The design of a corridor in an apartment is subject to very complex and strict rules. First of all, it is the beauty, convenience and functionality of the room. The corridor really has many functions: there is a dirty area and a beauty area, temporary seasonal items and shoes are stored here, all family members regularly pass through the corridor, and it connects all other rooms.
There are many ways to make the corridor more comfortable, functional and suitable for the overall design concept of the apartment.
Often the corridor's shape is quite complex: it is either narrow or irregular in shape. All this must be taken into account when planning corridor areas, rooms in the apartment and developing the interior design of the corridor.
Features of the design of the corridor in the apartment
The choice of design for this room depends on many factors:
- Room shapes.
- Number of rooms.
- The overall style of the apartment.
- The size of the dirty area.
- The number of family members, their age and occupation.
In this case, you should distinguish between the corridor and the hallway. The hallway is the entrance area to the apartment, where the “dirty place”, a place for shoes and a clothes hanger are located.
In the entrance area there is usually a hanger for outerwear and a shoe rack for everyday shoes.
A corridor is a room that connects all rooms to each other. It also includes an entrance hall. In small apartments these rooms completely merge, in spacious apartments the corridor is significantly larger than the hallway.
Storage cabinets are located further along the corridor
Depending on the number of people in the family and their occupation, zoning is developed. Also, the distribution of furniture depends on the shape, width and length of the space. If the family is large, then the dirty area needs to be larger. If there are small children in the family, then you need to choose a hanger with a bench and place it next to the dirty area. In addition, you should consider temporary small furniture for kids. The corridor in the apartment in the photo, as you can see, can be square, in which case it would be appropriate to place a large wardrobe here.
A spacious corner wardrobe helps save space
Built-in furniture made “on site” allows you to use the space of the room most rationally.
Main types of Feng Shui zones of an apartment
As already mentioned, according to the theory of Feng Shui, there are 9 most important areas of life in our lives. To have a beneficial effect on them, it is necessary to design them correctly. This will help increase your energy exponentially and influence the area of your life in which you want to achieve success.
Correctly determining the feng shui zones in the apartment is the first and most important step.
Wealth zone - designed on the south-eastern side of the room. Its symbol is a tree, favorable colors: red, green. You can direct energy to the wealth zone with additional lighting, as well as by placing objects made of precious metals or stones and a container of water. This could be a fountain, a “money” tree and other symbols.
Each zone has its own dominant element. When describing it, it comes first.
Love zone - its place is considered to be the southwest. The main patron is the earth, the predominance of yellow is mandatory. If you need to maintain your current relationship, or find a new partner, it is recommended to activate this zone. In the case when your loved one is nearby, strengthen your relationship with joint photographs, as well as objects that are dear to both of you. To attract new relationships, put images with people in love, cards with love wishes or declarations of these feelings. This area is suitable for placing paired figurines, as well as storing erotic items that will help increase passion and desire in intimate relationships. It is strictly contraindicated to place sharp objects or images of lonely people.
In second place is the secondary element, which supports the main one.
The health zone is the very “heart”, the middle of the room. The patron is the earth; colors that enhance the influence of energy: orange and yellow. This zone assumes the presence of a large chandelier, an abundance of living plants in clay pots, use only natural materials, various stones in the design, etc. It would be a good idea to place a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table in the health area.
The colors that are favorable for a particular sector directly depend on two elements.
The career zone is the north of your premises. The main element here is water, the color scheme is blue and black. It is recommended to place a small fountain with flowing water, images of water or figurines of aquatic animals. To attract growth up the career ladder, you should also include any working office equipment and a general photo of your colleagues.
Each zone has its own number. It shows the number of items that have the most favorable impact in that sector.
The family zone is its location in the east. The main element is wood, color: green. This zone influences intrafamily relationships. In order not to attract conflicts and quarrels between relatives, it is necessary to place photos of the family, images of forest landscapes, and living plants in the “family zone”.
