How to divide a room into two zones: ideas and solutions
Division of a room into zones - this issue often worries the owners of studios and apartments with a free layout. This problem is also relevant for one-room apartments, where one room perforce performs several functions. The task is complicated if the room is small and designed in the same style. However, designers believe that even in this case, you can create an interior that harmoniously combines several work functions (bedroom-living room, bedroom-office, etc.), without expensive redevelopment. The answer to the question of how to divide a room into two zones, you will receive by reading this article.
Often the division into two sections is a necessary measure when there is not enough space. Proper separation of the room allows you to create such an interior, when the lack of space is almost not noticed.
It is most convenient to solve this problem when moving to a new apartment. The space, not yet cluttered with interior items, is perceived by the designer as a blank canvas on which to draw anything. Oddly enough, but even in a small odnushka there are many unnecessary elements. For example, if you demolish the main partition between the room and the balcony, the room will become much more spacious. Naturally, the balcony needs to be pre-insulated.
In this case, the balcony room will not become a repository for unnecessary things. Here you can equip an office or a miniature dining room. You can delimit the balcony from the room after the demolition of the partition using a cabinet or a multi-level floor.
A great option for zoning a room is a niche. Here you can equip a bed or a full dressing room, saving money on the purchase of wardrobes.
The choice of a specific method of dividing a room into functional zones is determined by such factors:
Metric area;
Functional purpose and usage scenario of allocated spaces;
The location of the doorway;
The number of windows.
Ideas and options for dividing a room into zones
Consider the most common ways to highlight functional areas in a room.
Partitions
Separating a large room with a partition is one of the most common ideas. It is not necessary to erect a capital brick structure.There are much more “lightweight" options.
Stationary partition
The construction of metal-based drywall, plywood or OSB is one of the most popular solutions. However, for a small room this is not the best option. And without that, not too spacious room is divided into two very tiny parts. Naturally, the functionality of both zones will suffer from this. It is undesirable to use this option in studio apartments, since the main advantage of such premises is that there are no additional walls. The partition "eats" the precious space, and the result is poor.
This method can be used if the room is spacious enough. It is advisable to install a partition so that in each of the zones there is at least one window. Otherwise, one of the parts is deprived of natural light. To prevent this from happening, the wall is made not of drywall, but of frosted or colored glass. The rooms remain isolated, and the problem of using natural light is also solved. If the “room” remaining darkened is intended for a dressing room or workplace, only artificial lighting can be used. The placement of lighting devices in each case is individual.
To minimize space losses allow arched and semi-arched structures. The main advantage of this design is that the space of the walls and floor remains free. Often arches are designed so that various things can be placed inside. It turns out a kind of mezzanine.
Sliding decorative partition
The peculiarity of the sliding structure is that the “wall” moves along two guides located on the floor and ceiling. Materials that are used to fence areas:
Tree;
Drywall;
Plastic;
High strength glass.
The main advantages of this method include lightness, mobility, minimum occupied space. However, in terms of visual and sound insulation, this option is significantly inferior to stationary structures.
Decorative screen
The use of decorative screens is justified if you need to divide the room into parts for a short time. Using the screen, you can separate from the rest of the space a work desk, a baby's bed or a place intended for changing clothes. The screen can be bought or made independently. For the frame, a metal profile or planks of wood are used. The finish is usually cloth. To get a folding design, use special loops.
As a rule, the weight of the screens is small, so they can, as necessary, be moved, folded and re-deployed. A beautifully executed product not only carries a functional load, but also serves as an interior decoration.
So, the advantages of using screens are as follows:
Minimum costs for the manufacture of a design with your own hands or the purchase of a finished product.
Mobility. The screen can be moved from one place to another without much effort.
A variety of design solutions. This makes it possible to use screens in rooms designed in different styles.
The ability to increase the functionality of the product by equipping it with pockets and shelves.
The choice of dimensions and number of frames.
Separate casement and single-screen screens. The latter create the effect of a small mobile wall.
