Home Decoration – one of the biggest challenges for first-time home creators. J | L INTERIOR ART interior designer Jurga Kančienė and the teams of door, floor, tile, furniture, and curtain salons operating in the 'Green Gallery' ('Urmo Base') share tips on how to ease this process and avoid the most common mistakes.
First – the plan
According to interior designer J. Kančienė, the most important advice, relevant to every apartment or homeowner, is to have a clear vision of their home before starting the finishing works. Additionally, it's crucial to accurately assess one's capabilities to ensure they align with expectations: research the prices of goods and services, evaluate the budget.
"The plan should reflect the layout of the rooms, furniture, plumbing, and electrical-lighting. These are the main aspects of a home that are interconnected. Only by knowing where the sofa, bed, dining table will stand or what the layout of the bathroom will be, can you properly plan lighting, sockets, switches. It's important to start with a comfortable, personalized home base, and then build the aesthetic part from there," says the interior designer.
When creating your home project, J. Kančienė advises paying a lot of attention to the lighting plan. According to the interior designer, properly designed lighting can add much more uniqueness to a home than objects.
"There are two types of lighting: general, which fills the rooms with necessary light, and accent, which creates a cozy atmosphere. Accent lighting should be controlled separately from the general. This is a timeless trend, the importance and logic of planning do not change over the years," says J. Kančienė.
Interior design is influenced by location and exterior surroundings
Interior designer J. Kančienė emphasizes that one of the most crucial moments is choosing the flooring material. Knowing the desired materials is important before starting finishing work.
"Whether it's tiles, wood, vinyl, or another material, each requires a different level of elevation. If you don't assess this before starting renovation, you may end up living with unwanted thresholds or other inconveniences later on," says the interior designer.
When asked about which flooring material she would recommend, Kančienė notes that it's a matter of possibilities and preferences. Personally, the designer advocates for natural, sustainable materials.
"All modern flooring materials are heat-conductive, making them suitable for underfloor heating. People should choose based on what suits them best and reflects their lifestyle and preferences," says J. Kančienė.
Speaking about interior design, the designer highlights one main rule – coherence and quality.
"The most important thing is to maintain unity – from the homeowner, the location of the property, and the exterior to the interior design. A loft-style apartment would look out of place if furnished in Baroque style, or a cottage in the suburbs if it looked like a sheikh's palace. The interior of a home must match its exterior, and the exterior must harmonize with the environment in which the property is located and the style of those living in it," shares the interior designer's advice.
According to J. Kančienė, among the prevailing trends, there is a lot of freedom to be observed.
"Minimalism, minimalism combined with classics or other styles. Nowadays, there is a lot of room for experimentation, and many colors are returning to interiors. The most important thing is for the individual to feel comfortable and find beauty in their surroundings. A lot of coziness can be created with textiles: curtains, soft furniture, rugs. The basics themselves – walls, floors, electrical wiring, lighting, plumbing – I always recommend not overloading and sparing no investment, as this is done for many years and must be of sufficient quality. Over the years, it will be enough to replace items, and the interior can acquire a new look," says the specialist.
Additionally, considering one's own capabilities, the designer advises choosing real, not artificial, items. Even modest items add more beauty, style, coziness, and authenticity to homes than created luxury paraphernalia.
If there is no possibility or desire to hire an interior designer, consult with salespeople, many of whom are professionals in their field these days. The most important thing is to follow a sequence, not to rush, and this will help avoid many mistakes.
In the flooring market, practicality reigns
Inquiring about the prevailing trends among residents who independently furnish their homes, we visited one of the most popular places for decoration, construction, and interior goods in Kaunas - the 'Green Gallery', located at Pramonės pr. 14 ('Urmo Base'). According to the representative of the '1000grindu.lt' store operating here, the main prevailing trend is practicality.
"Young people tend to dedicate as little time as possible to floor maintenance, but they expect high durability from the floors. Everyone wants children and pets to be able to roam freely at home without damaging the floor, which should remain new-looking for many years," says Darius, a representative of '1000grindu.lt'.