It is prohibited to store metal and sharp objects, stuffed animals, photographs of people who are no longer alive.
The zone for children and creativity is the place where the zone is concentrated - the west of the room. A predominance of metallic items and white color is desirable. Symbols of the child’s astrological sign and any children’s crafts will help strengthen and attract positive energy. Dried or wilted plants should not be left.
The main rule is that the arrangement of furniture should not interfere with the vital energy of Qi.
Travel zone – the north-west of the apartment, metal objects and shades of white are responsible for well-being in this area. Photographs or paintings from different parts of the globe, as well as places you would like to visit or have already visited, are perfect for placement in this zone. It is prohibited to store sharp objects and weapons, even their images.
Instead of bulky, massive objects, it is better to use elegant, neat shapes.
The glory zone is the south of the apartment. The main element that attracts well-being in this area is fire, the preferred color is red. This area of life reflects the place that a person occupies in society. To enhance your “importance and significance,” it would be best to decorate this zone with awards, diplomas, etc. Bird figurines (not made of wood or predators), as well as natural stones, attract energy well.
Cabinets, racks, and slides should not be placed near door or window openings; this will limit access to favorable flows from the outside.
The zone of wisdom and knowledge - the north-eastern part of the room is responsible for it, the predominance of metal objects and beige colors. Ideal for an office that houses literature, reference books and other items that support learning.
Doors and stairs should not be reflected in mirrored cabinet fronts.
Wish card area – an important component in attracting and achieving success according to Feng Shui is the design of a wish card. It consists of expressing all your dreams and desires on a piece of paper.
In the interior of a room, according to Feng Shui, only paintings with positive and calm subjects are acceptable.
Important! The formulation of desires should not contain the expression “I want, I dream, I wish...”. Each phrase must convey a completed event. For example, “I am a famous artist”, “I have 1,000,000 dollars”, etc.
All desires can be supported by drawings and photographs of famous people, money, and a happy family photo.
Having cut out each desire, it must be placed in the zone and area of life in which you want to succeed.
Corridor design depending on shape
The main thing that influences the design development is the shape and size of the room.
There are:
- Long room design.
- Narrow space design.
- L-shaped room design.
- Wide hallway design.
The long form is most common for Soviet multi-room apartments. It allows you to connect all rooms. However, there is a danger of turning this room into a narrow tunnel, the walls of which close at the end, which puts pressure on the person. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to harmoniously choose the color of the walls, the texture of materials and distribute the functions of the room throughout the space.
I help break a long corridor into parts with niches that can be used for storing things or placing decorative elements.
The following techniques can help avoid even greater elongation:
- Chess arrangement of furniture.
- Choosing light colors for decoration.
- Different materials and textures for wall decoration.
- Variety of indoor lighting.
Arranging furniture on different sides will immediately take the monotony out of the space and make it feel more alive. In this case, the gaze will not be directed to the far end of the room. Because of this, it will seem wider and more spacious. It is important to arrange the furniture so as not to hit sharp corners when walking, that is, the furniture should not get in the way.
When choosing furniture, pay attention to modular systems that allow you to assemble the right set of items specifically for your hallway
For the design of the walls in the corridor, it is better to choose light colors. Light colors bring space and air to the room and visually enlarge it. They also make the ceilings appear higher. At the same time, it is important not to settle on any one material, but rather to diversify the finish. For example, areas without furniture should be decorated with painting or artificial stone.
Lamps at different levels will also add space. It is important to highlight each zone individually.
The design of hallways and narrow corridors, as in real photos, on the advice of designers, is best developed in the same way as for a long room. The only thing here is that you need to be more careful with the arrangement of furniture - since in a narrow space it is more difficult to arrange it comfortably.
Often you have to be content with narrow furniture, calculating its installation so that there are sufficiently free passages
Wide doorways, arches without doors or contrasting doors will also help expand the space. Volume and freedom are added by glossy surfaces - suspended ceilings, glossy wall paint, silk wallpaper and other options.
