-style living room. Pay special attention to finishing. It is not necessary to pick apart the walls to get to the treasured brick. Brickwork can be replaced with wallpaper with its imitation, decorative plaster, or just leave concrete wall. It is customary to choose a floor based on wood. Usually this is laminate or parquet, preferably glossy. A loft is a game of contrasts, so try to combine modern furniture with antique ones, and neat models with rough ones. Curtains are not a mandatory element; a loft-style living room can easily do without them. If bare windows don’t suit you, buy Roman blinds or floor-length curtains.
Lamps should be either absolutely simple, or, conversely, deliberately modern.
Don't forget about the characteristic color scheme. Use muted shades of red, green and blue, white, gray and black in the interior.
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen 
Interior of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Choosing furniture and appliances for the kitchen-living room
When choosing furniture for a kitchen combined with a living room, first of all take care of its practicality and harmony. Since these two zones are located in the same room, they should be made in the same or similar styles.
Select furniture for the kitchen and living room so that it matches each other. There may be bright accents, but in general the colors of the kitchen and living room should overlap.
To make your living room look warmer and more comfortable, give preference to natural materials.
Remember that light shades will help visually expand the space. However, choose color solutions thoughtfully: due to its proximity to the kitchen, the furniture in the living room will get more dirty, since it will be constantly exposed to smoke, steam and soot.
Design of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Modern design of a living room combined with a kitchen For the same reason, the best materials for such a living room are non-staining and moisture-resistant.
To avoid cluttering your apartment, buy only what you really need. Give preference to compact models. In the kitchen, built-in appliances will look most aesthetically pleasing.
Try not to take entire sets of equipment. By purchasing them separately, you will have the opportunity to buy what you need and not acquire unnecessary things.
It is very important to choose the right hood. Choose models with standard ductwork. The recirculation mode, in which filtered air is returned to the kitchen, is not necessary in this case. It is better to hide the bulky air duct. If the living room is decorated in a loft style, then, on the contrary, it will complement its interior.
When choosing household appliances, pay attention to their noiselessness. The humming of the refrigerator and the rattling of the hood can spoil the beauty of being in the living room. Carefully study the characteristics of the equipment and choose the quietest models.
Option for combining a living room with a kitchen 
Interior of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Living room combined with kitchen Choose multifunctional designs. Let one and the same object perform several functions at once. A great example is the bar counter. It can replace both a dining table and a cutting surface. In addition, the bar counter serves as a great place to sit and divides the space into zones.
The environment in the kitchen is of great importance. In small apartments it is better to install it in an L-shape or in one row. If there is plenty of free space, you can afford a U-shaped placement, arrangement in two rows, or creating a kitchen island.
Properly dividing a narrow room
Combination in narrow room kitchen and living room - not just a reasonable, but also the most profitable solution. These two zones divide the length of the room in half, as a result of which it no longer seems elongated at all.
Try not to place all the furniture in parallel long wall. Thus, visually you stretch it out even more.
To expand the space, use light colors. The furniture can be dark. This contrast enlivens the room and looks very interesting.
Choose your lighting wisely. The more light, the wider the kitchen appears. Use glossy surfaces and mirrors to play with light. They will also become your assistants in expanding a narrow space.
Design of a living room combined with a kitchen 
Modern design of a living room combined with a kitchen Don't clutter the room with decorative elements. A couple of paintings on the walls will be enough to decorate the design of a kitchen combined with a living room.
Combining a kitchen and a living room in one interior means choosing ergonomics, style and practicality. This bold decision will save space in the house, add originality to the design of both rooms, and make it possible to profitably use every square meter of the room.
Decorating a kitchen-living room with taste is quite simple if you know what you want to get in the end. To do this, you need to approach the process creatively and responsibly, and, of course, not neglect the advice of professionals.
Video: Kitchen combined with living room
50 photos of the interior design of a living room combined with a kitchen:
