Soviet furniture in a modern, new interior of an apartment or private house

Using a Soviet carpet in a modern interior

Carpets purchased in Soviet times are of high quality. They are made of wool, so they are ready to give warmth and comfort. As a rule, such an element was rarely located on the floor.

In ancient times, the carpet was treated very carefully; it hung on the wall. Currently you can use this masterpiece in the following interpretations:

Bedroom decoration. It can be placed under the bed, protruding slightly beyond it. The result will be a luxurious podium built in oriental style.

Old Soviet carpet in a modern interior

Living room decoration. An excellent solution would be cut carpet elements, which are made in the form of covers for armchairs and sofas. If you also cut squares that can be placed on the floor, you can enjoy the warmth and coziness.

Sofa covers from Kovar

It is wonderful to use natural carpets to decorate a children's room. You need to cut the old carpet into specific pieces that can be placed near the child’s bed, in the play corner. Your baby will be able to enjoy the warmth, and natural wool is good for health.

Excellent solutions will come from decorative elements made from carpet remnants. You can make covers for chairs and stools. It is enough to use individual squares, which will become a wonderful decoration for kitchen furniture.

The whole carpet looks very colorful, but if you cut it into squares, you will get a stylish solution that looks very fashionable and harmonious. You can create an individual style that emphasizes your taste and sophistication.

Transforming the Soviet wall into a modern way

If you have an old Soviet wall, then it needs to be updated a little. The main advantage of such furniture is its spaciousness, so you shouldn’t throw away the rarity.

You need to do the following operations:

Completely disassemble all contents located in the wall. Surely, you will find a lot of items that are long overdue to be thrown away.
You will need to remove all the old doors in the wall. They need to be updated to achieve a modern look.
Here is ready-made material intended for transformation.
You need to draw up a drawing of what you want to achieve.

Clear the wall of old things

From such a wall you can build a library that allows you to beautifully display all the books. Additionally, the missing shelves should be built. The open design without doors looks great.

Wall after simple transformations

Do you want to equip a dressing room? It is enough to simply order doors in the form of a “compartment”, which will completely close the space. Inside, you should remove extra shelves and build clothes hangers.

Dressing room from the Soviet wall

It is possible to divide the wall into separate objects:

The mezzanines will make wonderful shoe boxes that will decorate the hallway.

Shoe box made from old furniture

If there is a separate closet, it will take its rightful place in the children's room.

Soviet wardrobe in the interior of a children's room

The part of the wall that has a secretary will fit perfectly into the design of the office. Numerous shelves will also be useful for a schoolchild or teacher.

Soviet wall rack

You need to make small changes to the wall decor so that Soviet furniture in a modern interior looks stylish and harmonious. It makes sense to order doors and high-quality fittings from professionals who will suggest the most popular solutions.

Modern kitchen cupboard designs

Ancient sideboards were always elegant: with carved elements and engravings on glass.

Antique buffets were elegant and decorated with many details.

Modern types of furniture tend towards minimalism. This does not mean that the visual design of the buffet fades into the background: the emphasis simply shifts from unnecessary decor to details, shades, and shapes.

Options for buffets in modern styles:

hi-tech - “smart” solutions in the choice of fittings, simple shape, the facade can be made of laminated material in a bright shade, chrome parts and glass are appropriate;
eco-style - made exclusively from safe wood (eg bamboo), facade with natural texture, minimal finishing;
minimalism – laconic form, emphasis on functionality, spacious compartments;
kitsch - bright colors, non-standard or simple shapes, furniture can be made with a hint of retro style;
Scandinavian – massive, with an emphasis on the environmental component, can be decorated with cross beams;
shabby chic - ornate design with decorative elements, artificially aged finish.

The buffet can be spacious or narrow, for installation in a corner. A suitable model can be found for any size kitchen.

The use of Soviet crystal in a modern interior

Currently, you can purchase dishes made from various materials. However, antique crystal does not lose its popularity. You can place your grandmother's dowry in a secluded corner so that you can take it out when setting the holiday table.

Soviet crystal in modern table setting

Expensive crystal, from which glasses and glasses, dishes and salad bowls are made, always looks especially solemn. Therefore, you can always set a table that will look luxurious and rich.

Crystal vases will be a magnificent decoration for the living room and bedroom. You can create unusual compositions consisting of fresh or artificial flowers. Crystal frame will create a unique style.

