The environmental situation in Moscow is far from ideal, but few people think about the fact that the air in apartments and offices is also a great danger: in closed rooms it stagnates, which increases the concentration of substances harmful to health and multiplies dangerous bacteria and microorganisms. The Village asked doctors, environmentalists and designers what measures would help improve the ecology of the home and avoid many diseases.

Is the air in the apartment actually worse than outside?

Indoor air is, on average, five times dirtier and ten times more toxic than outdoor air. Moreover, it is in the premises that most people spend up to 90% of their time. Such statistics are given by the head of the laboratory of the manufacturer of the Potok Inter air disinfection system Yevgeny Kobzev.

Stagnant air contains a large number of microorganisms - including those that can potentially harm human health. The main source of microbes is the person himself. “Pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and different kinds streptococci, and during breathing, sneezing and coughing - the causative agents of tuberculosis, various pneumonia and influenza, ”comments Kobzev.

Pathogenic microorganisms appear in apartments due to the fact that air conditioners, household air purifiers and appliances forced ventilation rarely or poorly served: for example, an ordinary home air conditioner, if you do not change the filters in it, can become a breeding ground for the causative agent of legionellosis, which in some cases causes a severe form of pneumonia in a person (up to death). Fighting legionellosis with traditional disinfectants is almost useless. You can only increase the body's resistance, improve immunity, and prevent the multiplication of bacteria: clean climatic equipment in time, prevent stagnation of warm water (for example, in water heaters).

Another type of air pollution in an apartment that Evgeny Kobzev points out is mold: “From the surface of walls and ceilings (especially in bathrooms), mold spores can enter the air, causing asthma attacks and exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory allergy and pulmonary hypertension ”.

What sources of air pollution can be identified?

Dust

Dust is dangerous because mites can settle in it. Alena Glushakova, the deputy chief physician for the medical part of the therapist at the MEDSI clinic in Horoshevsky proezd, clarifies that the ticks themselves are safe for humans, but their metabolic products can cause the development of allergic reactions, up to the development of bronchial asthma: “If you constantly breathe dusty air, then respiratory diseases are inevitable. systems (chronic diseases of the nasal cavity, pharynx, bronchi, lungs), inflammation, headaches, irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes due to allergic reactions. "

Automotive exhaust gases and industrial emissions

Penetrating through open windows, they also pose a health hazard. Exhaust gases contain nitrogen and carbon oxides, sulfur dioxide, aromatic hydrocarbons, and lead compounds. They can cause the development of respiratory and nervous systems, provoke the development of allergic reactions, skin diseases.

The smell of cigarettes

Tobacco smoke is harmful not only at the time of smoking: there are many oily resins with a high penetrating ability in tobacco leaves, which means that the smoke from them is well absorbed into clothes, upholstered furniture, curtains, carpets. Tobacco tar and nicotine build up in the lungs and cause lung disease, exacerbate allergic reactions and increase the risk of heart disease. To eliminate the smell, you need to constantly ventilate the room, wash fabric upholstery and wallpaper, wash textiles, have powerful ventilation in the apartment or air purifiers with filters specializing in retaining particles of cigarette smoke.

Chipboards and fibreboards

Particleboard and fiberboard are layers of pressed wood that are connected together with glue or various resins. Formaldehydes and phenols, carcinogens that increase the likelihood of cancer, are released from furniture made from this material. A source of carcinogens, according to Alena Glushakova, can also be laminate, linoleum, decorative plastic and cheap building finishing materials.

In Russia, formaldehyde belongs to the second of five hazard classes, where the first is the most serious. Short-term contact with an object that emits formaldehyde will not harm, but constant presence in the same apartment with it can cause skin reactions (irritation, itching, rash), eye inflammation, lethargy, frequent headaches, difficulty sleeping. At the same time, while the source of carcinogens is isolated, for example, furniture made of chipboard is laminated or covered with veneer, the harm is minimal, but any damage to the surface will become a place for the release of formaldehyde.

Chipboard furniture emits formaldehydes and phenols - carcinogens that increase the likelihood of cancer

Doormat near the front door

From the street, we can bring pathogens along with dirt and dust. In 2008, the University of Arizona conducted a study: more than 400 thousand different bacteria were found on the soles of shoes. IN a large number Escherichia coli, Friedlander's bacillus and Serratia ficaria are transferred on shoes - these bacteria cause urinary tract infections and respiratory infections. In this way, chemicals can also be brought home: gasoline particles after a walk in the rain, toxic fertilizers from the lawn, tar from the asphalt, or reagents for dissolving snow from winter streets.

