They Will Surprise You: 10 Features of Italian Interiors

Iolanta Fedotova has been living and working in Italy for two years. For INMYROOM, the designer tells about the features of Italian interior design that may surprise Russians.

Iolanta Fedotova EXPERT Interior Designer, member of the Union of Russian Designers, lives and works in Italy.

1. Protective Blinds on Windows

In Italy, blinds are installed everywhere – on any floor, in any direction. There are roll-up metal ones and classic wooden or metal shutters. The reasons are two: protection from the sun in hot periods and safety – theft is common in Italy.

In Russia, shutters are mostly seen only in country houses, and even then not very often. The tradition of installing them in wooden houses dates back to ancient times.

2. Floor Coverings

In Italy, tiles are laid throughout the house, and people walk in outdoor shoes, only changing into slippers in the evening. This tradition stems from history: this country is mountainous, so there is a lot of stone and few trees.

In Russia, wooden or wood-imitation floor coverings are preferred, as timber has always been abundant in our country.

House by Lake Garda

3. Absence of Foyer

In Italy, 30–40 years ago, small rooms were built at the entrance to the house. They were called "disimpegno" – meaning "unoccupied". Later, people completely stopped having foyers: nobody takes off their shoes, and outerwear is rarely worn. Only in winter do people place mats at the entrance to avoid dirt on the floors.

In Russia, a foyer is mandatory, as we always take off our shoes. In Italy, all the land in towns is covered with cobblestone, while in Russia it's abundant, and walking around the house in shoes after a muddy walk is not an option.

4. Bathroom with Window

In Italy, a window in the bathroom is almost mandatory. Bathrooms without windows are usually only found in hotels or cheap apartments. Selling an apartment with a bathroom without a window is nearly impossible. First, such a window helps save electricity. Second, it's much more pleasant to be in a room with natural light.

In Russia, the standard layout of an apartment usually does not include a window in the bathroom.

5. Mandatory Bidet

In Italy, there are no toilets without bidets and sinks – even if it's the second bathroom in an apartment. Other options simply don't make sense to Italians.

In Russia, bidets appeared not long ago and are still rare.

6. Dining Table in the Living Room

Entering an Italian house, you immediately enter the living room, where there is always a sofa, a commode with a mirror or picture, a buffet with expensive antique dishes and statues, and of course, a dining table – at least for 6 people.

This nation is very hospitable, so they prefer to have a large table rather than move it from the kitchen or use a folding one, which is often done in Russia.

Design: Point Architecture

7. Uncovered Balcony

Italians love to decorate balconies beautifully, placing woven or wooden furniture, flowers in pots and vases, and enjoying aperitifs or a glass of wine on warm evenings.

Unlike Russia, in historical cities and districts, it is forbidden to glaze or repaint balconies or install non-standard colored window frames – these measures help preserve the appearance of buildings.

8. Washing Machine and Gas Boiler on the Balcony

In Italy, it is common to place the washing machine on the balcony so that it doesn't take up space in the bathroom. Often, Italians run washing machines at night, and they don’t disturb anyone on the balcony.

Gas boilers are also often placed on balconies. In Italy, there is no central heating (except for a few northern cities), so water is heated this way. Placing the gas boiler on the balcony not only saves space in the apartment but also makes it safer.

In Russia, balconies are used at best as offices, and in the worst case, for storing unnecessary items.

9. Radiators Behind the Door

Often, especially in Italian houses and apartments older than 10 years, radiators were placed behind the door. Why Italians did this for many years remains a mystery.

Perhaps to avoid disrupting wall integrity when laying pipes in old buildings, they tried to minimize grooving and reduce costs. Therefore, all pipes ran inside the building rather than along the perimeter, and radiators were placed right at the entrance to the room, behind the door. In new buildings, radiators are placed under windows, as everywhere else.

In Russia, radiators are traditionally placed under the window.

10. Beautiful Front Door

Doors in Italy are installed with the metal side facing inward. The outside should have a beautiful wooden overlay. This applies to both apartment buildings and private homes.

In Russia, it's the opposite: we try not to draw attention and install doors with unobtrusive sides facing outward.

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