Glass partitions
If until recently glass partitions were used only in exquisite design interiors, today this option is very popular. First of all, because of the convenience. The glass product is not just a partition, but also a self-contained piece of decor. Their main advantages include:
Compactness.The profile of the false wall is very narrow, so it does not take up much space.
Security. To delimit the premises, high-strength glass is used, which does not break into fragments, and therefore is not traumatic. In addition, glass does not contain harmful substances and therefore is considered an environmentally friendly material.
Moisture resistance of the material. This makes it possible to use the material in rooms with a high level of humidity (for example, for separating the bathroom and the bathroom).
Aesthetics. The use of various glasses: opaque, stained glass, with photo printing allows you to create unique interiors.
The minus of glass products is the complexity of transportation and transportation, due to the increased fragility of the material.
The choice of partition design depends on the style of room design. For example, for high-tech or “minimalism” interiors, screens on a metal frame or all-glass are best suited. For the classic style, a combination of glass with natural wood is used. Stained-glass windows are mainly used in living rooms, dining rooms or in kitchens. The original solution is the radius design. The scope of its use is as follows:
The allocation of the island area in the kitchen;
Differentiation of the dressing room from the bedroom;
Using an empty corner.
Using curtains to divide into zones
Zoning the room with curtains gives the room an extra comfort. In addition, this is a budget solution that does not require expensive repairs. As a rule, curtains are used to separate the sleeping area or individual workplace. It is impossible to separate the kitchen area with the help of curtains, because the textiles quickly become dirty and absorb odors. To zone a room in this way, you will need:
Curtains;
Cornices on the ceiling;
Guide rails;
Hardware kit;
Pickups.
It is advisable to use strong and dense textiles in combination with thinner translucent fabrics. As pickups, use ribbons or a twisted cord.Shades of fabrics should be chosen so that they resonate with the color scheme of other interior elements. A good idea is to use roller blinds, Japanese or Roman curtains, blinds. Often the private area is separated by the likeness of an old canopy. This allows you to make fabulous, palace notes in the modern interior.
Curtains do not have to be textile. Exotic items made of shells or bamboo look beautiful and unusual. Simpler but more spectacular variations are the use of a curtain of their beads or muslin. Curtains help visually smooth out flaws in the layout.
Furniture zoning
The furniture, correctly placed in the room, helps to divide the rooms into separate zones. So bar counters successfully separate the kitchen from the living room.
Wardrobe
Zoning a room is possible using a wardrobe or bookcase from a furniture set. As an option, you can make furniture to order, taking into account the necessary sizes. The requirements for partition cabinets are as follows:
Sustainability of the design.
Convenient door opening system. To save free space, use sliding sliding doors. The doors of a small cabinet can very well be oar.
The benefits of using zoning cabinets include:
Separation of the entrance room with the effect of a separate room.
Additional function (as a storage system).
The implementation of various design decisions by decorating the back wall of the cabinet.
However, the use of a classic wardrobe as a partition has its negative sides. For example, this is the need to decorate the back wall, which, as a rule, does not look very attractive (the cabinet is designed to be installed near the wall). It is convenient to use a mirror as a decorative element, which allows you to visually expand the corresponding area. In addition, the heavy construction clutters the room.
Shelving
The use of shelving is a favorite way of zoning by Western designers. Visually, the rack does not look like a partition, but performs a certain function. On it you can place books, home decoration, photos, indoor plants. Unusually shaped furniture helps smooth out differences between zones.
The advantages of open partition shelving include:
Effective dividing the room into two rooms without the need for a solid partition.
Convenience of storage of things (books, souvenirs, toys).
Translucency and, as a consequence, the absence of clutter effect. This makes it possible to use natural light for both areas.
Versatility, the ability to use for any interior styles and in any room: living room, in the hallway or in the kitchen.
Affordable cost of construction (both finished furniture and materials for the independent manufacture of the rack).
Ease of maintenance, reliability, durability.
Mobility. If you equip the structure with wheels, the makeshift wall can be easily moved from one place to another.
Among the shortcomings can be noted instability of the structure (it must be additionally fixed to the floor and ceiling). It is especially true if the family has kids and (or) pets. In addition, open shelves become soiled quickly, so you often have to wipe them.