Mercury

This is a substance of the first hazard class (according to GOST 17.4.1.02-83). If you break a thermometer and at least one ball of mercury rolls up behind furniture or into a crack in a parquet floor, then mercury in contact with air will release toxic substances. That is why it is important to completely collect and dispose of it, and then disinfect all surfaces it touched with a solution of potassium permanganate.

About 80% of inhaled mercury vapor is retained in the body. The longer the exposure and the more volatile mercury particles enter the body, the more dangerous the toxic effect. Acute mercury vapor poisoning manifests itself in intestinal upset, vomiting, and swelling of the gums. A decline in cardiac activity is characteristic, the pulse becomes rare and weak, fainting is possible. In chronic poisoning, a metallic taste appears in the mouth, loose gums, severe salivation, slight excitability, weakening of memory, a strong effect on the nervous system.

Are popular cleaning products dangerous?

As a rule, when choosing household chemicals for the home, people tend to acquire the most aggressive products: with them, you can achieve perfect cleanliness... What you have to pay for by inhaling the volatile toxic substances found in cleaning and detergents: chlorine, phosphates, surfactants, triclosan and even fragrances and aromatic enzymes.

"Regular use of toxic household chemicals, especially in poorly ventilated rooms, can cause headaches, various allergic reactions, decreased immunity and even provoke the development of cancer. You can avoid these harmful effects by choosing environmentally friendly household chemicals and returning to folk remedies maintaining cleanliness in the house. For example, a solution of vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, mustard powder, soap solution and the like are much safer, ”says Natalia Edel, head physician of Verba Mayr.

What are the symptoms that can be used to understand that toxic substances are present in the air?

Symptoms that require attention to the air quality in the apartment include: headaches, sleep disturbances, nausea, flaking of the skin, unpleasant taste in the mouth upon waking, dizziness, irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes. “But you should not panic at the first appearance of one of the symptoms: the state of the surrounding air is not the most common reason these disruptions in the body. To begin with, we need to exclude the more “popular” ones: unhealthy diet, stress, lack of sleep, ”comments Dmitry Gornastolev, chief physician of the Medskan network of medical centers. But shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbance, loss of orientation in space are already symptoms in which you cannot hesitate and you need to immediately call an ambulance. They may indicate a severe allergic reaction or toxicity.

Regular use of toxic household chemicals can cause headaches, allergic reactions and decreased immunity.

How to make the air in your apartment cleaner?

In the fight for clean air, methods need to be chosen depending on the situation and the type of pollution. Vadim Rukavitsyn, environmental consultant EcoShopper, advises: if the apartment is located near a large highway or a large factory, install a filter on the valve supply ventilation and do not open windows in the room for ventilation. And if you use harmful paint, furniture or building materials, on the contrary, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often or purify the air through special household filters if the source of pollution cannot be quickly eliminated.

“Paints, varnishes, adhesives often release benzene, toluene, xylene and other volatile organic compounds. Particleboard, some types of plastic and foam in the production process are saturated with the carcinogen formaldehyde. At the same time, there are no unequivocally dangerous and unequivocally safe species paints and varnishes and glue - it depends on the composition of a particular product, ”says the ecologist. Harmful substances can be present, but in an acceptable concentration for humans and do not cause harm, therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to international ecolabels. Here are the main ones: Ecolabel ("European flower"), Nordic Ecolabel (Nordic Swan, "Northern Swan"), German marking Der Blaue Engel ("Blue Angel"), the most common in the USA and Canada Green Seal and EcoLogo, as well as Vitality Leaf, the main one for Russia.

In the case of air pollution, it will be most effective to use quartz lamps (there are small home models) and ventilation. This is especially true if someone was ill in the apartment for a long time. If the air is contaminated with mold spores, it is necessary to establish its source and first of all get rid of the mold. Also in this case, enhanced supply and exhaust ventilation and lowering humidity to 40-60%.

If we talk about universal tools for purifying the air in an apartment, home purifiers and air washers are best suited for this task. They differ in a set of filters, each of which is designed to eliminate a certain type of pollution. “The most common cleaners are with a carbon membrane, mechanical cleaning and an ionizer. To remove bacteria and organic matter, it is necessary that an ion-catalytic or streamer filter with a closed-type quartz lamp be built into the purifiers, ”Vadim Rukavitsyn recommends.

Partially protect yourself at the stage of choosing a place to stay. First of all, it is worth considering the presence of a number of large highways, industrial facilities and landfills. If we talk about Moscow, the ecologist calls the west and north-west the cleanest, and the central district, south and southeast of the capital as dirty. In addition to the presence of industrial plants in these districts, the wind in Moscow mainly blows to the southeast, so there is dirt from other districts as well. But regardless of the area, it is optimal to consider each particular house separately, taking into account the relief, distance from highways and the railway, number of storeys, proximity to the park, communications, type of house, history of the area and other parameters.

