The design of the apartments is simple but ergonomic. Ergonomics of space: how to make your home as comfortable as possible

We choose an apartment and arrange furniture and appliances in it, starting from our own ideas about what is proper and comfortable. However, there is a whole set of rules and standards to help make any space perfect. Ergonomics deals with these issues.

Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that studies the interaction of a person and other elements of a system to ensure a prosperous existence. Ergonomics, in particular, is responsible for creating a comfortable apartment space. Knowledge of human psychology and anatomy is used in this science to create truly harmonious and safe housing with carefully thought out details. Let's find out what parameters an apartment must meet in order to be considered ergonomic.

Optimum ceiling height

In a room with low ceilings there is a feeling of pressure, and too high ceilings will not be able to feel safe and comfortable. The minimum ceiling height is determined by SNiP and in living rooms and kitchens should not be less than 2.5 m. In corridors and halls, a height of 2.1 m is allowed.It is believed that this SNiP was based on Dürer's research, expanded by the German architect Ernst Neufert.

Electrician: safe and convenient

Even electrical outlets and switches can be positioned for maximum convenience. Their placement is not standardized by GOSTs or SNiPs, and therefore, when designing electrical wiring, one should be guided by safety rules and principles of ease of use.
It is recommended to place switches in the apartment at the entrance to the room, from the side of the door handle. In the Soviet Union, it was customary to install switches at a height of 160 cm from the floor - that is, approximately at eye level. Today this option is chosen by parents who do not want small children to play with light. The modern norm is the installation of switches at a distance of 90 cm from the floor level, which allows you to turn off and on the light without raising your hands.

On the contrary, sockets by modern standards began to be installed lower. If Soviet citizens installed them at a height of 90-105 cm from the floor, now this height is 30 cm. So it is more convenient to use household appliances and hide wires. The distance from the attachment point to the door and window should not be less than 10 cm. In residential premises, it is recommended to install at least one socket per six square meters. m. In the kitchen, sockets are placed in such a way that it is convenient to use certain equipment. For example, for a kettle, blender or food processor, sockets are installed above the tabletop. The optimal number of outlets in the kitchen is determined by the number of appliances used. The bathroom should have at least two sockets - one for connecting a washing machine, the other for a hair dryer.

Layout of the bedroom according to the principles of ergonomics

The ergonomic rules for the bedroom are aimed at ensuring freedom of movement and creating conditions for rest and sound sleep. When designing a bedroom, the following guidelines should be considered:

The distance between the bed, other pieces of furniture and walls should be at least 70 cm. At the same time, for the elderly, this figure increases to one meter.
The passage from the door to the bed or to the window should be as straight as possible.
The location of the bed next to the window is considered optimal, but not less than 80 cm from the outer wall and the radiator.
If you have chosen a double model, then it is necessary to leave passages on both sides.
For safety reasons, do not install shelves at the head of the bed.

Ergonomics in the design of the work area

Most of modern society spends most of its working time in a sitting position. Therefore, the creation of a workplace according to the rules of ergonomics is especially important.

You can spend no more than 15 minutes a day on a stool or regular chair without harm to health. An uncomfortable chair will lead to headaches and problems with the spine and legs.

To sit correctly in terms of ergonomics, there are a few simple rules to follow:

Your feet should rest comfortably on the floor. The surface of the foot should form a 90 ° angle with the calf. This is accomplished by adjusting the height of the chair.
For blood to flow freely, the knees must form an obtuse angle with the body.
The width and depth of the seat should be about 40 cm.
The armrests of the chair or the height of the work surface should allow an obtuse angle between the forearm and the hand.
The back of the chair should be slightly tilted back to ensure the normal functioning of the internal organs. It also needs to support the lower back.
Preference should be given to an armchair equipped with a base with five casters.

Frequently used items should be placed within a 35-40 cm human arm reach. The monitor screen should be positioned 50 cm from your face and so that the center of the screen is located just below eye level. The area of the tabletop of the table should not be less than 1.20 m. The height of the table should be equal to the recommended European standards of 74 cm.

The lighting should be positioned in such a way that the body does not cast a shadow on the workplace.

