Before and After: How to Transform a Soviet Two-Room Apartment into Stylish Housing Without Major Renovations

INMYROOM visited blogger Dasha Karakulova, the author of the popular YouTube channel "Household Life" and the host of the "Cozy Morning" segment on the "Home" TV channel. In her Moscow apartment, we saw how an ordinary panel apartment can become stylish and functional space without major expenses and radical renovations.

The apartment is located in a building from 1989 of the P-44 series — a two-room improved layout with an area of 55 square meters. Three people live here: Dasha, her husband, and their 10-year-old daughter Varvara. The history of this house began more than 30 years ago for the family, and over that time, the interior has undergone many transformations.

Main points from the article:

• Parquet from 1989 still looks great after three sandings throughout its history;
• A light reconfiguration without demolishing walls completely changed functionality;
• Smart storage organization allows keeping the apartment in perfect order;
• Vintage finds and family relics create a unique atmosphere;
• Simple decorating tricks help mask flaws of standard layout.

From Linoleum to Parquet: The Story of One Apartment

"I remember this apartment since I was four years old," Dasha recalls. "When we moved in, everywhere lay linoleum from the developer — yellow with brown specks. It was in the elevators, hallways, and all over the apartment. Our first task was to replace it with parquet, and on that parquet I learned to ride my bicycle."

The very same parquet still serves the family. It was sanded only three times in 35 years — the last time in 2017. "We wanted to move here, but construction of the metro started under the windows, so we postponed it for a while," explains the owner.

Dasha's mother was the main initiator of the apartment update since childhood. "She could easily reapply wallpaper, rearrange furniture. She made sandwiches with caviar, gathered relatives, and they all went together to paste new wallpaper. I usually came from the dacha and saw everything new — it was a very uplifting feeling."

Kitchen: When Functionality Matters More Than Beauty

The kitchen has undergone several radical changes. In Dasha's childhood, the walls were covered with "green-olive" wallpaper, as if someone was sick of Olivier salad and smeared it on the walls. Now the walls are covered with medium-toned wallpaper — a practical solution that creates contrast with the white ceiling.

The main change in layout was removing the door between the kitchen and hallway, creating an opening. "Also, there was originally a loft in the small hallway, and we worked with the ventilation duct. Before, it was a 10-centimeter gypsum wall, but now it's just one sheet of gypsum board," explains Dasha.

The kitchen's special pride is the built-in refrigerator. "I don't like when household appliances look out of place standing alone in a classic kitchen. A regular white refrigerator always looks foreign," explains the owner about her choice.

Dasha installed the dishwasher herself, sacrificing one cabinet. "I'm good at plumbing — it's like LEGO constructor, which I loved as a child. I connected the water supply and drainage without problems. The only thing was to lower the hinges a bit."

Storage: The Foundation of Order

"The key to order is having as much closed storage as possible," insists Dasha. "Everything that's stored openly should be for enjoyment, beauty, or emotional reverence."

The built-in wardrobe in the bedroom is specially designed to meet the family's needs. "We have a lot of short clothing — sweaters, pants. We keep everything on hangers, which is more convenient. There are clothes that are worn several times — no need to wash a shirt after every wear," Dasha explains.

A special system was created for her husband: "To make it easier for him, I put a laundry basket right next to the wardrobe. He takes off his shirt — no need to wear it again, so he puts it in the basket. Things folded neatly after ironing are worn once and never returned to the wardrobe."

Seasonal items are stored in lofts in special containers. "Everything is labeled, everything is written. Only current items are here; things not worn anymore go to a charity store," shares the owner's principles.

Child's Room: A Room That Grows With the Child

The child's room evolved from Dasha's childhood bedroom to an adult bedroom and then back to a child's room. "When we moved in with the family, I made this room into a child’s bedroom — it fits perfectly in terms of layout."

Items from earlier times remain — a dresser and wardrobe from 2002, which still serve the family. "First, I bought a sofa-bed to make it look like a couch when made up. But then my daughter said: 'I want a bigger bed,' and we ordered her a 120-centimeter one."

The desk in the room is a creative table. "She does her homework at the kitchen table, and we sometimes sit together at the computer. Here there are no lessons — it's a room for rest and creativity."

Vintage Finds and Family Relics

The chandelier in the child's room is from grandmother’s apartment. The mirror in the bedroom was found intact in a trash container, and skis were transformed into an art object on the hallway wall. "When I leaned them against the wall, I realized — this is a powerful art object! I took a drill and screwed it into the wall."

Special attention is given to songbirds — a bullfinch, a goldfinch, and a chaffinch. "We always had a tradition to keep songbirds at home. They fly around the kitchen, sing from seven in the morning — it's very pleasant. We’ve gotten so used to the sounds of home."

Bathroom: Maximum Functionality on Minimal Space

The bathroom has also undergone changes. They removed the right angle of the hallway and added a slanted corner, allowing space for a washing machine. "Of course, engineers placed the tap in such a way that you can only pull out the machine by removing the tap — it’s like dancing with a drum."

Toothbrushes are stored not on the sink but in a cabinet above the washing machine. "This is the only bathroom, it’s both the entrance and technical room. Here they wash shoes and dirty clothes. Closed storage of brushes is more important than their proximity to the sink."

The Soviet shower with a ceramic handle works through an adapter. "It has large holes, a great flow. Shampoo rinses easily, and it feels like a tropical shower on the body. I can control it — I don’t like showers from a height."

Lighting: Plenty of Bottom Light

Upper lighting in the apartment is almost never used. "For me, the chandelier is more of an art object. There should be plenty of bottom light," explains Dasha. In the bedroom, there are five lights, all controlled by voice through a smart speaker.

A wireless flashlight with a motion sensor is installed on the toilet with a magnet. "It turns on automatically when entering, charges once a week — very convenient."

This apartment is an example of how, with minimal investment and maximum creativity, you can transform a standard flat into a cozy home. The key is not to be afraid to experiment, appreciate history, and find beauty in unexpected places. As Dasga says: "For me, keeping the house beautiful and regularly updating it is just a habit."