Designing a functioning Living Center in a Small Space

This week we will be piloting a new segment regarding interior design in smaller spaces. This series should be very useful for renters, especially those confined to smaller spaces.

Ironically enough, before coming to LeBlanc Global I had a 3 year stint as a kitchen designer/renovation coordinator. Along the way I’ve been in contact with countless designers, decorators, builders, and vendors and gained a wealth of knowledge. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way that I believe will help you in your interior design endeavor.

Know your work centers:

In kitchen design, we are taught that there are three work centers that must be easily accessible from one another:

1. The Cooking Center(Stove)
2. The Food Preparation Center(Refrigerator)
3. The Cleanup Center (Sink)

Likewise, we can clearly define 5 work centers for a small apartment or townhouse

1. The Sleep Center
2. The Preperation Center
3. The Study Center
4. The Living Center
5. The Meal Center

Our Sample One-Bedroom Apartment Layout

Certian facets of your homes layout will be dictated by the walls, but you will be surprised on how much control you can have with something as simple as furniture placement. Consider the layout below.

The room locations are obvious. The presence of a solarium allows for an office nitch that is a real convenience, especially for an apartment this small. The first thing to do on this layout is to determine our work centers and traffic flow.

Notice how the workflow cuts straight into the living room from the kitchen and also across the back of the bar. While it is tempting to add barstools and a north-facing loveseat to the living room area, these items will be obtrusive and make the whole space feel smaller. We will have to limit our seating to the stair-wall.

Making a Functional Living Room Without Knocking Down Walls

Let’s make things a little trickier: We need to accommodate an overnight guest and also need to be able to invite 3 friends over for a football game. All of the sudden, our living room looks much more cramped, doesn’t it? We are faced with so many customers in this position, and the solution is much easier than you may think!

Strata futon frames, though traditionally more expensive, provide an excellent accent to one bedroom and studio apartments and look like anything but another futon frame. The Orion futon frame is a popular selection for its contemporary design and attractive fold-out styling.

For a smidge of extra seating, consider a king-size slumber bean bag. This item is clutch for studio apartments that need an extra floor mattress and a comfy place to kick back, but normally don’t have the room for both. For a more urban look, consider the Squattoman by Lovesac. The microbead stuffing is very supportive and creates a more definitive shape.

Multimedia

To tackle the entertainment section of your living center, many start off with a hand-me-down television that is in dire need of upgrade. When working with a tight space and budget, LCD television screens seem to deliver the best of both worlds. Toshiba® and Sharp Aquos® both offer a wide selection of entry level LCD TVs to fit any budget.
Because wall-mounting is usually out of the question in apartments, it’s a great idea to check out some of the products that our friends at Boltz Steel Furniture offer for the modern living room. Their innovative storage systems provide a durable and sleek solution to DVD, CD, book, and magazine storage.

This setup, or something similar, completes the look of your living center without interfering with the total flow of your apartment. Remember, furniture will always be there, but free space can be anything! A novice will mistakenly design themself into a cramped space with no possibilities. Great memories, and the best stories, are seldom planned ahead of time with meticulous furniture decisions. Keep this style guide in mind when looking at the blank walls of your apartment, and you’ll be safe from the common pitfalls of amateur interior design.

Join us next week as we explore possibilities in the bedroom. With furniture.

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by Nate Kharrl
Filed under: Futon Frames, Interior Decorating and Design