Convenient kitchen

The arrangement of furniture in the kitchen is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the room. For a narrow kitchen, a linear layout is suitable, in which all interior items are placed along one wall. This arrangement is also suitable for a studio apartment. In a large kitchen, you can use a parallel or T-shaped arrangement of furniture, and for a small space, an angular or U-shaped arrangement is suitable.

Working triangle in the kitchen. Photo: surfingbird.ru

The concept of a kitchen work triangle can also be taken into account in the layout of the room. The triangle includes the cooking (stove), sink (sink) and storage (refrigerator) areas. According to this standard, it is considered that the distance between zones should be from 1.2 to 2.7 meters. The total of these distances should be between 4 and 8 meters. If the distance is too small, the kitchen will feel cramped, but if it is too large, the cooking process will be tedious.

When planning a comfortable kitchen, you should also consider the following tips:

For a comfortable position at the table, a person needs about 60 sq. see space.
Hanging elements should be positioned so that their bottom edge is about one and a half meters from the floor.
The width of the aisles in the kitchen should be at least 60 centimeters.

Living room designed with intelligence

In a standard living room, the main thing is to successfully arrange the pieces of furniture and the considered traditional TV in such a way as to ensure comfortable rest and communication.

It is recommended to arrange pieces of furniture so that they do not block the path to windows and doors. If you want to put a sofa and armchairs, then the distance between them should not exceed two meters, otherwise it will be inconvenient for you to communicate with the interlocutor. 92 cm is enough for free passage. If there is a coffee table next to it, position it so that you can reach it with your hand without getting up, but at the same time, so that you can stretch your legs. The optimal coffee table height is 30–45 cm.

When choosing a place for a TV, keep in mind that the distance from it to the seating position starts from 2.5 m for a 17-inch screen and increases diagonally accordingly. So, with a 32 "diagonal, the distance to the viewer should be 4 meters, with a 37" diagonal - 5 meters. Today it is generally accepted that the TV in the living room should be at eye level of a person sitting on a sofa or in an armchair.

The sofa should be chosen for the expected number of hosts and guests. A sofa with a width of 1.75 m is suitable for two, but for a larger family or for receiving guests, take a look at specimens with a width of 2.10 m or more.For a comfortable stay, you should take a sofa with a seat at least 60 cm wide.
The height of the sofa or armchair in the living room and the inclination of their backs should be such that the thigh and lower leg of the sitting person are at an angle close to a straight line, and the feet are completely resting on the floor.

Comfortable bathroom

Of course, the bathrooms in some apartments do not allow to "turn around" in terms of the interior, and sometimes it is simply impossible to increase the distance between objects. But we can try to bring the interior closer to ergonomic at least in something. Ideally, the bathroom should have at least 1.7 m of free space so that a person has the opportunity to stretch out his arms while drying off with a towel.

In an ideal bathroom, there should be at least 75 cm of free space between every piece of plumbing fixtures and walls. The distance from the shower or bathtub to the sink can be reduced to 30 cm, but no less. The towel holder and shelves with the necessary items should be placed no further than 70-90 cm from the shower or bathtub, so that they can be easily reached.

When washing, the person bends over, and therefore there should be enough space in front of the sink for this - at least 55 cm. The bowl of the washbasin should be above the floor at a height of 80-110 cm.

The toilet should stand in such a way that there is at least 35-45 cm to the right and left of it, and 50 cm of free space in front. The toilet paper holder must be mounted 20-30 cm in front of the edge of the toilet, so that it is convenient to reach it with an outstretched hand. The height of the holder from the floor is 60-70 cm.
An ergonomic fixed shower enclosure should not be less than 75 x 75 cm for people of average build. Ideally, the shower stall should be at least 90 x 90 cm.

Ergonomics should not be forgotten in interior design. Ergonomics is a science that comprehensively studies human activity in the "person - object - environment" system in order to optimize work, life and rest. Any kind of household activity - cooking and eating, washing, dressing, etc. - requires a sufficient and correct organization of the space. Adequate space allows work to be done without undue effort, accurately, reliably and safely. These activities include the basic types of posture and movement of a person - standing, sitting, walking, squatting, lying down. The space options for different situations are shown below.

Space parameters for cooking, washing.

Space parameters in the bathroom and toilet.

