How to update your apartment without renovations and costs

There can be dozens of reasons that do not allow you to make repairs in the apartment: no time, no money, no desire to invest in a rented apartment … still chewed by the dog or scratched by the cat.

The good news is that you can update your apartment without renovating it. Simple techniques that don’t require significant effort and expense can literally transform a familiar home. There are many examples of this. At least read the case studies in our manual on homestaging.

Today the editorial staff of Novostroy portal decided to look into this topic in detail. We interviewed four experts with a request to give a step-by-step algorithm for renovating an apartment with minimal time and money. So, let’s reveal the secrets of professional interior designers’ skills.

Inna Chernavina, private decorator and interior stylist

To update the interior of the apartment, you don’t always need a renovation. Of course, we are not talking about emergency housing. It is difficult to fix it without repair work. In other cases, however, you can use several methods of “remodeling” and interior things that will help in the redesign of the room. First, you can rearrange the furniture. Sometimes, only by changing the items in places, organizing the right arrangement, you can achieve a good result. From the usual arrangement “on the perimeter” can be made functional zoning. Such rearrangements can be done several times a year.

Secondly, you can update the interior with the help of textiles. These are curtains, bedspreads, pillows, plaids, carpet. To curtains can be updated and the cornice. Instead of new pillows, you can buy covers for them, if there are budget constraints. If it is not possible to buy new furniture, then you can repaint the existing one. Or re-tighten the upholstered furniture with a different fabric. Often the fabric on the furniture is wiped, torn, there are puffs. And perhaps the color of your sofa you simply ceased to please. New fashionable upholstery will change the usual furniture silhouettes beyond recognition.

Of course, to update the atmosphere of the house will help and the right lighting. Often rooms lack light sources. And by choosing the right lighting, placing it in the right places, you can brighten up the shortcomings of the room and emphasize the advantages.

You can’t do without decor. These are vases, decorative books, live plants, various pleasant trifles, art. Instead of expensive paintings, you can use affordable art – posters with the works of young artists. Such honest works will definitely decorate any interior.

In order not to spend a large amount of money on these changes, all interior items can be purchased at a flea market or through online services like Avito or Yula.

Valery Kostrenkov, founder of UpArt, a real estate agency for investors:

I recommend starting the interior renovation with the purchase of paint. Now there is a huge choice of high-quality domestic manufacturers. First of all, start with the bathrooms. If the tiles are obsolete in pink shades of the 90s or there are dolphins and ships on them, then boldly paint over everything with white paint.

Before applying the coating, it is important to properly degrease the surface. Go through a primer as well – this will increase adhesion. It is clear that this method is short-lived. Literally in the next 2-3 years it will be necessary to apply a new layer of paint. However, this is the most effective and cheapest way to update the tiles in the bathroom. After all, according to scientists’ calculations, we spend about two years of our lives in it.

Then re-wallpaper. You can even do it yourself. Just don’t waste money on paper wallpaper. A long time ago, there have already appeared fleece-lined or washable. I recommend choosing them. On the counters there is a wide range of ready-made textures and colors. There is no design problem that can’t be solved with paint. Paint your kitchen furniture and old cabinets in light colors. There is paint on the market now that requires no special surface preparation. All those ginger stories – the colors of oak wood and straw are no longer relevant.

Replace furniture hardware. A good quality handle costs 100-120 rubles, and the look immediately becomes completely different. Because these are just the details that make the interior visually more expensive, and they do not cost so much.

The final touch – lighting fixtures. Buy exactly the lighting fixtures. Chandeliers in modern urban apartments do not recommend. They take up a lot of space and visually make the ceiling low. And cost a lot. Although there are such nice chandeliers for 2 – 2.5 thousand rubles in the form of balls. And look laconic, and fulfill their main function of illuminating the space. Well and cost inexpensive.

Ekaterina Starikova, head of the Star Interior studio:

1. The first and important step in updating the interior is to unclutter. Get rid of things that do not bring benefit or joy to you personally. Put order in the storage systems by purchasing convenient boxes, folders, hooks and jars.
2. Light can make a big difference in the atmosphere of a space. It is better to choose warm or neutral bulbs. In addition to general ceiling lighting, it is good to have several sources of local lighting – floor lamps, wall sconces. Or you can order an inspirational inscription from “flexible neon”, it is an LED tube, which is suitable for living rooms.
3. Do the opposite. If now you have a neutral monochrome interior and want something new, add contrasting bright accents, but not with the help of small items, vases, frames. Work with large strokes. For example, repaint the dresser or replace the cover on the sofa or curtains on the windows.

Anastasia Medvedeva, founder of the shooshpunk workshop:

Most people think that home decorations are useless dust collectors, but they are the ones that transform a shabby interior. Point one – any interior will make better indoor plants. They are hard to take care of, but they are worth it, not without reason are found in every fashionable interior magazine. Not everyone can take care of them, and here you can turn to artificial indoor plants.

If at all to any artificial plants do not lie soul, you can add dark green leaves in the interior as wall posters, paintings. Point two – small lights! Lighted candles in the bedroom, in the bathroom, can be a small artificial fireplace, bio-fireplace or even simple garlands. In recent years, there are many varieties of garlands and candles – artificial (from batteries) and real wax.

Point three – fresh flowers! But not room flowers, but cut flowers. In summer you can cut bouquets in the fields or grow in the garden, but in winter you will have to resort to the help of flower stores. There are quite inexpensive flowers, but if their wilting does not suit you, you can immediately order dried flowers. Finally, item four – home decor! I produce it in my shooshpunk workshop, and I know really everything about how to decorate homes with it. There is wall decor, and there is table decor.

The wall paintings, of course, include paintings – they attracted attention in antiquity and attract it now. No one will refuse to look at a handmade masterpiece in a guest or at home. It wonderfully dilutes the space and ennobles any wall. Table decor – it includes, for example, cup holders. Believe me, there is a big difference where to put a mug – on cheap rubber pads from the nearest supermarket, or on a designer set of cup holders. It makes all the difference.

Bedside table decor – candles and flowers would look great with a handmade jewelry stand. Again, it’s two big differences – tossing your earring rings on the bedside table or putting them on a specially designated and lovingly prepared special purpose piece.

An epoxy resin table is another cool chip that can change the dynamics of any interior. They are made with imitation marble, depicting the deep waters of the sea and sandy shore, and filled with real flowers inside. This is a truly rare detail that has not yet settled in every home and is not hackneyed.