Being a tenant nowadays, when everything that has a roof falls into the category of luxury is sometimes serious challenge.
I have been doing this successfully for 14 years, within time you just simply adjust to it. Also it hurts a bit when you are about to make some big changes, re decorate the space, switch furniture and just one thought is enough to make you give up on that, as you would practically waist your money or owners are simply strict enough to not allow even to hang a picture.
Lots of times I was about to buy some nice pieces of furniture, which would make moving even more stressful - so, no.
Once I decided to do total makeover at my ex place, I had to move out month after. - was crying.
Three years after I moved into current place, I promised to myself - no more investments, leave it as it is.
Before us here lived a family with two kids and somehow no one found a time to at least paint the walls, so traces and marks of little daredevils were still visible in my room (their ex). So far I could stand it, some small repairs here and there, furniture moving all over the room, so basically I tried everything possible to get some decent space, until I felt how own space is choking me, literally.
This 12 square meters are my work&rest place and I have to adapt it to that, and to be as functional and separate as possible.
For 3 days and 300 euro budget.
I need comfy working minimalist space and an oasis of peace for a good night’s sleep + all the rest essential stuffs.
20 kg of semi-dispersion, toner, roller, foils, brushes, new curtains, sofa, side table, lamp and strong will.
DAY ONE
I went to the shopping, instead of heels or fancy bags into do-it-yourself store, which is kind of a Disneyland for me. The worst part in whole story is that I do not drive car, so transport of each thing was a bit more expensive and harder to be found.
Material shopping went well with taxi, instead of fact that driver was talkative a bit more for my taste, questioning the whole time about am I going to do it myself, where is the stronger part and so on...!?
Around noon, project officially started, everything was covered with foil, well protected. Furniture placed in the center of the room.
Many times I attended painting and renovating the space but I never did everything myself.
I know how the things are working in theory, but lets practice now.
Lets roll, the ceiling was first on the list, as the highest and greatest challenge. As Im not fan of ladders and heights.
Half an hour later, half of the ceiling was already covered with white dots of semi-dispersion and my arms were killing me. As I took breaks, I used that time to research all the sites offering second-hand furniture.
It has to be in the city.
It has to have transport option.
Must fit the budget.
Found 3 that I like actually, 1 responded.
This one was good and I liked it, but he wasnt offering the transport and I couldnt organize it ASAP, cause golden rule "when you need someone, there is no one."
However, he declined deposit and had no other solution than to pay his buddy some extra money to deliver it.
When I mentioned "fast solutions" at the very beginning this is what I meant. This imitation of a stone wall cost me an hour of scraping, practical only for 4ever decisions otherwise wouldnt recommend it.
Decision about the color, white will always be white and I would gladly paint all in sterile white, but I need some colors, neutral.
Grey or ocher...
Grey is cold and what I actually need, Ocher is lovely warm but not camera friendly.
Mixed black and white, without idea how actual color will look like so I started from the lightest, carefully adding black.
Sponge came as the very las minute idea, just cause wall I was about to paint in color was seriously damaged, holes, scratches, stains... + I was convinced covering will go much faster as I was already tired enough.
Haaaaaa-haaaa, what idea!
After 10 minutes of sponge tapping my ex broken arm started alarming me, this metod was everything but not easiest way especially for the upper part and corners.
Fell asleep like a baby that night.
DAY TWO
The curtain rods need to be fixed.
Old one I had required those little annoying clips, what I want is just plain pole and 5 minutes to change the curtains.
-Modest.
Drill, I like how the tool is more practical and tailored to women today, never drilled anything in my life.
All you had to do was find the right drill and press the button, but the walls are of such poor quality that all the plaster is crowned, so other solution were - nails.
And it worked quiet well, curtains - done!
Countless vacuuming and scrubbing between browsing Ikea. Im not fan of its design actually, but I really like their minimal packages and pretty easy way to assemble the product yourself, also there are plenty on the budget decent look things.
Walls are dry, bed is placed at the corner and all the shelves and chests of drawers across.
Not the most precise person in the Universe, but everything looks better than earlier.
Second day was dedicated to the furniture placing and getting rid of sufficient things and wardrobe.
Scrolling trough Ikea, thinking and combining, calculating how to drag everything home avoiding taxi service as Ikea is located 30km out of town.
There is a bus I can catch, but having 20+ extra kg with you isnt the best choice or public transport.
I made two shopping lists, one is what I have to have as soon as possible, and second what I can order online, things Im not in the rush with.
DAY THREE
Took care to match with IKEA official color, blue.
Adoration of their warehouse will last forever, already had the list with serial numbers o products, so shopping went pretty fast and one hour later I was on the bus planning to hop of into the cab as soon as I approach to the city.
Meanwhile sofa arrived, quality checking in progress.
Sofa is actually what I was looking for, less crazy about design, very happy with color and the hardness of the seat part, not fan of sinking while sitting.
Price 50 euro + 25euro transport.
This is the table I wanted, its real space saver, comfy for using, keyboard friendly (also for snacking), it took me 20 minutes for folding.
Also I found the lamp, was easy for carrying, budget friendly and looking decent.
Requires 10 minutes of time for montage = price 16 euro
Storage is main problem for me, as most of my things are placed in this room.
Cables, books, wardrobe, ph. equipment, like everything. These boxes are YES big YES in my case, I think I took 5 of them for bags, socks, laundry and all tiny things I have no idea where to go with, but not in the mood to throw them away.
5 boxes = 22 euro
Long time I was looking for basic net curtains, just to diffuse light and I found them this time, for just 5 euros / 2 pieces.
Treated myself with some new sheets and pillows, I love pillows a lot and I dont mind getting them off the bed each time.
Was convinced decoration will be the easiest thing after I fold everything, hahha, nope it took me whole noon and last atom of power.
When I hanged the last piece on the wall I literally sat down on chair and passed of.
This was a serious challenge and time race, but results are better than I expected.
According to what I have invested (proud that I stayed on budget) I have 0 regrets and next 24 hours to heal all the wounds and scratches I got meanwhile.
Final results are here, clumsy photos, some unfinished corners and lots of space for upgrading.
Thank you all for your time and interest in what I do.🙌
