How can I fit a living room and bedroom into a small apartment?
Would you like to create an individual living room and bedroom space? A sofa bed is not enough. It is necessary to use additional elements and decorations that will make the whole concept delight not only you, but also your guests.
What will you learn from this article?
Optical division instead of walls
Instead of putting up partition walls, opt for optical boundaries. Slatted wall panels combined with plasterboard will effectively act as a partition. When strategically placed, they create an effective division while letting light through. Slatted wall panels from the Medio collection are a popular element of apartment design. The LO2O2 or LO2O3 model is a classic. You can install them in a non-standard way – not the entire height of the wall, but for example from the floor to halfway up the ceiling. This arrangement will give the interior a light and airy feel.
In the living area, use wall panels in a light SupremeSatin finish to reflect light and give the space a fresh look. The sleeping area can be given a more intimate character with a more matte texture or darker shades. Three classic collections are available:
- Duna panels have a subtle, semi-circular shape that introduces a delicate three-dimensionality to the space. Made of durable PolyForce polymer, they are fully waterproof and UV resistant. Thanks to ScratchShield technology, they are more resistant to scratches and mechanical damage. Duna panels can be painted in any color, which allows them to be easily adapted to individual design needs.
- Lumio – modern wall panels with a three-dimensional structure that refract light in an impressive way, emphasizing the depth of the decorated surface. They are resistant to water and UV radiation, which makes them ideal for rooms with high humidity.
- Vivid – a collection of wall panels with a convex, triangular pattern, perfectly suited to modern interior designs. Their unique form not only adds a designer touch to the space, but also allows for the concealment of cables and wires.
Combining the living room and bedroom by raising the level
A mezzanine is one of the most well-known solutions, but what can you do if the ceiling height does not allow for its construction? You can raise the level only in the bed area. The platform on which the bed stands can serve as both a visual divider and an additional storage space. The pull-out drawers in the raised area can be used to store bedding or seasonal items. You can even use this unusual solution in the living room. But how can you make it look as good as it is practical?
Finish the platform with skirting boards with ScratchShield technology. They will be resistant to scratches, and their precise workmanship will add elegance to the whole. A proven choice would be MDO27, a minimalist profile with a height of 6 cm and a subtle offset at the top. The model is made of durable PolyForce plastic, which makes it resistant to moisture, dents, scratches and yellowing. In addition, there is space at the back of the profile to hide cables and wires. Of course, the profile has been coated with a special primer, which smoothes the surface and facilitates the application of subsequent coats of paint. If you are looking for other products in this category, take a look at MDO18, MDO24 or the classic solution, MDOO8.
Skirting boards
Utilize every centimeter
In small interiors, it is worth thinking spatially. It will be much easier for you to combine the living room with the bedroom when you take care of the storage space for various items. Clothes, work tools or even decorations require different shelves and niches. But how do you approach the topic so that the arranged space is well-organized and aesthetically pleasing?
First of all, don’t leave anything in plain sight. Ideally, each item should have its own place, for example in a wall cabinet. Arrange decorative containers on the shelves to hold your personal belongings. Finally, take care of the decorations – details that are not conspicuous, but distract the eye. Tried and tested decorative elements are useful for this purpose. These products allow you to create elegant wall and ceiling compositions and to cover corners, alcoves, fireplaces, windows or even doors. With their help, you can effectively hide cables and other things that should not be in plain sight. Which elements will make the combination of a living room and a bedroom look polished?
- Corner elements – decorative connectors used in stucco frames, enabling the creation of effective wall compositions without the need to precisely cut profiles at a 45-degree angle.
- Ceiling rosettes – decorative elements mounted on ceilings or walls, providing effective decoration and masking unsightly installation elements.
- Columns and half-columns – modern finishing elements inspired by the classic style, made of durable and waterproof materials, ideal for elegant interiors.
- Pilasters – flat decorative elements resembling columns, used to decorate walls and facades, adding a classic charm to interiors.
Multilayered lighting
Are you wondering how to arrange a living room so that it also functions as a bedroom? In that case, remember that light is one of the most important elements in interior design – especially in small apartments, where proper lighting can optically enlarge the space and give it depth. If you want to make a large living room look cozy, use not only multifunctional furniture, but also a zoned approach to lighting.
Each area of the interior should have its own light source that corresponds to its function. In the living area, or living room, make sure you have bright, distinctive light. You can install ceiling lights in the center. Additionally, consider subtle, additional lighting along the wall or ceiling moldings. Use lighting profiles with LightGuard technology for this purpose. This is an innovative solution that, thanks to specialized refinements and a compacted profile structure, eliminates the effect of LEDs shining through in spots, ensuring an even and aesthetic dispersion of light. There are three options available to you:
- Installation of profiles near the ceiling – check out models MD172, MD210 and MD368.
- Installation of profiles near the floor – products such as QLO19 or MDO24 will make this arrangement easier.
- Installation of profiles at mid-height of the wall – QLOO6 and QLO17 are ideal for this purpose.
Shaping the space with light
New room arrangements are pleasing to the eye because they use light to shape space. A sleeping area or living space requires proven lighting. LED lighting is perfect for small spaces. In a small apartment, it can be used to “trick” the eye and create the impression of a larger area. Bright light directed at the ceiling will make the room look higher.
In narrow rooms, it is a good idea to use side lighting along the walls. Wall mouldings with built-in LED strips can make a room look longer and create the effect of depth. In addition, adding a few light points of different intensities will give the interior a dynamic character – not sure how to do it? At Mardom Decor, you can find illuminated ceiling rosettes – QROO5 and QROO2.
Ceiling rosettes
How to combine a living room and bedroom in a small apartment? Summary
Combining a living room and bedroom in one space requires a precise approach to interior design and organization. Optical division, lighting and the use of multifunctional elements are very important. Instead of putting up walls, it is better to use optical boundaries, e.g. slatted wall panels from the Medio collection. Their subtle design allows you to divide the space without losing light and lightness.
Raising the level of the sleeping area, for example by means of a platform, allows for functional storage and visual separation of the bed. Skirting boards with ScratchShield technology perfectly complement this solution, ensuring durability and aesthetics.
The right lighting, including multi-layer LED light, can optically change the proportions of the interior, giving it depth and spaciousness. Lighting profiles with LightGuard technology and illuminated ceiling rosettes emphasize the modern character of the arrangement.
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