Features of the zoning of the kitchen and living room: advantages and disadvantages, interesting options

Combining the kitchen and living room is a popular design technique that allows you to increase the space by demolishing the wall between two rooms, and create a fashionable interior studio. Today, the combined kitchen-living room is at the height of fashion, but in order for the interior design to become even more modern and convenient, it is important to correctly delimit the zones of both rooms. There are several relevant ideas on how to do this..

Combining the kitchen and living room is a popular design technique that allows you to increase the space by demolishing the wall between two rooms and create a fashionable interior studio.

How to separate the kitchen from the living room?

Today, designers offer several ways to divide the kitchen and living room in order to save maximum space and make the room more comfortable..

The most common options are:

using decorative partitions;
through the bar;
using the dining area;
through furniture;
visual techniques;
decor and accessories;
by lighting.

Some of these methods involve real separation, and some involve visual zoning..

Each method is suitable for a specific layout and style of the interior; in some cases, a combination of two or more techniques within one room is appropriate..

Advantages and disadvantages of room zoning

Trendy studio apartments have pros and cons to consider when choosing a combined design for two rooms..

In addition to increasing space, the following advantages can be noted:

stylish interior design;
convenience and functionality of the room;
the opportunity to be with your family more often, even while cooking;
the opportunity to equip a spacious dining area.

There are also disadvantages to combining two rooms:

not every apartment can be combined;
for the kitchen you will need a powerful hood to remove all dirt, grease and odors;
not suitable for those who prefer solitude while cooking and eating;
you will have to more carefully monitor the cleanliness of both rooms;
there will be a need to wash textiles more often (curtains, furniture covers, blankets) in the living room.

Despite significant shortcomings, the combined design is incredibly popular today, as it allows you to create a truly fashionable and modern interior..

How to zone a room into a kitchen and living room

To separate the kitchen area from the living room, you can use furniture, partitions, bar counters and even accessories. Some techniques can be combined with each other to achieve an even greater separation effect..

To separate the kitchen area from the living room, you can use furniture, partitions, bar counters and even accessories..

Furniture

To carry out the zoning of a room into a kitchen and living room, furniture is often used, for example, a dining table with chairs or a sofa, a kitchen island, or upholstered furniture from the living room..

Often there are options with a bar counter, which plays the role of a dining table.

The dining area is a good option for delimitation, as it creates, like a separate dining room space.

Often there are options with a bar counter, which plays the role of a dining table.

Important! If you put the sofa in the living room with its back to the kitchen, then you get another popular zoning option.

Lighting

Separation by light refers to visual zoning techniques. This can be done by choosing a central chandelier for the living room, a pendant lamp for the dining area and spot lighting for the work area. If the room is small, then you can abandon the central lighting of the living room in favor of local lamps..

This can be done by choosing a central chandelier for the living room, a pendant lamp for the dining area and spot lighting for the work.

Multilevel floor

The podium allows you to create visual differentiation by highlighting the kitchen area and placing it in a kind of niche. The design of the podium can be frame or jellied, it all depends on the characteristics of the room. A monolithic podium means the design of the formwork and its filling with concrete mortar.

The frame podium is made of a wooden beam, which is treated with a special solution against decay.

The podium allows you to create a visual demarcation by highlighting the kitchen area and placing it in a kind of niche.

Important! The podium looks good in any interior style, but it slightly reduces the kitchen area due to its own design.

Partitions

You can beautifully fence off the kitchen from the living room using a variety of partitions.

Today there are special screens, sliding doors, glass partitions, semi-arches and other internal structures, both movable and static..

A Japanese screen is suitable for a minimalist kitchen, and a transparent glass partition for a high-tech kitchen..

For a loft, you can use a glass frame partition, and for Provence, classics and other styles, a semi-arch with a bar at the bottom is suitable.

Decor and accessories

Among the ideas for zoning the kitchen and living room, original ways stand out with the help of decor and accessories..

The kitchen space can be separated with a light curtain on lambrequins or a custom curtain made of beads or threads. Curtains and curtains are a great way to zone a room in a romantic, country or Provence style..

