High-quality repairs please the homeowner usually for 10 or even 15 years.
Remembering the money and nerves spent, few people are eager to make changes to the interior ahead of time. However, even the most beloved design sooner or later becomes irrelevant or just gets bored.
Undoubtedly, each of us has our own "chips" on how to update the space: some change the upholstery of furniture and accent colors, others arrange an art gallery on the wall, others decide on cosmetic repairs with wall painting and tile replacement.
But, not everyone understands how radically the usual rearrangement of furniture can change the situation.
When there is not enough time, effort and money for repairs, it can be an excellent alternative for transforming an apartment. The main thing is to approach this issue consciously, having thought through all the details. Just one free weekend, a little physical effort, and most importantly, no significant expenses — and you will not recognize your home! Believe me, the new environment will give you the feeling of a completely different space.
Especially for those who have a desire to get things moving, we have collected practical tips on rearrangement.
Where to look for inspiration?
Sometimes great ideas about what and how to rearrange in an apartment come by themselves — it remains only to implement them. But usually you just want to change, without specifics. Well, it is necessary to search for sources of inspiration.
Oddly enough, general cleaning helps best in solving the problem. While you are moving cabinets and sofas to clean the floor properly, you will probably be visited by some amazing guesses. At the same time, there may be a desire to throw away something that has been boring for a long time. Do not interfere with the update process.
We 're breaking up
Clutter is the first thing to start changing something in the interior. Take away, throw away, rent or sell what you don't use. Unnecessary figurines, vases, candles, books, blankets, pillows, clothes and even furniture. Finally get rid of the old chair, which is not used for its intended purpose, but collects only old clothes on itself. All these things clutter up both your apartment and your life, do not let you breathe literally and figuratively.
Making a plan
So, there are no unnecessary things in the apartment. The next step is to analyze the pros and cons of the previous arrangement of furniture and come up with new places for it. Before moving furniture, measure the room and furniture. And then draw a plan of the future room – someone does it in special 3D programs, someone just on a piece of paper in a box. Figure out where the pieces of furniture will stand, whether they will fit there in size. It is easier to redraw the plan than to move bulky objects.
If the rearrangement of your dreams involves the need to move large objects, free up the trajectory of movement in advance. Move the chairs and chairs to the corners, remove the fragile decor and roll up the carpet. Otherwise, unexpected obstacles in the way of a moving cabinet can cause such irritation that you will want to throw the cabinet in the middle of the room (although, in some cases, this can be a good decorative technique).
We take into account the details
What to consider when rearranging:
- Convenience for all family members and their opinion - it is better to discuss everything on the shore, so as not to quarrel with the household later.
- Ergonomics of the space. For example, there should be a distance of at least 1.1 m between 2 sofas, and at least 0.5 m of free space in the hallway.
- Proportions of the room and furniture – do not collect large objects in one side of the room and small ones in the other.
- The degree of illumination with a radical change in functional zones – if you have changed the location, for example, of the workplace, think about how you will illuminate it, whether additional lamps will be needed.
- Compatibility of furniture with each other. Perhaps the usual option of an armchair + a table is not the best solution?
- Many people think that only large pieces of furniture need to be rearranged. But even by moving a bedside table, a table, lamps or an armchair, you can completely change the atmosphere and update the interior.
- The degree of your satisfaction. Permutation is not a magic pill for a good mood and your transformation. If you really want something new, don't be afraid to get rid of annoying things (see point 1). Let something new into your life!
We begin the permutation with a complex
It is most difficult to work with small rooms or with spaces where each object performs a specific function — for example, with a kitchen. Moving a kitchen set is not just a time-consuming task, but almost impossible, at least because it is tied to a riser with water and to an apron on the wall.
Most likely, you will only work with the dining group. There are two options: take it out into the living room or move the table within the boundaries of the kitchen (it stood with its end to the wall - turned along). A win-win option is to push the table to the window, especially if your family is small and you still don't use all the edges of the table. A good option is to move the table to the kitchen set (instead of pushing it into a corner or to the wall).
Identify the smallest rooms in the apartment and think about what you can remove from there to unload the space. For example, the storage space should be moved to the balcony or to the corridor. The room can be cramped if there are necessary, but rarely used pieces of furniture in it. So, the table can be replaced with a folding one and get it only as needed.