There are such types of shelving-partitions:
Transformer. Sections can be installed in different ways.
With closed drawers.
Shelves installed "ladder".
Mobile construction with wheels. It is mainly used in small apartments and for short-term separation of rooms.
Cylinder - revolving furniture.
Trellised design. Allows you to separate the hallway from the room.
Pedestal rack.
Design with glass inserts. A convenient option for families with children, allowing you to control the child without intruding on personal space.
Sofas, chests of drawers and other low furniture
Possible options using low furniture:
A TV stand located in the center of the room. A TV device equipped with a special bracket can be rotated in different directions.
Sofas installed with end parts to each other. On the one hand, it turns out a recreation area, on the other - a dining room or a berth. This combination is especially appropriate in a rectangular-shaped room. If space allows, you can divide the room with a sofa-island of non-standard shape.
The combination of a sofa with an open rack helps to effectively zone a room without using heavy structures.
Color Separation
The use of different colors is a good option for cramped apartments, for example, Khrushchev. The space is so small that even the most compact partition creates the impression of clutter. The solution to the problem is visual zoning. The following options are possible:
Wallpaper (or paint) of various tones and (or) textures.
The combination of photowall-paper with monophonic finishing materials.
Using a variety of combinations of natural or artificial stone, decorative plaster or tile.
This method is available at the stage of repairing an apartment. For all its apparent simplicity, color differentiation is fraught with many difficulties. Of course, the main problem is the harmony between colors. To ensure that the selected zones do not create the impression of isolation, it is useful to use accessories. For example, the dining area is designed in yellow colors, and the living room in blue. Yellow cushions, a picture or a lamp under a solar lampshade will help to connect the two zones together. Similarly, in the dining room you can use blue utensils or a sky-blue chandelier.
Sometimes color zoning is used in conjunction with other methods of dividing a room.
Different lighting in the zones
Lamps play one of the key roles in dividing rooms into functional zones. A room divided by pieces of furniture or partitions, having only one lighting fixture, looks rather ridiculous. Therefore, mandatory accessories for the zoning of living space are floor lamps, wall and ceiling lamps.
The principle is that each section has its own, separate lighting. To accomplish this, in general, is simple: it is enough to equip each zone with an “own” sconce, a pendant or floor lamp. Here are some specific examples:
Pendant lamp over the dining table, highlighting the dining area.
Accent lighting: lighting for furniture and paintings, table lamps for the working corner and floor lamps for the relaxation area.
Illumination of natural niches or ceilings with LED bulbs.
Separation by different finishing materials
This solution is perfect for a small apartment, where there is simply no room for additional furniture. Especially often use different floor coverings. The boundary between the functional areas is the joint between the materials. Can be used for zoning and various wall coverings. For example, combine wall painting and wallpaper. You can use decorative plaster, liquid wallpaper and other materials.
Popular rooms requiring zoning
Consider the most common combinations of functional areas in different rooms.
Living room - bedroom
It often happens that the same room simultaneously serves as a hall and a bedroom. The main criterion for choosing a method for distinguishing zones is the existing furniture. For example, if the sleeping place is a sofa, then you can use a partition with an arch, multi-level floors and ceilings, as well as various color schemes.
If you use a bed as a sleeping place, then you will need a more thorough delimiter:
Stationary partition.In this case, it is not necessary to erect a drywall or plywood structure from one wall to another. It’s enough that the place to sleep was hidden.
Sliding system.
Cornice and curtains.
An excellent solution, although somewhat laborious, is the construction of the podium. In addition to delimiting zones, this is a functional detail of the interior. The most common option is to equip it with drawers for bedding, children's toys and seasonal items. An even more original solution is an extra pull-out bed.
Adult bedroom - children
The option of dividing the bedroom into "adult" and "children's" parts is also not uncommon. The choice of a specific option depends on the age and gender of the children. For example, if the children are small, then you can separate one zone from another with the help of a drywall construction with niches or a shelving unit. Such a partition will not look too bulky. On the shelves you can place toys, books, decor. The advantage of this option is the preservation of personal space and the ability to control.
