Planning to refresh your home this year? Whether you're taking on a full renovation or just changing up a room, making the right calls early saves you time, money, and unnecessary stress. It's easy to fall for the beautiful design shots you see online — but real life often calls for something different.
To help you navigate the process, we talked to Julia Zarechneva, an experienced interior designer and former furniture project manager at major Estonian real estate developers including Kaamos and Scandium. Julia has designed the interiors of more than 150 rental apartments and has deep experience in creating homes that are not just beautiful, but practical.
What to prioritise, what to avoid, and how to build a home that lasts.
Design choices that look great but aren't always practical
"A great example is black kitchens," Julia notes. "At first they look really stylish, but in reality dark surfaces show fingerprints and water marks easily. They get harder to keep clean fast."
The same goes for black taps and sinks, which — depending on your local water quality — can develop mineral build-up.
Large-format tiles (say, 120 x 60 cm) are popular, but in smaller rooms they often need excessive cutting, which throws off the intended layout and the sense of a unified space.
Flooring is another element where practicality matters. Natural wood parquet looks beautiful, but if you have pets or young kids, a more durable floor — like quartz vinyl — could be the smarter long-term choice.
What's in demand now, and what's likely to stay relevant long-term
"Minimalism is still on top, especially in Estonia, but the trend is shifting," Julia explains. "People want homes that aren't just clean and empty, but warm and inviting.
That means softer textures, muted earth tones, and natural materials, like warm wood, stone, and hand-worked ceramics.
Bold accent walls in bright colours aren't as popular anymore. What's trending instead? Swappable "interior accents" — cushions, art, or vases you can use to change the room's mood and highlight a colour without making any drastic changes.
Styles like modern eclectic, Japandi (a mix of Japanese calm and Scandinavian cosiness), and biophilic design are gaining ground too — both visually striking and comfortable to live with day to day.
"These trends aren't just a fad," Julia says. "They reflect people's wish to create homes that are sustainable, calming, and functional."
Key details worth getting right
"Measurements!" Julia laughs. "It sounds obvious, but it's the biggest mistake people make."
Furniture can end up not fitting through the room, hallway, stairwell, or lift. Always plan carefully, and don't forget to account for the space between drawers, room to move around, and how far doors need to swing open.
Julia also warns against relying too much on photos online: "Photos can distort colour and texture. What looks soft beige can turn out cold grey in reality. A photo can't let you feel the material or see how drawers open and close.
Where you can, see products in person, or ask for samples before you buy. A few extra steps before purchase can save you a lot of disappointment later.
One piece of advice for every homeowner: plan your budget first
"Without a doubt, the most important thing is setting a clear, realistic budget,"
Julia stresses. Buying furniture piece by piece with no plan often means spending more than intended, especially with spontaneous purchases thrown in. Delivery, assembly, and disposing of old furniture and new packaging are costs people tend to forget.
Julia also stresses functionality: "Furniture has to look great and fit your lifestyle. If you have kids, pets, or limited storage space, that has to factor into your interior planning. Open shelving looks stunning in photos, for instance, but in real life it needs constant dusting.
If you can't cover the full cost of a renovation or interior refresh upfront, consider financing to spread the cost. Smart financing lets you make planned, considered long-term decisions, focus on quality, and skip the stress that comes with spontaneous purchases.