An interesting move for a narrow room is to place a large mirror on one full-width wall, and on the contrary place picturesque frescoes or a large panel. In this case, the decor should be dim. Then an optical impression of spaciousness will be created.
A full-wall mirror will visually increase the area of the corridor and make it much brighter
The L-shaped corridor, by its turn, is already divided into several zones. Traditionally, the “dirty area” is located closer to the door, and cabinets or a mirror are around the corner.
You can change the appearance of an L-shaped space using a ceiling structure that visually connects the corridor with the hallway area
The design of a wide corridor in the apartment in the photo is presented in the simplest versions. This is really the easiest place to arrange furniture harmoniously and choose finishes. When decorating, it is only important to follow the rules of composition and distribute everything so that the corners and walls are balanced.
Wide corridor with a ceiling of a pleasant pale blue color
Using mirrors according to Feng Shui
A mirror in a house is one of the most important interior elements. It helps to expand the space, make the room more multifaceted and more interesting.
Redistributes the flow of qi energy and recreates the missing zone.
Note! According to the teachings of Feng Shui, mirrors, by reflecting objects, can both attract and strengthen positive energy and bring “negativity” into the home environment.
Here are a few rules to follow to enhance your well-being:
- When installing a mirror in the hallway, it should be placed to the right or left of the front door at such a height that the tallest member of the family does not have his head or part of it cut off.
- If a mirror hangs in the dining room, then it should reflect the dining table, which contributes to the integrity of the family.
- Mirrors must be kept clean, free of streaks and stains. All objects reflected in it must be clear, since any distortion takes away positive energy from the house.
Mirrors in Feng Shui living room interiors should be placed opposite the windows if the house has a beautiful view.
Remember! You cannot place a mirror opposite the front door. This contributes to the loss of energy from the home. This rule also applies to other doors located in the apartment.
Finish options
The finishing is selected depending on the type of corridor in the house and the design as in the photo. In this case, the main surfaces are separated:
- Ceiling.
- Walls.
- Floor.
For the ceiling in any room it is better to choose light colors. In the hallway, paint and foam panels are suitable for finishing. For a classic hallway design in an apartment as in the photo, stucco molding and sockets would be appropriate. A rosette in the center of the room will create the main axis and help avoid visually lengthening the space.
Traditional classics are chosen by happy owners of apartments with spacious corridors
If you don’t want to bother with preparing the surface for painting, the optimal solution would be a suspended ceiling
Walls decorated in one color look boring and dull. In addition, they limit space. Variegated colors, on the contrary, create anxiety and discomfort. It is better to diversify the design of the walls in the corridor with frescoes, bas-reliefs, and paintings. At the same time, drawings with a false perspective inside the walls will look advantageous - Italian arches, many Greek columns, photo wallpapers with landscapes, paintings. All this will create an optical illusion of space in the distance.
The contrasting decoration of the walls looks stylish and modern, while the corridor does not look small at all
You can easily and quickly update the design of the corridor using wall panels, which can be in the form of wide sheets or narrow panels
For the floor when designing a corridor in an apartment as in the photo, it is better to choose dark colors. In this case, it is better to separate the hallway floor with another material. For the dirty area at the entrance, tiles are usually chosen. You can choose stone from expensive materials: onyx, jasper or marble. For budget hallways, linoleum is suitable. The floor in the rest of the hallway can be finished with boards, laminate or tiles. And for the main floor it is better to choose the most pleasant material - laminate or parquet.
Finishing the entrance area with ceramic tiles greatly simplifies the cleaning process
Carpets and rugs will bring comfort and convenience. With their help, you can select individual places: near the mirror, near the hanger and bench, near the door or balcony. Carpets attract the eye and create a desire to stand on them, so with their help it is easy to direct the attention and movement of people.
