Corridor design: how to make a small room comfortable

Corridor design: how to make a small room comfortable and functional

The apartment looks cozy if all the rooms are harmoniously equipped, including the corridor. It is the design of the corridor that is primarily seen by everyone who enters the room. Room renovation and decoration depend primarily on the parameters of the corridor, its configuration, as well as on the overall style in which the apartment is decorated. Also, we must not forget that it should be convenient not only to undress in the room, but also to place outerwear.

If the corridor is large and spacious, then it will not be difficult to arrange furniture and make a beautiful design

The main points to keep in mind when designing a corridor in an apartment

Most often, the corridor in the apartment is a small room, so you need to carefully think through all the details to make the room comfortable. Whatever the size of the corridor, you need to try to place in it all the necessary items for storing things and convenient dressing.

If the corridor is cozy and functional, it creates a favorable impression of the apartment as a whole and of its owners

If a corridor is being organized in Khrushchev, then you need to use all available tools that allow you to visually expand the volume of the room. To understand how to design a corridor, you need to know the basic requirements for choosing the main elements of the interior:

It is important that the corridor in the house or apartment harmonizes with the interior of the entire space and is decorated in the appropriate style. Designers do not advise experimenting and mixing different stylistic trends in the apartment.

Depending on the specific features, the design of the corridor can vary greatly both in external characteristics and in the functions performed

How to start repairing a corridor in an apartment or a private house

Despite the size of the corridor, you need to approach the repair responsibly, because this room is considered the hallmark of any apartment or house. In addition, the corridor belongs to the rooms most susceptible to pollution. After all, splashes and dirt fall from wet clothes or umbrellas, falling on the walls and floor, sand from shoes is brought here. If we are talking about a corridor in a private house, then cold air from the street often penetrates into it, which causes the walls to get wet, as a result of which there is a possibility of the reproduction of fungus and mold.

Useful advice! The organization of the design, repair of the corridor should be dealt with last, because throughout all the repair work in the apartment it is through this room that building materials will be brought in and taken out.

The main tasks to be performed during the repair process:

• properly organize the space, take measures to visually enlarge the room;
• choose a material for wall and floor decoration;
• perform ceiling repair and organization of sufficient lighting;
• pick up and arrange furniture;
• purchase suitable accessories.

The main thing is to choose the right furniture so that it is as functional as possible

It is necessary to choose ideas for repairing the corridor based on the original layout of the room, taking into account such dimensions as area, height of walls, distance to corners and doors. These parameters affect the choice of materials, the nature of lighting and the type of furniture chosen. When purchasing materials for the repair of a small corridor, you should abandon the use of drywall and panels that reduce the usable space.

Before thinking over the interior design of the corridor, which differs in tiny dimensions, at the repair stage it is necessary to take into account that in this case it is advised to select light shades for surface finishing and additionally use mirror and reflective elements. When choosing furniture, it is better to give preference to modular sets with built-in lighting.

When selecting materials, it is necessary to take into account not only the texture, but also the color. To finish the walls, it is permissible to use a combination of materials, for example, some walls can be painted, others can be wallpapered. With the help of color, it is recommended to make one accent wall, which will create a special atmosphere in the room.

The design of the corridor requires special attention when planning the interior of an apartment or house

How to repair the floor in the corridor: photo examples

The floors in the corridor are exposed to friction daily, while sand and other dirt on shoes are a fairly hard abrasive that easily leaves traces on the surface of the coating. Therefore, the best material for the floor is considered to be high-quality ceramic tiles that can withstand constant friction. It is not at all necessary to make the floor in the corridor completely out of tiles. In the photo of the corridor repairs, you can see that it is placed only on the entrance part, where they are most often in shoes. Other commonly used, but less stable materials are considered:

Ceramic tiles are resistant to the negative effects of moisture and dirt

Useful advice! Whichever flooring material is chosen, designers recommend laying it diagonally in order to visually expand the volume of space.

If the room is small, the floor must be made light. When purchasing a tile, you should give preference to large squares or rectangles. Small tiles of dark shades are more suitable for decorating a corridor in an apartment or a large house. For convenience and comfort, it is possible to organize a water or electric underfloor heating at the repair stage, which will ensure not only quick drying of shoes in winter, but also a comfortable stay on the tile.