Space parameters when moving at the table and at the counter

Space parameters for movement in the workplace.

7.2. Spatial relationship

The ratio of the number of rooms and residents allows you to place, in one way or another, the required number of sleeping places in the living quarters of the apartment. The placement of sleeping places in the premises, as an indicator of the use of premises, characterizes the level of comfort of the apartment, its quality.

The area of the common room (living room) in a one-room apartment must be at least 14 sq. m, in apartments with 2 or more rooms - at least 16 sq. m. In comfortable apartments, the common room has an area of 24-30 square meters. m.

The living room area must be at least 8 sq. m, for two people they accept 10 - 12 sq. m, for a married couple (master bedroom) - 13 - 15 sq. m, which allows you to place a baby bed. In more comfortable apartments, a room for 1-2 people is taken with an area of 12-14 sq. m, the bedroom of the spouses - 16 - 18 sq. m. Excessive increase in the area of the bedroom violates its scale and makes it uncomfortable. The area of the bedroom living room in the attic floor of two or more room apartments is allowed at least 7 sq. m, provided that the common room has an area of at least 16 sq. m.

The kitchen area must be at least 8 sq. m. In small one-room and small two-room apartments in city houses, it is allowed to design kitchens or kitchens-niches of at least 5 square meters. m. Kitchen niches have an even smaller area, provided they are equipped with an electric stove and artificial exhaust ventilation.

The shower area is taken equal to 1.7-2.25 sq. m, combined bathroom - 3.3-3.85 sq. m, a separate bathroom (toilet and bathroom) - within the range from 3 to 6 sq. m and more, restroom - 0.96-1.8 sq. m, bathroom - 2.6-3.3 sq. m. The minimum width of the washroom is 0.8 m and the depth is 1.2 m.

The area of the office can be different - from 10 sq. m in a comfortable dwelling up to 30-40 sq. m or more in a high-quality home.

Evaluation of the comfort of the layout of an apartment (or individual rooms) is carried out according to a set of indicators - hygienic, functional, psychological, aesthetic, etc. But the main criterion for comfort and the basis for a good solution of all indicators of an apartment as a whole is functional requirements.

As a result of the study of life processes, their nomenclature was developed. It was found that in a modern average apartment 40 household processes are carried out, which are necessary, widespread and characteristic of various families, regardless of lifestyle. For their implementation, 20 spatial elements are required - functional zones of everyday processes.

The functional zone of the everyday process is the space in which the process of life (or a group of related processes) is carried out, which has conditional boundaries. The dimensions of the functional area are set based on anthropometric and ergonomic requirements. The functional area of the household process consists of three parts: a production area where the equipment (furniture) of the process is placed, a working area intended for human use of the necessary equipment, and a reserve area that serves to move a person when performing a household process. The estimated composition of the functional zone of the apartment is established in accordance with the size of the family and the level of housing provision.

Functional zones are combined into groups of household processes according to their purpose and spatial conditions for their implementation. The following groups of everyday processes are used to ensure rest: sleep, passive rest, personal hygiene, physical education, communication with nature, consumption of culture and communication; for the implementation of everyday life, groups of household processes are used: raising children, preparing and eating food, economic activities and storing objects and things; for the organization of labor, the following groups of functional zones are necessary: professional labor, study and self-education, amateur activities. The minimum dimensions between the outermost objects of adjacent zones should be 30 cm for rooms that are used by 1-3 people, and 50 cm for rooms designed for 4 or more people.

Groups of household processes are combined into groups of zones according to the nature of use and isolation requirements. There are several groups of functional areas in the apartment:

Personal zones for individual use;

Family-wide zones for individual use;

Family-wide common areas;

Family-wide areas of group use;

Family service areas;

Family-wide areas for long-term storage of objects and things. Groups of zones most often form the premises of an apartment. The room is the main element of the spatial organization of the apartment, which includes functional zones of everyday processes and communication areas.

There are two main groups of premises for the purpose of the apartment: residential and utility rooms. The living quarters include a living room, a dining room, an office, a library, a nursery, a bedroom, a hall, etc. Utility rooms include: premises - balcony, loggia, veranda and terrace.