Life hack: purchase modular furniture, individual elements of which can be easily swapped and used in different rooms. For example, a chest of drawers can stand in the bedroom, in the living room, and in the hallway. You can repaint it, change the handles – it will become completely different. Shelving is better than bulky cabinets. They can be placed against the wall, or they can be perpendicular - for zoning the space.
Closer to the light
When planning a permutation, pay attention to the logic of space. For example, a reasonable solution would be to arrange areas near the window where you will definitely need natural light. If the apartment has a bay window, and you are not cramped in square meters, arrange a coffee and coffee area with a small table and a couple of armchairs here.
If square meters have to be protected, place a desktop near the window. Depending on which side the windows face, different positions are suitable for the table: along the wall at the edge of the window, across the adjacent wall or even facing the glass.
The designers assure that when the light is updated (the ability to change from warm to cold, not all the bulbs are turned on at once) and the lighting scenarios are already being rearranged – the perception of space is changing. Be sure to analyze the illumination of each zone. And in addition to central lighting, use local light sources – floor lamps, table lamps, pendant lights. Another budget way to change the situation is to replace the lampshades and lampshades with... garlands!
"Tear off" the sofa from the wall
The myth that the sofa should stand against the wall is amazingly tenacious. But today it clearly needs critical reflection. By the way, if in small square rooms such an arrangement sometimes turns out to be the only correct one, then in spacious living rooms, for example, the space can be divided in half. Turn the sofa across the room. Sometimes this technique works so well, visually enlarges the space.
A delicate moment: if the quality of the backrest leaves much to be desired, it will have to be upholstered again. However, a conscientious cleaning is usually enough. By the way, if you install a desk behind the back of the sofa, you will be able to equip a good mini-office.
The sofa by the closet is a more extravagant option and assumes that items of rare use are stored in the lower part. But it visually creates depth and perspective, as if there is an additional space between the furniture. Finally, when placing the sofa by the window, it is necessary to think about what the curtains will be, how they are planned to be closed.
To fight insomnia
With the bedroom, everything is a little more complicated: usually it is a small room in which there is nothing special to rearrange. The worst thing is when the bed is in the only suitable position: to the left of it is a closet, to the right is a window, and at the foot is a door. If you want variety, it remains only to update the bedside tables and textiles. Or, on the contrary, instead of cabinets, put small dressers – this will add functionality.
If you are sure of the quality of the windows and the absence of drafts, try moving the bed with the headboard to the glass. Many complain that falling asleep in this position is too unusual, but who knows, maybe you will like it?
An alternative option for fans of bold solutions is to fit the bed into a corner, diagonally. However, in this scenario, a non-standard place will have to be found for ordinary bedside tables. Additional lamps will help with changing the space, as well as changing textiles - curtains, bedspreads, bed linen, bedside mat.
Changing the decor
Sometimes you don't even need to move the furniture to change the interior. You can just hang a mirror. Natural light, falling into it, will be reflected and illuminate an even larger space.
Life hack: If a piece of another room is visible in the mirror, then visually the room will seem more spacious. And if there is bright wallpaper or furniture in the reflection, then the mirror will become almost an art object, it will replace a poster or a picture on the wall.
A great idea to transform the space is to change the decor and textiles for a certain time of the year. Warm colors, juicy colors of pillow covers, candles – and in autumn it's not so cold and sad anymore. Garlands, cheerful towels in the kitchen, elegant posters – and our mood is on top! Light, airy curtains, fresh flowers and transparent accessories - and we are ready for summer!
Remember, any changes in the interior of the apartment should not affect the practicality and convenience of using the common space.
By replacing some pieces of furniture, and in some cases getting rid of them altogether, you will see how the comfort and atmosphere of your home will change, how the apartment will sparkle with new colors!
Have you decided to buy an apartment or a house in Cyprus? Or maybe you're just looking for options? Contact DOM! The site offers a large selection of real estate - residential and commercial. Experienced agency specialists will be happy to help you make the right choice.
See also:
- Top 7 ideas for arranging a studio apartment in Cyprus (link)
- How to make a cozy apartment in Cyprus: 6 tips for landlords (link)
- Top 5 main trends in interior design in 2021 (link)
- Top 10 undervalued regions of Europe (link)
- Three-piece from one-piece: tips for zoning a small apartment in Cyprus (link)
- Top 7 ideas on how to equip a balcony in Cyprus (link)
- What is the best way to invest in 2021? (link)