Options for finishing the ceiling and the choice of lighting when organizing the interior of the corridor in the apartment

Choosing the design of the ceiling in the corridor, it is recommended to give preference to light shades. A good option would be a stretch ceiling, both matte and glossy. A glossy ceiling due to the reflective surface will visually increase the height of the room to a greater extent, especially if several mirrors are additionally hung on the walls. Thinking over ideas for the repair of the corridor, which is characterized by a large area, you can use options for multi-level ceilings with the use of plasterboard structures.

Having chosen a successful option for finishing the ceiling, it is important to organize lighting correctly, because most of the corridors are a room without windows. Considering the photo of the corridors in the apartment, you can pay attention to the fact that such devices are used to provide the room with light:

• wall sconces;

Since the corridor is most often decorated without windows, the lighting should be brighter than usual

• ceiling lights;
• chandeliers;
• spot lighting installed in furniture items.

Also recently, floor soffits are often used, visually increasing the height and width of the walls. At the same time, the backlight should be thought out at the repair stage in order to properly conduct the wiring and not leave the wires open. Interior letters with illumination or light paintings are considered a good option for wall decoration in the corridor.

Corridor design: wall decoration

When designing the design of the hall in the apartment, much attention is paid to the decoration of the walls. If repairs are carried out not in a new building (for finishing), but in an old apartment, then first of all you will have to get rid of traces of previous repairs, this will require:

• remove old wallpaper or other facing material from the wall;
• clean the areas to the ground;
• additionally align the walls using the building level;
• plaster the problem areas.

The decoration of the corridor walls with artificial stone looks original

High-quality preparatory work will ensure that repairs are carried out at the proper level. At this stage, it is also recommended to check the condition of the wiring and, if necessary, replace it. If there is a need to change the doors, this action should also be performed before the start of finishing work.

Useful advice! To prevent the appearance of cracks and the divergence of wallpaper at the joints, it is previously recommended to apply a reinforcing mesh to the wall, especially if repairs are carried out in a newly built house in which the shrinkage process continues.

As a material for wall decoration, you can use decorative plaster, which looks attractive and noble. Using this method of cladding, you can “revive” the wall with a variety of patterns or applied paintings. Even an ordinary rough surface, painted in the desired color, can dilute the interior. Creating a corridor design, it is popular to use plaster, which includes multicolored stone chips, which allows you to easily fill the room with unusual colors. Other advantages of using plaster include:

• practicality;
• beautiful appearance;

The walls of the corridor can be finished with clapboard or panels made of wood or MDF

• the ability to wash and clean the surface.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the use of Venetian plaster, in the manufacturing process of which a combination of white and gypsum plaster is used. This option of finishing is considered expensive and is more common when finishing the corridors of elite country houses. Not only the material itself will be expensive, but also the process of applying plaster to the wall, since this work is not done by simple builders, but by painters who are able to make an ordinary wall a work of art. Below you can see a selection of photo designs of country house halls made with Venetian plaster.

In addition to decorative cladding, it is appropriate to apply conventional painting, but this requires perfectly plastering the walls. Some areas can be decorated with decorative stone, clapboard or a combination of these materials. This option is more suitable for the design of a large square corridor, when there is no need to save space.

Using wallpaper in the corridor: photos of attractive interiors

Wallpaper is considered to be another equally popular option for wall decoration. Here it is possible to use cork cloths, which are paper on which a thin cork veneer with a wax coating is applied. The advantages of using cork wallpaper in the corridor design are considered to be their hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly. Such a coating is not susceptible to dust settling, the walls are easy to care for, and they can also be washed. However, interior designers do not recommend using them when repairing a narrow corridor.

The walls of the corridor covered with wallpaper are a classic option familiar to many

Vinyl products are considered a universal option. Such wallpaper is suitable for a small corridor, as well as for a large area. Vinyl has a long service life, the material is easy to wash with non-aggressive means, as well as rub with a non-rigid sponge. This fact is considered a significant advantage, because the walls of the corridor are constantly exposed to dirt.

Vinyl wallpaper is made on different types of bases – it can be a fabric or paper layer covered with PVC. Products can be selected with any ornament. Also, a wide variety of colors allows you to make the corridor beautiful and decorate the room in accordance with any interior style. To prevent the reproduction of fungus and mold, there is a special chemical element in the wallpaper. The disadvantage of using vinyl canvases in the design of corridors and hallways in an apartment is the synthetics of the material, which prevents air penetration.

