When faced with repairs for the first time, a person does not know where to start: should he go to the store and buy materials at once, or look through magazines with pictures, think about where to store sports equipment, and choose curtains? We consider what you can do yourself, and what is better to trust professionals.
Concept
Any good interior starts with an idea. Stop and imagine how you would like to feel at home? If you are constantly working in the office and overloaded with information during the working day, choose minimalist shapes, calm colors, and hidden storage systems – such an interior will compensate for the load or at least not create additional.
A good idea would also be a classic interior – the embodiment of a fortress house, where you can always hide from the outside world.
Freelancers and people who work remotely, on the other hand, need constant inspiration: you should add bright colors, interesting elements to the interior, and, of course, think about the workplace.
Planning
This is more difficult, but you can handle it too. If you understand that you got a bad apartment from the beginning: few windows, a large area is in the shade, many sharp corners, dictated by architecture, too little space for your needs – this stage is better to trust the designer.
Planning an apartment is usually inexpensive compared to a full project, but you will definitely have enough storage space, there will be no extended like corridor-type rooms and no square meters will be lost.
What should you also pay attention to?
First, the furniture does not have to stand along the walls: try to place them in unusual combinations, arranging a soft area around the coffee table in the living room and leaving space on all sides.
Second, think of as many storage spaces as possible: nothing spoils the interior like chaos and clutter. If you still decide to make an open space, zone it with directional light, light mobile partitions or shelves, color, and material of the floor covering.
Visualization
It’s time to sort the found images and collect them into a complete picture. The simplest option is to find interiors that are very close to the geometry of the room to your rooms (it is unlikely to copy each other, but it is worth and even necessary to navigate and compare).
If there is no visual embodiment of the dream apartment, you will have to make a collage.
Color, light, and shape
Be careful with color. Bright, rich shades are cheerful, they allow you to create an interesting design without much expense – all the focus moves from materials and accessories to color – but it requires great skill in the work.
The same can be said about the organization of space and shape of furniture. Choose all items in the same style, the same era. Follow the rules of symmetry, try to arrange everything in pairs. It may seem boring, but by experimenting without experience, you risk being disappointed in the end.
As for lighting, the rule is simple: there should be many light sources. Forget about a lone central chandelier, place floor lamps, table lamps, hang sconces, and pendant lights over specific areas. Arrange small cozy islands of light. Work areas should be highlighted separately, for example, in the kitchen or your home office.
Repair process
The most difficult and responsible stage. Well, if by this time you already know exactly where the walls will be and how the plumbing with the kitchen will be located – so it will be easier for you to explain your wishes to the builders.
It is also important to decide on building materials in advance. While the builders start work, you can continue to choose wallpaper, but you need to know exactly, for example, that the wall will be with wallpaper, not paint: different materials involve different processes of preparation of the walls. The same applies to floor materials (parquet, tiles, etc.).
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