How to make a designer renovation with your own hands

In detail: how to make DIY designer repairs from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

When faced with a renovation for the first time, a person does not know where to start: should he go straight to Leroy Merlin and buy materials or watch magazines with pictures, think about where to store sports equipment, and choose curtains? Designer Oksana Tyschenko told The Village what stages the work on a design project consists of, what you can do yourself and what is better to entrust to professionals.

Let's conditionally divide the process into several stages: idea, planning, visualization, purchase of materials and construction. In the case of ordering a design project, more construction drawings will appear, but we will talk about repairs made by ourselves. Everything in order.

Any good interior starts with an idea. Stop and think: how would you like to feel being at home? If you are constantly in the office and are overloaded with information during the working day, choose minimalistic forms, calm colors and hidden storage systems - such an interior will compensate for the overload or at least not create an additional one. Also a good idea would be a classic interior - the personification of a fortress house, a place where you can always hide from the outside world. Freelancers and people working remotely, on the contrary, need constant inspiration: it is worth adding bright colors, catchy elements to the interior and, of course, thinking over the workplace.

Starting from emotions, think about what inspires you: nature (sea, forest, mountains), favorite artists, musicians or something else? Natural motives can be conveyed in materials or shades, and hobbies can be remembered when you plan space and decor. After that, you can already study magazines and sites, selecting the interiors you like and all the time asking yourself: will this suit me personally? There is no need to chase trends and the opinions of others, your house should reflect exactly your state, feelings and thoughts.

Video (click to play).

This is more difficult, but it can also be dealt with. If you understand that you initially got an unsuccessful apartment: there are very few windows, a significant part of the space is in the shade, there are sharp corners or circles dictated by architecture, there is too little space for all your needs, then it is better to entrust this stage to the designer. The layout of an apartment, as a rule, is inexpensive compared to a complete project, but you will definitely have enough storage space, elongated corridor-type rooms will not appear and square meters will not be lost.

If, for one reason or another, you decide to think over the arrangement of walls and furniture on your own, print out the BTI plan on a scale (before that, it is better to re-measure everything again) or draw a plan on graph paper. Buy interior decals (with furniture at the same scale) or print and cut out the legend. Online planners can be used at this stage, but most people find it easier to think with a pencil in hand.

Be sure to measure the distance between furniture (all standard values are easy to find on the Internet, for example, the distance from the sink to the wall): check the opening of interior doors and furniture doors, completely open, they should not intersect and rest against furniture. Think about logistics and your habits, and be sure to lay down familiar routes for moving around the apartment or shelves set at a certain level.Be sure to look at examples of successful layouts, but take into service only those that suit you personally, and do not take categorical arguments about the ideal interior seriously. Relatively speaking, on 40 square meters you can make a two-room apartment or an open studio - it all depends on the lifestyle. By the way, you can draw on the floor (or cardboard) directly at the construction site - this is an option for those who like the 1: 1 scale.

What else is worth paying attention to? First, furniture does not have to be along the walls: try to put it in unusual combinations, organizing a soft area around the coffee table in the living room and leaving aisles on all sides. Secondly, consider as many storage spaces as possible: nothing spoils the interior like chaos and clutter. If you decide to create an open space, zone it with directional light, lightweight mobile dividers or shelving, color or flooring material.

Now it's time to sort the found images into folders and bring them together into a single picture. The easiest option is if you managed to find interiors that are very close in geometry to your rooms (you can hardly copy one to one, but you can and even need to rely on and compare.

If there is no visual embodiment of the dream interior, you will have to make a collage. If you own Photoshop, take the items you like from the catalogs: now almost all companies post product photos on the site, moreover, in parallel, you can enter the cost of goods in Excel in order to stop in time or understand what you have to temporarily refuse.

Online applications can also be used for such visualizations. The only drawback of such tools is that they all have a limited base of objects, so you have to turn on your imagination a little if the furniture in the collage differs slightly from the one you have chosen.

Why do this? Without a clear plan, it is extremely difficult to keep a large amount of information in your head, and in this case you also need to combine it. Arriving at the store, you will compare furniture and materials with the intended sample and you will not buy something that does not match at all.

