How to Make an Interior Unique: Tips from Professionals

Professionals from the DSGN HUB studio came up with a design project for a three-room apartment with an area of nearly 100 square meters for a client who loves spacious, bright, and airy interiors. We asked designer Nina Voynova what it takes to make a space not only functional but also stylish.

Nina Voynova - Expert - Interior Designer, Co-founder of DSGN HUB Studio

Plan the Layout

Uniqueness begins with the layout of the space. When working on it, we always rely on two factors: the client's needs and the geometry of the room.

In this project, we had a long and narrow living room, and we wanted to bring it closer to more regular forms — this would add coziness. We merged the kitchen and living room, and adjusted the length of the room (which became more square) using a cube covered with wooden panels, where the wardrobe and laundry room were hidden.

When planning the room for the client's son, we had to consider that he needed a large desk but didn't want to sit with his back to the door. This led to an unusual composition featuring shelves and an integrated desk.

Set the Mood

It's important to find your source of inspiration when creating an interior. Once this stage is complete, work becomes easier and more enjoyable. A mood board is used to gather a concept — not a specific interior, but an atmosphere that sets the color palette and mood. This can be anything as long as it resonates with the owner's wishes or lifestyle.

The client wanted the interior to be 'spacious, fresh, bright, and full of air.' Essentially, this apartment was meant to become a personal island where it's always 'good weather' — so the owner could switch off and rest after work.

This gave birth to a collective image of warm countries, sandy tones, marble, and hotel-style design. A trip, especially to islands, is always a way of escaping reality. The elegance of natural materials was enhanced with brass — the idea came from the client herself. On our first meeting, she was wearing a very striking gold jacket.

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Learn more about the client or consider your own needs

The room where the client's son currently lives is poorly adapted to his needs, and there isn't enough storage space. For example, books are stored in boxes on the desk.

We provided a spacious wardrobe and a bookshelf system with plenty of lighting in his bedroom. There was also a request for a small refrigerator in the room, which we hid inside the wardrobe. The bedside lighting is implemented through a panel behind which built-in lights are hidden. It's convenient to turn on when sitting at the computer or before going to sleep.

Plan the Details

Details play a big role in the uniqueness of an interior. The bedroom offers a beautiful view of the Moscow River, so we used this and created a relaxation area on the windowsill — there's a cozy sofa with a small mobile table that can also serve as a bedside table if moved closer to the left side.

The client bought the apartment for herself, and her son didn't plan to live there permanently, so we decided to add feminine touches — soft and rounded elements. This theme appears in the lighting fixtures, rounded mirrors, and a wall hanging in the living room. The wall hanging will be custom-made based on our sketches.

Account for Habits

A unique interior is a space tailored specifically to you, so it must consider your habits. For example, how do you usually dry clothes: on a towel rack, on a folding line, or in a dryer — and in small details, do you have a bathrobe. If so, there should be a special place for it in the bathroom.

In our case, it was important to set up a separate laundry room and a large wardrobe in the bedroom. The client also loves sitting with a cup of coffee in the morning. She can find solitude in the bedroom on the sofa by the window or sit at the kitchen island in the living room.