Affects the choice of decision and the degree of relationship between an adult and a child. For example, if a grandmother and a teenage boy are placed in the same room, it is advisable to use a closed partition made of soundproofed material.
Kitchen - living room
The separation between the kitchen and the living room gives maximum freedom for imagination. It all depends on the taste preferences of the owners. An exception to this rule is cloth screens and curtains, because textiles literally preserve food smells. One of the most successful zoning methods is with furniture.
Bar counter - beautiful and stylish furniture, designed to perform several functions.
For a large room - a kitchen island.
Dinner table. It simultaneously serves to separate and combine the kitchen and living room.
Bedroom - study
You can select an office in the bedroom with the help of a shelf.The latter serves not only for zoning, but also for the placement of business papers, stationery. A combined option is also possible. From the bedroom side, the furniture serves as a wardrobe, a place to place a TV or decorative fireplace. There are other ideas:
The use of screens or curtains will not clutter up the space and, if necessary, combine both parts. The advantages of this method are the speed of implementation and the minimum cost, and minus - in insufficient sound insulation.
You can distinguish between a bedroom and an office using a sliding structure made of wood or glass.
To highlight the cabinet in the bedroom, you can use various floor coverings. For example, a carpet for a bedroom and a laminate for an office. A simpler option is a laminate of different colors or a small fluffy carpet in the sleeping area.
Looks impressive and color separation. Home office decoration is lighter, the sleeping area is finished with materials a few tones darker. This allows you to work productively without being distracted.
A great idea for a small bedroom is to design a work area where the bedside table usually stands. The functionality of the office area will not suffer from this at all, and the space is saved.
As for the design of both zones, it can be the same or different. To highlight areas, you can use light and different colors (textures) of finishing materials. The working area, as a rule, is placed near the window in order to maximize the use of natural light.
Use of an insulated balcony under the cabinet (if the partition is demolished).
Cabinet placement in a natural room niche.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways of zoning rooms. All options described in the article can be used both solo and combine with each other. For example, combine high-altitude zoning with the use of multi-colored finishing materials and various lighting.Or include glass elements in a drywall partition. The main thing that you need to focus on when zoning rooms is your own taste preferences and financial capabilities. At the same time, the design fantasy is constantly evolving, and original interior solutions are not long in coming.
Division of a room into zones - this issue often worries the owners of studios and apartments with a free layout. This problem is also relevant for one-room apartments, where one room perforce performs several functions. The task is complicated if the room is small and designed in the same style. However, designers believe that even in this case, you can create an interior that harmoniously combines several work functions (bedroom-living room, bedroom-office, etc.), without expensive redevelopment. The answer to the question of how to divide a room into two zones, you will receive by reading this article.
Content
Features of a room divided into zones
Often the division into two sections is a necessary measure when there is not enough space. Proper separation of the room allows you to create such an interior, when the lack of space is almost not noticed.
It is most convenient to solve this problem when moving to a new apartment. The space, not yet cluttered with interior items, is perceived by the designer as a blank canvas on which to draw anything. Oddly enough, but even in a small odnushka there are many unnecessary elements. For example, if you demolish the main partition between the room and the balcony, the room will become much more spacious. Naturally, the balcony needs to be pre-insulated.
In this case, the balcony room will not become a repository for unnecessary things. Here you can equip an office or a miniature dining room. You can delimit the balcony from the room after the demolition of the partition using a cabinet or a multi-level floor.
A great option for zoning a room is a niche. Here you can equip a bed or a full dressing room, saving money on the purchase of wardrobes.
The choice of a specific method of dividing a room into functional zones is determined by such factors:
Ideas and options for dividing a room into zones
Consider the most common ways to highlight functional areas in a room.
Partitions
Separating a large room with a partition is one of the most common ideas. It is not necessary to erect a capital brick structure.There are much more “lightweight" options.
Stationary partition
The construction of metal-based drywall, plywood or OSB is one of the most popular solutions. However, for a small room this is not the best option. And without that, not too spacious room is divided into two very tiny parts. Naturally, the functionality of both zones will suffer from this. It is undesirable to use this option in studio apartments, since the main advantage of such premises is that there are no additional walls. The partition "eats" the precious space, and the result is poor.