Be careful with the color. Bright, saturated shades look cheerful, allow you to create an interesting design without high costs - the whole focus shifts from materials and furniture to color - but at the same time they require great skill in work. This does not mean that only a professional interior designer can create a decent colorful interior. Many people have a wonderful innate sense of color - then feel free to experiment! If you are not sure of your coloristic talents, then it is better to limit yourself to one bright color, vary only the saturation - you definitely cannot be mistaken in the gradations of one shade. You can add small contrasting accents: in accessories, textiles and interior details.

The same can be said for the organization of the space and the shape of the furniture. Choose all items in the same style, of the same era. Stick to the rule of symmetry, try to arrange everything in pairs. It might be a little boring, but if you experiment without experience, you risk getting frustrated with the result.

When you select pictures "for inspiration", pay attention to the dimensions of the room. A chandelier that fits well into a six-meter ceiling is definitely not suitable for a height of 2.60, and a large print may be too bulky for a small room.

As for lighting, the rule is simple: there should be a lot of light sources. Forget about the lonely center chandelier, place floor lamps, table lamps, and hang sconces and pendant lights over specific areas. Equip small cozy islands of light. Separately, you need to highlight the work areas, for example, in the kitchen or in the office.If you need different light intensities, be sure to install dimmers.

The most difficult and crucial stage. It's good if by this moment you already know exactly where the walls will stand and how the plumbing and kitchen will be located, it will be easier for you to explain your wishes to the builders. You also need to decide on the type of building materials in advance. While the builders start work, you can continue to choose a print on the wallpaper, but you need to be sure that the wallpaper will be on the wall, and not paint: different materials require a different process for preparing the walls. The same applies to materials for the floor (parquet, tiles, etc.), as well as the presence of warm floors.

The interior designer gives the builders an album of drawings, where all the sockets, switches, tile layout, etc. are indicated, and then monitors compliance with the drawings at the designer's supervision. In the case of self-repair, you will have to act as a foreman and give instructions on the spot, so it is important not to save on builders: an experienced team at this stage will be able to advise the best solution. Try to at least schematically mark on the plan the points of location of lamps, sockets and switches, and, of course, on the spot, discuss the possibility and feasibility of each solution. Analyze the location of the sockets: the more there are, the better, take into account the location and dimensions of the furniture so that the sockets are not later hidden.

Planning to buy custom items from Europe and the US? Build on timeframes ranging from weeks to months for delivery, and the same goes for customized items. It is better to order parquet, doors and kitchen first.

The important point is budget and changing tastes. Without experience, it is quite difficult to calculate everything at the initial stage, or, perhaps, you initially understand that you will not be able to arrange the whole house at once. In this case, make repairs in stages. Minus: there will be no solemn feeling of entering a new house (or a complete change of scenery if you are renovating an existing home). Pros: the ability to move quickly. In this case, pay attention to the main rooms and pieces of furniture, again starting from your needs.

With the gradual filling of the interior, a complete understanding of their needs and the possibility of their implementation appears. When you initially look at beautiful pictures, you most likely have no idea of a holistic space; accordingly, there is a risk of acquiring incompatible things. And in a semi-finished interior, it is much easier to imagine the missing item and evaluate it. And it’s also very exciting to buy just the things you like. Do not allocate a free day to choose all the sofas, armchairs, floor lamps and vases, but come to a store or a flea market and buy what resonates in your heart, bring interesting finds from your travels, making the interior very personal and atmospheric.

Photos: cover, 2 - Viktor Yuliev, 1 - Dmitry Tsyrenschikov, 3, 4 - Renata Garipova

The design of the apartment can be completely designed by yourself. To do this, you need to know a few basic rules and show your own imagination. Thanks to our recommendations, you can design an apartment with your own hands.

Very often, repairs in an apartment are started not out of motives to change the usual environment, but when certain problems arise. For example, plaster begins to crumble from the ceiling or furniture becomes unusable. Very often we are ready to live in a boring environment, provided that the minimum comfort is observed, and do not dare to repair. This choice is not always reasonable. Professional designers have selected life hacks to transform your apartment or house. They are able to breathe new life into even the most dull room.

There are two main ways to transform the design of a house or apartment - you can make a simple cosmetic repair or change everything drastically. The choice is always yours. It is necessary to take into account the general style, and only then select the color scheme of the room, taking into account the future interior.