Why plant greenery near the house and ventilate the apartment?

To keep all systems running human body a constant circulatory process is needed, which is carried out with the help of respiration: when oxygen is supplied, metabolic processes occur in the cells, due to which energy is released. Breathing air quality is of paramount importance, which is why it is so important to maintain it. Lyubov Bogdanova, respiratory therapist, head of the International Center for the Study and Practice of Conscious Breathing, advises to plant greenery in the surrounding area so that the air outside the window is as clean as possible. Tree leaves actively trap dust and reduce the concentration of harmful gases. According to biologists, in the summer, an average-sized tree releases as much oxygen per day as is necessary for the breathing of three people, and a park or grove near the house will cleanse a layer of air up to 45 meters thick from carbon dioxide - this is about 15 floors. It is best to plant chestnut, poplar, elm, larch, and from shrubs - lilac, acacia, rose hips. Houseplants also contribute to the cleanliness of the air. To select a specific species, you can use the NASA list, which was compiled in 1989 based on the results of a study of plants that help in an enclosed space not only absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, but also remove some harmful substances from the atmosphere (formaldehyde, benzene, trichlorethylene). In total, there are about 30 plants in this list; of the most effective, with a complex effect, are common ivy, golden epipremnum, spathiphyllum, bamboo palm (hamedorea), sansevieria ("mother-in-law's tongue"), bordered dracaena and garden chrysanthemum. Regular wet cleaning is necessary to maintain the cleanliness of the air: moisture precipitates dust, cleaning the atmospheric air from its particles.

At the same time, volatile compounds of household chemicals and personal hygiene products are often the causes of allergic cough or nasal congestion, a runny nose or severe sneezing, so it is better to choose natural products for cleaning premises and body hygiene.

“Ventilate the apartment regularly: carbon dioxide released during exhalation is 1.5 times heavier than atmospheric air and it accumulates in an unventilated room. And try to spend as much time as possible in nature: it is the ecoflora that creates the most favorable breathing mixture for humans, which the urban environment cannot boast of, ”advises the breathing therapist. The air cannot be made absolutely clean, but the person himself, by controlling his breathing, can minimize the harmful effect.

Nasal breathing is unique in that it provides humidification and purification of air coming from outside into the human body. The mucous membrane of the nasal passages traps dust particles and other foreign particles, as well as viruses and bacteria. The special composition of mucus neutralizes them, and the ciliated epithelium ensures their removal from the nasal cavity.

Life hacks and gadgets to help keep the air clean

Since wet cleaning is one of the most effective ways to achieve clean air in the apartment, you need to create conditions for her: systematize the storage of things, remove clothes, books and dishes in closed cabinets and containers, leaving a maximum of open horizontal surfaces free.

Ideally, you should think about the air quality in the apartment even at the stage of renovation: choose environmentally friendly materials, advise Sergey and Veronika Kovaleva, architects Artbaza.studio. Solid wood or cork tiles are best for flooring: these materials are easy to clean and do not emit toxic substances. To paint walls or ceilings, the architects of the Artbaza studio use Japanese paints with an antibacterial coating and without lead in the composition, and in the decoration they often use whole slabs of marble, solid wood, stones and minerals of natural origin - all these materials are natural and safe. Technical innovations will help keep the air clean and healthy. For example, an oxygen generator: it, by passing air through filters, converts it into pure oxygen. More standard, but also useful air purifiers and ionizers. “In order to choose a good air purifier, it is important to know the volume of the room: we multiply the volume by three - this is how much the device must drive air through. Also, when buying, pay attention to the presence of several filters and multilevel cleaning, ”advise Veronika and Sergey Kovalev.

In addition to purification, the air needs to be saturated with moisture: then harmful particles will settle on the floor, and not be inhaled; Moreover, normal moisture levels are beneficial for the respiratory tract and skin condition. The most technologically advanced helpers here are ultrasonic humidifiers. They are usually equipped with a built-in hydrostat and are able to automatically maintain a wide range of humidity (20 to 90%). When buying a humidifier of any type, you must definitely ask what area of ​​the room it is designed for.

Simple ways to freshen the air in your apartment

Do the refrigerator and microwave have an unbearable smell? The smell of burnt food has penetrated all the rooms of the house? Or maybe you hate the smell of fresh paint on the walls, or you just want to let more freshness into

your home in hot weather? Learn how to freshen the air in your apartment effortlessly, from our article.

Natural products for fresh air in the apartment

Remarkably, with just a few natural ingredients that can be easily found in every kitchen, you can refresh your home and make the atmosphere pleasant and comfortable. Coffee, lemons, oranges, spices, and vanilla are essential air fresheners. We will use them in order to remove all unpleasant odors.