The planning parameters of each room (area, proportions, configuration, dimensions) are set depending on the number of functional zones. The number of premises in an apartment depends on the level of housing provision and the degree of differentiation of zones.

The common living room is the main and largest room in an apartment for multifunctional and universal purposes, serves family-wide activities and is primarily intended for active forms of recreation (communication, amateur and professional activities of adults and children, receiving guests, leisure and information activities). Therefore, the collective image of the function of a common room in a social dwelling can be characterized as the acceptance of spiritual food.

So, the common room is a place for receiving guests and family communication, provides space for all family members to live together or family contacts: internal and external. Thus, it serves as a living room, dining room, family room and study room (study), which are arranged in a comfortable home.

For its intended purpose, the common living room requires a central position in the apartment.

Functional areas of the common room:

Eating (canteen);

Storage of leisure items;

Amateur and / or professional activities (occupations);

Communication;

Quiet rest;

Watching TV.

The food zone is located near the kitchen, not far from the entrance to the room or from the dispensing window; functional areas of communication and quiet relaxation are spatially combined (the same furniture), but are used consistently; areas for watching TV and listening to music are designed based on the minimum and most convenient distances between the apparatus and the viewer (listener) (250-300 cm) away from the aisles.

Personal living rooms (bedrooms) are intended for the implementation of passive forms of recreation for adult family members and children. Bedrooms are designed for 1-2 people and a married couple. The main value of a personal living space is privacy, individualization of the use of living space.

The relationship of a person with the objective world is not limited only to simple admiration for the aesthetic merits of objects. It is important that the objects around us are not only beautiful and pleasant-looking aesthetically, but also convenient, comfortable to use, corresponding to its physiological and anatomical characteristics. Therefore, the field of design today is closely intertwined with ergonomics - a complex applied science that considers a person in the given conditions of his activity and everyday life.

Ergonomics is aimed at ensuring that in relations with the surrounding objects, mimes maintain good health, reduce our fatigue, increase our mood, and improve the efficiency of work or rest. Today ergonomics has become one of the most important components of industrial, product and interior design.

Ergonomics concept, purpose and origins

Ergonomics literally translated from Greek means "the law of work" ("ergon" is work, and "nomos" is the law). This concept is understood as a whole area of knowledge that explores human activity in a kind of system "man - equipment (technology) - environment" to achieve greater efficiency of labor. Here specialists in ergonomics study such issues as the movements of the human body during work, the determination of energy costs and productivity in various conditions.

In a broader sense, ergonomics means a scientific direction that studies a variety of objects that are in close contact with a person in his daily life, that is, both in the workplace and in everyday life. It is based on the scientific results of many disciplines and areas, including physiology, psychology, biomechanics, anthropometry, medicine, occupational health and sociology.

The very concept of "ergonomics" appeared only in 1949 in Great Britain. In America, this area of knowledge was originally called "Research of Human Factors", and in Germany - "Anthropotechnics". But in reality, ergonomics, like design, existed long before the 20th century.

Even in primitive times, issues of convenience and ergonomics played an important role for humans. Primitive people tried to select a suitable stone for the shape of their hand, processed it and attached a handle to it for greater convenience and safety in use. Then this tool was used for food, hunting or protection. Already in ancient times, man tried to measure the objects he created with his physiological capabilities in order to make them not only aesthetically pleasing, but also as comfortable as possible. Archaeological excavations today provide us with the opportunity to admire how thoughtful the tools of labor created by primitive people were.

However, the real impetus to the development of ergonomics was given precisely at the beginning of the 20th century, when problems arose associated with the introduction of new technology and technological solutions into production. Scientific and technological progress provoked an increase in industrial injuries, a deterioration in the mood of workers and other problems that ensured a high turnover of personnel. Workers had to adapt to production technology and workspace, which often did not guarantee their safety and high production efficiency. Therefore, the issues of ergonomics began to come to the fore.

Ergonomics takes into account the convenience of working with the device

Ergonomics specialists began to design the entire process of working activities in such a way that the performance of production tasks was as safe and convenient for a person as possible. Thanks to the introduction of an ergonomic approach, industrial equipment of a new type began to be designed with warning signals (warning lamps and sirens), convenient sizes of buttons, knobs and levers.