It is best to choose the latest design trends for your apartment. It will help you make your home look stylish and modern. Add a touch of modernity to it and use materials that will serve you for years. This way you can put off the next renovation in your home for a long time.

In apartment design, professionals most often use styles such as:

Many designers today design and in a rustic style.

The classic style combines several directions. Among them are Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Art Nouveau, English and others. The classic style appeared several centuries ago, but it has managed not to lose its relevance today, which proves its beauty and practicality.

Its feature is expensive decor items and interior decoration, as well as carved furniture... Fireplace, statues, antiques are traditional components of the style.

This style will help to recreate the atmosphere characteristic of a particular nation. You can revive Japanese minimalism, German pragmatism, Russian originality in your home.

Modern design is such directions as:

In the modern style, the spirit of progress and postmodernism is clearly felt. There is a rejection of unnecessary comfort and details. This design has a beauty in simplicity. Smooth lines, monotony, minimalism, varnish on surfaces, austere furniture, bright lighting - all this is a modern style.

When choosing the color of walls and floors for an apartment or house, follow the tips of the professionals:

Shades of green and blue promote concentration and relax the eyes. Milky white and pale yellow tones are also good.
Orange and red increase anxiety.
To create a harmonious combination, you need to take white and some kind of contrasting color. The color combination also depends on the style. For high-tech, white, gray and bright red are suitable. For modern, you need to choose purple, red and pink.
A combination of two bright contrasting colors is not allowed.
It is not recommended to combine brown and gray in the same room. They visually reduce the room.

The floor color can be either light or dark. It all depends on the style of the room.
In small rooms, more light needs to be added. But don't overdo it. If you have a light ceiling, then the floor can be made in contrast. This will add more brightness.
Just 3-4 mirrors are enough for the whole apartment to visually expand the space.

Any materials can be used for finishing. It all depends on the design you choose. Today, brickwork is becoming more and more popular. It fits well with the industrial style. Decorative plaster is more suitable for the classic.

When developing a design project, one should take into account the general style of housing and the characteristics of each individual room, its functionality and style.

A Victorian design is suitable for the bathroom. He looks very rich and is popular with many people. This luxury should be adorned with vintage furniture.

You can put an unusual chair with smooth lines in the kitchen. It will look just amazing. Lamps in the style will suit the chrome surface Fusion... This would be a good combination.

The living room should have maximum comfort and plenty of space. If you have a large hall, then you can safely use a variety of colors in the interior. For a small living room, it is better to use light colors. Thus, you can visually expand the space.

It is quite difficult to develop a design project with your own hands. You can do it yourself only if you follow our recommendations.

You can additionally use applications to create a design. This will make the task much easier. The process of creating a project in this case looks like this:

Measurement. We draw or print a layout showing the actual dimensions.
Large-scale plan. The ratio of the actual size to the one drawn on the plan should be 1: 4. It is carried out either manually or on a computer.
Technical plan assignment. It is a list of what needs to be done: the choice of style, the choice of furniture in the premises, colors and everything that will give the interior consistency and rationality.
Planning solution. You need to re-plan the apartment and find out how to do everything according to the law. We mark zones and arrange objects (for now, only on paper).

3D. Create a 3D model from a planar plan in SketchUp and try to walk through it virtually. A rethinking of the plan may arise due to the fact that now you will more fully understand how what we have on paper will look like in real life. You will also understand the advantages and disadvantages of finishing with various materials, work on various little things, and so on.
Choice of style. Before starting this stage, you already have a rough idea of what and how will function and how your interior and design solution will look. Once again, re-read the previous paragraphs, finally determine everything for yourself, look again the pictures that inspired and took as an example of the interior and proceed directly to the design.
Consider the parameters of the apartment before you start choosing materials for decoration, furniture, lamps and lamps, etc. An insufficient ceiling, poor lighting and other troubles can greatly interfere with bringing your ideas to life.
Blueprints. We translate the sketches into a plan. Here you will need both dismantling drawings and installation drawings. We mark lamps and other light sources, switches with sockets.

