Home Mini-Project: Rearranging Furniture to Refresh Interior

It seems like your apartment has lost its charm? Don't rush to spend money on an expensive renovation. Perhaps all you need is to move some furniture a little bit. We explain how to update your interior without extra costs and hassle.

Why move furniture at all?
Imagine you walk the same route to work every day. After a month, you stop noticing details around you. The same happens with our home—we get used to the setting and stop seeing it. Rearranging furniture is like a new route that makes us see familiar space in a fresh way.

When we change the layout of items in a room, we change the energy of that space. This can affect not only the appearance but also our mood, productivity, and even relationships with loved ones.

Where to start rearranging? Use the rule of three steps

1. Determine the central point—the main element in the room. This can be a fireplace, large window, or TV.
2. Arrange main furniture around this point. For example, place a sofa facing the TV.
3. Add auxiliary items—side tables, floor lamps, plants.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Try placing a sofa at an angle to the wall or turning a bed's headboard toward the window. Sometimes the most unexpected solutions end up being the best.

Design: Olga Baranova

How to avoid mistakes during rearrangement?
The most common mistake is cluttering the space. Many try to fit all their furniture into one room, forgetting about open space.

Tips: Remember the rule of 'negative space'. These are unused areas that allow the eye to rest and create a sense of spaciousness. Don't be afraid to leave empty corners or walls.

Another common mistake is placing furniture along the walls. This can make a room look like a waiting hall. Try pulling some items away from the walls to create cozy zones in the center of the room.

Design: Pavel Foteev

Small apartment—no verdict. What to do if there's little space?
In small spaces, every centimeter counts. Here are a few tricks:

• Use multifunctional furniture. A sofa-bed, a transforming table, or a pouf with storage space can save room.
• Play with verticality. Tall shelves up to the ceiling, wall-mounted shelves, and plants in hanging planters help you use space to the max.
• Abandon bulky items. Choose furniture on legs—this creates a feeling of lightness and airiness.

In small rooms, try arranging furniture diagonally. This visually expands the space and creates interesting angles of view.

Design: Olga Trehonina, Ekaterina Guseva

How to know if the rearrangement was successful?
The main criterion for a successful rearrangement is how you feel. If you're comfortable in the newly refreshed space, it's done right.

But there are also objective signs of successful layout:

• It's easy to move around the room, no narrow spots or obstacles.
• Natural light is used as efficiently as possible.
• The space looks harmonious and balanced.
• The room seems more spacious than before rearrangement.

Design: Alena Gorskaya Design Studio

What to do if the rearrangement didn't work on the first try?
Don’t get discouraged! Even professional designers don’t always find the perfect solution on their first try.

Important: Give yourself time to get used to the new setup. Live in your 'new' room for a week or two. If something doesn't work, make gradual changes.

Useful tip: Before a large-scale rearrangement, take photos of the 'before' state and sketch a room plan. This will help you restore everything to its original place if the experiment fails.

Design: Petr Grigorash

How often should you rearrange furniture?
There's no single rule. Some change the setup every season, others only once every few years.

Listen to yourself. If you feel that the space has 'stagnated' or you want change—move furniture boldly. This can be especially useful during life transitions—new job, relationships, or just a seasonal change.

Furniture rearrangement is more than just furniture
Remember that you can refresh your interior not only by moving sofas and tables. Sometimes it's enough to change textiles, add new decorative elements, or just rearrange flowers and photos.

Tip: Experiment with small details. New cushion covers, a different arrangement of books on shelves, or changing curtains can completely change how the room is perceived.

The key is to not be afraid to try new things. Your home is your creative space and a place for self-expression. And sometimes, to feel new about yourself, it's enough to just move a sofa.

Cover: Design project by Olga Mitnik