Ergonomics is based on the fact that a person should easily find, quickly distinguish various objects (equipment) from each other and work comfortably with them. In the 60s of the last century, ergonomics was already formed as a scientific area of knowledge - during these years, societies and associations specializing in ergonomics began to appear in various countries of the world.

By the beginning of the XXI century, three main directions within this discipline were identified:

Ergonomics, which deals with the problems of human relationships with the physical environment. In this area, questions are studied concerning the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of a person, which are directly related to his daily life or physical labor.
Cognitive ergonomics. This area is associated with the psychology of perception, in particular, how visual or other perception affects decision-making, the relationship between a person and other objects of the environment.
The direction of ergonomics, which studies the relationship of a person, groups of people with technology to ensure the best working conditions. Such organizational ergonomics also addresses the issues of ensuring connections between individuals, their joint cooperation and management.

The main task of ergonomics as a scientific discipline was the development of a suitable shape for objects that would be truly comfortable and safe for humans to use. Ergonomics is designed to increase the labor efficiency of a person by improving working conditions.

Gradually, the field of application of ergonomics has moved from work to our everyday life. Today, ergonomics are closely intertwined with design in many areas. The main task of this scientific discipline was the development of a suitable form of objects that would be truly convenient and safe for humans to use. Ergonomics is designed to increase the labor efficiency of a person by improving working conditions. Ergonomic issues are also taken into account by designers when designing household items and when decorating interiors.

Ergonomic design issues

Wherever a person is, at work or at home, he always wants to use products that are convenient and safe. Both design and ergonomics influence the enjoyment of an item, so it’s not surprising that these two distinct areas flow seamlessly into each other. In various industries, professional designers are currently collaborating with specialists in ergonomics, who provide various data on the physiological and biomechanical characteristics of a person, and participate in the development and testing of products.

Based on psychological, hygienic and other standards, appropriate requirements for new items or equipment are being developed so that they, ultimately, turn out to be convenient and comfortable to use. For example, a toothbrush that is curved to reach the back of the teeth, a digital SLR camera that is comfortable to hold, or production equipment that provides a high level of safety. Comfort, excellent functionality and attractive appearance - all these requirements for the created objects can be provided only by a competent combination of ergonomics and design.

In particular, when designing a conventional chair, designers consider the question of how high from the seat the curved back should be placed so that the person's back can comfortably rest on it. To answer this important question, experts turn to ergonomics, in which there has long been such a thing as Akerblom's Line. This is an average value that determines where our spine has a corresponding inward bend in the lumbar region (about 23 cm). Support for the spine must be provided precisely at this distance from the seat of the chair.

It should be noted that in ergonomics, special flat mannequins are often used, which reproduce the proportions of the human body. Based on this data, designers subsequently design a new product, or design a workspace that would suit most people in terms of ergonomic parameters. Plus, of course, computer analysis and various modern software capabilities are used, as well as fairly simple tools such as quizzes or leaflets, through which data is collected on what is somehow related to various factors in a person's daily or work activities, including the level comfort and safety.

The use of ergonomic principles in design has become widespread in the development of furniture, in the design of interiors of residential, office and industrial premises. Ergonomics addresses all issues related to the components of a workspace or living area, from a conventional computer mouse to a suitable temperature regime. In a room designed according to the laws of ergonomics, a person acts almost intuitively - he can easily find a switch on the wall, the color scheme of the interiors and lighting create the right mood, inspiring or, conversely, soothing.

For example, when developing furniture design and creating space for a recreation area, designers start from the anthropometry of a person who sits in a relaxed, calm position. The level of the seat tilt is also taken into account in order to ensure the convenience of getting up from a chair or chair. Corner sofas are often installed in various recreation areas, and ergonomic rules require the designer to arrange furniture in such a way that a person sitting on such a sofa can freely position his legs and at the same time not interfere with the people around him.

In living quarters associated with sleep, in particular in the bedroom, furniture is selected and placed based on the size of the sleeping, lying person. Here, ergonomic factors prohibit the placement of the sofa with its extended side along the outer wall of the room or the head of the sofa in a somewhat crowded space.