For budget repairs, you will have to buy building materials yourself. Let's go through the tools and materials that you will have to refer to while working. You will need:

A hammer drill that combines the functions of a drill, a jackhammer, a mortar mixer, and a screwdriver. To expand the functionality, we advise you to buy a drill, a cartridge with an adapter, a solution mixer, a lance and a spatula.
Screwdriver. He has two actions: tighten and unscrew screws, dowels, anchors, bolts, and drill metal. We also buy a set of bits and drills.
Bulgarian. It is necessary to purchase 3 discs for it: a cutting disc for metal, a diamond one (for concrete and ceramics) and a grinding disc.
Building level. There are a wide variety of sizes for this instrument, ranging from 20 centimeters to 2.5 meters. A 40 cm level is sufficient for small openings. Walls, ceilings and floors need a correspondingly higher level. Bubble spirit level is very popular and often used. Due to the presence of alcohol, it is successfully operated at temperatures below zero.

Measuring tape. The recommended length is seven meters.
Hacksaw. You need a tool with large teeth - for bars and boards, and with small ones - for plywood, fiberboard, chipboard and plastic.
Hammer. You need a regular hammer with a rectangular section, one blunt side and one beveled.
Pliers. They will help to bite the wire and pull out the nail. It is a multifunctional tool.
Set of wrenches from 6 to 22 mm.
The spatulas are narrow, wide and serrated. Narrow (60-80 mm) is useful for hard-to-reach openings. Wide (200-400 mm) for walls, openings, etc. A notched trowel is needed to apply glue to the tile or stone area.
You will also need regular paint brushes.

Even simple wall repairs will not be complete without finishing. We offer you original ideas. You can safely use them in your home. You will certainly get an original and stylish design:

Fresh press.Newspaper instead of wallpaper on the walls is very original and stylish. With the proper whiteness of the paper, this option will look good enough. The newspaper is much thinner than wallpaper, so do not forget to cover it with a protective varnish after gluing.
Brick. A brick wall will be a good solution for a stylish design. That's just flickering in modern interiors, she too often and has already managed to get tired of the order. Therefore, you can brick not the entire wall, but only a part. It will look interesting with the white rest of the wall. You will have an interesting contrast.
Sea stones. Coming back from vacation, you can grab the material for decorating your home directly from the sea. Sea stones and pebbles are quite reliable. It is convenient and pleasant to work with them and you can dream up, laying out various patterns.

Make a design project on your own, find competent specialists, buy materials on time - in order to do everything in time, you need a clear plan. We met with the pros to find out all about the stages of renovation and project creation without involving a designer. The Geometrium creative workshop creates modern interiors from environmentally friendly materials. Studio designers decorate apartments ranging from 80-150 square meters and country houses from 150-400 square meters. The workshop is also engaged in the design of eco-interiors for bars, hotels and showrooms.

1. Make a detailed terms of reference

Start by making a list of functional areas: living room, kitchen, dining room, work, bedroom, storage areas, personal hygiene. Analyze what each family member will do in them: for example, in the living room you can sit and watch TV, work, play board games, a console or any other outdoor games. The better you understand this issue, the more convenient and comfortable it will be for you to live in an apartment.

2. Consider zoning

You need to understand which zones can be combined: for example, in a small apartment you can combine a dining room and a bar area, use a dining table as a workplace. A spacious wardrobe rack is suitable for storing household items and documents.

3. Create a selection of "favorites"

When you have decided on zoning, start looking for interiors that you like. Collecting such a database will not be difficult: with the help of magazines, blogs, websites. This will be a portrait of your future apartment. Be sure to discuss your options with each family member to keep everyone happy. It will be problematic to change something during the renovation.

4. Write down the dimensions

When the terms of reference are drawn up, proceed to the creation of the layout. It is important to determine the size of walls and openings, the location of furniture, lighting, technology. Compliance with the rules of ergonomics will make your life in the interior more comfortable. For information, take a look at Neufert's handbook.

5. Learn the norms

If you plan to do a redevelopment, make sure that it does not violate existing norms. You can find them on the Internet or check with professionals.

6. Go beyond the plan

To visualize the interior, use special 3D design programs: for example, Sketch Up or Sweat Home. You can also make collages of finishing materials.

