16 life hacks for home improvement from an interior designer

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

To create coziness, one candle is enough, and you can refresh the interior by painting the wallpaper.

Designer Alek Babkin (@alekbabkin) shared on Twitter tips to help you save money during renovations and make your home more comfortable. Lifehacker has selected the most interesting of them.

1. Define your needs

Interior design and renovation preparation starts with understanding the needs. If you are planning a bedroom, there will likely be storage space in it. Before choosing a sofa and wallpaper, count all your items, down to your underpants and socks.

2. Plan the zones in detail

Consider how to zone the space, but without furniture or other solutions. Just take a floor plan and draw circles on it: where to sleep, where to read, and where to store detergents and an ironing board. This will help determine which zones will be in themselves and which will be multifunctional. For example, a kitchen with an extra bed.

3. Observe the order of the interior planning

It is better to choose the color of the walls after deciding on the furniture. So you will protect yourself from the need to select a corner sofa for rainbow-colored wallpaper.

4. Solve the issue with an electrician in advance

Agree, it is much more convenient when each electrical appliance has its own outlet, and there is no scattering of extension cords under your feet.

5. Consider lighting

There are three basic types of lighting:

• functional;
• mood light;
• general.

Lighting plays an important role in the perception of space and affects well-being. And with the help of a good arrangement of lamps and windows, you can make the room visually larger.

6. Use functional light

It serves for convenience: work lamps, reading lamps, kitchen countertop lighting or interior cabinet lighting. You need to start lighting design with it.

By the way, in some cafes and shops there are lamps hanging above the tables - this is also a functional light. It is needed to make eating more comfortable and the food to look more appetizing. These lamps should be hung at a distance of 60 cm from the table.

7. Light candles to create a cozy atmosphere

Mood light - for peace of mind. There are floor lamps in the corner of the rooms, and illumination of paintings, and lamps on the windowsills.

Little life hack: an ordinary candle is enough to create a mood. It can be used every day.

For example, in Scandinavia, lamps near the window are a tradition. This is how the wives of warriors and sailors used to show their men that they were expected. A kind of beacon through which they were looking for their way home.

8. Assess if you need general light

A classic example of general light is the chandelier in the center of the room. Its presence is not always necessary. Just look at hotel rooms, which are limited by functional lighting and mood lighting.

9. Observe order when planning your lighting

You need to create lighting design in exactly this order: function → mood → general.

10. Use more light colors in the interior

If you have a darker side of the house or just lack light, paint the walls white and use more light-colored furniture.

White or light gray walls look great. The versatility and compatibility of light tones with other colors add more options when choosing an interior design.

11. Paint the wallpaper to freshen up the interior

And with the help of white paint, you can easily update a dead rented apartment. Buy a can of water emulsion and roll over the walls, you can even over old wallpaper. It is a myth that they will unstick from it.

12. Decide on the furniture, and start finishing after

All designers hate to be asked to select furniture for the finished finish. This immediately discards a lot of interesting options.

13. Lay on the floor sealed covered

In the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, the floor must be completely sealed. And the choice between linoleum and parquet is a matter of taste. There are expensive and high-quality linoleums that will last longer than some parquets.

14. Save on decoration with textiles

Textiles are an inexpensive and easy way to renovate your home. Just replace curtains, blankets, throw pillows or sofa covers and your living room will be transformed. For those who love everything new, you can buy several different decorating kits and change them every season.

15. Zone the space with a canvas

For example, it can be used to fence off a sleeping place from a worker if you have a one-room apartment. Or cover up your closet and save on doors.

16. Hang extra curtains

To make the windows as comfortable as possible, use three types of fabric: tulle, light and blackout curtains. Depending on the style, you can combine different colors, for example, one curtain is solid, the other is patterned, and the third is neutral.