How to freshen the air in an apartment with ground coffee

To eliminate unpleasant odors in the kitchen, bathroom or other room, it is enough to grind the coffee beans and leave the fresh mixture in an open container for several hours.

Ground coffee is also very effective in removing fridge odors. Fill two small containers with fresh coffee grounds or ground coffee and leave them in the refrigerator overnight. For a stronger aroma, add a few drops of vanilla essence to your coffee.

Cotton balls for a fresh scent in the home

Put a few drops of your favorite perfume on a cotton ball and place in your vacuum cleaner's trash bag. When the vacuum cleaner is in operation, a gentle, pleasant smell will fill the room and freshen the air in the room where you will be vacuuming.

Cotton balls, like coffee, can also be used to freshen the refrigerator. Often the refrigerator doesn't smell very nice. In such cases, place a cotton swab soaked in vanilla extract on the shelf in the refrigerator.

Use fresh citrus fruits to freshen the air in your apartment

It is the smell of citrus that will do the best job of eliminating unnecessary unpleasant "aromas" and you no longer have to think how to freshen the air in the apartment.

Lemons

In order to neutralize the unpleasant odor that comes from the cat's sand box or from the bathroom, it is not necessary to use special aerosols. Place lemon wedges on a plate and leave in the affected area. In just a few hours, the air will become fresh and fragrant.

To remove odors from the refrigerator, soak a sponge with lemon juice and leave in it for a few hours.

To freshen the air throughout your home, office or apartment, add lemon zest, cinnamon, cloves, and apple peel... A pleasant smell will reach all rooms.

Oranges

You can use fresh oranges to freshen up the air in your kitchen after cooking. Boil the orange peel in a saucepan and leave the container open for several hours. The air in the kitchen will be immediately refreshed very effectively.

How to freshen up an apartment - spices and herbs

Avoid special room fragrances and make wonderful DIY air fresheners. Cook the cinnamon sticks and cloves in a saucepan for 30 minutes. You can also put a few tablespoons of spices on a tray covered with parchment paper to freshen the air. Place the tray in a hot oven for 30 minutes. Leave the door ajar.

If you have dried mint, rub the leaves in your hands and place them on a saucer. In addition, it will not be superfluous to grow such aromatic and fragrant herbs as mint, thyme, basil on the windowsill - they can grow on you all year round, delighting with its freshness and aroma. Plus, you can use these herbs for your own recipes.

How to freshen the air in the kitchen

Vanilla extract for freshness at home

If you don't like the smell of freshly painted walls, add a teaspoon of vanilla after you open the paint box. The smell is intoxicating.

If the refrigerator smells bad, soak a sponge in vanilla extract and wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. Also, if the microwave oven smells bad, rinse it out and put the vanilla extract in the bowl for a minute.

Refresh the air with aromatic oils

If fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits, are not always on hand, get used to keeping a couple of jars of essential oils at all times. Lemon, grapefruit and orange aroma oils will do an excellent job of freshening the air in your apartment if you add a couple of drops of any of them to the bowl of slightly warmed water. Grapefruit oil freshens the air especially effectively.

Time-tested folk ways to freshen up an apartment

There are several more ways that good housewives have proven to freshen up an apartment and remove unpleasant odors, in particular, coming from the kitchen. These are vinegar and baking soda. The baking soda can simply be opened (several packs) and placed in the room to be freshened up. And dilute vinegar with water (3: 1) and spray in the apartment with a spray bottle.

Ventilate and freshen the air in your home often so that odors are not absorbed into curtains, upholstered furniture, decor items, and even walls. And don't forget about indoor flowers, which not only refresh, but also purify the air from bacteria and other impurities.

And also remember that first of all you need to find the source of the unpleasant odor in the apartment and try to get rid of it. It is necessary to do a general cleaning, especially in kitchen cabinets and other places where food is stored, completely defrost, wash and ventilate the refrigerator. Only after that, use all the listed methods of how to freshen the air in the apartment, and your home will always be filled with pleasant aromas.

The question of how to update the interior at no cost always remains relevant. After all, the interior of even an ordinary apartment, depending on how well it is decorated, can create a certain atmosphere, which greatly affects our well-being and psychological state. And since many of us have moments when we want to change something for the better in life, we pay attention to the situation in the house.

It happens in different situations... When everything is tired, or vice versa, a good mood.

But since this happens more often spontaneously, and not planned in advance, then there is usually not enough free funds that could be spent on creating a renewed atmosphere.

But this does not mean that you need to deny yourself the pleasure. You can significantly refresh the interior of your apartment without significant costs, if you show your desire and imagination.