This method can be used if the room is spacious enough. It is advisable to install a partition so that in each of the zones there is at least one window. Otherwise, one of the parts is deprived of natural light. To prevent this from happening, the wall is made not of drywall, but of frosted or colored glass. The rooms remain isolated, and the problem of using natural light is also solved. If the “room” remaining darkened is intended for a dressing room or workplace, only artificial lighting can be used. The placement of lighting devices in each case is individual.
To minimize space losses allow arched and semi-arched structures. The main advantage of this design is that the space of the walls and floor remains free. Often arches are designed so that various things can be placed inside. It turns out a kind of mezzanine.
Sliding decorative partition
The peculiarity of the sliding structure is that the “wall” moves along two guides located on the floor and ceiling. Materials that are used to fence areas:
The main advantages of this method include lightness, mobility, minimum occupied space. However, in terms of visual and sound insulation, this option is significantly inferior to stationary structures.
Decorative screen
The use of decorative screens is justified if you need to divide the room into parts for a short time. Using the screen, you can separate from the rest of the space a work desk, a baby's bed or a place intended for changing clothes. The screen can be bought or made independently. For the frame, a metal profile or planks of wood are used. The finish is usually cloth. To get a folding design, use special loops.
As a rule, the weight of the screens is small, so they can, as necessary, be moved, folded and re-deployed. A beautifully executed product not only carries a functional load, but also serves as an interior decoration.
So, the advantages of using screens are as follows:
Separate casement and single-screen screens. The latter create the effect of a small mobile wall.
Glass partitions
If until recently glass partitions were used only in exquisite design interiors, today this option is very popular. First of all, because of the convenience. The glass product is not just a partition, but also a self-contained piece of decor. Their main advantages include:
The minus of glass products is the complexity of transportation and transportation, due to the increased fragility of the material.
The choice of partition design depends on the style of room design. For example, for high-tech or “minimalism” interiors, screens on a metal frame or all-glass are best suited. For the classic style, a combination of glass with natural wood is used. Stained-glass windows are mainly used in living rooms, dining rooms or in kitchens. The original solution is the radius design. The scope of its use is as follows:
Using curtains to divide into zones
Zoning the room with curtains gives the room an extra comfort. In addition, this is a budget solution that does not require expensive repairs. As a rule, curtains are used to separate the sleeping area or individual workplace. It is impossible to separate the kitchen area with the help of curtains, because the textiles quickly become dirty and absorb odors.
To zone a room in this way, you will need:
It is advisable to use strong and dense textiles in combination with thinner translucent fabrics. As pickups, use ribbons or a twisted cord.Shades of fabrics should be chosen so that they resonate with the color scheme of other interior elements. A good idea is to use roller blinds, Japanese or Roman curtains, blinds. Often the private area is separated by the likeness of an old canopy. This allows you to make fabulous, palace notes in the modern interior.
Curtains do not have to be textile. Exotic items made of shells or bamboo look beautiful and unusual. Simpler but more spectacular variations are the use of a curtain of their beads or muslin. Curtains help visually smooth out flaws in the layout.
Furniture zoning
The furniture, correctly placed in the room, helps to divide the rooms into separate zones. So bar counters successfully separate the kitchen from the living room.
Wardrobe
Zoning a room is possible using a wardrobe or bookcase from a furniture set. As an option, you can make furniture to order, taking into account the necessary sizes. The requirements for partition cabinets are as follows:
The benefits of using zoning cabinets include:
However, the use of a classic wardrobe as a partition has its negative sides. For example, this is the need to decorate the back wall, which, as a rule, does not look very attractive (the cabinet is designed to be installed near the wall). It is convenient to use a mirror as a decorative element, which allows you to visually expand the corresponding area. In addition, the heavy construction clutters the room.
Shelving
The use of shelving is a favorite way of zoning by Western designers. Visually, the rack does not look like a partition, but performs a certain function. On it you can place books, home decoration, photos, indoor plants. Unusually shaped furniture helps smooth out differences between zones.