Particular attention is paid to the issues of ergonomics in the organization and design of space for work. Interior designers have to build on the anatomical features of the person sitting at his desk. For example, when designing an area at a working computer, ergonomics focuses primarily on the length of a person's lower leg, since it is this that indicates the optimal height of his chair or chair. Ergonomics of the working area also provides that the height, area and inclination of the desktop are determined by the type of work performed by the employee.

All items necessary for work, according to the rules of ergonomics, are placed at an accessible distance from the table so that a person can freely use them without resorting to unnecessary efforts. Ergonomics also requires the designer to pay special attention to lighting arrangement. Lighting should not be intense and too bright, so as not to dazzle or unnecessarily irritate human eyes. It should contribute to comfortable work and a positive mood of the person.

So, ergonomics currently plays a significant role in industrial and product design, in the creation of household products and the design of office equipment, as well as in interior design and room planning. This is a complex discipline that, to one degree or another, influences all issues related to the field of activity of a professional designer.

In the traditional sense, ergonomics is a science that takes care of the adaptation of the space and objects around a person for safe and effective use based on the mental and physical condition of a person.

The foundation for ergonomics consists of many sciences, ranging from anatomy to psychology. And its main task is to find the optimal shapes and sizes and the correct arrangement of objects for the safest and most efficient life.

Ergonomics are important for the design of any interior, from the work area to the sleeping area.

And every self-respecting designer and architect should know all the laws of ergonomics and apply them in design projects.

Many people think that the area of study of ergonomics is only furniture, but this is not the case. Ergonomics studies all the components of the workplace and recreation area, from the computer mouse to the temperature regime, and tries to establish the optimal parameters for a person for each of these components.

That is why one of the important components of the design project of your premises should be a scaled plan for arranging furniture, taking into account all the laws of ergonomics. After all, it is very important that a skillfully made design, with ideal color and texture combinations, is fully suitable for a comfortable and healthy existence.

Wherever a person is, at work or at home, he always wants to use products that are distinguished by convenience and safety. Both design and ergonomics influence the enjoyment of an item, so it's no surprise that these two distinct areas flow seamlessly into each other. In various industries, at the moment, professional designers collaborate with specialists in ergonomics, who provide various data on the physiological and biomechanical characteristics of a person, participate in the development and testing of products L.A. Chernyavina. Basics of ergonomics in the design of the environment: a tutorial / L.A. Chernyavin. - Vladivostok: Publishing house of VSUES, 2009 .-- 262 p. 167 ..

Based on psychological, hygienic and other standards, appropriate requirements are developed for new objects or technology so that they ultimately turn out to be convenient and comfortable to use, for example, a toothbrush curved in such a way that its brush reaches the back surface of the teeth, mirror a camera that is comfortable to hold in your hand, or production equipment that provides a high level of security. Comfort, excellent functionality and attractive appearance - all these requirements for the created objects can be provided only by a competent combination of ergonomics and design.

One of the basic concepts used by ergonomics is the anatomical features of a person. Anatomical factors are widely used in design. The task of the designer is to ensure the adaptation of the created products to a specific person, so that the latter is convenient and comfortable to use them. In particular, when designing a conventional chair, designers consider the question of how high from the seat the curved back should be placed so that the person's back can comfortably rest on it. To answer this not unimportant question, experts turn to ergonomics, which has long existed such a concept as the Akerblom Line. This is an average value that determines where our spine has a corresponding inward bend in the lumbar region (about 23 cm.). Support for the spine must be provided precisely at this distance from the seat of the chair.

It should be noted that in ergonomics, special, flat mannequins are often used, which reproduce the proportions of the human body. Based on this data, designers subsequently design new products, or design a workspace that would suit most people in terms of ergonomic parameters. Plus, of course, computer analysis and various modern software capabilities are applied, as well as fairly simple tools, such as quizzes or leaflets, through which data is collected about what, in one way or another, is associated with various factors in a person's daily or work activities. including the level of comfort and safety.

The use of ergonomic design principles has become widespread in the development of furniture, in the design of the interiors of residential, office and industrial premises. Ergonomics considers all issues related to the components of the workspace or living area, from a regular computer mouse to a suitable temperature regime in a room, designed according to the laws of ergonomics, a person acts almost intuitively - he can easily find a switch on the wall, a color scheme for interiors and consecration creates the necessary mood, inspiring or, on the contrary, soothing Runge V.F., Manusevich Yu.P. Ergonomics in the design of the environment / V.F. Runge, Yu.P. Manusevich. - Architecture-S, 2007.-328 p. 164 ..

