Have you acquired a new home or want to breathe life into your usual interior? Sometimes even the smallest change can produce an impressive result. This could be a mirror in an original frame, a new lamp or an unusual flower.
Or maybe you want to visually enlarge the space, add light and warm colors to it? We will tell you about simple design tricks that will allow you to bring comfort and bright colors to your interior, refresh it, without requiring much expense, effort and time.
These simple interior design tips will show you how to create a comfortable and cozy space.
Tip #1: proper organization and functionality of space
First of all, you need to understand for what purposes the interior will be intended. The interior should be as comfortable and convenient as possible for performing everyday tasks. Self-renovation of an apartment, first of all, carries a large number of mistakes. People forget that the premises necessarily require additional utility and auxiliary premises: dressing room, laundry room, guest bedroom, etc.
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In the photo: Living room interior in a modern style apartment
Floors
The flooring influences the perception of the interior as actively as the wall decor. For a small room, it is also better to choose a light flooring: laminate or parquet made of maple, birch, light oak, etc. For wet areas, use light tiles or glossy porcelain tiles.
In one-room apartments or studio apartments, it is better to make the same floor covering without joints, smoothly transitioning from one zone to another.
Light parquet with elongated strips is the most suitable solution for a small apartment, Tarkett
Advice: in small rooms it is better to choose narrow and relatively long parquet blocks and place them longitudinally.
Tip #2: choose the right electrics
Today, technologies are being introduced into many areas, including the interior of an apartment. When designing an interior, it is necessary to consider the location of sockets and switches. To save energy, you can use special devices - dimmers. Thanks to this device, the brightness of the lighting is adjusted. You can also equip the interior with special lamps that are equipped with motion sensors; when a person enters the premises, the lighting automatically turns on and turns off when leaving.
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In the photo: Kitchen interior after renovation in a classic-style apartment
Tip #3: Place the TV correctly
TV is an integral element in a modern interior. Today they are compact devices that can be placed in any part of the room. Now many designers are building televisions into special niches in cabinets and decorating them with some interior elements, for example, a mirror. If the room is small, so as not to clutter it with various objects, you can hang the TV panel on the wall.
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In the photo: Living room interior after renovation in an apartment in the style of bourgeois minimalism
Coordination of the design project with technical services
Ideally, a design project should take into account the features and technical characteristics of the house. There are building codes and regulations that must be taken into account when remodeling. For example, you should not touch load-bearing walls. All possible changes in the layout of the apartment must be coordinated with the BTI.
A well-drafted design project will necessarily take into account technical standards, and therefore problems with registering changes should not arise. If the designer’s idea violates building regulations, then it will not be possible to implement it.
Tip #4: use mirrors in interior design
Using mirrors in the interior is a good way to visually expand the room. The most advantageous option for using mirrors is in small rooms. They will also add some natural light to the apartment. At the same time, mirror panels help to hide various shortcomings and flaws made during construction and design. In some interiors it would be appropriate to create an imitation of windows using mirrors.
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In the photo: Living room interior after renovation in a classic-style apartment
Wicker baskets
These functional pieces are an economical and elegant way to add additional storage to any room. You can put a variety of things and objects in baskets: books, magazines, children's toys, towels, blankets and much more.
Place a couple of small wicker baskets on the kitchen counter. They will not only decorate the interior of the room, but also create convenient places to store fruits and vegetables.
Tip #5: choose the right textiles
High-quality textiles in the apartment will create the overall impression of the interior. It is necessary to pay close attention to the shape and design of curtains or tulle. Curtains should be combined with other interior elements. The right choice of curtains allows you to create an extraordinary design that will attract a lot of attention. Cool shades of textiles will create some freshness in the room, while warm shades, on the contrary, will make the room more spacious and wider. The pattern of the curtains is also of primary importance; wide horizontal stripes expand the space, while vertical stripes visually raise the ceilings.
If the room is small, you should not choose bulky curtains and tulles with different finishes. This will overload the space; it is better to give preference to plain and light textiles. If you plan to use carpet in the interior, then it is best to use small-sized coverings. Don’t forget about blankets and pillows, this will make the room more comfortable.
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In the photo: Bedroom interior after renovation in an Art Deco style apartment
Proportions
Harmony of proportions in a room is something that many of us often don’t think about, and something that professional designers always take into account in their work. The ratio of the height and area of the room, partitions, openings and other elements is of paramount importance when it comes to the visual perception of space. This must be taken into account if, for example, you are planning to remodel a small apartment.
So, with a small ceiling height of about 2.5 m, a large free space (over 40 m2) will visually lower the ceilings even more, turning a spacious room into a cramped and oppressive space. Thus, with low ceilings, it is undesirable to demolish all the partitions to create a studio space; a loft will still not work.
