How We Transformed a Developer's Studio Apartment and Stayed Within 300 Thousand Rubles

Natalia Boshina decorated a standard studio apartment of 38 square meters for rental purposes using only furniture and decor. The designer shared tips that helped her create a stylish interior without compromising the budget. Take note!

Unique Apron

The kitchen cabinet chosen was the simplest (white cabinets without carving), but complemented with a nice tile. It is white in color, so it doesn't stand out against the furniture background, but contains colored "strokes" in the design — this makes it more interesting. To save money and avoid cutting, rectangular tiles were placed vertically from the countertop to the top cabinets.

Neutral Base and Color Accents

The apartment had a standard developer's renovation: neutral tile in the bathroom, light walls, white doors and laminate. To make the interior cozier and more individualized, a warm and joyful color palette was chosen — with yellow and blue accents.

To make bright details look harmonious, they should echo each other and colors repeated. For example, in the kitchen yellow curtains matched a chair of the same color. The pattern on the blue curtain somewhat resembles the "strokes" on the kitchen tile.

Abundance of Textiles

Even the simplest interior can be transformed with textiles. Not just curtains, but also tablecloths, napkins and cushions on chairs. All of them are affordable yet significantly enhance the overall impression.

Unified Color Palette

In a small apartment, it's best not to divide the space by colors. Ideally, there should be elements that repeat in different functional zones. Natalia Boshina transferred the yellow from the kitchen to the living room and accentuated it on the sofa. She also increased the number of blue tones — they appear in the curtains, carpet and throw.

A second accent was added to the living room — black in furniture and decor. The interior became more graphic.

Minimal Decor

An interior without decor will always look unoccupied and cold. Therefore, it's good to plan at least a couple of items: for example, an elegant modern vase, minimalist flowers and one or two posters or photos. Minimal cost, but immediately a different look.

Photographer: Sergey Pоздеев
Decorator: Ekaterina Pоздеева