Opening Thoughts
When I see my friends struggling with high housing prices or carefully budgeting their monthly mortgage payments, it really pains me. As a fresh graduate working a corporate job, I've also experienced the struggle of not being able to afford a house or renovation costs. But after years of exploration and experimentation, I discovered a huge secret: with some thoughtful effort, we can transform a rented apartment or a basic new home into a social media-worthy living space!
Recently, I shared my home renovation experience on Xiaohongshu, which unexpectedly attracted lots of attention. Everyone was surprised that such an upscale look could be achieved on such a small budget. So today, I've decided to share all my accumulated experience with you, so everyone can create their dream home in the most economical way.
Treasure Hunting Guide
To be honest, I've become a complete "treasure hunting addict" now. Scrolling through Xianyu every night in bed has become my fixed habit, just as addictive as others scrolling through TikTok, haha! Just the other day, I found an amazing treasure on Xianyu - an antique rosewood tea table, listed at 100 yuan, and I negotiated it down to 80. Though the surface was a bit worn, the wood quality was excellent, and the craftsmanship was very fine.
After bringing it home, I spent a weekend giving it proper care: first sanding off the old varnish to expose the natural wood grain; then wiping it clean with water and letting it dry completely; finally applying a layer of walnut-colored wood paint. Though the process was a bit tiring, seeing this old tea table come back to life gave me an incredible sense of achievement. Now this tea table sits in my living room, matching perfectly with the surrounding furniture, and you can't tell it's second-hand at all.
Many friends might worry about buying second-hand furniture, so let me share my experience. First, for wooden furniture, the most important thing is the wood quality. Old furniture might use wood from the last century, naturally dried for decades, making it very stable and resistant to cracking or warping. Also, while the craftsmanship back then might not be as precise as today, they often used mortise and tenon joints, which are much more sturdy than modern screw-fixed joints.
Next is checking the seller. I usually choose sellers who post real photos, and carefully examine the details in the pictures. For example, whether drawers slide smoothly, if there's any wood rot, if screws are rusty, etc. If possible, it's best to inspect the items in person for better assurance.
Besides Xianyu, I also frequently visit second-hand markets for treasures. While these places might not have the best environment, you can often find surprises. The dining table I'm using now was found in a second-hand market for just 200 yuan. It's a pure solid wood round table that can be folded, perfect for small spaces. After simple restoration, it looks brand new now.
Renovation Secrets
Speaking of furniture renovation, I'm most proud of the IKEA BILLY bookcase I transformed last year. To be honest, the original bookcase looks quite plain, but after renovation, it was completely transformed. Here's what I did: first, I bought a roll of vintage brick-pattern wallpaper online for 50 yuan. Then I got several white wooden decorative strips from the hardware market for about 80 yuan. Finally, I bought a can of matte white paint for 60 yuan.
The renovation process isn't difficult but requires patience. First, disassemble the bookcase and remove the backboard to apply the wallpaper. The most important part is aligning the pattern and avoiding bubbles. Then nail the decorative strips to the bookcase frame, being careful to fill the nail holes with putty. Finally, spray everything with white paint evenly, preferably in two coats.
The final result exceeded expectations - the entire bookcase looks incredibly high-end, nothing like IKEA's standard model. This renovation method is especially suitable for renters since the transformed bookcase is both beautiful and practical, and can be taken with you when moving.
Actually, many IKEA furniture pieces are great for renovation. For example, their PAX wardrobe system, though looking ordinary, can rival custom wardrobes after renovation. I created a built-in wardrobe using PAX, with great results. First, I changed the backboard to match the wall color, making it look natural. Then I added trim where the wardrobe meets the wall, making it very neat. Finally, I applied wood grain film to the cabinet doors, making the whole thing look very high-end.
This renovation cost about 3000 yuan, saving at least 5000 compared to a custom wardrobe. Plus, the PAX system's advantage is its modular design - the internal storage accessories can be adjusted as needed, making it very flexible.