The rug in front of the door in the hallway absorbs water and prevents dirt from spreading throughout the apartment. The long path on the floor of the corridor serves more of a decorative role
Tips and recommendations for using Feng Shui zones in the interior of an apartment
Modern apartment layouts are designed in such a way that it is not always possible to clearly divide the room into zones according to the cardinal directions. Therefore, there are a number of general rules in arranging an apartment according to Feng Shui, which will help attract positive energy.
Positive energy is carried by images of nature, happy people, as well as paintings with semi-precious stones.
Tips from feng shui ru apartments tips for beginners:
- Avoid sharp corners;
- For free passage of energy, do not fill the room with many things. In Feng Shui of an apartment, minimalism is preferable;
- Do not store broken, broken or cracked items in the house;
- Living plants help in successfully attracting positive forces.
“Wind music” reduces the level of negative energy in the room and helps eliminate conflicts.
Even if you correctly positioned all the zones and were able to activate them with the help of objects and colors, not a single positive energy will be located and strengthened in a dirty, untidy room. Keep your home clean, then the atmosphere of prosperity and success will always be with you!
A successful purchase will be the apartment that is being sold due to happy events in the life of the previous owners.
Choosing a color scheme for the corridor
The design of a corridor in an apartment, as seen in the photo, is usually done in light colors. This is not surprising, since dark colors can put pressure on the psyche and reduce space, depriving it of air and freedom. However, this is just a stereotype.
White color will visually expand the corridor and fill the space with light
Light colors also require careful application, especially in tight spaces. Only one white color can give involuntary and unpleasant associations with a hospital or clinic. In addition, it will enhance the perspective of a long corridor and create a feeling of collapsing space.
Wallpaper in the hallway is a huge opportunity for playing with light, color and textures
From light tones, it is better to choose neutral ones - gray, beige or brown. This option is suitable for Scandinavian style. If you also decorate the walls with wood to contrast the walls, the corridor will become very cozy. For classic and modern styles, pastel blue, pink or green are suitable. Delicate pastel goes well with white stucco elements.
A corridor in a classic style, decorated in light colors and decorated with stained glass windows on the ceiling
Dark colors will look harmonious in a wide corridor. They will help structure the space and make it warmer. A wide corridor has one peculiarity - this space is too large for a person to cover it with his attention in one second. Because of this, when entering an apartment with such an entrance hall, guests, and the owners themselves, often get lost. To avoid this, the space should be muted a little using dark tones. The same function will be served by a high border along the walls for a classic interior, or finishing with artificial stone and wood for a Scandinavian design.
Dark colors can be very appropriate even on the ceiling, if you think through the general idea of interior design correctly
In any case, warm burgundy, brown, wood or purple tones will create a cozy and intimate room.
Selection of furniture for the corridor
After developing the design of the corridor in the apartment, it is worth thinking about the arrangement of furniture in the room. It is important to follow three principles:
- Functionality.
- Balance of the composition.
- Ease of movement.
Furniture should be arranged so that there is quick access and approach. However, it should be placed as it is used. That is, it is better to place a clothes hanger and a bedside table for shoes at the entrance.
A shelving unit instead of a partition is a popular solution for a small apartment
A large wardrobe for storing clothes is in the middle of the corridor, it is also better to place a mirror in the middle, but at the same time next to the rooms of the female half of the family - after all, it is in them that the main users of this item live.
The mirror, as an object of general attention, is the central semantic axis of space. Therefore, to maintain harmony here, further arrangement of furniture should be based on this particular item. The dimensions of the furniture and the distances between them must be balanced relative to the mirror. Then the interior will be harmonious and give peace and comfort.
Cleaning according to the rules
Do you want the Feng Shui of your apartment to create unhindered circulation of Qi energy? Provide freedom of movement for her, get rid of unnecessary things. If things are broken, then they simply attract the energy of destruction like a magnet and create a negative atmosphere. Therefore, according to Feng Shui, things need to be repaired or thrown away on time.