Soviet crystal vases will fit perfectly into a modern interior

A variety of figurines, which were once collected with special trepidation, will become a magnificent decoration for bedside tables and a coffee table. It makes sense to revise your grandmother’s collection in order to create a unique design for your home.

Soviet figurines in a classical style interior

What Soviet items can be left in modern apartments?

Chair with thin legs

A model that has gained incredible popularity in today's interiors. It is used in a variety of styles, searched for on Avito and Yula, remade with your own hands, and upholstery changed. There are even modern analogues that produce furniture showrooms, responding to high consumer demand. If you inherited such a chair, consider yourself lucky and don’t even think about throwing it away.

Photo: Instagram bureau.rodnoi

Photo: Instagram kamorka.workshop

Carpet

A few years ago it was difficult to imagine that Soviet patterned carpets would come back into fashion. Clean the old carpet and, provided there are no bald spots on it, you can leave it in your modern living room.

Photo: Instagram elena.limar

Photo: Instagram asya_designer_

Radiola

A turntable on legs would fit well into a living room or complement a modern bedroom. Of course, you are unlikely to find working equipment today, but you can try to get it repaired by skilled craftsmen. And even if that doesn’t work, use the radio instead of a nightstand or table.

Photo: Instagram daria.jameson

Desk

Just recently we were getting rid of varnished desks with drawers and locks, the keys to which had long been forgotten. Today they can be used again, and even combined with the same vintage chair.

Photo: Instagram porterougeinteriors

Buffet

Or a rack. Needless to say, Soviet “walls” from living rooms will not return to the interior for a long time, but you can use their individual parts. For example, sideboards or bookshelves.

Photo: Instagram porterougeinteriors

Photo: Instagram kseniasavik

Mini TV

Today it is difficult to imagine that once the only opportunity to watch concerts and TV shows was such a mini-TV. And today it can be turned... into a photo frame.

Photo: Instagram daria.jameson

Soviet sofa in a modern interior

As a rule, the springs and mechanisms in an old sofa are completely changed. You can replace them with new and modern designs. If desired, the upholstery can be updated, which can be made of leather, fabric or velor.

Updating an old Soviet sofa

If the sofa is part of the corner, then the armchairs should be updated at the same time. Old legs can be replaced with modern rollers. You'll get a stylish living room update that will look interesting and unique.

Stylish chair from an old Soviet

An excellent solution would be to create a corner designed for comfortable relaxation. The leather set looks incredibly luxurious. This option fits harmoniously into both the interior of a city apartment and the style of a country house.

Necessary tools and materials to remake an old sideboard with your own hands

Of course, the inventory will largely depend on what, from what and into what you are going to convert. Still, you can highlight a number of universal tools and materials that you will certainly find useful:

Sandpaper. Buy several sheets with different types of grain;
A set of screwdrivers and screwdrivers for detaching/attaching doors and shelves;
Brushes of all sizes and soft rollers;
Spatulas, plastic and metal;
Self-tapping screws, in case repairs are necessary in addition to restoration;
Wax or putty to eliminate cracks, primer;
Paint thinner, as well as nail polish remover gel;
Glossy and matte, colored and transparent varnishes, acrylic and oil paints, enamels, as well as stencils for creating decor;
Scraper for working with furniture;
Nails, staples and, accordingly, a hammer;
Stationery: pencils, markers, rulers, etc.;
Masking tape;
Steel sponge;
Wood glue.

If you have to work indoors, we recommend using a respirator to avoid inhaling harmful fumes.

And then we will tell you how to make a new one from an old sideboard.

An example of a self-converted sideboard

Antique chests of drawers in a modern interior

Small chests of drawers were once especially popular. Modern stores also offer such copies. However, Soviet furniture in a modern interior looks stylish and elegant.

Soviet chest of drawers in the bedroom interior

I'm delighted with the design of the chest of drawers. It may have carved elements made by experienced craftsmen. Naturally, it’s a pity to send this masterpiece to a landfill. You will be able to get acquainted with modern options to transform an antique item.

Transforming an old chest of drawers

The following techniques will provide excellent opportunities:

The use of a special film that is easily glued to old furniture.

Transforming a chest of drawers using self-adhesive film

Paint that allows you to get different color solutions.

Painting will transform a Soviet chest of drawers beyond recognition

Decorating the chest of drawers with stylish fittings that look fashionable and stylish.

Decor of a Soviet chest of drawers with modern fittings

Artificial creation of vintage style.

Decorating an old chest of drawers in vintage style

This chest of drawers will take its rightful place in the bedroom. You can store bed linen in it, which will always be ready for use.