For example, when developing furniture design and creating space for a recreation area, designers start from the anthropometry of a person who sits in a relaxed, calm position. The level of the seat tilt is also taken into account in order to ensure the convenience of getting up from a chair or chair. In various recreation areas, corner sofas are often installed, and the ergonomic rules require the designer to arrange furniture in such a way that a person sitting on such a sofa can freely position his legs and at the same time not interfere with the people around him.

In living quarters associated with sleep, in particular in bedrooms, furniture is assembled and placed based on the size of the sleeping, lying person. Here, ergonomic factors prohibit the placement of the sofa with its extended side along the outer wall of the room or the head of the sofa in a somewhat crowded space.

Particular attention is paid to the issue of ergonomics in the organization and design of space for work. Interior designers have to build on the anatomical features of the person sitting at his desk. For example, when designing and areas at the working computer, ergonomics focuses primarily on the length of a person's lower leg, since it is this that indicates the optimal height of his chair or chair. Ergonomics of the working area also provides that the height, area and inclination of the desktop is determined by the type of work performed by the employee.

All items necessary for labor activity, according to the rules of ergonomics, are placed at an accessible distance from the table so that a person can use them without resorting to unnecessary efforts Munitsikov V.M. Ergonomics: Textbook / V.M. Munitsikov. - M .: Logos, 2004. - 320 p. 240 .. Ergonomics also requires the designer's increased attention to the organization of the consecration. Consecration should not be intense and too vivid, so as not to dazzle or unnecessarily strain a person's eyes. It should contribute to comfortable work and a positive mood of the person.

Why is it important to find its place for each thing in an apartment, what is a working triangle and .... About this and other important components of an ergonomic apartment - in our article.

This article is for people over 18 years of age.

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The organization of space in an apartment is not only a matter of taste. Of course, each of us chooses the filling for his home, based on his own preferences: one loves only ultra-modern models, the other - the retro style; someone is chasing high-tech novelties, while someone chooses simple proven brands; someone wants to make an apartment like from the cover of a design magazine, but for someone there is nothing nicer than napkins knitted by a grandmother on the TV. We are united, perhaps, in one desire: our living space should be comfortable, aesthetic and safe. In other words, perfect. Ergonomics helps to make it so.

What is ergonomics

Ergonomics is a science that studies the interaction of a person and other elements of a system to ensure a prosperous existence. The organization of a comfortable space is only one of the sides of her interests. The fundamentals of ergonomics are composed of five principles:

efficiency;
comfort;
security;
availability and ease of use;
aesthetics.

Ergonomics uses a lot of knowledge about a person, his anatomy and psychology to create a harmonious, comfortable for life and safe home, in which every detail is thought out and at the same time satisfies the aesthetic feelings of the owner. Ergonomics in design, for example, is reflected in the now popular style in Europe "functional minimalism", which involves the use of only the most necessary pieces of furniture and other interior components in the room.

Let's talk about how to effectively apply this science when arranging your apartment.

No matter what they say, the kitchen is a real place of power in the house, a place where the whole family gathers together, where guests are brought. Alas, in typical Russian apartments, the kitchen sometimes occupies no more than five square meters, and in the studio apartments popular in recent years, it is completely combined with the living area. It would seem that there is no time for ergonomics - to accommodate all the necessary furniture. However, zoning the room space correctly and rationalizing the placement of equipment in the room where you cook and eat can save up to 30% of your time and cut the distance traveled in half.

For the kitchen, the concept of a working triangle is relevant. Its first corner points to the stove (cooking area), the second to the sink (washing area), and the third to the refrigerator (storage area). Based on this principle, furniture in the kitchen can be placed in different ways. For example, if the kitchen is narrow or absent altogether (as in studio apartments), the zones can be arranged linearly - in one row with the sink in the center, in a small kitchen an angular arrangement (in the form of the letter L) will be appropriate, and for large spaces you can use a parallel arrangement.

