We often see gorgeous homes and interiors in the movies or in glossy magazines and admire the design that went into these architectural masterpieces. Thanks to the mass media, we have a general idea of what the dwellings of people in different corners of the world look like. But rarely do we realize that what we see on the screen can differ greatly from the reality.
We here at Bright Side have done a little research and found out how people in different countries equip their dwellings.
Japan
Tokyo is one of the most expensive and densely populated cities in the world. That is why only wealthy people can afford to have spacious dwellings, while the vast majority of Japanese people live in tiny apartments.
The only room in the apartment is used as a bedroom, living room, and dining room. In the corner, you can see a refrigerator, and the only way to get to the balcony is to climb over the bed. However, the room is bright and well-lit, and this visually expands the living space.
In the hallway, behind the yellow door there is a closet, bathroom, and even a mini kitchen that has everything you need.
Spain
Most Spaniards prefer to live in apartment blocks. Here is what the typical residential area in any Spanish city looks like.
Most Spanish apartments involve white walls, stone floors, and windows with shutters. These interior elements help people to survive the hot summer months. However, since it is not common for a Spanish home to be equipped with central heating, the apartment can get very cold in winter. Many people use electric heaters as a way to keep their dwelling warm. But taking into account the fact that Spain’s electricity bills are among the highest in Europe, this method of heating is not very efficient.
Meals are usually served in the living room. Although Spanish apartments tend to have big kitchens, they are used exclusively for cooking.
Sweden
A typical residential area in Sweden looks like this.
One distinctive feature of the Swedish way of life is smart usage of basement areas. People often use it to store their bikes, to create a laundry room, or sometimes they even transform it into a gym.
Each apartment also has a storage locker in a special room in the basement. The apartment dwellers use them to store summer tires, skis, suitcases, and other seasonal or less important things. The balconies are used as a rest area.
The white walls and white furniture are a typical sign of the world-famous Scandinavian design. Most Swedish interiors have bright accents and large drape-free windows.
Great Britain
Most English people try to avoid living in blocks of flats. They prefer to live on the outskirts of the city in houses like these.
Given that central heating isn’t installed in all buildings, British people try to do their best to prevent interior heat from escaping. Carpet in every room, draft stoppers, blankets and, of course, a fireplace are the necessary elements of most houses in Great Britain. And possibly the most unusual thing — the faucets on sinks in the UK usually have separate hot and cold controls.
Fighting with the cold, the English make their dwellings feel super cozy and chic.
South Korea
More than 80% of the Korean population lives in high-rise apartment buildings. One distinctive feature of Korean apartment blocks is the huge building number that is visible from afar.
It may seem strange, but apartments in Korea have no hallways. Even the very word ’hallway’ may sound unfamiliar to the local people. The entrance of the apartment is usually very small (about a meter wide). So, on entering the apartment you will immediately see the doors that lead to the kitchen or living room. Most entranceways tend to have tile flooring, and this is where you should take off your shoes before you walk into a home.
The apartments in Korea are usually small. However, the rooms are very bright thanks to large windows. One thing that may seem unusual to most people is the absence of a bathtub or a separate shower. They are replaced by a simple drain on the bathroom floor.
Australia
Australians are notoriously fond of living in their own houses, but a growing number of residents (about 30% of the population) choose to live in apartment blocks.
Most Australians live in big houses with three bedrooms. The average home size in this country is about 80 — 120 square meters. Apart from bedrooms, the typical house features a living room, kitchen, bathroom, two toilet rooms and a garage. Some households also have a small laundry room and one more living room. All doors are usually made of glass.
India
If a family is relatively wealthy, they have a big house with many rooms. Such homes are usually two stories high with a big backyard.
The interior design of Indian buildings is a mixture of modern Western and Eastern styles. The lower floor is usually occupied by storerooms and barns, while a ceremonial room for receiving guests is on the second floor. The best room in the house is occupied by the family idol to whom people pray twice a day. The windows of female bedrooms overlook the backyard because it is considered improper for women to look out of the window.
Cuba
In Cuba, houses are mainly made of concrete and have 1 or 2 stories. Most homes here have no glass windows. Instead, people use wooden or metal shutters.
If you enter a house in Havana (especially in the downtown area of the capital city), you will be amazed at how beautiful the interior is. Built in the Colonial style, with high ceilings and antique furniture, these homes seem to be real masterpieces.
Learn more about Cuban way of life from this blog.
USA
The index of average floor space per person in the USA is among the highest in the world, which means that the typical American dwelling is really big. A house that is for sale has almost everything you need to live in it: carpet throughout all the rooms, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen appliances. The only thing that is lacking here is furniture.
The main rule here is that the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a house should be equal. In some homes, each bedroom also has a built-in or walk-in wardrobe.
The distinctive feature of the design concept of American homes lies in the fact that the interior should look both cozy and expensive. The layout of most houses is clearly designed to make visitors stay in the front area of the house (that usually looks the most beautiful) and to hide bedrooms from prying eyes.
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