The chest of drawers looks quite interesting in a children's room. As a rule, it has many drawers, which allows you to conveniently arrange toys and books. The baby will be able to independently manage his treasures.

An old chest of drawers can be converted into a chest of drawers for a children's room

Do you want to transform your living room? The white chest of drawers looks great and will become a reliable storage for various small items. You will be able to ensure order, because all things will be located in separate drawers.

Updated Soviet chest of drawers in the living room interior

Methods for restoring furniture

Currently, there are several ways to restore the appearance of furniture by eliminating existing defects and updating its appearance. The main ones, most suitable for independent use, are:

decoupage, which consists of sticking appliqués on elements of furniture structures - carefully cut out drawings, floral patterns, still lifes, collages from fabric or paper;
painting (drawing) of the restored surface;
repainting – applying a new color layer or repainting the existing color;
decoration - restoration of damaged surfaces and addition of various decorations and attributes.

Required materials and tools

To carry out restoration work, the set of materials and tools largely depends on the furniture restoration technique. However, there are certain materials that will be required regardless of the method of restoring furniture and universal tool kits available in the arsenal of any home craftsman.

Materials you need to stock up on:

sanding paper of various abrasiveness (preferably on a fabric basis);
putty, putty, wax, which are necessary for filling cracks;
glossy and matte varnishes;
different enamel colors;
solvents and removers;
wood glue;
nails, staples, screws, self-tapping screws;
masking and stationery tape.

In addition to the usual set of tools (screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, pliers) available to any home craftsman, you must purchase:

round and fluted brushes with different bristle hardness;
plastic and metal spatulas;
scrapers for working with wood;
paint rollers;
measuring and marking tools - rulers, squares, pencils, scribers.

Decoupage of an old sideboard

In recent years, decoupage has been considered the most popular (if not fashionable) method of restoring furniture. The technique of restoring an old sideboard using this method is quite simple. Various patterns cut from paper or fabric are glued onto its prepared wooden surfaces. Most home-grown “homemade” ones prefer to use drawings made on table napkins as appliqués.

There are several reasons for this:

from the abundance of napkins that are available in stores, you can always choose the image you like;
some napkins have a corrugated texture, which, subject to certain rules of decoupage technique, is preserved on the restored product;
the procedure for preparing applications is quite simple;
Carrying out restoration work does not require the purchase of expensive materials.

To carry out restoration with your own hands, you need to stock up on:

a set of napkins or wallpaper, with the selected pattern;
special decoupage glue (ordinary PVA glue will do);
acrylic paints and clear varnish.

The sequence of self-updating using decoupage is as follows:

surfaces to be restored must be degreased using a solvent or a special solution;
if it is intended to change the color scheme of the restoration field, then they either paint it or, using stain, artificially change the color of the wood;
cut out the necessary designs from napkins or wallpaper;
a layer of glue is applied to the surface of the sideboard where the appliqués will be glued;
the drawings are glued, smoothed, if necessary, the edges of the application are additionally glued;
After the glue and applications have completely dried, the surface is varnished.

Painting an old sideboard

In order to restore old furniture using the painting method, you need to have minimal artistic talents. If the master does not find them in himself, then it is better not to undertake this procedure himself, but to invite a friend or girlfriend - the two of them will have more fun. The essence of the method is quite simple - it is the application of a drawing, ornament or design to a prepared surface.

To paint, you will need a set of thin brushes and acrylic paint of different colors. Some experienced restorers use different types of tempera. In this case, it is better to use moisture-resistant paints, and after finishing the artistic work, additionally cover the surface with matte or glossy transparent varnish.

Painting can be applied:

on old, pre-sanded paint, in this case the design should occupy a fairly large area;
onto the newly painted surface.

On a note!

A fairly popular painting technique is gradation, when the color of the furniture plane changes its intensity, for example, moving from “indigo” to light blue halftones.

Artificial aging of restored surfaces

A rather complex, but nevertheless quite popular method of restoration is the artificial aging of wooden parts. It is quite simple to age colored surfaces - an additional layer of transparent whitish paint or varnish with a milky tint is applied on top of the colored layer. To make it more decorative, when applying the finishing layer, before it completely hardens, the surface is blotted with a sponge. Today, for aging, you can buy a special varnish, which, when dried, forms small cracks - craquelures.

