Ideal Interior: 7 Favorite Techniques of Pavel Zhelaznov

Decorating your apartment like a famous architect is possible even without professional skills. Secrets that Pavel Zhelaznov shared will definitely help you.

Pavel Zhelaznov is an expert practicing architect and a graduate of MArHI

Glass doors with decorative patterns on the door panels

Usually, solid doors are used in interiors. They isolate rooms but also visually limit the space. Glass doors, on the other hand, fill rooms with additional light and visually expand the area. This is especially important for very small apartments. If needed, glass doors can be complemented with a panel curtain on metal tubes.

Antefilad Composition

Doors and doorways are one of the most important elements of interior design. The antefilad principle of their arrangement makes an interior more festive and ornate, while also opening up perspectives to other rooms, making the apartment seem larger.

Round Dining Table

The dining area is also one of the key elements of interior design. To highlight this space and make it as compact as possible, a round table is better to use — it allows more freedom of movement around and accommodates many guests.

Furniture in Different Styles in One Room

To give an interior a sense of history, complement new furniture with antiques. The style of this furniture is not so important — what matters most is that the chosen furniture truly appeals to you.

First Impression Principle

The first impression is the most important and almost impossible to change. It’s very important that when entering the apartment, you don’t end up in a very small and dark space. Therefore, it’s best to make the space as open as possible. Glass doors and antefilads help in this regard.

Pair Elements

The basis of interior design composition is local symmetrical compositions using paired elements: two floor lamps, side sofas, paired cabinets. These pairs are meaningful accents in the interior — they denote important parts of a room or zones.

Natural Materials

I recommend using only natural materials in interior finishes — over time, they age gracefully. No imitation can replace natural stone or wood. If ceramic tiles are necessary, choose glazed or mass-coloured ones like metlakh-style.

Illustrations: Pavel Zhelaznov's apartment.