How to Avoid Mistakes in Renovation: 10 Commandments from a Designer

What moments should be taken into account and planned for during renovation to ensure the final result brings joy for many years, is explained by Yevgeny Koblov — a distinguished architect-designer with 20 years of experience in project development, author's supervision, and implementation of over 130 projects.

Yevgeny Koblov — architect-designer

Step-by-step plan

The first step in any renovation, even before a design project, is to understand what you want to do with your living space. Sometimes it's enough to change the textiles and rearrange furniture to give a room a fresh look.

If you're looking for major changes, objectively assess the state of engineering systems and load-bearing structures. It's possible that a small cosmetic update, such as re-covering the walls with new wallpaper, results in replacing pipes and electrical wiring due to their age or inconvenient placement. The scope of the planned work will determine the duration and budget of the renovation.

Design: Daria Nazarenko

Style and Concept

If you decide to forgo professional services and not order a design project, I recommend defining stylistic directions right away. Without a clear concept, you risk mixing several styles that in expensive execution will look disharmonious and tasteless. In addition, it will be easier to choose shades, furniture, finishes, and decor in the future.

Color and Light Temperature

To make an interior look cohesive and stylish, color tones should complement each other and the lighting (natural and artificial). For example, if your room's windows face north, decorating it in cool tones and hanging lamps with neutral or cool daylight will visually make the room even colder. Meanwhile, warm colors in finishes and warm lighting will make the room cozy even on the gloomiest day.

Whether in a multi-colored or monochromatic space, maintaining tonal balance is important. The darkest shade should be on the floor, medium on the walls, and the lightest on the ceiling. Ideally, always leave the ceiling white to avoid distorting all other tones in the room.

Design: SOVA interiors

Lighting

Besides visual temperature, artificial light affects the perceived volume of a room. Adding spotlights, floor-standing lamps, and wall sconces to the main light source in the center of the ceiling creates layered depth and richness to the interior. Different lighting scenarios are also very convenient in daily life, allowing you to instantly change the mood of a room.

Heated Floors

Many consider them an excess typical of “European renovations,” others don’t see any benefit, and some aren't willing to spend extra. Regardless, heated floors in our homes and apartments are still rare. However, I recommend not ignoring this technological innovation and at least 1–2 square meters in the hallway should be done using this technology. As a result, you'll always have dry shoes even after long rainy or snowy walks and clean dry space near the door without puddles.

Design: Evgeniya Demidova

Natural Materials

Today, you can buy any polymer “wood” or “stone” that visually doesn’t differ from the natural original. However, natural materials are preferred because they provide absolute comfort and ecological safety.

If you're creating an interior in classical style, complexity of forms and moldings are prioritized over material texture. In modern styles, on the contrary, material properties are more important, and attention is drawn to these features through simple forms.

Cost Savings on Work

Many think that doing renovation yourself is cheaper and easier than hiring a team. Actually, it all depends on your skills and available free time. Regardless, plumbing and electrical work, as well as floor pouring, should be left to professionals since lack of expertise can nullify all efforts in the subsequent renovation. For example, incorrect sewage layout, a socket installed without grounding, or uneven floor levels.

Design: In2design Design Studio

Trends

Every year, fashion trends in interior design change: some styles and solutions lose their relevance. However, I don’t recommend blindly following trends and decorating your space based on advice from magazines or new catalogs. Rely on personal preferences and feelings. If you feel comfortable and at ease in this interior, it doesn’t matter how trendy it is. Moreover, many trends are cyclical and return after some time.

Guest Bathroom

If the area of your apartment or house allows, I recommend equipping such a room. It’s best to choose the area near the entrance for this purpose. This will hide your personal bathroom from outsiders’ eyes and solve the problem of guests who want to politely leave for a short time, such as to retrieve something from their bag or coat in the hallway.

Design: Svetlana Melnikova

Ergonomics and Comfort

Modern technology allows you to choose everything for renovation — from paint to a bathtub — online. But if possible, I recommend visiting stores and showrooms to see, touch, and test furniture and materials in person. It may turn out that the height of the future bed will be uncomfortable, the planned sofa too firm, or the desired tile pattern too distracting to look at.