Repainting an old sideboard

The easiest way to update not only a sideboard, but any other home furniture is to repaint it. However, to give the product an aesthetic and neat appearance, new painting should be carried out in compliance with the requirements of the technology. The sequence of operations is as follows:

Using a solvent, soften the old paint layer.
The swollen paint is removed with a spatula.
After the surface has dried, it is sanded with sandpaper.
Surface priming.
After the primer has dried, the surface is additionally sanded and painted if necessary.

Recently, changing the color and texture of the surface of a sideboard is carried out not only by painting, but also by gluing the surfaces with self-adhesive film. This method allows you to significantly reduce the time of restoration work, and when choosing high-quality materials and following the gluing technology, the durability of the film layer is quite sufficient.

Advantages of using Soviet furniture in a modern interior

Currently, furniture is presented in a wide range. However, all the options are very similar to one another, which makes it difficult to emphasize your own individuality.

Soviet furniture in a modern interior is ready to give you the following advantages:

1.The ability to create your own solutions that will become one and only.

Soviet furniture will help create a unique interior

2.You will be able to realize unusual fantasies at minimal cost.

3. There will be an opportunity to show your own imagination, which is a particularly exciting process.

Soviet wardrobe as an interior accent for a room

4.Thanks to modern materials, you can periodically change the design of your own apartment or house.

5.You will bring incredible joy to the older generation because you prefer antiquity.

6.Soviet items are of excellent quality, therefore they are intended for long-term use.

High-quality Soviet furniture will last for many years

Antique items will allow you to completely transform your apartment or country house. You can decorate each room in a special style. It also looks great to have a unified idea that is supported throughout the entire room.

How to update Soviet furniture

Sometimes it’s enough just to monotonously repaint Soviet furniture so that it looks beautiful in a new stylish interior.

However, there are other interesting ways to decorate old sets that will help if you want fresh, extraordinary solutions. Let's give a mini-list of ideas.

1) You can paint furniture through lace or tulle.

2) Use a multi-layer gold or bronze coating - a marker of an expensive classic.

3) Slate paint on facades will look even more interesting and modern.

4) Cover the furniture body with self-adhesive film. Suitable, for example, is a self-adhesive with a wood or small floral print, like a country one.

5) Another similar technique is decoupage. Its essence: individual pieces of furniture are decorated using a stylized pattern or textured fabric. For this purpose, special decoupage napkins, pieces of wallpaper, notes, and embossed leather are used.

6) Aging the furniture. Soviet furniture can be given an antique charm, but in this case professional techniques are needed - patina, craquelure.

By combining different techniques, in particular, aging and decoupage, professionals create gorgeous effects.

7) You can update only the fittings - select details in accordance with the new style of the room.

When updating upholstered furniture, you can reupholster the fabric and decorate the body with noticeable decorative seams and buttons.

9) Or make covers individually.

There are radically different examples of converted Soviet chairs and armchairs in the Stoolstory assortment. Inspiration and new ideas can be found on their Instagram.

Planning an interior design in an antique style

Before you start work, you should carefully consider the design of the future room. You need to make a list of all the Soviet period items that are available.

It is welcome to draw up a drawing of each room, where you can draw a diagram of the arrangement of objects. This approach will allow you to:

Make a list of required materials.
Get an accurate idea of what the result will be.
Purchase the necessary funds in sufficient quantities.

Pre-planning allows you to speed up the work process. You can purchase everything you need in advance to get started. Don't be afraid to show your imagination. Vintage items will allow you to enjoy creativity.

Using Soviet furniture you can decorate a room in a retro style

The result will give you pleasure. Your apartment will turn into a cozy nest, designed for a comfortable stay.

Transformation of Soviet furniture with the help of a designer

Do you have a large number of Soviet items? Can't come up with use cases on your own? It makes sense to contact a designer. A specialist will allow you to create an interior style that will be a modern and unique solution.

Typically, the designer performs the following work:

Travels to the site to inspect the premises, as well as the existing Soviet objects.
The specialist asks about what you want to get as a result of the work.
A project is created for each room, allowing you to get the most sophisticated solution.
You will receive detailed advice on how to use the available attributes.
You will be offered ready-made color combinations that will harmoniously fit into the style of your home.

Experts will simulate the appearance of the future room

If you don’t have time to renovate the furniture yourself, you can turn to specialists who will do the work professionally. The cost of the master’s work will be repaid by the wonderful mood and unique design created in your apartment.

Several ways to remake

There are several approaches that can be used to significantly restore and transform old Soviet-style furniture.