Related article:

Design of a small hallway: universal principles of space design

Furnishing of the premises. The right approach to finishing. The color scheme of the hallway. The style of the corridor.

Liquid wallpaper is an intermediate option between plaster and ordinary wallpaper. In shopping malls, you can purchase ready-made mixtures or dry options, which must be further diluted before application, using the proportions specified in the instructions. Wallpaper should be applied to the wall with a layer of no more than 2 mm. The advantage of using this option is the ability to hide the irregularities that could remain after the repair and treatment of the walls. In order for the walls to be safely washed, it is recommended to apply a layer of varnish on top. Another advantage is the ease of dismantling such wallpaper and applying a new finish in a situation where you want to revitalize the interior. Below are photos of wallpaper corridors of various styles.

Modern types of wallpaper due to the relief texture perfectly mask defects and damage to the walls in the corridor

Photo wallpapers are also used for the design of the narrow corridor of the apartment. At the same time, to expand the space, it is advised to give preference to cold shades, since bright colors, on the contrary, visually reduce the size of the room. It is appropriate to place a mirror opposite the wall decorated with photo wallpapers. It is necessary to remember that in a small room it is impossible to use wallpaper containing drawings in the form of three-dimensional and large elements.

Features of the choice of furniture for the design of the corridor design: photo

When designing any corridor, you can not do without the right selection of furniture, which depends on the parameters of the room. Most of the corridors in old apartments are tiny in size, so it is only possible to place a small closet, put a shoe shelf and a mirror on such an area. Sometimes in the photos of the designs of small corridors, you can see that instead of a cabinet, just hooks are often used, unusually fixed on the wall.

If there is a small hallway that goes into the corridor, the photos show that there is no other furniture here, except for a small shoe shelf and a small hanger – it is taken out into the corridor. In any case, before buying furnishings, you should carefully measure the space, which will allow you to determine which furniture will be freely in the room and will not interfere with free movement.

Modular furniture is best suited for a small corridor

The style of furniture items is selected based on the overall interior of the apartment and the corridor, but for the design of a small room, it is recommended to use light facades with mirror inserts. In this case, it is important to purchase furniture in the style of high-tech or minimalism.

When buying furniture, you should opt for items made of practical materials that are easy to clean. Glued chipboard is most often used for the manufacture of facades, but still facades made of MDF are considered the best option in this case, because they are more resistant to moisture and damage.

In order not to bother with the selection of individual pieces of furniture, you should give preference to modular hallways, in which all elements are perfectly combined with each other. Of course, the main detail of any corridor is considered a wardrobe, the internal filling of which allows it to be used for storing outerwear and other small things. When designing a long narrow corridor, you should not save too much on the parameters of the product, since a cabinet with a depth of less than 40 cm will not be convenient, but will simply take up space in the room.

Also, it is advisable to place a mirror in the corridor of any size so that you can evaluate your appearance before leaving. Often, a mirrored sliding cabinet door is used as this accessory, which visually increases the area, especially if a lighting source is installed opposite it.

It is most convenient to place furniture in corners or along the wall so that it does not interfere with free movement from room to room

How to properly organize the design of the corridor in Khrushchev

The apartments of the old foundation differ in minimal areas, which also applies to the size of the corridor. The complexity of the design of such spaces lies in the large number of doorways. You should think about which doors are necessary, and which ones can be discarded by using arches or other open types of entrances for zoning the space.

The main task that needs to be solved in the conditions of the Khrushchev corridor is to visually or actually expand the space. To actually increase the area, you can move the walls, but at the same time the size of one of the adjacent rooms is reduced. Sometimes, due to the presence of load-bearing walls, it is impossible to reconstruct, as a result of which options for visual expansion of the corridor are used.

If you pay attention to the real photos of the corridor designs in Khrushchev, it immediately becomes clear that in such a room there is no room for deep spacious cabinets or even small sofas designed for comfortable footwear. It is impossible to place massive decorative items here, such as floor vases or beautiful clothes hangers made in retro style, on a massive oak leg decorated with carvings. In this case, the minimalism style is popular, which allows the use of open shelves and shelves. To store clothes on the wall, a sufficient number of decorative hooks are simply fixed. If there is such an opportunity, you can dilute the interior with a bright small ottoman.

