Home idea with IKEA: a studio apartment
When Monta bought her first property – a small flat in Riga – she immediately felt it was her own space. However, for it to fully match Monta’s idea of a cosy nest, it still lacked a well-thought-out, cohesive interior. Living for a long time in a temporary setup sparked a desire for change. To transform the living room combined with the kitchen area from a simple, purely practical space into a true gem, Monta is ready to get involved herself and also listen to the advice of IKEA’s skilled interior designers.
Before
The bright space is furnished in a practical and very simple way – enough to serve all everyday functions, yet with many unfinished elements. The partially completed kitchen, the clothes currently hung wherever there is space, and the relaxation area are all in need of change. The transformation must take into account not only the creation of a functional interior, but also the need for a finished, cosy overall look.
After – kitchen area
After the transformation, the kitchen’s main improvements are the wall cabinets and the fridge front, which create a unified, cohesive look. Wall cabinets are particularly recommended for small kitchens, as they make use of vertical space and provide more opportunities to keep various small items hidden behind doors, preventing the interior from looking cluttered and keeping surfaces free from dust. A clever solution in this kitchen is the continuation of the wall cabinets beyond the kitchen area, where the washing machine is located – this approach allows the appliance to be visually integrated into the overall design. When planning a kitchen, it is also worth thinking about smaller accessories, such as rails for hanging various smaller items, which help to keep the worktop clear.
After – dining area
In the small dining area, space for working has been cleverly planned as well – one of the chairs is swivel-mounted and on castors, allowing comfortable use at a computer. The other chair is colour-coordinated, creating a balanced composition together with the table. The interior designer’s addition to this area is curtains by the window, a simple way to make the space feel more cosy.
After – living area
For the living area, a light-coloured sofa has been chosen as an accent, complementing the overall mood of the space. The sense of completion is enhanced by interior details such as a lamp, cushions, framed pictures on the wall, and a houseplant, which the IKEA interior designer has recommended placing at a higher level to make it stand out more. When composing a relaxation corner like this, it is worth paying attention to small details that help create a more harmonious look – here, warm wood tones appear in the picture frames, the plant pot, and the sofa legs, echoing the cabinet and TV unit on the opposite side of the room. Some of the cabinet doors have been fitted with mirrors, which is practical and also makes the space feel visually larger.