The "antique" method

For this method you will need, among other things, craquelure varnish. Your sideboard will be noticeably different from what it was before and after the restoration. Here are the step-by-step actions and their descriptions:
Clean the old coating using sandpaper; if necessary, you can use spatulas. As a rule, they are required when an old sideboard has several layers of oil paint.
After cleaning, coat the surface with craquelure varnish. The effect of a cracked surface will appear.
Wait until the surface is dry and cover it with paint or clear varnish. Cracks will show through the paint and create the illusion of a cracked surface.
With paint, the effect is even more enhanced. Replace the handles with vintage ones, and your sideboard will delight you for many years to come.

Example photo before and after remodeling

Decoupage method

For this method, buy additional decoupage napkins, PVA glue, and white paint. Choose napkins depending on the theme and taste. They can be very diverse, from floral themes to scenes from the life of high society.

Step-by-step description of the work:

Treat the surface of the sideboard with sandpaper and cover all defects, chips and cracks with putty.
Cover the finished cleaned surface with stain and let dry.
You can walk around the corners of the sideboard with a wax candle for an aging effect.
Cover the surface with paint either white or pastel colors. Let it dry.
Using a metal brush, carefully brush the surface, giving it an “old” effect.
We cover the napkins with PVA glue and glue them onto the sideboard doors, smoothing them out from bubbles. We dry it with a hairdryer for speed.
We coat the entire product with varnish.
Replace the handles with new ones in the Provence style. Your new wardrobe will amaze all your guests with its beauty.
If you need to replace the glass, you need to change them, choosing something in the style of your new sideboard.

These are just two processing methods, but there are many more. Restoring furniture that has already seemingly served its purpose is a very exciting activity. It will allow you to save your budget, gain interesting skills, and bring a lot of pleasure from the work process and the final result.

Economical interior update

Old furniture will be an excellent basis for updating the interior. You can create harmonious sets that will fit perfectly into the design of both a city apartment and a country house.

Interesting combinations can be achieved in a Soviet-style dacha setting. You can equip a cozy relaxation corner consisting of an old sofa and armchairs. It is enough to simply replace the upholstery with a more modern one.

To create a cozy relaxation area, just update the furniture upholstery

A kitchen with chairs or stools, the seats of which are decorated with pieces of old carpet, looks stylish. This design will allow you to create a unique atmosphere of coziness and comfort.

Old furniture can be used in the following interpretations:

Use of furniture for its intended purpose.
The basis for creating interesting options.
A combination of several items to create a single and unique style.

The combination of several Soviet interior items creates a unique atmosphere

Your imagination will allow you to come up with stylish solutions that will decorate your living room, bedroom or child’s room. Various combinations are also possible when equipping a work office.

The main advantage of such a transformation is saving money, because you don’t have to buy new furniture. All items made many decades ago are of excellent quality and are ready to serve for many more years.

By transforming Soviet furniture you can save a lot of money

High-quality Soviet furniture in a modern interior looks elegant, allows you to show your imagination, create a cozy and unique atmosphere of harmony and comfort. You will be able to give joy to yourself and your elderly relatives, who will be very pleased with your wonderful ideas.

When did the best furniture appear in Soviet history?

The first Soviet interiors began to appear in the 1920s and 30s, and these were communal apartments with very simple furnishings. Bulky, roughly designed “Stalinist Empire style”, but noticeably reliable cabinets and tables - this is what minimalism looked like then.

Sets from the 1930s-50s are more reminiscent of the usual Soviet style, ostentatious, authentic. Everything created then indicated the prosperity of the houses and was carefully preserved. Therefore, the living room could combine the incongruous: a massive wall, ostentatiously filled with books and crystal, compact curved chairs, a sofa bed.

But items from that time are already more compact and convenient, adapted for small apartments. And at the same time, they are also characterized by the strength of a real solid mass.

And the best legacy that these years have left:

- Viennese (the same ones with curved backs) chairs, armchairs, tables - lightweight cabinet furniture on thin high legs, from the countries of the Eastern Bloc, stylish even by the standards of our time.

But not only that!

The rooms of the 1970s and 80s were already more individual, sometimes furnished under the influence of disco. The character of those interiors was created not by furniture, but by design details - new posters, records, bright colors. And laconic sets came into use, which opened up space for design ideas - coffee tables, low armchairs.

In typical furniture of this era, parts made of plastic and chipboard appeared - beautiful, cheap and, alas, impractical in comparison with an array of materials.

How to remake an old Soviet sideboard into stylish modern furniture. personal experience…