And I will try to help you with this by suggesting several options for making pleasant changes to the existing interior.

If you want to learn a lot of interesting things about interior design, interior paintings, famous artists and their best works, then I invite you to my group " Everything for your home". You will definitely find something useful for yourself.

True, their implementation cannot be called completely free, but it is still incomparably cheaper than doing full-scale repairs, which can drag on for an indefinite time and require significant funds.

What I am proposing to you does not have to be carried out in full. Moreover, you should not repeat exactly the interiors that I will show you below as examples. Choose for yourself at least a few points that seem most interesting to you, and bring them to life. And you will definitely notice positive changes, which is actually required.

And one more thing I would like to say before we consider all the possible options. Perhaps some of the sentences will seem too simple and obvious to you, but the point is that you simply do not get your hands on them.

Throw unnecessary stuff out of the rooms

This is exactly what seems simple and obvious, but it must be done for at least two reasons. First, a cluttered room creates a dull, uncomfortable atmosphere.

And secondly, it is advisable not just to put away broken, unclaimed, worn-out things, but to throw them away altogether, since they can create an unfavorable background and affect you negatively. So don't regret it.

What are these unnecessary things, you must determine for yourself, but usually these are symbols of the past and other years according to the Chinese calendar, old magazines, postcards, cracked and chipped cups, plates, various elephants and cockerels from many years ago, boring posters and posters, broken furniture and household items, old and now unclaimed household appliances and so on, so on ...

Perhaps you think you can use them somewhere, for example in the country or give them to someone. But practice shows that this will never happen.

Some new, albeit not expensive, interior items that you place in place of the old ones will create fresh emotions for you.

Do not accumulate unnecessary things, they create discomfort in the room.

Re-paste the wallpaper on at least one wall of the room

Fresh and preferably different in style, unlike previous wallpapers, of course, significantly change the look of the house. But to glue the wallpaper completely in the whole room, and even more so in the apartment, is quite troublesome, and good wallpapers are a little expensive.

But there is a good and not very expensive option. You probably know that it is now considered fashionable to decorate one of the walls of a room with wallpaper of a different color or even style. This really brings the interior to life and makes it more modern, thus allowing to highlight a certain area. As they say, business and pleasure. And update the design, and you will not spend a lot of money, and even more effort and time. Of course, the new wallpaper must match colors with the rest.

If you do not know how to update the interior at no cost, then using combined wallpaper would be a good option.
The tonality of curtains and wallpaper matches very well
Wallpaper on the wall in a different style, but with a common basic tone, makes the interior more interesting

Paint the walls

If in your apartment the walls are not covered with wallpaper, but painted, then paint them again.

This will not require much effort and financial costs from you, but if you approach this issue more thoroughly than last time, you can get not only an updated, but also a more thought-out interior of the apartment. For example, you can take into account to a greater extent the correspondence of the colors of the walls and furniture in each room, use some modern tendencies in interior design. By the way, as in the case of wallpaper, the walls of the room can be painted in different, but well-combined colors. The interior of an ordinary apartment will only benefit from this if it does not look ordinary.

This not very complicated and expensive job is guaranteed to bring your room to life.
And if you show diligence and imagination, you can generally get an exclusive interior.
Painting the walls in the same style as the curtains gives excellent results

Use stickers

Stickers, or interior stickers, are really capable of bringing a zest to the interior of a room, creating a certain mood. At the same time, they are not at all expensive and, at the same time, are very popular. Their choice is offered by a very large in specialized firms, so it will not be difficult to choose the right plot for a particular room. In the living room, a good sticker will add sophistication, in the bedroom it will create an intimate atmosphere, and in the nursery it will cheer you up. Therefore, the use of stickers is the most obvious example of how to update the interior of almost any room at no cost.

Adding stickers is a creative work, not tedious, so it is quite possible to combine business with pleasure.

Such a vinyl sticker will add tenderness to this already interesting interior This sticker will add a touch of intimacy to your bedroom and make the usual interior more original.
Such stickers are quite suitable for a child's room.

Replace lighting

This is also one of the options for not very big money to transform the interior of an ordinary apartment.

You can, of course, limit yourself to replacing an old chandelier or floor lamp. Or you can organize lighting in a completely different way, using, for example Spotlights... They can either fully illuminate the room, or do it zoned, and also be an addition to the chandelier. It all depends on the purpose of the premises.

There is a wide variety of lamps, so there is quite a place for imagination. The use of original luminaires in different levels the ceiling will give the interior modern look, and the use of subdued light in the bedroom will give some intimacy if you are young enough, or, at worst, will have calmness.

