Aire continues its encounters! Discover Sophia's interior and her demanding relationship with tidying up. She lives in a small apartment in Paris. You'll discover all her design tips for turning a small space into a warm and functional space.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Sophia and I'm 27 years old. I started by studying interior design. I finally reoriented myself to training as an assembly and wiring agent in electronics. My job consists of assembling components on electronic boards . This field has nothing to do with my first aspirations. But, design and interior architecture still interest me! Saving space in our home is really important. We had a real interest in optimizing our space given the size of our home.
I have recently started working on social media where I share topics related to fashion, lifestyle and decor.
Where do you live ?
I live in Paris with my partner in a small apartment. But that doesn't stop it from being pretty thanks to several clever layout ideas . I decided to create my YouTube channel to be able to share my tips for designing small spaces and inspire as many people as possible.
How did you feel when you moved in?
Our apartment was empty when we arrived. There was only the sink in the kitchen and a few shelves above it. I had to organize everything from A to Z and create a lot of storage . It was a real challenge for me. But I really loved doing it! I think I rose to the challenge and the whole apartment is very functional.
How did you come up with your design and decorating ideas? How did the process go?
I started by taking every measurement to identify the available spaces. Then, I started looking for furniture that matched the dimensions. Our living room is not very large. I divided it into two distinct areas using a bookcase that has a dual function .
One corner is dedicated to meals and TV, and another to a cozy sleeping space. The bookcase is multifunctional. In the bedroom, it will serve as a bedside table. In the dining room, it allows us to store dishes and other practical items. I optimized the storage so that we don't feel crowded in the apartment.
My decorating and furnishing ideas came to me thanks to IKEA. I drew a lot of inspiration from their worlds. You can easily find furniture and adapt it to your needs. Plus, IKEA isn't very expensive !
I like modular furniture . It's close to custom-made solutions, yet the price remains affordable. It's easy to adapt the furniture to your daily life. For example, I needed a space for dishes and a discreet space for important papers . So I chose a glass solution for the dishes. This allows us to quickly spot objects. I wanted to invest in items that offered good value for money.
Where do you think you should start when you want to redesign your space?
I visualized what we wanted in our apartment using drawings. I made scale plans to see if the furniture would fit, which allowed us to project ourselves. As soon as it didn't work, I started again. I'm lucky, my partner is a handyman, so he was able to make the arrangements as I had imagined them. It was a small job. The apartment itself was fine.
He made a folding table. It's super practical. It serves as both a work surface and a dining table.
The kitchen is very small. What I recommend is to put shelves up high and use the available spaces on the wall, they can be used for storage . The Pegboard is really a perfect solution in this kind of situation. The panels hang directly on the wall. There are plenty of practical accessories for storing your kitchen utensils .
I find it's easier to start from scratch. It's harder to visualize when the apartment is already furnished. I recommend drawing plans indicating the square meters and delineating dedicated spaces. I also recommend multifunctional furniture. Sofa beds can be used in the living room area, but also in a bedroom to save floor space.
How to organize a small space?
My partner and I have storage rules. We have a very large closet in the kitchen; it was originally a dressing room. So we divided it into several sections. I use one area for my clothes. The rest is used for kitchen storage. My partner stores his clothes in a chest of drawers that doubles as a TV stand. We each have our own storage space. We make the most of the available space.
What advice would you give to someone to stay motivated throughout their tidying process?
The advice I would give to a couple is to find an agreement together ! Especially when it comes to everyday objects. I usually put my clothes on hangers. My partner is very different. He folds his clothes and puts his things in drawers. You just have to find solutions that work for both of you.
Find the rest of Sophia's interview by Aire in a week!
Interview by Imane Charkaoui
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