While the choice of flooring is extensive, in terms of practicality, one type stands out today - vinyl.
"Tiles are durable but cold and hard. Laminate floors withstand abrasion well and are scratch-resistant, but they are also cold and less resistant to moisture. Parquet creates a cozy, natural feeling but is easily damaged and requires a lot of maintenance. In contrast, vinyl flooring is non-slip, warm, cozy, waterproof, and resistant to the effects of children and pets. Flooring manufacturers invest heavily in this type of flooring. Every year, they become more and more similar to wooden surfaces," says the representative of '1000grindu.lt'.
The flooring expert notes that it is important not only to choose high-quality floors but also to entrust their installation to a qualified professional. Practice shows that the vast majority of cases of poor-quality flooring are related to mistakes made during installation."
Tired of „50 shades of grey” tiles
We also inquired about the prevailing trends in interior decoration from the team at the tile salon "Varduva," which operates in the highly popular "Green Gallery."
"At last year's tile exhibitions, tones of sand, reddish hues, and greens predominated, along with tiles imitating travertine stone and tiles featuring natural motifs. However, based on our 31 years of experience, we can say that customers don't blindly follow trends when it comes to home decoration; they choose tiles according to their taste. However, we have noticed that customers are somewhat tired of the '50 shades of gray' tiles - instead of gray, they are increasingly opting for sand or white colors," says the representative of "Varduva."
For easy maintenance of tiled floors, the expert recommends choosing silk-matte (lappatto) tiles. If you desire glossy, luxurious tiles, then the "Varduva" team suggests considering products with a more varied pattern, as drops of water or cosmetics will be less visible on them.
"There is a myth that only small-format tiles are suitable for small rooms, when in fact, larger-format tiles visually enlarge a small space. For this reason, we recommend using larger tiles. This will also create a more cohesive tile pattern. It is also important to assess the room where you plan to install the tiles. Will it be humid, or will you enter it directly from outside? Often, customers who have not previously dealt with home renovations do not consider these aspects. Our professional consultants are here to help with these issues," says the tile expert.
Smart and comfortable door solutions
The quest for practicality extends to the door market as well. According to Lina, a representative of "Durų namai" operating in the "Green Gallery," bold, eccentric, and often expensive projects of previous years are being replaced by smart, modest, ecological, and comfortable design solutions.
When choosing outdoor doors, people usually look for sturdy options that ensure safety. According to the door specialist, thermal conductivity is also very important.
"Outdoor doors are the beginning of a home. Although there are many types of outdoor doors to choose from, three main materials are usually used: PVC, wood, and aluminum. Composite material is also quite popular. When choosing outdoor doors and their material, it is important to assess where they will be installed - in an apartment building, a private house, or a cottage. Safety, sound insulation, thermal conductivity, and aesthetics are probably the most important selection criteria," says Lina.
When choosing interior doors, it is important to consider the material. The representative of "Durų namai" says that people who value naturalness choose wooden or interior doors covered with natural veneer. Those who prefer minimalism opt for painted or eco-veneer interior doors.
"Wooden interior doors are appreciated for their naturalness and durability. They can be restored and should last for about 20-30 years. Over time, they will change color, especially from direct sunlight. They are more sensitive to moisture but attractive to those who value naturalness. Eco-veneer interior doors are currently the most popular due to their price and quality ratio. Eco-veneer is a durable, moisture-resistant, and scratch-resistant material. Its color does not change over time, which is highly appreciated by customers," says the door expert.
An important question is whether to choose hollow-core or solid-core doors. The representative of "Durų namai" explains that the advantage of hollow-core doors is their lightweight, but the sound insulation is not as good.
"Solid-core interior doors are known for their strength. We sell doors with a 'Solid Core' filling. They are not only environmentally friendly but also have excellent sound insulation," says the woman.
The representative of "Durų namai" points out that wood is making a comeback in interiors. Veneered, wooden, or even eco-veneer interior doors with a natural oak texture are a must-have for this season.
