Turnkey Furnishing: How to Transform an Empty House into a Ready-to-Live Space in Greece
Buying a house or apartment by the sea is always a dream. But right after that comes the practical question: how to turn empty walls into a cozy and stylish space?
Most houses and apartments in Halkidiki and Thessaloniki are purchased not only for personal use but also as an investment. Owners want their properties to rent well and remain attractive for future resale.
When it comes to budget housing, a minimal set of furnishings might suffice. However, if you've acquired a decent house in Halkidiki or an apartment in a good area of Thessaloniki and plan to rent it out at a good price, the competition in the market is very high. A simple, haphazard furnishing approach will make your property unappealing: your offer will just get lost among dozens of others.
For a property to truly stand out and be liquid, it's essential to invest in thoughtful interior design. White walls, a standard bed, and a nightstand just won't cut it anymore. Today's clients seek atmosphere, style, and a sense of comfort, which requires a comprehensive approach.
Why Starting with Stores is a Mistake
Shopping and buying what you like is the most common mistake owners make. Without prior planning and a project, it's impossible to assess whether items will match in style and color, fit the room's dimensions, and create the comfort that interior design aims for.
First, you need a project: precise measurements, a well-thought-out layout, and a selection of style and color concepts. Only after that can you start looking for furniture and decor. However, there's another pitfall in Greece — finding modern, stylish models can be challenging. In Thessaloniki and Halkidiki, there are no large centers with a rich selection, and local stores often have limited assortments. Owners often face a choice: either simple, cheap furniture that screams budget option and ruins the entire design, or expensive items from local stores that can skyrocket the budget.
Delivery and Assembly: Another Headache
Even if you've managed to gather a set of furniture and appliances, it doesn't mean the job is done. Delivery to remote areas of Halkidiki is rarely quick: delays are standard, and deliveries can take several weeks. Often, the wrong items are delivered, or not everything arrives at once. As a result, you have to wait again and spend more time.
To furnish a house independently, an owner practically needs to live here for a couple of months:
- Regularly visit stores,
- Simultaneously stay home to receive deliveries,
- Oversee installation and assembly,
- Handle returns and exchanges.
If the owner lives abroad or only visits for a short vacation, the situation becomes nearly impossible.
Then, you need to find craftsmen to carry out all the work. Where to find them is usually unclear to foreign owners. A craftsman may not show up, or they may do a poor job, leave things partially done, and disappear, causing significant delays — these are common occurrences. Usually, contacts for good craftsmen are passed along through acquaintances and built over time.
Just Furniture is Not Enough
Many believe that simply arranging furniture is enough to complete the interior. But the times when that was sufficient are long gone. Today, interior design is a rapidly evolving field with new materials, finishes, layout, and stylistic solutions emerging all the time.
What Makes an Interior Interesting: Tips
- Textiles and Soft Textures. In our projects, we always use floor-to-ceiling curtains — this visually elongates the space and makes it feel more cohesive. For bedrooms, we always add blackout curtains to ensure residents can rest comfortably even during the day. Rugs, cushions, and throws complete the picture and create coziness.
Curtains with lighting - Lighting Scenarios. Builders often only install a single chandelier in the center of the room out of habit. We don't stop there and always enhance lighting with wall sconces near beds, which create atmosphere and are convenient for reading. In living rooms and relaxation areas, we recommend zoning the light — adding additional sources, even if the house is already finished: these can be floor lamps, wall-mounted, or pendant lights. This approach makes the space feel more alive and functional.
Lighting design in Nea Skioni, Halkidiki - Color and Materials. Walls are not just a backdrop; they are a key decorative element of the room. Therefore, it's worth not leaving them simply white but choosing initially pleasant shades that become the base of the interior. In accent areas, consider using decorative panels, moldings, or textured finishes. This approach creates depth and character in the space.
Wall decorating with mouldings - Color Accents. Even a calm, neutral base will come alive with the addition of a few accent details — whether it's furniture, paintings, decor, or textiles.
Accent chair in a restrained-toned interior - Small Details. Stylish tableware, books, decor, and even switches and outlets influence the perception of the interior just as much as the sofa or table. Without these, the interior looks dull and uninviting.
Decor elements
Such attention to detail not only creates a beautiful interior but also increases rental value: tenants are willing to pay more for a space where everything is thoughtfully designed.
Why Turnkey is Optimal
Turnkey furnishing takes all these worries off the owner's shoulders. First, a well-thought-out project is developed: measurements, concept, selection of furniture and textiles, appliances, and decor. Then we take on the entire process: from sourcing and purchasing to overseeing delivery, assembly, and installation on-site. The result is a ready-to-use space where every detail has been considered.
What’s Included in the Turnkey Service
When we say "turnkey furnishing and interior design," it’s not just about furniture and sofas. It’s a whole system of steps and tasks that we fully manage:
1. Preparation Stage
- Room measurements (checking exact sizes, re-verifying with builders — they often make mistakes).
- Layout: arranging furniture considering ergonomics, comfort, and zoning.
- Concept: selecting style, color scheme, and atmosphere for the future home.
2. Selection and Procurement
- Furniture: bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor furniture.
- Lighting: ceiling fixtures, sconces, floor lamps, hidden lighting.
- Textiles: curtains, rugs, decorative cushions, throws.
- Materials: paints, decorative panels, moldings, tiles, flooring (if necessary).
- Appliances: everything for the kitchen and small appliances, TVs.
- Decor: paintings, mirrors, accessories, sculptures, vases.
3. Organization of Purchases and Delivery
- Checking availability and timelines with different suppliers.
- Ordering items, controlling payments and documents.
- Organizing logistics.
- Receiving orders on-site: checking quantity and condition.
4. Assembly and Installation
- Furniture assembly.
- Installation of kitchens and cabinets.
- Lighting installation (including additional scenarios).
- Hanging curtains, drapes, and textiles.
- Decorative elements on walls (panels, moldings).
- Connecting appliances.
5. Final Styling
- Arranging furniture and lighting according to the project.
- Decorating (textiles, accessories, paintings, plants).
- Checking the overall look: every detail should contribute to the overall style.
- Preparing the interior for rental or living.
- Fully equipping the house for rental: bed linens, towels, dishes, glasses, kitchen accessories, bathroom decor. We purchase, deliver, and neatly arrange everything so the house is fully ready to welcome guests.
6. Client Support
- Photo and video reports for those who do not live in Greece.
- Final check and handover of the "turnkey" project.
- Final photographs.
Complete Order in the House — Without Your Involvement
Most property owners are often unaware of how much work lies ahead when they decide to furnish a house themselves. At first, it seems that buying furniture and arranging it in rooms is enough. In reality, the process stretches over months, the budget skyrockets, nerves fray — and many realize this only after six months when everything is already in place and requires intervention.
We offer a way to avoid these worries. By entrusting the project to us, you save time and effort: you simply hand over the keys and receive them back, stepping into a fully ready-to-live home. You can view our projects, services, and work conditions on the Aktis Home website.
Additionally, we can manage the property for short-term rentals. This means your property will start generating income immediately without your involvement — guests check in, the apartment is fully furnished, and you can focus on other matters.
With us, the process of furnishing real estate transforms from a challenging marathon into a comfortable and safe path to a beautiful, ready-to-live home.
