How to Turn Your Apartment's Flaws into Advantages: Part 2

In every well-thought-out interior, there will be a couple of details that spoil the overall look: heating pipes, old furniture, uneven floors. We already wrote about the most common problems and their solutions for typical apartments. We continue sharing tips from our experts.

Flaw 1: Uneven ceiling

Designer Nikita Zub believes that the first thing to focus on is lighting: "If you only have one chandelier with upward-facing arms, the light will be dim, and the ceiling will visually appear heavier. It's better to install a floor lamp, several table lamps (on the table, nightstand, and windowsill), and get rid of heavy curtains and free up the window as much as possible."

Another option most people don't dare to try – paint the ceiling in a deep dark tone. It adds depth to the space and makes the ceiling visually higher.

Flaw 2: Passage room

Architect and founder of Flatsdesign architectural bureau Eugenia Matveenko suggests making one wall the focal point: "Paint it in a bright color, decorate with an unusual painting, 'tie' the composition of the wall and ceiling, and place a colorful cabinet. Then nobody will even remember that the room is a passage."

Design: Eugenia Matveenko, FlatsDesign

Flaw 3: Old furniture

Architect Elena Bulagina advises using textiles and covers: "There's no cheaper way to hide imperfections in the upholstery of soft furniture than to simply throw a new blanket or decorative skin over it."

Try replacing hardware. It might seem like a small detail, but a drawer handle or cabinet knob can instantly transform an old dresser, bathroom furniture, or kitchen cabinets. You can refresh old shelves with paint: paint the outer contours in one tone and make the inner parts more vibrant.

Flaw 4: Uneven floor

Designer Eugenia Ermolaeva recommends using a carpet: "It will become a visual accent in the interior and divert attention from the uneven floor. You can also try putting up interior stickers, for example, in the form of arrows or cat paws."

If you have the opportunity to change the floor covering, use a diagonal layout or different textures: for example, around the perimeter of the room – ceramic granite, and in the center – parquet.

Flaw 5: Uneven walls

Art director and HSE lecturer Stepan Bugayev suggests using the most basic white paint as a budget solution. Another fairly quick way to visually hide wall flaws is to use 3D panels or cover the surface with tongue-and-groove boards.

Flaw 6: Visible appliances

Architect and designer Olesya Shlyakhtina believes that if the interior is modern and decorated with various stylish and brutal materials, there's no need to hide a conditioner. For the vacuum cleaner's hose, it's important to provide a hook so that it doesn't sprawl and get in the way.

If there's enough space, printers and scanners can be hidden in a separate room. In a typical home mini-office, the best place for a printer is under the desk: in any carpentry workshop, you can order a custom stand and paper shelf so that everything is stored in one unit.

Design: Olesya Shlyakhtina's studio

Flaw 7: Visible heating pipes

Designer and company founder 'Verdiz' Vadim Matevosyanz recommends masking the heating pipes by painting them to match the wall color. You can also go another route and make the radiator a focal point in the interior by choosing a contrasting bright tone. In a child's room, you can add a playful element and draw a tree, making the pipe its base.

On the cover: design project by Eugenia Matveenko, Flatsdesign studio