Undoubtedly, the acquisition of a long-awaited apartment is a huge joy for every family. But it carries both numerous questions and significant costs, because it is necessary to make repairs - at least cosmetic, if the apartment is not in a new building, or even large-scale - in a new dwelling.
In addition, upon its completion, it is necessary to consider the atmosphere of the apartment. Of course, you can move some furniture from the old housing, restore it. True, it is unlikely to help create a modern apartment design. Construction and decoration materials and finisher services are not cheap today; most families have very little money left after purchasing housing for furniture. In this regard, many new settlers have a question: "How to furnish an apartment cheaply and beautifully?". In this article we will try to tell how to do this, having received a modern stylish interior.
Most people who have decided to transform their apartment or to equip a newly acquired one, believe that this is available only if the financial income is above average. They are sure that when the repair budget is very modest, you can forget about harmony and beauty. We will try to dispel this misconception.
Undoubtedly, having enough money, it is much easier to realize your wildest plans for home design. However, they do not guarantee a good result, however, like modest finances are not a reason to give up. We will talk about how to furnish an apartment cheaply and beautifully in this article.
What can not be saved
Before turning to the question of the situation of housing, I would like to say about three things that cannot be saved on if you equip an apartment for yourself and for a long time.
Technical communications
Do not save on pipe laying, electrics, plumbing, low voltage, ventilation, heating and air conditioning. Their replacement and repair after will cost you not only additional costs, but also nerves.
Preparation of walls, floor, ceiling
It is carried out before finishing. High-quality screed, alignment of walls and ceilings (unless, of course, you plan to mount the tension), only professionals can do. You cannot save on these works: neither expensive wallpaper, nor paint will distract attention from the curved walls. Especially this defect will be noticeable at the joints of ceramic tiles.
Consult with specialists and think in advance how to close pipes in bathrooms and in the kitchen. This also applies to pipes from the hood to the duct. Do not forget about the existence of cable channels in which you can hide the wires that entangle the apartment of a modern person. You probably paid attention to how sticking wires and pipes spoil the modern interior design.
Redevelopment
Not every home needs this. But the layout of the apartment largely depends on a competent planning decision.
Style selection
This question should not be ignored: the right choice of style will help you understand how to furnish a two-room apartment, a studio, a very small house. Do not console yourself with the hope that, on a tight budget, you can afford royal apartments. We do not recommend sweeping at the Art Nouveau - a style that appeared at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, or art deco.
The modern design of the apartment will create a minimalism or Scandinavian style. Perhaps not everyone knows that the style of the apartment should match the architecture of the house as a whole. For example, the classic is quite appropriate if the apartment is located in the "Stalin". Low ceilings are strongly contraindicated for this style. In addition, classics are characterized by symmetry in the arrangement. Therefore, choosing this style, you will have to abandon asymmetric interior items (from a corner sofa, for example). Such a choice requires significant funds. Classic furniture, decor and accessories are quite expensive. When the budget is limited, the task will be facilitated by the modern version of the classic interiors.
The loft style will allow you not to hide pipes and ventilation on the ceiling, so you will save on finishing, leaving the brick and old boards, if they existed there before. However, this style will look ridiculous in a cramped apartment in a panel house.
How to furnish an apartment cheaply and beautifully
Furniture companies selling their products directly do not include intermediary margins in the price. In addition, the manufacturer, as a rule, gives a guarantee, and often offers after-sales service, while any retail outlet may already stop its work tomorrow.
With a limited budget, you should not consider status furniture made of natural wood; it will be successfully replaced by models made of modern materials - MDF and chipboard, which are almost identical in their operational characteristics, and even surpass wood in some parameters.
Many manufacturers who value their reputation use veneers of valuable species or melamine films that imitate the texture of wood to clad furniture facades. It should be noted that even experienced furniture makers can not at first glance distinguish such furniture from analogues made of natural wood.
The same can be said about the upholstery - the eco-leather that furniture makers use today is not much different from natural, but much cheaper and much easier to care for.
Sales
If you are thinking about how to furnish an apartment cheaply and beautifully, watch out for sales: this is perhaps the easiest way to buy high-quality and modern furniture at an affordable price. In this case, it is important to find out that enterprises are selling furniture that has not lost their quality characteristics, but they vacate warehouses before the release of new, more modern (respectively, more expensive) collections. The warranty on furniture purchased at the sale is maintained, but it is better to clarify this before placing an order.
Stocks
We recommend that you study stock offers in advance. Typically, large retail chains publish them on their websites: “Buy a bed and get a mattress as a gift”, “Two products for the price of one” - such offers are very profitable and help to significantly save the budget.