Things to consider:

the distance between the zones should not be less than 1.2 meters and not more than 2.7 meters;
the total distance should be 4-8 meters;
the width of the passages must be at least 60 centimeters;
suspension elements should be placed at a level of 1.5 meters from the floor;
for a person to be comfortable at the table, he needs about 60 square centimeters of space.

A home office is not necessarily a separate office; it is quite possible to get by with the allocation of a certain isolated area in the room where the desktop will stand. Ergonomics of the workplace assumes that human health and comfort will come first when creating an environment. Therefore, for the space where you will be doing work, choose a quiet and bright area.

It is important to comply with the following conditions for organizing the workplace:

choose a comfortable chair: the width and depth of the seat is about 40 centimeters, the legs should be free to rest on the floor so that the foot forms an angle of 90 degrees with the calf;
a good table should be 74 centimeters high, and the area of the tabletop should not be less than 1.2 meters;
items that you often use should be in the arm coverage area (35-40 centimeters);
lighting must be chosen so that the body does not cast a shadow on the work surface;
appliances and shelves must be within reach.

Features of bathroom ergonomics

Let's talk about the bathroom. In typical apartments, very little space is allocated for it; often it is connected to a toilet. What is important to consider when zoning a bathroom:

there should be at least 55 centimeters of space in front of the sink so that you can bend freely;
the optimal height of the washbasin is 80-110 centimeters;
ideally, there should be at least 75 centimeters of free space between each plumbing item and the walls;
the shower stall must be at least 30 centimeters from the sink;
the toilet paper holder should be no more than 30 centimeters from the toilet.

Hallway ergonomics

Another building block of the apartment is the entrance hall. It connects all the rooms or areas in the house with each other. Taking into account its dimensions, it is important to carefully approach its layout. What do we take into account:

the side of opening the interior doors: if they open into the room, a passage of 90-100 centimeters will be enough in the hallway, but if they open into the corridor, feel free to leave 1.4 meters of room for maneuver;
do not place tall cabinets in a narrow hallway - stop choosing shelves and dressers;
the minimum distance between the wall and the cabinet is 95-100 centimeters;
when placing furniture with drawers, leave at least 75 centimeters of space in stock;
the housekeeper should be 50-100 centimeters from the door to the apartment.

5 mistakes when organizing space in the house

As you can see from this article, the ergonomics of the place requires a deliberate approach. Alas, no one is immune from oversights. Pay attention to five, in our opinion, the most common mistakes when organizing space in a home.

1. Substitution of the main

The thought of re-equipping the surrounding space to suit their needs makes some people want to go to the store for all kinds of boxes, shelves, hangers, hooks, and so on. After such shopping, all noble impulses, as a rule, come to an end. We discover a hole in our budget, and in the apartment there are many new things with incomprehensible functionality that we do not use.

This approach is fundamentally wrong! You need to start organizing the space with a plan. Think about what you want to achieve from the renovated premises, look for design options on the Internet and in magazines, draw a plan, conduct an audit of existing things. There may be enough resources available to implement your ideas. But if not, go to the store for anything last. Be sure to write a clear shopping list before going there.

2. Passion for "origami"

This, of course, is not at all about the traditional Japanese art of making paper sculptures. When we start organizing our surroundings, we become overly addicted to folding and folding things. Immediately after putting things in order, the shelf or drawer looks beautiful, but keep in mind that, for example, you will take out clothes from the closet every day and are unlikely to always, especially after a long day at work, be ready to put everything back in place as neatly as possible. Think about how to make taking and returning things to their usual place as convenient and fast as possible.

3. Five-year plan in three years

Leave this Soviet slogan of history behind. The ergonomics of space requires a thorough approach. Divide your home into zones and calculate how much time you can spend on cleaning per day or per week. Do not try to remake the entire architecture of the apartment for yourself in one day - this is irrational.

4. Everything is confused in the house

The organization of the workplace, and the organization of the space in general, is not least the search for the optimal location for each thing. It should be located where you need it most and where it will not be difficult to find it when you need it most. Fix such places for things and do not store things of different categories in one place.

5. Points of no return

It is not for nothing that we pay so much attention in this text to the need to find our place for each thing. A convenient location will help you always return the used item to where it is stored. If you don't, sooner or later, the mess will return to your apartment.