The look of the room largely depends on the lamps used.
The use of different lamps of the same style gives the interior a finished look
The use of lamps to illuminate different areas makes the interior of the apartment more comfortable.

Rearrange the furniture

Another option for changing the decor in the room, which does not require material costs at all. It is really worth experimenting with the arrangement of furniture, because the option that exists now and seems to you to be optimal, in fact, is not always so. Sketch on paper or on a computer several possible combinations and it is quite possible that one of them will seem more interesting to you than the existing one. Even if these options turn out to be equivalent, you should still give preference to the new one, because by adding something else from the recommended in the article to this, you will get a new interior of the room without significant costs. And most importantly - a new atmosphere and a new mood.

By the way, it is not at all necessary to really carry furniture in search of the best option. To do this, there are free online programs on the Internet that allow you to experiment with furniture.

Do not be lazy to think over new options and rearrange furniture

Upgrade your curtains

Curtains actually have a huge impact on the perception of a room. Therefore, if you hanged them not half a year ago, then it would be quite appropriate to pick up something fresh that suits your taste and mood at the moment. Unless, of course, your mood is not gloomy right now. But even so, cute fashionable curtains will move you towards the positive. At the same time, you can order cushions for the sofa from the same material. This will add integrity to the interior of the room. And if you also replace the blanket on the armchair or the bedspread on the bed to match the curtains, then it will be very good.

The edging of the curtains is in harmony with the tone of the walls, and the pale blue color makes the interior lighter and more cheerful An example of a simple but very sophisticated interior design The curtains are matched in the same color scheme as the walls and bedspread, although there is a slight overabundance of pink

Arrange indoor flowers

Indoor flowers create coziness and a feeling of freshness in the room. And most importantly, if they are selected correctly, they create a favorable and healthy atmosphere.

If you already have flowers, then splurge on more noble pots, such as ceramic ones, and transplant flowers into them. And they will look much more attractive, and it is also useful for flowers if you at the same time replace the earth and, if necessary, transplant them into larger pots. If it had not been for the created reason, you would hardly have gotten around to this. So again, business and pleasure.

The pots do not have to be placed only on the windowsill, as you may have been before. Place them also on flower stands, place large ones on the floor.

Fresh flowers in the room are beautiful and useful, as they create a favorable microclimate
Of course, you must determine the number of colors in the room yourself.
This is almost a winter garden, provided that you love flowers and are ready to care for them.

Lay an original rug

Another way to make the interior of an ordinary apartment more attractive is not to be afraid to lay a bright, original carpet. This will add color to the room.

It doesn't have to be the same color as the interior of the room, but there must be something unifying. Either part of the carpet pattern will match the color of the curtains or furniture, or the carpet field itself will be in the same colors with the walls, and the pattern can be anything. In addition, a bright, contrasting carpet can be in harmony with the paintings on the wall, made in the original style.

An unusual carpet can also transform your room beyond recognition.
Feel free to experiment. IN modern interior separate bright elements are quite appropriate
The carpet fits well upholstered furniture and adds elegance to the interior
Such a colorful carpet will be in harmony with abstract posters.

Hang a picture or poster on the wall

A solid picture or a stylish poster is, in my opinion, the final link in the interior of the room. And this is true from different points of view. A well-chosen picture makes the interior of an ordinary apartment richer, more aristocratic, and an original, high-quality poster makes it more modern and sophisticated. And a more respectful attitude towards the owner is formed as to a person who is not indifferent to art and has a good sense of taste.

The only caveat is that a picture of even a little-known artist is quite expensive, not to mention more famous contemporary authors, whose works cost an average of 50 to 100 thousand rubles. The paintings of world-famous artists can not be considered at all due to their unrealistic value.

But we have an article on how to update the interior of an apartment without significant costs.

And what should be done in this case?

The fact is that there is such a thing as interior paintings. In this case, they should be of interest to us. We are talking about reproductions of paintings on natural canvas, as well as so-called modular paintings, which are now quite popular.

Their cost, in comparison with the original works, is quite affordable and the choice offered by firms that do it professionally is very large. Therefore, you can always choose exactly what you need for a particular room. And you will be pleasantly surprised at how the interior of the apartment will change. You can be sure of this.

Here's a simple but illustrative example:

The interior looks empty and dull. Something is clearly missing ...
But now it's a completely different matter. The interior has become brighter and more harmonious

Feel the difference from the previous photo?

