How to easily transform grandma’s interior: 9 budget ways to change an old apartment

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to change the interior..

What to do if large-scale renovation is not included in the immediate plans, and you really want to change the outdated interior? With multiple budget solutions «grandmother’s» the apartment will turn into a cozy and original home.

1. Alignment to walls

Loft walls are in harmony with old furniture.

In many ways, it is the walls with partially peeling plaster and faded wallpaper that give Soviet interiors an outdated and sloppy look. Therefore, you cannot do without updating the wall space. A universal way is to paint the walls white or paste over them with wallpaper. If this goes beyond the budget or seems too complicated, then use the fashionable technique typical for the loft style – walls without finishing, for example, concrete or brick. This style allows the use of old furniture, so it will not be difficult to equip a Soviet apartment in accordance with its characteristics. On the «naked» or painted white walls hang abstract paintings or graffiti.

Shelves will hide surface imperfections after self-painting.

The appearance of the room will be transformed by numerous open shelves, on which there are books in beautiful bindings, original gizmos. It is not at all necessary to hang them on the walls in a row. Chaotically placed shelves look more interesting.

2. Make room for new

The half-empty space looks fresh, even filled with old furniture.

The problem with most old apartments is total clutter. Get rid of all items that you have not used for more than six months without remorse. Throw away the things that don’t bring you pleasure to contemplate – it’s about decor. Leave only the essentials, and breathing in your old apartment will become much easier! The less random small items it contains, the better. If you want to transform a rented apartment, where little things cannot be thrown away, then pack them in boxes and hide them in the sofa, on the mezzanine or under the bed. Protruding wires also create the impression of clutter. Hide them in special boxes, fix them under the countertops … The original solution is to wrap the wires with twine or tape, but in this case, you must first make sure that the electrical communications are working.

3. Remember and realize that furniture is not nailed to the floor

It is better to remove massive furniture from the field of view.

Huge wardrobes and sofas, on which every now and then stops, make a depressing impression. Since the change of furniture does not fit within our budget, all that remains is to rearrange it correctly. Furniture should not block the sun’s rays entering the apartment from the street. Also try to place it in such a way that it does not come into view from positions where you spend the most time. For example, in the living room, you should not place a wardrobe next to the TV, since the massive furniture will always be noticeable to the person watching it. It is not at all necessary to arrange furniture along the walls. If the area of ​​the apartment allows, try using it for zoning. For example, a sofa in the central part of the room will allow you to divide the room into several functional areas. You can instantly refresh the interior with the help of a screen or a rack on wheels. At the first sign of interior fatigue, simply move them around and a sense of freshness is guaranteed..

4. Not a step without textiles

Covers will hide all the flaws of furniture.

Speaking about the fact that a cozy apartment cannot be imagined without textiles, we do not mean multi-layer curtains with lambrequins. You will have to get rid of them. But light translucent curtains or roman blinds will effectively refresh the interior. Textile covers and bedspreads will help to hide the worn upholstery of furniture, and bright printed pillows will radically change the perception of an old apartment. But if the interior is overloaded with trifles and various details, then it is better to refuse catchy textiles. On the contrary, opt for solid colors that will help balance the situation and make it more harmonious..

5. More light and shine

Mixing old and new is a win-win.

After freeing the windows from multilayer curtains, it’s time to move on to increasing the degree of artificial light. Most Soviet apartments have only one chandelier hanging in the center of the room. As a result, the room looks gloomy in the evening, and people do not have enough light. Table and floor lamps, candles will help to solve the problem of insufficient lighting. The atmosphere will immediately become more comfortable! Also, pay attention to the various interior details with a glossy sheen – gold, silver, bronze … They are in perfect harmony with the dark wooden furniture, which abounds in apartments, and ennoble the atmosphere. Photo frames, accessories for furniture, lamps, lamps can be shiny …

6. New life of old furniture

Old furniture painted in a custom color comes alive.

There are a lot of ideas for renovating old furniture. The simplest one is replacing old fittings with new ones. Sanding the furniture from a layer of old varnish and painting it will be a little more laborious way. You can decorate the surface of the renewed furniture using decoupage or stencil drawing.

7. «Alive» the interior is always relevant

There are never too many flowers!

To make the interior look more dynamic, do not forget to decorate it with fresh flowers. Remember to take good care of your plants. Semi-dried indoor flowers with yellowish leaves will produce the exact opposite effect. Choose large plants with rich leaves.

8. Vivid details create the effect of novelty and surprise

Standard beige and brown interior with bright details transforms.

The problem with interiors created during the Soviet period is their monotony. As a result, the apartment looks boring and predictable. Therefore, we recommend enlivening the environment by using a few bright details. Even one piece of non-standard color is capable of radically transforming the Soviet interior. The more contrasting the situation, the less it will be perceived as outdated and unfashionable.

9. Say «Yes» non-trivial combinations

Eclectic style encourages the use of old things.

It is not at all necessary to turn the Soviet interior into a classic one. Firstly, the result is unlikely to be successful, and secondly, there are more interesting options. For example, eclectics. This style allows for a combination of things in the interior, which at first glance seem incongruous. For example, the eclectic interior allows a high-tech lamp surrounded by old furniture. But be careful – in order to create high-quality eclecticism in the environment, you must have excellent taste..

As the first step on the way to transforming the interior, we recommend choosing furniture renovation. Find out the details of the process better in the article. 15 incredible ideas to breathe life into old furniture.