Tip #6: planning a storage room
Storage systems are an integral part of a modern apartment. First of all, when planning, you need to think about how many people will use the wardrobe. Modern apartments are not built so spacious, so it is worth dividing the dressing room into several parts so that everyone has their own separate place and things do not lie in a heap. Also, when planning a wardrobe, it is necessary to foresee in advance what specific items will be placed in the wardrobe and, based on this data, the dimensions of shelves, hangers, niches, etc. are designed.
If it is not possible to organize a dressing room, then a spacious closet will be perfect for a storage system. When choosing a cabinet, you should pay attention to its interior decoration; a large number of shelves and drawers will be a definite plus; the presence of mirrors and built-in spotlights is a must.
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In the photo: Interior of a dressing room after renovation in a classic-style apartment
Tip #7: use light wisely
Light is an integral element of the interior. With its help you can create an interesting atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to use different chandeliers; thanks to them you can highlight some objects.
What solutions should and should not be used:
- bright light. It has a negative impact on the psycho-emotional state of the apartment owner. It's best to avoid a lot of red, orange and yellow colors;
- use blue and green shades, as well as white light. These colors are not only trendy solutions in modern interiors, but also have a beneficial effect on humans.
- for the work area, it is better to use diffused white light, without using bright colors;
- in the sleeping area, you can use ARBs that are placed above the back wall of the bed or sofa;
- chandeliers should be chosen based on whether they suit the interior and the ease of their use. If the budget for apartment renovation is small, then you can buy original textile chandeliers; they require little maintenance and are not that expensive.
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In the photo: Kitchen interior after renovation in a modern style apartment
Let's mix! Combine patterns and textures, old and new, expensive and not cheap
There's no harm in putting your grandfather's old chair at the same table as your new Ikea chair. Feel free to combine your family history and your own present. Any designer will confirm that the main task is to ensure that the interior reflects the personality of the owner. Don't be afraid to mix vintage furniture and the inventions of modern designers, this can be a very successful combination.
Modern decorative elements against the backdrop of vintage furniture will help you place accents
In the same way, you can decorate the walls with impressionist paintings and hang a pop art work or a framed poster of your favorite movie nearby.
Paintings, banners and posters on the wall are a bright touch that creates the atmosphere you need
You will bring coziness and warmth to your space by combining different patterns and textures. These could be bright pillows, rugs or furniture upholstery.
Bright decor of upholstered furniture using pillows
Experiment not only with textures, but also with patterns
If you still prefer an interior designed in one color scheme, a combination of fabric textures is simply necessary.
You can make an interior in pastel colors amazingly beautiful just by changing the textures
Tip #8: Color Palette
Interior design should combine different color schemes. Thanks to the use of color solutions, you can achieve an original atmosphere:
- For the bedroom you should not choose a bright color palette; it is better to choose pastel shades of beige, blue, green. You can also use white, but you should not choose it as the main color. It is better to choose a beige or light pink color as the basis for the bedroom. Such shades will help compensate for fatigue;
- The living room is best decorated in warm colors. Brown colors can create homeliness and a friendly atmosphere. The most popular solution is to decorate the living room in coffee and milky shades;
- in the dining room it is best to use green and other light colors;
- For the work area, choose calm shades using small bright details. Coffee and peach tones will help create a working atmosphere that will not tire a person and will concentrate attention on work activity;
- For the nursery, you should not use bright colors, as for the bedroom, use pastel shades.
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In the photo: Bedroom interior after renovation in a classic-style apartment
Add plants
Is your home lacking live plants? Add them to every room, no matter how small or large. Plants are an inexpensive way to decorate spaces, adding freshness and color.
They not only perform an aesthetic function, but are also able to purify the air and balance humidity. Plants absorb pollutants and remove harmful gases. There is probably no home where living greenery would not be an interior decor item!
Tip No. 9: selecting furniture
Furniture should be in harmony with all interior details. Initially, you should decide what items are needed in the apartment. You should not fill the entire space of the room with furniture, otherwise this will cause the room to look cluttered. The designer’s main advice in this case would be to leave stereotypes. Choose furniture that will combine several functions, for example, the currently popular solution is a table-bed. Such a solution will relieve the space in a small room. And in conclusion of this point, it is worth pointing out that it is best to choose furniture that is practical and easy to use.
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In the photo: Living room interior after renovation in a modern style apartment
Closer to nature
Place plants on racks and shelves; if you have a balcony, then many of your “green friends” will like it there too.
It's safe to say that nothing adds so much coziness and freshness to a space like flowers. There can never be too many plants! They can be on the floor, on tables, on windowsills and even hanging from walls or ceilings. This is one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to not only decorate your home, but also take care of its environmental friendliness. In addition, flower pots can become another part of the decor, here you can give free rein to your imagination.
Nowadays there are a lot of amazingly beautiful flower pots and vases, you are sure to find something you like.
Various decorative pots will help complement the image and mood of the room.