7. Find a reliable team

The design project is ready - now you can find a construction team. Before signing the contract, check the terms, payment methods, and whether the removal of construction waste is included. If possible, visit the completed object to see the result of the work.

1. Order finishing materials

When the planning solution is ready, materials and furniture are selected, you need to take care of the procurement of materials, the delivery of which will have to wait. Usually the terms are from several days to three months. The most long-awaited, as a rule, turns out to be a tile.

2. If you need to replace the windows

While the builders are busy demolishing old walls and erecting new ones, it's time to agree on the replacement of windows and the front door. Also order radiators for heating.

3. Invite an electrician

After the floor screed is poured, the dismantling and installation of the walls are completed, the doors, windows and heating radiators are installed, you can start wiring the electricity. Show the electrician a project with marked points for outlets, switches, and luminaire outlets. Check with your kitchen supplier for the required outlets, electrical outlets, and plumbing outlets for the desired location.

4. Don't forget the plumbing

It is not necessary to bring plumbing equipment to the facility in the first days of the renovation: to begin with, only hidden elements are required. But before starting plumbing work, you need to decide on the models - it is important to know in order to draw conclusions in the right place. Write down the size of the bathtub, mixer models, sinks.

5. Go to finishing

When the wiring of the electrical and plumbing is over, you can start finishing, preparing for painting / wallpapering, laying tiles, which by this time should already be on site. After that, you can invite a measurer of doors and custom-made furniture, select and purchase flooring and lighting (some products may have a long delivery time: check this in advance).

6. Don't rush to buy paint

Before buying the required amount of paint, be sure to paint. For each color, you need to choose 2-3 shades and buy at a can of the minimum volume. Then, with each of the options, paint a sheet of drywall (60 by 60 cm) and see how the color will change depending on the lighting - it is important to make such a check directly on the object. All ceiling cornices and moldings are mounted before painting.

7. Order furniture and decor from the list

The walls and the floor are ready and the workers have started installing the built-in storage systems and kitchen units - it's time to think about furniture and decor. You can also find a tailor shop for curtains and order the desired fabric.

Old furniture, boring colors, uncomfortable zoning, scattered things because there is nowhere to store them ... All this can really interfere with life. At some point, it becomes completely unbearable, and the person makes a volitional decision: changes are needed. We will help you! We will fill you with inspiration, put together a collection of ingenious solutions, impressive interior changes and photos of great ideas for apartment renovation.

Photos "before and after" clearly show how good, constructive ideas and a couple of interesting techniques can transform any room. Colors, materials, new flooring and functional furnishings will change the apartment in ways you don't recognize. Narrow spaces will appear wider, gloomy ones will become pleasant, and in the same square there is room for all things. Magic? Not at all! Only skilful room planning and the right furniture.

Design project from All Design

Do you want a minimalist apartment decoration? Great idea! Stylish, functional, nothing more. Minimalist white is a great choice for small rooms requiring optical magnification.

After opting for minimalism and white, look for furniture with simple shapes and clean lines. To avoid the feeling that you are in the operating room, set accents with wooden elements - parquet or laminate flooring, wooden furniture. Live plants will perfectly fit into the environment and add coziness.

In narrow rooms, light is of great importance. White walls and reflective surfaces keep the sun out of the way. Our tip: Avoid vertical placement of dark colors, and only place dark surfaces horizontally.

Design project Dziurdzia Projekt

The attic floor is often neglected, not used at all.But attic rooms have their own charm, their own individuality. From a technical point of view, waterproofing and window openings should be carefully considered if none are available.

Design project Superpozycja Architekci

Every housewife dreams of a large, beautiful kitchen with everything you need. When considering the design of your stylish new kitchen, consider the architectural features of the room and take into account the location of drainage and ventilation.

Design project Kliff design

The layout of the rooms in our apartments often leaves much to be desired. There is only one way out - imagination and creativity. Light pastel colors gave the room a fresh and relaxed mood. Our tip for narrow spaces: Avoid tall furniture like wall cabinets and bookcases as they visually take up too much floor space.

In the Scandinavian style, light is at the forefront. In no case should dark furniture be allowed to take away at least a piece of the available lighting. The dominant color is white. Several accents of gray and greenery of plants diversify the interior and make it cozy.