According to Feng Shui, a room should be free of clutter on shelves, drawers and closets. Empty jars, boxes, dishes without steam or with cracks and chips, medicines and cosmetics with an expired expiration date - all this must be mercilessly thrown away. Adherents of this science know: two new ones will take the place of a thrown away thing. An exception is made only for books from a used bookstore. Negative energy that may be stored in them is driven away by frequent rearrangements and wiping the roots with lightly salted water.
Feng Shui of an apartment attaches exceptional importance to salt, considering that one very valuable property is the neutralization of mental debris. It is recommended to dissolve it in water when cleaning the house. If you want changes in life, then you need to attract positive Qi energy by making a rearrangement. It is not necessary to start with furniture; it is enough to rearrange small things, vases, figurines.
Design of lighting in the corridor
The final touch in the design of the corridor in the apartment is light. Here it is better to avoid monotonous central lighting. One light source again narrows the space and makes the corners dark and uncomfortable.
A chandelier is only appropriate in a fairly spacious corridor with a high ceiling.
Lighting ideas:
- Sconces on the walls in a checkerboard pattern.
- Sconces at different height levels.
- Spot lamps in the ceiling.
- Illumination from salt lamps in the corners of L-shaped architecture.
- Pots with plants in the corners with lighting.
- Bottom wall lighting.
- Different light temperatures: cold near the mirror and warm in other areas.
A universal solution would be to use spots emitting a directional luminous flux
A two-level ceiling with oval shapes will allow you to change the geometry of the space and install built-in lamp models
The variety of lighting creates a cozy and even mysterious atmosphere in this space. It will be comfortable to be in such a room.
Feng Shui Basics
The main characteristics of the teaching were systematized by two basic schools, based on different but non-contradictory positions. The school of forms (landscape) was formed in the southern provinces of China. She teaches the principle of the influence of terrain and the energy produced by the landscape on a person. Masters living in the north of the country created a compass school (of three periods), which is based on knowledge about the dependence of all things on the cardinal points according to the traditional Lo Pan compass.
Recently, many new educational directions have emerged that combine and interpret the knowledge of both movements. Unlike classical feng shui, their concepts do not require much time to study, but they do not carry true knowledge. For example, such establishments include: Black Hat, founded in 1986 by Thomas Lin Yu; “Eight Life Positions”, existing since 1995. Regardless of the chosen point of view, in order to understand the principles of Feng Shui, you need to know its fundamental principles:
- Qi energy. Translated as life force, vitality, spirit, breath. Qi is the energy of the material and immaterial world. It is all-encompassing and elusive, in constant motion, but never disappearing. There are several types of qi, which are manifestations of the same energy: human, social, heavenly, natural, domestic. All of them affect a person's life. Correctly directed and concentrated flows provide prosperity, fame, prosperity, and good luck.
- Yin and Yang. These are the two original forces that govern the Universe. They are opposite to each other, but do not contradict each other. If yin means the dark side, passivity, the feminine aspect, then yang represents the light direction, activity, the masculine aspect. Together they symbolize harmony. They cannot exist separately, and when yang reaches its peak, yin arises in it, and vice versa. The infinity of the process can be seen in the illustration of the traditional symbol.
- Theory of Wu-shin (Five Elements). Xin is defined as movement and change. According to Chinese ideas, any phenomenon or object is a synthesis of the qualities of five elements: water, fire, wood, earth, metal. Each of them has its own characteristics. They all generate and simultaneously destroy each other. Only by achieving balance between them can harmony and prosperity be achieved.
- Bagua symbol. The sacred octagon, built on the basis of the eight trigrams. Bagua has nine main sections - 8 equal sectors and a center. Each part corresponds to a specific compass direction, one or more values. All parties are of equal importance and are in constant interaction; the weakening of one of them can lead to negative consequences for other aspects.
It is impossible to present all the concepts of Feng Shui in one article. But no less important are: the magic square Lo-shu, closely associated with the Bagua symbol; energy sha, si and shen; time of day that influences decision making; ruler, one “quantum” long (432 mm); four defenders protecting the outside of the house from different sides; other symbolism.
