7 Cool Design Hacks Snatched from Professionals

These secret tips we picked up from a Russian designer's project and asked them to explain in more detail. Take these ideas for your interior!

Vlada Zagaynova — expert, designer, and architect. Founder of Zconcept studio

Kitchen zone in a different color

Combining the kitchen and living room is one of the most popular solutions in projects. To harmoniously fit the kitchen into the space, we used a dark gray color on the walls and ceiling in this zone. We also painted the only tall cabinet, which houses the refrigerator, in the same shade. Thanks to this, the kitchen doesn't draw unnecessary attention and takes a back seat.

This technique can also help adjust the room proportions. Look at the photo: the dark area literally disappears, and the space no longer seems like a stretched rectangle. This is especially relevant for narrow rooms.

Niche for a mini-bar

On the kitchen, we created a mini-bar in a niche: in addition to a wine shelf, there was space for storing other bottles, glasses, and cocktail-making accessories. Even the door side has room for storing glasses.

The niche is easily reachable, and there's a sink nearby. Meanwhile, nothing interferes during cooking since the mini-bar is in a recess, making it a very convenient solution. These spots usually appear when the kitchen is angularly placed, and using them regularly can be inconvenient.

Leather Details

To make the interior harmonious, it's important to pay attention to details. All materials should blend: in finishes, furniture, and decorative elements.

In this project, attention was paid to leather details: notice the upholstery of the bar stools in the kitchen zone and the sofa in the living room. They were also supported by an unconventional detail like the pendant lights above the bar counter.

3D Panels with Lighting

One of the rooms was designed for relaxation and entertainment: here you can play guitar and video games, watch movies, and host home parties. Dark gray paint and wooden 3D-effect panels on the walls created a cinema atmosphere. The backlighting behind the panels enhanced this effect.

Wooden Strips on Walls and Ceiling

You might be familiar with this issue: the renovation is done, but the room still looks empty and unwelcoming. To prevent this, walls are usually decorated with paintings or décor, and sometimes the finish is experimented with.

In decorating this bedroom, we used light wallpaper, which was varied with wooden strips. Between them, accent lighting adds warmth to the interior in the evening. By the way, using strips like this can also help adjust room proportions.

Floating Cabinet

A common problem in hallways is the large amount of footwear that takes up all the space. With our climate, it's not possible to store them directly in a cabinet—moisture from rain or snow can damage its condition.

Therefore, we decided to mount the cabinet on the wall so that it appears to float above the floor. This way, there's enough room underneath for footwear. Not only is it visually appealing but also practical.

Unusual Bathroom Finish

"Cold" tile on the floor and walls is balanced by tiles with a warm wood texture. This makes the bathroom look strict yet cozy and homey.

Diverse lighting scenarios also helped create a mood: built-in backlighting creates a relaxing atmosphere in the evening, while overhead light energizes you in the morning.