Modular furniture
This concept appeared relatively recently, replacing the usual walls and headsets. Manufacturers in the same collection offer individual items that fit perfectly together. Therefore, you can only buy those that are suitable for your interior, without overpaying for those that you currently do not need.
If the apartment has a dressing room, you will not need a wardrobe from the bedroom collection. Think you don't need open shelves? A set can be made without them. And over time, you will be able to buy the necessary modules. We recommend that before you go for furniture, make a list of the necessary items. At the same time, do not forget about those that you already have.
Soft rugs, floor cushions
These interior elements that have long been known to man create a warm, relaxing atmosphere in any room - bedroom, living room, nursery. They successfully fulfill not only a decorative, but also a practical function, replacing poufs, banquets, and sometimes chairs. Such pillows can be large and small, have a different filler: the more elastic it is, the better the pillow retains its shape.
Pillows are produced that look like poufs - at the edges they have a volumetric line, but there is no frame, and their height is slightly less than that of poufs.
Functional space
In order for your home to become perfect, one aesthetics is not enough - we must not forget about its functionality. This is especially important when you decide how to furnish a small apartment. You should not save on living space, so if at the moment you can’t order a wardrobe, you can use plastic containers in which you can put small things. By placing such containers on top of each other, you will make an inexpensive and stylish analog of whatnot.
However, if your apartment has a niche that can be used as a wardrobe, then use it in the future. A sliding wardrobe is an ideal solution that helps save space even in a very small room.
Apartment "Khrushchev"
A lot has been said about these living quarters: once they became a lifesaver for our grandmothers, providing them with separate housing. However, the layout and size of such apartments, to put it mildly, are not the most comfortable. Nevertheless, people who inherited such "meters" need to correctly organize the space.
How to furnish an apartment-Khrushchev in such a way that it is convenient for all family members? First of all, you should get rid of the accumulated unnecessary trash (not forgetting the balcony). Then, if there is such a need (and the desire of the owners), a redevelopment should be done. Such modest-sized dwellings should be decorated in light pastel colors that visually expand the space.
Furnishing Khrushchev, you should forget about bulky heavy cabinets made of dark wood. Furniture, choose the most functional, light and bright. If possible, use more glass (shelves, shelving), mirrors, which can be located on the facades of furniture or on the walls.
Kitchen
Continuing the conversation about the functionality of housing, it is necessary to dwell on the question of how to furnish the kitchen in the apartment. Unfortunately, this room is far from always distinguished by its large area, even in new homes. However, in Russian apartments, as a rule, they cook and eat. Therefore, if the area allows, then it is desirable to divide the space into functional zones: working and dining. Use for this flooring, various wall decoration materials.
If the kitchen is too small (as, for example, in Khrushchev), it is advisable to combine it with the room, significantly expanding the space.
How to furnish a studio apartment
This method of housing is pretty popular today. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Experts believe that the studio is most suitable for single people or young families without children. Although this option is often resorted to and more mature people whose children have grown up and parted.
The design of such an apartment involves:
- the use of finishing materials, furniture and textiles in bright colors;
- functional, mobile furniture;
- the presence of mirror and glass surfaces and partitions.
Studio furniture should not be placed strictly around the perimeter of the room, and sliding wardrobes are preferably made narrow and tall. Preference should be given to coffee tables and glass worktops. Refuse floor lamps, floor vases, statuettes or large houseplants in pots - such decorative elements are permissible in spacious apartments.
Small apartment for a family with a child
And finally, we came to one of the most difficult questions, the answer to which is probably looking for every family with a child: "How to furnish a one-room apartment so that both parents and the baby are comfortable?" In this case, you can’t do without zoning: each member of the family should have his own corner.
Parents sleeping area
Here, as a rule, they have furniture that is necessary for the bedroom and the working area. Usually this is a folding sofa, where you can sleep at night, and during the day to collect it, freeing up space. Another solution may be a convertible bed. For example, a lifting bed, which is built into the closet. Such a solution is quite appropriate for a typical layout. If it is free, then you can install a bed, separating it with a plasterboard partition. Thus, you will get a mini-bedroom.
Children's area
The children's corner should be separated from the rest of the room by shelving: this will allow the child to feel like in his own room. An integral part of this zone is a baby bed. In addition, you need to set a table at which the child will play, and later do homework. This area should be located at the window.
Furniture selection
When deciding how to furnish a room in a one-room apartment, three main rules must be considered:
- The room should have a minimum of furniture.
- It should not be too massive.
- All elements of the decor should be made in the same style.
In the children's area, a multi-tier bed will help you save space, which will simultaneously become a sleeping place and a wardrobe for storing children's things. In the lower tier is a desk.
In the sleeping area of parents, it is advisable to install a wardrobe. To visually expand the space, make its doors mirrored.