For interior in classic style the picture must also be appropriate
In a modern interior, a modular picture looks great.
This style of interior allows the use of paintings of both classical and national genres.
Such an abstract poster is quite appropriate in a bright room interior.
The black and white poster also looks very elegant. In this case, it matches well with panels and carpeting.
An example of a well-chosen poster for a modern interior

You can read about how to choose the right picture or poster in the section of the site "". The articles in this section also tell you where to go in order to select and purchase the desired painting or poster. And even more detailed instructions on this account is given in the article. It presents two of the most famous Russian companies professionally engaged in the production of reproductions of paintings on natural canvas, modern posters and modular paintings, as well as portraits on canvas. In addition, in the catalog of their products, you can find high-quality photo curtains and wallpaper, as well as a large selection of stickers on various topics.

Today I offered you ten directions in which you can act without spending too much money on repairs and without wondering how to update the interior at no cost. And most importantly, it will create a more comfortable environment for you.

So there are plenty of options for creativity. Turn on your imagination and go!

Sincerely, .

Recent articles on this topic:

It is not uncommon for you to feel an unpleasant odor upon returning home, which affects the entire area of ​​the room. In such situations, people ask themselves the question: "How to get rid of the stench and refresh the air in the apartment?" Experienced housewives, through trial and error, have developed effective methods that will help to cope with the problem in a short time. However, like any other business, the preparation of a freshener includes a number of features that must be considered. Let's consider the important aspects in order, and give practical recommendations.

How to freshen the air in an apartment: folk remedies

1. Citrus fruit. The most elementary way to eliminate mustiness is considered to be the use of citrus fruits as a freshener. To prepare the composition, take 1 grapefruit, 2 lemons and 2 oranges. Remove the peel and cut the flesh into "watermelon" slices. Place the zest and fruit pieces on a plate and place them in different parts of the room. After a day, the freshener will lose its properties, so citrus fruits will need to be replaced.
2. Essential oils. Pour filtered water into a deep container, add any essential oil of your choice (geranium, eucalyptus, ginseng, etc.). Place the container in a room with a suffocating odor, replace the old composition with a new one as needed. The second way to use essential oils: mix 3 ml. composition with 50 ml. of purified water, pour into a bottle with a spray bottle. Spray the solution periodically to eliminate dryness and unpleasant odors.
3. Aroma candles. Buy incense sticks or candles from Ikea, light them as needed. Purchase protective caps or glasses along with fragrances, display products on high shelves. Keep sticks / candles away from pets and children. Monitor the reaction of the body, in some cases, individual intolerance is possible.
4. Fragrant plants. Tasty herbs include mint, eucalyptus, thyme, and basil. Plant the selected plant in a pot, place it on the windowsill. Herbs act as a freshener all year round, so this is the most practical option. Among other things, plant leaves can be brewed and used as a decoction.
5. Table vinegar. Mix 90 ml. table vinegar with a concentration of 6-9% from 300 ml. purified water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle, spray as needed. An alternative to this option: Pour pure vinegar into small bowls, arrange in different parts of the room. In addition to refreshing the room, vinegar can also help remove unpleasant odors from upholstery and clothing.
6. Baking soda. Since all bulk formulations tend to absorb moisture and odors, we recommend stocking up on baking soda. Take several 0.3 kg microwave containers. everyone. Pour in baking soda, arrange containers on different angles premises. Decorate the mixture as desired by mixing it with colored stones, sequins, or artificial plant flowers. Replace the old composition with a new one every 2 days.
7. Vanilla extract. The cosmetic store sells extracts in the form of a colorless liquid (reminiscent of water) and an oily base. Regardless of which method you choose, it will be effective. Prepare cotton wool, roll it into balls the size of a baby's fist. Fill the balls with the composition, decorate the shelves and flower pots. Change the cotton balls periodically or refill them with the formula when the smell has worn off.
8. Cloves and cinnamon. A variant of this air freshener is suitable for eliminating unpleasant odors in the kitchen. Prepare a small enamel saucepan, add 50 gr. cloves and 70 gr. ground or chilli cinnamon. Pour 160 ml of the fragrant mixture. boiling water, put on the stove and boil. After the first bubbles appear, reduce the power, simmer the composition over low heat until partial evaporation. You will feel how the room is saturated with the aroma of spices.
9. Potpourri. Not many people know, but potpourri is an aroma mixture based on petals and inflorescences different plants... Such compositions can be purchased in flower shops, decor stores, and “Everything for Home” hypermarkets. In addition to the flowers, the potpourri includes citrus zest, which does an excellent job of reducing the stench. If it is not possible to purchase the composition, pick up your favorite smelling flowers, dry them. Do the same with the peel of the fruit. Place the fragrance in a decorative vase, add essential oils (optional) to enhance the effect.
10. Vacuum cleaner. No matter how strange it may sound, the most ordinary vacuum cleaner is able to cope with an unpleasant odor in any room. Prepare a piece of cotton cloth, grease it with any essential oil, then attach to the brush of the vacuum cleaner. When you turn on the appliance, you will notice that the aroma is drawn in under the vacuum and spreads through the room through the openings of the vacuum cleaner.
11. Coffee. It is no secret that coffee beans perfectly absorb the smell and do not allow it to reappear. A positive feature This technology is considered to be that coffee can be used almost indefinitely. To freshen the air in the apartment, prepare several decorative coasters, glasses or vases, pack the composition on them. Place on open shelves or cabinet. When the flavor begins to fade, collect the grains, fry them in a skillet without oil, then reuse them as directed. It is recommended to fight the stench not only with whole beans, but also with the ground composition.
12. Fragrant stone. At home decor and home supply stores, you can find scent stones that fight the stench from the trash can or refrigerator. The technology of using the product is quite transparent: remove the protective film, place it in a place where an unpleasant odor comes from. After the expiration date, replace the old stone with a new one.
13. Chlorine. If you feel that musty air has accumulated in toilet room, carry out a general cleaning using chlorine-containing preparations. Treat the toilet, shower or bathtub, tile seams in the area where the drain is located. After wet cleaning, put in the room an automatic air freshener "Ervik", which itself sprays the composition with an interval of 3-5-10 minutes (there is a regulator). It will not be superfluous to install a special deo-block in the toilet or barrel.
14. Microwave. This method is somewhat similar to using a vacuum cleaner as an air freshener. However, here the fight against stench is carried out by means of heat treatment. Take gauze or bandage, fold the fabric in several layers. Saturate with your favorite essential oil, place on a saucer and microwave. Turn on the device for 5-10 minutes, wait for the timer to turn off. After that, open the door and let the fragrance disappear.

