«Perfekt» einrichten 1/1

An attempt to raise awareness of the challenges of living in a home and to suggest possible solutions.

If we assume that many people move into a flat because they like it – even if it’s often left empty – or because they’re struck by its distinctive features, then we can also assume that a flat has a certain character. We may then associate the flat with our own furniture, our ideas and our needs. What seems so simple at first turns out, once we’ve moved in, not to be so straightforward, or drags on (see first blog post). Perhaps we’re even vain enough to question the previous owners’ choice of furnishings when viewing a flat.

So what do we do once we’ve moved in? Either we redecorate from scratch or we work with the existing furniture. This post is primarily about striving for perfection in an apartment’s interior design, rather than adapting the furnishings to new dimensions.

So if we take the existing character of an apartment as our starting point, we simply need to become aware of the lines within it. Sometimes this is easier, sometimes more difficult. New-build flats, for example, often look very similar in terms of their layout and the materials used, which probably makes it harder to give the rooms a distinctive character. Whatever the layout of a flat, my first tip is:

Pay attention to the ‘lines’ in a room. They speak for themselves. They define the boundaries of the room and, therefore, your possibilities. Depending on the furniture, the room may seem perfect to us or not.

Then it’s time to start arranging the furniture. If you have a clear idea of how you want it, that’s great. Otherwise, my second tip is: just give it a go. Arrange your furniture in the way you think suits the room best. Don’t rule out any possibilities. What seems unthinkable at first glance may turn out to be very attractive in the end.

Take a look at the result. If you need to move furniture around, make sure there’s enough space. A chair at the dining table, for example, should be able to be pulled back by about 90 centimetres. Tip: Trust your instincts here. You’ll know whether the space is sufficient or whether you need a bit more room.

Important: Stick to the standard dimensions when it comes to the height of your furniture. Don’t combine a tall dining table with chairs that are too low or too high. Such a mismatch makes sitting at the table uncomfortable and looks out of place.

Dining table height: 76 cm

Chair seat height: 45 cm

All well and good. Let’s take a critical look at a real-life example – the dining room in my flat:

Was fällt auf? Wie wirkt der Raum auf Sie? Was scheint harmonisch? Was stört Sie? Fehlt etwas? Würden Sie den Raum anders einrichten?

Bevor ich die Gründe für diese Möblierung erläutere, lasse ich den Beitrag gerne so stehen und wirken. Ich bin gespannt auf Ihre Gedanken und Kommentare.