Large accessories, such as large vases or flowers in tubs, can become an option for zoning. This solution will be optimal for traditional interior styles..

Among the ideas for zoning the kitchen and living room, original ways stand out with the help of decor and accessories..

Important! Designers sometimes use rugs to separate the relaxation area from the work area..

Style for the kitchen from the living room

Today, a combined kitchen with a living room can be decorated in any interior style – from traditional to modern.

Modern kitchen-living rooms

In a modern interior, functionality and practicality come to the fore, and therefore preference is given to simple and compact furniture, neutral finishes, and a minimum of accessories..

In modern kitchens, an island is often used, and the room can be divided by a bar counter.

Among modern styles, the most popular are:

minimalism;
high tech;
eco;
Scandinavian;
neoclassicism.

All these styles have in common a neutral color scheme, a maximum of free space and a minimum of non-functional things..

Classic kitchen-living room

In the classic style, the kitchen and the living room are most often separated by a dining table with chairs. Furniture is selected mainly from wood, colors are noble, rich, natural.

In the classics, decorative ceiling decoration, beautiful accessories, an abundance of textiles, furniture with frames, carvings and decorations are acceptable.

Important! The classic is suitable for large rooms, since in such an interior a lot of furniture is used, which should not create the effect of crampedness.

Provence style

The style of the French province is perfectly combined with neoclassicism. This combination can be used to design a combined interior. For the kitchen area, the aesthetics of Provence are well suited, and for the living room – neoclassicism with its simplicity and functionalism.

The style of the French province is perfectly combined with neoclassicism.

As a way to delimit zones, you can choose an elegant screen or a decorative partition.

To combine Provence with the neoclassical aesthetics, it is recommended to select tones for finishing in the same color scheme. For example, pastel pink combines well with cream, beige and even yellow. Pale blue in the design of the kitchen can be combined with gray, white and brown in the decoration of the living room.

To combine Provence with the aesthetics of neoclassicism, it is recommended to select tones for finishing in the same color scheme..

Loft style

Urbanism does not go out of style, and it is great for the embodiment of all modern ideas, including the combined interior design..

A loft-style kitchen can become a logical continuation of the living room, because this style is perfect for each of these rooms..

Important! The combination of metal, glass, leather and rough wood is a great combination for a spacious studio apartment.

Pop art style

A bright, modern, avant-garde style involves the use of clean, juicy and fresh colors, furniture of round or clear geometric shapes, as well as naive prints.

A bar counter with high chairs in a bright pop art design, decor with comic-style paintings and bold color combinations, for example, red with black and white, pink with polka dots, etc. will suit such a room..

A bright, modern, avant-garde style involves the use of clean, juicy and fresh colors, furniture of round or clear geometric shapes, as well as naive prints.

Finishing the kitchen combined with the living room

The combined interior needs to be finished in a uniform style so as not to lose the integrity of the design.

Walls

The room may have different wall finishes, but the color scheme should be combined. It is not necessary to use the same finishing materials. Paint can be used in the kitchen and wallpaper in the living room..

The room may have different wall finishes, but the color scheme should be combined.

Ceiling

The ceiling is common for two rooms, and therefore it should be decorated in the same style. A multi-level ceiling is perfect, as it allows you to make spot lighting, and also suits most interior styles. In order not to overload the design, it is recommended to choose a light finish for the ceiling..

The ceiling is common for two rooms, and therefore it should be decorated in the same style..

Floor

To further zone the room visually, it is recommended to choose a different floor covering for the kitchen and living room. For example, ceramics and parquet, porcelain stoneware and laminate. The coatings do not have to be the same color, but they must be in the same style..

To further zone the room visually, it is recommended to choose a different floor covering for the kitchen and living room..

Interesting options for zoning the kitchen and living room

Among the most stylish ways of differentiation are the following:

color when the kitchen is in contrast to the living room;
with an arch that looks elegant and romantic;
glass, which serves as a partition;
a screen in a stylish design.

Today there are many ways to beautifully decorate a combined kitchen with a living room. Armed with design ideas, it’s easy to bring the most suitable option to life.