The small room of the corridor has its own specifics, which must be taken into account when developing a design project

Considering photos of interior designs of corridors in Khrushchev, you can pay attention that in the decoration preference is given to light shades that visually expand the boundaries of the room. A mirror panel can be placed on the corridor wall if it fits into the overall style of the apartment. It is not recommended to place a massive chandelier on the ceiling – it is better to organize lighting using spotlights built into the ceiling structure. A tile should be placed on the floor, which, if desired, can be covered with a small carpet with a hard pile.

Features of the design of a narrow corridor, which is characterized by a significant length

Designing a long corridor in an apartment consisting of two or more rooms is not the easiest task. There is often a situation when the corridor is combined with the hallway. In this case, a difference in the choice of textures and finishes is applied to the zoning of the space. In some cases, it will be necessary to redevelop at the repair stage to get rid of unnecessary doors and corners, if possible.

If the corridor is an elongated space from the entrance door to one of the rooms, it is necessary to carry out zoning, allowing the entrance part to be separated from the entrance. Studying the photos of the designs of a narrow corridor, you can pay attention to the fact that for this purpose differences in the finish of the floor covering are used. Zoning is also often carried out using different forms of ceiling construction, lighting and different colors of walls in the corridor.

Creating a spectacular design of a long corridor is a difficult task, but solvable

Useful advice! A good option is considered to be the combined use of ceramic tiles, which are laid around the entrance doors, and laminate or parquet flooring covering the rest of the room.

To align the walls, you should not use drywall, which will take up space – it is better to perform high-quality wall putty. It is absolutely impossible to use wallpaper with a horizontal or vertical strip for wall decoration for a narrow corridor, which will visually lengthen the space even more. Solid vinyl wallpaper, decorative plaster or liquid wallpaper are suitable for this purpose. Also, it is not recommended to use large patterns and dark wallpaper, which visually reduce the volume. At the same time, it is allowed to use a darker shade when finishing the lower part of the wall, which is subjected to constant friction.

Furniture, lighting in a long corridor and other features of the design of the room

The long walls of such a corridor should be used as efficiently as possible for the placement of functional furniture, which will help to free up other rooms. When choosing pieces of furniture, it is necessary to make sure that there is enough space left for comfortable movement. The options suitable for the interior design of a narrow corridor include:

• a long narrow full-length wardrobe with mirrored sliding doors that visually increase the width of the corridor;

The design of a narrow long corridor can copy the styles of other rooms, be neutral or include several directions

• open shelving or bookshelves mounted on one of the walls;
• a long and narrow chest of drawers designed to accommodate shoes, over which you can hang photos;
• a narrow sofa, on which it will be convenient to sit down to put on shoes, there are also options for a folding design with additional niches.

So that the design of a long corridor in a three-room apartment does not resemble a gloomy tunnel, special attention should be paid to lighting sources. Interior designers do not advise to give preference to fluorescent lamps that distort color perception. It is better to choose bright halogen lamps that are as close as possible to natural light. Also, when organizing the light, the space should be divided into different zones with autonomous inclusion. It will be convenient to place separately switched-on dim lights in the floor, thanks to which it will be easy to move in the dark. Below you can see a beautiful selection of photos of the interiors of corridors in large apartments.

The design of the corridor in the house is easier to equip in most cases, because there is a large area, especially if the house was built by the owner himself. Often it is from a long corridor that a staircase leads to the second floor, which becomes an accent element in the room. Modern interior styles, whose main task is to make the interior functional, use the staircase as additional storage boxes. It is recommended to resort to the same method in a two-storey apartment. Below you can see photos of the designs of the corridors in the house, decorated with the use of stairs.

With the help of a properly selected interior, the corridor room becomes visually larger

How to design a corridor in a house or apartment: modern interior styles

Modern style is mainly manifested in the details, so the objects in the room can relate to different directions, but the main thing is that they are harmoniously combined with each other. The finish is dominated by a light range, successfully combined with silver and chrome surfaces. If the corridor has the correct geometric shape, then one wall can be accentuated.

It’s interesting! Furniture in a modern style is mainly equipped with a large number of built-in and extendable elements that allow you to rationally place all things.

It is important to understand that the modern design of the corridor implies the use of the latest technological inventions, so it would be appropriate if the light is turned on by voice or touch panel. There should also be a lot of lighting elements here.