Creating Ambiance
Many people feel their homes lack style, but the key issue is usually lighting. I put a lot of thought into my lighting renovation, and the results are excellent. In the living room, I use 3000K warm light, perfect for relaxation spaces - cozy without being too yellow. The study uses 4000K natural light, which is close to daylight and reduces eye strain when reading or writing. The bedroom has 2700K ultra-warm light, very comfortable at night and conducive to sleep.
Besides main lights, I added ambient lighting in some corners. For example, I put LED strips behind the TV cabinet, which creates a cinema-like effect when watching TV at night. I also installed small spotlights in the bookcase, which look very stylish lighting up the book spines. These LED strips and spotlights were all bought on Taobao, inexpensive but very effective.
Another tip is using mirrors to reflect light. I hung a full-length mirror on the dining room wall, which is not only practical but makes the space appear brighter and more spacious. The mirror is IKEA's HOVET series - though not cheap, the quality is really good and installation is easy.
Storage Solutions
After thoroughly organizing my home recently, my biggest realization was: storage isn't about buying things, but about reasonable planning. Many people like to buy various storage boxes and baskets, but end up making things messier. The key is to first think about the most logical place for each item.
For example, in my kitchen, the 60cm space above the original cabinets was completely wasted. Later I bought some wall cabinets online and installed them myself, creating lots of extra storage space. These wall cabinets are mainly used for less frequently used items like large pots, rice cookers, food processors, etc.
Wardrobe storage also requires technique. I now use the "sandwich" storage method: clothes are categorized by season, with current season items in the most accessible positions, and off-season items stored away. Then within each season's clothes, they're organized by frequency of use, with frequently worn items in the most convenient locations. This storage method not only saves space but makes finding clothes very convenient.
It's also important to make good use of various storage tools. For example, vacuum storage bags are perfect for bulky items like down jackets and quilts. And 3M hooks can hang things without drilling holes, perfect for rentals. These small items might be cheap, but when used correctly can save lots of space.
Decoration Tips
When it comes to home decoration, I highly recommend plants. Last year I planted some pothos on my balcony, and now they're growing very lush, covering the whole wall in green, which looks very refreshing. Pothos is really the easiest plant to grow - basically just needs watering, and has amazing propagation ability, quickly turning one pot into several.
Besides pothos, I also grow some succulents. The advantage of succulents is they don't need frequent watering, and their various shapes look great on desks or windowsills. I bought them on Taobao for just a few yuan each, and now I have a small garden.
Fabric choice is also important. I particularly like flannel material - it feels very comfortable and isn't expensive. I put several flannel throw pillows on the sofa, and in winter pair them with a matching blanket, instantly making the whole living room cozy. These pillowcases and blankets were all bought online - around 20 yuan for a pillowcase and 50 yuan for a blanket, very cost-effective.
Wall decoration is also important. I made my own photo wall, buying some minimalist frames and printing some photos and artwork. These frames are all uniform white, looking harmonious despite different styles. The photo wall is positioned on the living room sofa's background wall, and friends always compliment it.
Final Thoughts
After these years of exploration, I increasingly feel that home renovation is actually a very interesting thing. Not only does it make our living environment more comfortable, more importantly, it brings us a great sense of achievement. Every time I see the results of my renovation, I feel very satisfied.
I suggest if you want to renovate your home, start small. Maybe organize one drawer first, or renovate a small corner. After gaining some experience, gradually expand the scope. This way it won't feel too difficult, and you can learn a lot in the process.
Finally, I want to say that creating a cozy home really doesn't require spending a lot of money. The key is to put your heart into it, be good at discovering beauty in life, and then combine them in your own way. I believe that with persistence, everyone can create their ideal home.
I hope these experiences can help you. If you have any questions during your renovation process, or any good ideas, feel free to share in the comments section. Let's create our own cozy homes together!