Chooses indidualy made furniture
The representative of the Lithuanian furniture salon "Baldų uoksas," Silvija, explains that lately, there has been a noticeable trend where customers are more inclined to personalize their purchases rather than choosing items readily available in store displays.
"Today's consumers are very keen on creating an interior that reflects their individuality. Very often, customers come to us with requests to make a bed based on a photo they saw on the internet. Many want to order chairs with the same fabric as the soft furniture already in their homes or ask us to make table protectors or runners from the same tapestry that we use to cover the chairs," says Silvija, the sales manager at "Baldų uoksas."
According to the representative of "Baldų uoksas," furniture in homes should not only match the style or colors but also be tailored to the size of the space and the habits of the clients.
"It's important not only how the furniture looks and its quality but also its functionality and details such as table size, extension function, color combinations, or the arrangement of chairs, to make it as convenient as possible to use both large and small home spaces throughout the year. Today, customers expect more than just custom-made furniture. We discuss every detail of the order, clarify the vision, offer various color combinations, and provide the most convenient final service," explains the representative of "Baldų uoksas."
According to Silvija, customers appreciate both the variety of furniture made in Lithuania and their longevity, sustainability, and quality.
Recommended to choose the fabric live
The representative of the curtain salon "Klostė," operating in the "Žalioji galerija," Mantas echoes the sentiments of other store teams – in the curtain industry, minimalism, functionality, and naturalness are also prevailing trends.
"A decade ago, classical, baroque-style ornate interiors were much more popular. Curtains were heavily draped, patterned, trailing on the floor, and tied up. Such an interior requires more effort to maintain cleanliness at home. Now people are more inclined to choose curtains that require minimal maintenance or are simpler. Curtains are left with a gap from the floor to avoid obstructing the vacuum cleaner, and the most popular type of curtain rod is ceiling-mounted," says Mantas, the representative of "Klostė" curtains.
Ceiling-mounted curtain rods have invisible fastenings, making them the sturdiest type of rod, and curtains slide exceptionally well on them. The maximum length of an unjointed ceiling-mounted rod is 6 meters, making this solution suitable even for corner windows.
"Smart technologies have also made their way into our industry. We increasingly install electric curtain rods, which can be connected to a smart home system, controlled via phone, or simply operated with a remote control. People often choose them for large spaces or rooms where it's challenging to reach to draw the curtains, such as in bedrooms, to avoid getting out of bed to pull the curtains," explains the representative of "Klostė."
The curtain expert emphasizes that when planning the selection of curtains, several key moments should be considered: the size of the curtain niche and the quality of the chosen fabrics.
"All curtains may look very similar at first glance, so it's important to have clear criteria when choosing the fabric. It can be difficult to describe when choosing curtains for the first time, so the easiest way is to visit the salon and consult with experts. Before coming, it's very helpful to take some interior photos and bring along a sofa cushion or another item you want to match the curtains with," says the curtain expert from "Klostė."
From advice to products all in one place
If you have more questions about where to start with home furnishing or what materials and products to choose, you will always find the answers at the "Green Gallery." This shopping area, spread over 10,000 square meters, offers nearly thirty different shopping and entertainment venues for visitors.
For those looking for home interior elements, you will find "Deinava Furniture," "InMondus," "Baldų Uoksas," "Vivaldo Furniture," "Mato Furniture," the curtain salon "Klostė," a wide selection of curtains and carpets at the "InterDeco" store, "VIP Furniture," "Mato Furniture Plus," the "Doors and Windows Center," the "1000grindu.lt" salon, the furniture boutique "Your Vision," the tile center "Varduva," and the largest "Vynoteka Base" in the Kaunas region, among many other places.
While parents shop, children can have fun in the play area "Smurfland" located here.Smurflandas“.
The "Green Gallery" is open to customers every weekday from 9 AM to 6 PM, on Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM, and on Sundays from 9 AM to 3 PM at Pramonės pr. 14, Kaunas.
For more information about the "Green Gallery," click HERE..