Minimalism is considered an ideal option for tiny corridors or hallways, because the basis of style is conciseness and maximum freedom. Finishing options can be chosen at the request of the owner, but it is better to stick to the white shade of the walls, and from the materials preference should be given to plaster or washable wallpaper.

The modern style is the best suited for such rooms as a corridor and an entrance hall

It is desirable that the ceiling does not have a complex plasterboard structure, especially if the ceilings are low. The best option would be a stretch ceiling, which should be lighter than the floor covering. It is especially important to equip such a corridor with the maximum number of lighting elements in order to illuminate the space and not leave darkened areas. It is allowed to dilute the bright interior with several bright elements, whether it is a small ottoman or an unusual hanger. Too much furniture should not be placed in a minimalistic corridor.

Corridor in loft and hi-tech styles: design features

The loft direction adheres to openness and freedom. The decor of the loft-style corridor is unusual and pretentious in its forms, often hanging wrenches, cranes or even half a bicycle are used as hangers here. The surfaces are designed to look like bricks – it can be brickwork or appropriate wallpaper.

In most cases, the ceiling is simply painted in the desired color, while a certain carelessness in the decoration is characteristic of the style. In the corridor, the use of open shelves or even boxes is welcome. Lighting is recommended to be organized with the help of unusual lamps connected by ropes or wires in unusual boxes.

The main requirement for the design of the corridor in the loft style is a combination of originality and practicality

The high-tech direction prefers smooth, glossy surfaces, clear lines and regular geometric shapes. It is not recommended to use more than two colors here, and bright tones should not be present at all. The walls are more often decorated with gray plaster or silver metallic wallpaper. Fiberglass wallpaper is also considered popular.

Ceilings are mainly used either glossy stretch or suspended systems with a large number of built-in spots. A chandelier in such a corridor would not be appropriate. In lighting, preference is given to cold and bright light. The furniture in the corridor should be distinguished by the presence of facades with frosted glass inserts. The more glass surfaces there are in such a corridor, the better. Leather poufs or small sofas look harmoniously.

Classical trends in the design of the corridor: Scandinavian, Provence and English styles

The classic style involves the use of warm colors, and pastel tones are more suitable for creating accents, rather than bright ones. Light walls are necessarily decorated with panels and baguettes. It is appropriate to use drawings in the form of monograms, ornaments. It is desirable to make the ceiling coffered or use unusual stucco. The main material for the decoration of the floor is considered to be wood, but it is recommended to put at least a ceramic tile imitating wood at the entrance. The furniture must be massive, made of natural wood, leather upholstery is also suitable.

The classic direction with a touch of modernity is perfect for the design of the corridor

Important! Classical directions should be chosen mainly in large spaces, so that it is possible to use all the details characteristic of the style.

Scandinavian style prefers to combine light corridor walls with natural wood floors. However, it is often possible to find a variant of black-and-white flooring using ceramic tiles. Lighting is better organized with a massive chandelier. The mood of the interior can be given by means of a carpet with a hard pile, bright furniture and beautiful wall sconces.

Provence in the corridor involves the use of openwork elements and natural color of the walls. A good solution is to use wallpaper with a floral print or decorative plaster. Paintings in massive wooden frames will set the tone for the corridor. Furniture with aged facades will look perfect. Here you can install a massive wooden wardrobe, next to which it is desirable to put a small sofa with forged elements. The presence of a large floor-length mirror in a vintage frame is mandatory.

English style requires the presence of space and high ceilings. It is appropriate to make walls with the help of an unobtrusive floral pattern or a cage. The presence of blind doors, a massive chest of drawers and a forged clothes hanger is welcome. You can complement the interior with mirrors or paintings in round or oval frames. It is better to put patterned tile or parquet board on the floor, which should be covered with a checkered or just a dark carpet.

A black-and-white color combination is often used in the design of the corridor in the Scandinavian style

When arranging the corridor, it is necessary to perform a complex task, which consists in the most rational use of the entire space, while achieving coziness and comfort. It must be remembered that the corridor helps to create a first impression of the entire apartment or house. It is from this room that guests begin to get acquainted with the general style of housing, reflecting the mood of the hosts. You should not rush to equip the corridor – only a clear calculation and proper use of the entire area will make the corridor comfortable and stylish.