How to create a hygge in an apartment using Soviet furniture
Inspiration / / January 07, 2021
What is the general connection between hygge and Soviet furniture
The Scandinavian philosophy of happiness gained momentum a few years ago and is not going to give up positions. Superiority, of course, is hygge - a concept that became known from the book of the Dane Mike Viking. It means a feeling of coziness and comfort, which must be created at home (and not only) in order to be happy.
He was later joined by the Icelandic Gluggavedur, meaning about the same. The concept is associated with bad weather, when it is more pleasant to be at home than on the street. That is, it means all the same coziness and comfort. Finally, we learned about the Swedish art of temperance lagom, which teaches us to be content with only what is needed. And it does not imply minimalism and asceticism at all. It's about the balance between work and play, the time spent with the family, and all the same comfort.
Coziness in Scandinavian philosophy is prescribed to be created with the help of candles, blankets, pillows, books, ceramic and porcelain figurines, carpets, soft lighting and indoor plants. Of course, all this will not fit into any interior. Therefore, in the arena - which is predictable - appeared
Scandinavian style. Here are its distinctive features:- Natural materials.
- White walls and wood (or wood grain) floors.
- Simplicity of lines and a lot of air, no clutter.
- Mainly white, gray, pastel colors and bright color accents.
- A lot of light - both from windows and artificial. The latter is achieved by an abundance of lamps, sconces, chandeliers, floor lamps.
- Furniture made from natural materials using metal and plastic, vintage and craft items.
You don't have to go far for examples, the range and examples of Ikea interiors are at your service. But if you revisit the pictures with the Scandinavian style, you will definitely see something familiar. Much in it is very much in common with what they mean when they write in the announcement about the search for an apartment "just not grandmother's furniture."
In photographs of Scandinavian interiors, there are very similar cabinets, wardrobes, chairs, as well as things with forgotten names such as dressing table and trellis. They look there, of course, differently, because furnishings play an important role - at least those very white walls instead of wallpaper of dubious colors.
It is not necessary to go to the store for suitable furniture and interior items. Treasures may be waiting for you in unexpected places.
What furniture to pay attention to
Not any Soviet interior items may interest you. Some polished tables from the 90s (the ones that hit you in the legs when you carried them before the guests arrived in the largest room) are unlikely to work. It is better to turn your gaze to the 60s, when geometric, simple and functional furniture was in fashion. A characteristic feature is thin legs, thanks to which objects seem to rise above the floor. The legs do not have to be straight, they can be located at an angle. Streamlined plastic was also used - often in the vicinity of tree. However, the Scandinavian style does not exclude metal either.
The Rigonda stereo radio, which was produced in the mid 60s, is an excellent illustration of a suitable style.
However, in later periods there is also beautiful furniture. Be guided by your taste. Such things definitely have the potential.
Where to look for suitable furniture
In the attic
Start by looking at your own family members. This works if several generations live in the same city. What if something valuable has been written off to the dacha, sent to the garage or litter the attic? Just try to take a fresh look at what you used to think of as garbage.
On free classifieds sites
While you are looking for Soviet furniture, someone is trying to get rid of it. Sometimes they are ready to give it even free of charge, for pickup. However, some owners have realized the value of vintage items. So do not rush to the first ad that comes across, prices for the same can differ at times.
At flea markets and thrift stores
With large interior items, you are likely to be out of luck: few people will drag a wardrobe to the market or to the store if the dump is much closer. But chairs, tables, floor lamps, chandeliers and bedside tables can be there in abundance.
Anywhere
The best part of a treasure hunt is that you never know where they are waiting for you. Someone takes furniture from garbage containers, someone buys a friend's grandmother. The main thing is to show enthusiasm.
What to do with furniture next
Let's say you got hold of a great nightstand, armchair, chair, or floor lamp. The chances that half-century furniture will look great are slim. The fabric may be damaged or wood parts may be scratched. Finally, you just might not like the color. Here's what you can do.
Repaint
You can drastically change the color or simply update the surface. Modern materials allow even polished furniture to be remade beyond recognition.
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Publication from Furniture Rework & Restoration (@remake_furniture_)
For best results, follow the advice of the paint manufacturer you are using. But the algorithm of actions will be approximately as follows.
- Take the furniture apart. Remove the doors, take out the shelves, unscrew the fittings.
- Clean the parts to be painted from dust and dirt.
- Degrease. Simple vodka is also suitable for this.
- Fill holes, chips, irregularities that you want to get rid of.
- Prime the surface, let dry.
- Paint the surface. Apply multiple coats as needed. Let the paint dry before applying the next coat.
- Cover the paint with wax or varnish if necessary.
- Collect furniture. If you want, replace the hardware: hinges, handles, and so on.
There are techniques you can use to artificially age freshly painted furniture or accentuate the texture of wood. Paint manufacturers usually write about this on their blogs or websites.
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Publication from Daria Gailer's Chalk Paints (@dariageiler_shop)
Replace fabric
It is important here to assess the initial state of the item. Sometimes replacing one upholstery is not limited to. We'll have to take care of the filler, or even new springs, if we are talking about an armchair or sofa.
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Publication from Roman (@romankrasnykh)
You cannot say in a nutshell about the hauling of furniture, but Lifehacker has detailed instructions.
Learn to☝
- Padding of furniture: how to give a second life to an armchair or sofa and save a lot
Upgrade furniture
You can take a piece of furniture and remake it for yourself. For example, already in Soviet times, a tabletop was attached to the base from the Singer sewing machines to get a stylish (or not - it depended on the performer) table. And this is not a purely Russian invention, in photographs from other countries you can also find such creativity.
By the way, you can do the same. Wooden countertops are available at any hardware store at affordable prices, a base from a sewing machine is available on Avito. The combination of wood and black metal fits perfectly into the Scandinavian style.
You can also replace the glass with doors or vice versa, add new shelves or remove them, build a clock mechanism. Everything is limited only by your imagination.
What else needs to be remembered
Style is made up of little things. It is not enough to install refurbished furniture in white walls to achieve Scandinavian comfort. Here's what else you can do.
- Arrange candles, ceramic figurines, books, houseplants. But remember about Scandinavian moderation. If you force a sideboard shelf with colorful rubbish, it will remain grandmother's.
- Hang posters on the walls.
- Add vibrant color accents. If you chose discreet shades for furniture, find a catchy lamp, vase, poster.
- Get some textiles. Do not forget about pillows, carpets, curtains, and also panels in the technique macrame.
- Don't litter the room. Scandinavian style is, first of all, space and air.
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