It is not difficult to freshen the air in the apartment if you use effective methods. Consider citrus fruits, essential oils, scented candles, or sticks. Buy a potpourri or dry it yourself, place decorative vases of coffee or baking soda around the apartment.

Video: how to freshen up an apartment

Each house has its own individual smell and this can be easily noticed when visiting friends and acquaintances. Much depends on quality building materials and indoor humidity levels.

Of course, you want the house to smell like fresh baked goods or light notes of vanilla. But not all rooms can boast of pleasant fragrances. Therefore, how to freshen the air in an apartment with an unpleasant odor will be useful for many who want to change the fragrant situation for the better. Here are ten interesting variations of essential oils for these purposes.

1. Your vacuum cleaner will perfectly cope with the function of large-scale flavoring. You will need a piece of clean cloth and any pretty essential oil. Add a drop of oil and bring a cloth to the vacuum hose. The appliance draws in the fragrant air and spreads it throughout the room. By changing the ethereal composition, you can bring novelty and uniqueness to your home.
2. If the fridge has become the source of the unpleasant smell, then aromatherapy will also come in handy. On a small piece of cloth or gauze, apply a few drops of any oil and place it on the shelf on the side door of the refrigerator. The best option instead of gauze, a porous pebble or a miniature clay aroma lamp will be used.
3. To prevent an unpleasant smell from escaping from the trash can, a cloth soaked in essential oil is placed on the bottom, under a cellophane bag, or you can purchase a special aroma stone.
4. The toilet is often a source of persistent unpleasant odors. That is why it is worth regularly disinfecting and cleaning this room. Apply deo-blocks, aroma stones with essential oils. You can also add oil to the waste tank.
5. If you don't care for your microwave oven thoroughly, it will give off a burning smell over time. To carry out prevention, after washing the microwave, place a small container of clean water in it and add 2-3 drops of fresh essential oil, and turn it on for 2-3 minutes.
6. Add a few drops of citrus essential oil when ironing to get the pleasant scent out of your closets and clotheslines. This way, your laundry will smell better than artificial conditioners.
7. To sanitize and freshen any surface in your home, add a little table vinegar and a few drops of lavender and lemon essential oil to clean warm water. Treat surfaces and do not rinse. This method is good for removing tobacco odor from ashtrays.
8. An air freshener does nothing but harm your health. It masks odor and harms the respiratory system. Instead of useless chemicals, take a spray bottle and add a fragrant composition that you like to a flask of water. Spray a pleasant liquid as needed.
9. If there is nothing suitable at hand, such as a vacuum cleaner or a microwave oven, then an ordinary light bulb will help you. Take a small piece of paper or napkin and saturate it liberally with any oil. Unscrew the light bulb and place this paper under the socket and carefully screw it into place. Be careful with this method and remove the tissue after 5-10 minutes.
10. The easiest way is to buy a beautiful stationary aroma lamp and light it every evening. After a month, such procedures can be performed less frequently.

It is so simple and useful to make your home a fragrant garden. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the nuances of aromatherapy and use it to your health!