A budget flat refurbishment? It’s possible! 5 simple tips on how to refurbish your flat on a budget
Are you planning to renovate your flat, but daunted by the cost? There are several ways to avoid breaking the bank whilst still achieving a stunning, fresh look. The most important thing is to realise, right from the planning stage, that you don’t always need to replace your furniture with new pieces – sometimes, simply refurbishing them is enough. And refurbishment isn’t just about furniture. How about a new colour for your tiles without having to knock down any walls? Read the tips below and start planning your dream renovation.
Where should you start when planning a renovation?
On a tight budget, it’s very important to plan your renovation properly. Remember that not all changes need to be made at once. Set out the stages of the work and prioritise them according to your most important needs. It’s also a good idea to work out which tasks will create the most mess and tackle them all at once, so that in the next stage of the work you can simply put the finishing touches to your interior.
Start with the walls!
Sometimes even small changes can make a big difference. To start with, think about giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. Choose a suitable colour depending on your décor. If you want to brighten up the interior, go for light, refreshing colours such as off-whites, warm greys, beiges and creams. Unless you’re a fan of total minimalism, avoid classic white on all the walls – the interior might otherwise feel too stark. If your space is filled with natural light, you can afford to be a bit bolder. Bold accents on the walls are very much in vogue at the moment. Navy blue, bottle green, burgundy and even charcoal grey on a single wall will perfectly highlight the beauty of dark, brown furniture, whilst also creating an interesting contrast with the white on the furniture and the remaining walls.
You can also ‘play around’ with patterns and turn your wall into a decorative feature. You don’t need to worry about the hassle of wallpapering or painting. Choose Motivo! A decorative wall is very easy to install – simply stick the panels to the wall (you’ll find the installation instructions in the ‘installation videos’ tab). A wide selection of designs – from wood and brick to geometric patterns – will allow you to tailor the decor perfectly to your needs and interior. A major advantage of Motivo is that no special preparation of the wall is required before installation – it can be uneven and have holes, for example where unwanted pictures used to hang. You’ll find the full range of colours here.
Tiles for a makeover
And what about the walls in the bathroom or kitchen? Fortunately, you no longer need to chip away at the tiles to give them a fresh look. If the tiles are in good condition, simply apply a renovation paint in a more suitable, modern colour. See below how dark, oppressive tiles have become a feature of the kitchen.
Check out the full kitchen makeover with Vilo.
For damaged or broken tiles, the Motivo decorative wall panelling is the perfect solution – it’s 100% waterproof* and easy to clean. Simply stick the panels over the old tiles and enjoy a completely new look for your wall. You can opt for a classic marble pattern or a more modern design imitating brick or wood.
You’ll find more inspiration in the post ‘How to renovate your bathroom quickly and yourself?
How to refurbish old furniture?
Worn-out, outdated or mismatched furniture is a headache for many people renting or buying flats on the secondary market. This problem also arises after many years of using the furniture. Replacing it can be very costly, so it’s worth considering refurbishing it instead. Marks left by hot pots and pans on the kitchen worktop, chipped or outdated paint, or perhaps traces of children’s play? Often, simply repainting a mismatched piece in a different colour is enough.
Depending on the material the furniture is made of, it’s worth seeking advice beforehand on how to prepare the surface for painting. There are many articles online about refurbishing furniture. We’ve summarised the key points worth bearing in mind.
1. In the case of varnished wood, it’s best to remove the varnish first. Otherwise, the paint may flake off very quickly. To save yourself some effort, use an angle grinder wherever possible. Sandpaper will also give the desired result, but it will take considerably longer. Also, make sure you use the correct grit size – ideally, use sandpaper in the P60–P150 range.
2. It is particularly important to prepare antiques properly – you’ll find plenty of practical advice in the article on furniture restoration.
3. It’s best to use a roller for painting – the paint will be applied evenly, helping you to avoid unwanted ‘streaks’.
4. If you have furniture made of untreated wood, it’s worth painting it – as well as blending in better with your interior, this will also make it easier to keep clean.
5. Consider whether you really need to repaint the entire piece of furniture. In the case of wardrobes and chests of drawers, you can achieve a trendy look simply by painting the fronts of the drawers and cupboards.
6. Upholstered furniture can also be adapted to new trends, though in this case we recommend using the services of professionals. If, despite this, you still want to refurbish your favourite armchair or sofa yourself, it’s worth attending a workshop on upholstery restoration or following the tutorials available online.
The power of DIY: how to save money on homemade furniture
For several years now, using pallets in home décor has been very fashionable. No wonder! You can conjure up real wonders from them at a very low cost. To make a bed base, all you need are four pallets fastened together with cable ties (to stop them sliding under the mattress). Depending on the size of the mattress (four pallets create a space measuring 240 x 160 cm), some of the pallets can be used as shelves, e.g. for books or small plants. A bit trickier to make, but just as impressive, is a pallet sofa. To build this, you’ll need screws, a screwdriver and angle brackets. If you’re thinking of using the furniture on a balcony or in the garden, it’s also worth applying a wood varnish. A big advantage of pallets is that you can paint them in a colour that matches your interior. Pallets can be bought on popular online auction sites; it’s best to buy them already sanded down, as preparing them yourself can take a long time. Unsanded pallets are very sharp and can damage a mattress or even injure household members.
Another inexpensive material to use when making furniture is wooden crates, which can be found in any greengrocer’s. They’re ideal as wall shelves in the kitchen, but also as plant stands. You can also use them as shoe shelves. Depending on your needs, to create extra space for shoes, fit a wooden board in the centre of the crate.
* We recommend using a waterproofing treatment – ask the sales assistant at your local shop for details.
An affordable interior makeover is possible – just think about the effect you want to achieve and how much of the work you can do yourself. Look for inspiration and start planning!