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Space planning for a new life in an old house
Sometimes we need to think smarter with small spaces to stay living in the city and make old buildings work for modern living. An interior designer used space-saving solutions to plan rooms that would suit a new family in an old house.
Meet the interior designer
“The idea was based on families who dream of living in their first house,” says interior designer Kristina Pospelova. “Many people choose to live in an older, smaller space in the city just to have a house of their own, rather than in a bigger apartment elsewhere. So I used this as my inspiration.”
Layered curtains make it easy to control the light and temperature in the bedroom. The heavier curtains block the light for sleep, while sheer curtains diffuse it for a softer feel.
Smart sleep space
Flexibility is key with small spaces, so try looking beyond the bedroom department for multifunctional furnishings. “I used small coffee tables as bedside tables,” says Kristina. “They’re easy to stack and move around.” The TERTIAL lamp can be turned upwards for soft, reflected light, or pointed downwards for directional lighting to aid reading in the armchair.
Better bathroom
Open-backed furniture gives a lighter feel to the bathroom’s traditional style. “The HEMNES bench doesn’t take up much space, but it’s packed with storage,” says Kristina. “Bathrooms can look a bit cold, with lots of hard surfaces, so we used humidity-loving plants to bring it to life. They also work as a natural screen for privacy around the window, rather than blocking the light with blinds.”
Store and display
With open storage you can see what you have, so you can avoid re-buying things you already own. “It’s about living more consciously and not over-consuming,” says Kristina. “Rails and hooks add extra storage without taking up any floor space, perfect for keeping jewellery or accessories in order. Seeing them on view will remind you to wear them more often.”
Space downstairs is limited, so the outdoor space is used in a smart way to extend the living area. The line between indoors and outside has been pleasantly blurred.
A RÅSKOG trolley kept by the stairs makes it easy to move sauces and tableware between the kitchen, dining area and the BBQ outside. And you won’t need more than one ketchup!
Storage to suit you
A modular HAVSTA system fulfils three needs in one unit. “The section closest to the garden holds things used indoors and out, while glasses and crockery are protected from dust by glass doors in the middle section,” says Kristina. Books, stationery and paperwork are kept at the other end within easy reach of the dining table, which is used for working and household admin.
We moved some functions outside to save precious space indoors. So the garden has a larger table for hosting friends and family. There’s a sorting station for recycling out there too.
We love to see our customers get creative with our products. Go for it! But please note that altering or modifying IKEA products so they can no longer be re-sold or used for their original purpose, means the IKEA commercial guarantees and your right to return the products will be lost.
Made by
Interior stylist: Kristina Pospelova
Photographer: Kristian Krebs
