How to Decorate an Interior That Won't Go Out of Style?

Beginning designer and interior decorator Julia Gorbunova told us how she decorated an apartment for her mother-in-law. In a 63-square-meter flat, there was enough space for everything necessary — even a small storage room. The interior turned out stylish, cozy, and practical — such an interior will remain relevant for many years to come. We are sharing the details.

Paint the Walls

Wallpaper occasionally goes out of style, quickly becomes annoying, and is not practical to maintain, whereas paint will always be relevant. For this interior, a neutral gray shade was chosen — if desired, the walls can always be repainted in another tone.

Also, if the surface gets dirty, it can be cleaned. To prevent stains from remaining on the paint after damp cleaning, follow two rules. When painting, try to create as high humidity as possible in the room — the longer the paint dries, the better. And wait about a year after renovation before starting to wash the walls.

Pro tip: How to check if the walls are painted properly? Take a flashlight and shine it sideways on the painted surface. This way, you will immediately see all imperfections.

Create an Accent Wall

If you want to create an unusual accent wall, choose gypsum brick (bought at OBI) — a budget-friendly yet effective option.

It is better to paint it with a brush rather than a roller — to avoid streaks between the bricks. Choose the paint color carefully — red brick will give a yellowish tint.

Pro tip: Check what pigments are in the paint you used for other walls. Then choose a light shade for the accent wall that consists of the same pigments. This way, the walls will blend well with each other.

Save Money on Kitchen Decoration

For a comfortable life for one person, lower cabinets are enough — leave the walls open and decorate them with glossy tiles. Such a backsplash looks good and is practical.

Don't be afraid to choose budget options. If you carefully select all the details, an IKEA cabinet will look quite harmonious (and not cheap at all). Moreover, even a cheap Chinese mixer in black-gold tones fit perfectly into this interior. The chrome button of the sink was repainted in the same golden shade to make it blend into the composition.

Pro tip: There is a hidden inspection hatch next to the sink on the brick wall. Several bricks can be removed: they are glued to a gypsum board, which is held to the wall using magnets.

Plan Different Lighting Scenarios

Don't stop at ceiling lights — to make the interior cozy, add more interesting lighting scenarios. Cabinet lighting will add volume to the space, emphasize ceiling height, and help create the desired atmosphere.

And a wall sconce will add warmth and help illuminate specific parts of the room locally. For example, when you want to read a book before sleep.

Pro tip: In this interior, the wall sconce was used not only above the bed but also above the dresser. This is convenient when, in the dark hours of the day, you need to find something in a drawer without turning on the main light.

Make Use of Every Centimeter in the Bathroom

If only one person lives in an apartment or a young family, a combined bathroom is an excellent option. Carefully calculate every centimeter. For example, a niche can be made for the sink — in this interior, it was placed between the toilet installation and the shower cabin.

The optimal size for a storage cabinet is 100 cm — especially if you don't have the option to install a full-height cabinet.

Pro tip: Install a hinged door in the shower cabin that opens on both sides — this is convenient when space is limited.

Designate Space for Storage

For example, use a niche in the hallway or turn the second bathroom into a storage room as was done in this project. Here you can place a washing machine, dryer, ironing board, and even extra chairs for guests.

Pro tip: To keep the storage area tidy, place storage boxes on the shelves (you can buy them from us).

Plan Storage in the Hallway

If the hallway is small, all items can be hidden inside one cabinet. Choose a color as close as possible to the wall tone so it doesn't look too bulky and blends into the space.

If there isn't enough space for a deep cabinet, you can ask a craftsman to cut the cabinet down in depth along with all internal elements.

Pro tip: If the cabinet doors seem too plain, enhance them with interesting hardware. For example, in this case, the IKEA PAX cabinet was enhanced with gold handles from Zara Home.

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