Any apartment or private house begins with the entrance room - this room is used to store outer clothing, shoes, umbrellas, as well as some household items. Most often the corridors are small, therefore, to save space, mezzanines are installed.
What is it and why is it needed?
In former times, mezzanines were understood as the upper floors of large houses: as a rule, they were small and very low, there was a servant. Nowadays, the meaning of the word has changed, now the mezzanines are furniture shelves under the ceiling, which are needed to store rarely used items - boxes with Christmas decorations, paints, varnishes, empty cans, clothes for another season. Mezzanines can be made in the form of cabinets or shelves, most often they are installed in the corridors, although theoretically they can be placed on the balcony, and in the bedroom or living room.
Mezzanines contribute to the visual expansion of the space, the room looks free and non-cluttered, so the interior becomes stylish and conceptual - this is especially true for small-sized apartments.
Keep in mind that mezzanines can only be installed in corridors with a ceiling height of more than 2.6 cm — it is important that the distance from the floor is at least 2 m, otherwise the structures will hang directly above the heads of those who entered.
Varieties
Mezzanines can have the most various forms, sizes and design features. Most often there are several models.
- Single sided - in this case, the door leaves are located on one side, and the mezzanine abuts against the wall. Accordingly, the depth here should be small, otherwise it will be difficult for you to get objects hidden from the opposite edge.
- Bilateral - such products are also called end-to-end, they can be opened both front and rear. Typically, these modules are long and quite roomy, most often they are located on both sides of the interior door.
- Open - Such lockers are made without doors and look like wall shelves.
Such models are simple - you can get any item quickly and easily, although you will have to regularly wipe the inner surface, as a lot of dust will accumulate there.
When filling out such mezzanines, you need to carefully consider their filling, since the trash on display is unlikely to add aesthetics to your hallway.
- Closed - these are constructions with sashes; here you can store a lot of very different household utensils. The undoubted advantage of such models is that they look beautiful, and in addition, you can not be afraid that a solvent bottle or a bale with unnecessary things will fall on your head.
- Mounted - such models are fixed between parallel walls directly under the ceiling.
- Corner - ergonomic designs installed in the corner of the hallway.
- Modular - This is a separate type of mezzanine; such models are an integral part of other furniture. A sliding wardrobe with such a module will be the best option in rooms where it is not possible to install a hinged shelf.
For which styles is it suitable?
When the mezzanines are located in the hallway, they are decorated in the same style. If the room is small, it is better to give preference to decoration in bright colors - such solutions are combined with many popular styles of corridors.
Classic - the style is optimal for spacious hallways, usually only an array of valuable wood is used for furniture. Classics are characterized by straight surfaces and a clear geometry of angles; elements of strict decor are necessarily present.
Country - rustic style, quite popular in private houses, it involves the creation of a cozy home atmosphere.
Warm shades are used here, furniture pieces that expose the wood texture look spectacular, the wenge breed looks especially beautiful.
However, you can use more budget options - for example, furniture and mezzanines made of PVC, styled like wood.
Minimalism - this style is characterized by a lack of pretentiousness, laconicism and symmetry. When decorating the corridor, plain plain surfaces will be relevant here, without drawings, ornaments and intricate designs - mezzanines in such interiors will be appropriate.
How to choose?
In the houses built in the Soviet era, there were no problems with the choice of mezzanines - in those years, apartments from the very beginning were offered with built-in mezzanines. But modern new buildings can not please this, because homeowners will have to choose the right model for themselves.
We offer some useful recommendations.
When purchasing a mezzanine, be sure to take into account that the shelf should not hang immediately above the door. Do not block free access to the cabinet or window.
The material from which the mezzanines are made must withstand the mass of the structure and the weight of the things stored there.
If possible, supplement the inside of the mezzanine with a light source, so you can quickly find what you need.
The best option in terms of price - quality ratio will be a box of chipboard or drywall, lined with a noble tree.
The decor of the mezzanine should maximally correspond to all other furniture in the interior in shade, texture and style.
When decorating the shelf, it is better to make the lower part light - so you visually save the proportions of the room.Finishing the bottom with a reflective film with a mirror effect will have the same effect.
Posting Rules
Most often, the mezzanine in old houses was installed immediately above the front door - this can be a good solution, but only if there is a lot of space in the room, or in a long narrow corridor. The second common option is to install a shelf in the corridor that connects the hallway to the kitchen. Do not be afraid that in this case you will visually reduce the room in height - the mezzanine occupies a very small part of the wall.
In modern apartments, mezzanines are often made between the living room and the corridor - usually two-sided constructions are used for this, so access from two points will be organized into the storage system.
However, in this case, it is important to pay special attention to the design of the structure - it must be combined in style with the overall interior of the corridor.
In spacious hallways it is better to install a gallery mezzanine, which will occupy the entire sub-ceiling space around the perimeter of the room. This is a roomy design that can be used to store a large number of different items, and not only household utensils, but also the home library, if the house has many books.
What can be closed?
The entrance hall with open mezzanines can make the room very uncomfortable, so it’s best to install additional wings. You can arrange the module with doors taken from old furniture, or purchase new ones.
Keep in mind - if the sash will open upwards, then they should not hit the ceiling.
Another interesting option is the installation of sliding floors. The most affordable option for decorating mezzanines will be the installation of curtains. However, such ceilings will perform an exclusively aesthetic function, as well as protect the internal contents from dust, but they are not able to keep objects from falling.
Good examples
When it comes to the design of the hallway, the first question for the owners is the combination of functionality and style. If the existing cabinets and cabinets are not enough, then the mezzanines will help to solve the problem. And you can give the room a stylish and spectacular look by making the right choice of materials and models of suspended structures.
We hope that our photo selection of the most interesting ideas for storing things in the corridors will help you choose the option that will fit perfectly into your interior.
How to make a mezzanine with your own hands, see further.