The advantages of open partition shelving include:
Among the shortcomings can be noted instability of the structure (it must be additionally fixed to the floor and ceiling). It is especially true if the family has kids and (or) pets. In addition, open shelves become soiled quickly, so you often have to wipe them.
There are such types of shelving-partitions:
Sofas, chests of drawers and other low furniture
Possible options using low furniture:
Color Separation
The use of different colors is a good option for cramped apartments, for example, Khrushchev. The space is so small that even the most compact partition creates the impression of clutter. The solution to the problem is visual zoning. The following options are possible:
This method is available at the stage of repairing an apartment. For all its apparent simplicity, color differentiation is fraught with many difficulties. Of course, the main problem is the harmony between colors. To ensure that the selected zones do not create the impression of isolation, it is useful to use accessories. For example, the dining area is designed in yellow colors, and the living room in blue. Yellow cushions, a picture or a lamp under a solar lampshade will help to connect the two zones together. Similarly, in the dining room you can use blue utensils or a sky-blue chandelier.
Sometimes color zoning is used in conjunction with other methods of dividing a room.
Different lighting in the zones
Lamps play one of the key roles in dividing rooms into functional zones. A room divided by pieces of furniture or partitions, having only one lighting fixture, looks rather ridiculous. Therefore, mandatory accessories for the zoning of living space are floor lamps, wall and ceiling lamps.
The principle is that each section has its own, separate lighting. To accomplish this, in general, is simple: it is enough to equip each zone with an “own” sconce, a pendant or floor lamp. Here are some specific examples:
Separation by different finishing materials
This solution is perfect for a small apartment, where there is simply no room for additional furniture. Especially often use different floor coverings. The boundary between the functional areas is the joint between the materials. Can be used for zoning and various wall coverings. For example, combine wall painting and wallpaper. You can use decorative plaster, liquid wallpaper and other materials.
Popular rooms requiring zoning
Consider the most common combinations of functional areas in different rooms.
Living room - bedroom
It often happens that the same room simultaneously serves as a hall and a bedroom. The main criterion for choosing a method for distinguishing zones is the existing furniture. For example, if the sleeping place is a sofa, then you can use a partition with an arch, multi-level floors and ceilings, as well as various color schemes.
If you use a bed as a sleeping place, then you will need a more thorough delimiter:
An excellent solution, although somewhat laborious, is the construction of the podium. In addition to delimiting zones, this is a functional detail of the interior. The most common option is to equip it with drawers for bedding, children's toys and seasonal items. An even more original solution is an extra pull-out bed.
Adult bedroom - children
The option of dividing the bedroom into "adult" and "children's" parts is also not uncommon. The choice of a specific option depends on the age and gender of the children. For example, if the children are small, then you can separate one zone from another with the help of a drywall construction with niches or a shelving unit. Such a partition will not look too bulky. On the shelves you can place toys, books, decor. The advantage of this option is the preservation of personal space and the ability to control.
Affects the choice of decision and the degree of relationship between an adult and a child. For example, if a grandmother and a teenage boy are placed in the same room, it is advisable to use a closed partition made of soundproofed material.
Kitchen - living room
The separation between the kitchen and the living room gives maximum freedom for imagination. It all depends on the taste preferences of the owners. An exception to this rule is cloth screens and curtains, because textiles literally preserve food smells. One of the most successful zoning methods is with furniture.
Bedroom - study
You can select an office in the bedroom with the help of a shelf.The latter serves not only for zoning, but also for the placement of business papers, stationery. A combined option is also possible. From the bedroom side, the furniture serves as a wardrobe, a place to place a TV or decorative fireplace. There are other ideas:
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways of zoning rooms. All options described in the article can be used both solo and combine with each other. For example, combine high-altitude zoning with the use of multi-colored finishing materials and various lighting.Or include glass elements in a drywall partition. The main thing that you need to focus on when zoning rooms is your own taste preferences and financial capabilities. At the same time, the design fantasy is constantly evolving, and original interior solutions are not long in coming.