{"id":60719,"date":"2026-06-11T09:42:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T09:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/60719\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T09:42:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T09:42:22","slug":"ive-been-renovating-my-london-council-flat-for-8-years-i-deserve-a-beautiful-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/60719\/","title":{"rendered":"I’ve been renovating my London council flat for 8 years \u2014 I deserve a beautiful home"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tCharlene says her beautiful house remains a work in progress (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

\u2018I haven\u2019t got enough money for another tin of paint, so only half of my living room is pink at the moment,\u2019 confesses Charlene Bonnici, a mum-of-two who\u2019s become social media<\/a> famous for decorating her council flat.<\/p>\n

\u2018One side of my kitchen isn\u2019t tiled, but I only video the part that is. I\u2019ve still got a really grotty bathroom \u2013 that\u2019s my next project.\u2019<\/p>\n

Charlene has been renovating her South London council home since moving in with her two daughters eight years ago, but it was only in 2024 that she started to share her DIY tricks online.<\/p>\n

The single parent, who works as a cleaner, is on a mission to change the public perception of social housing while inspiring other tenants to decorate on a budget.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tCharlene\u2019s lounge is her favourite part of the house (Pictures: Supplied)<\/p>\n

\u2018Sometimes people come in and they say \u201cwow, this doesn\u2019t look like a council house!\u201d. I don\u2019t love that to be honest,\u2019 she tells Metro.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s a real stigma \u2013 people hear council housing and they think Benefit Britain, with staff outside and people drinking beer outside the house on an old sofa.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/p>\n

You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n

\u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n

\u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n

Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won\u2019t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n

Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n

\u2018Most of my neighbours take great pride in their homes. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s shown enough. And when it is shown, people get upset about it.<\/p>\n

\u2018We should have the right to make our home beautiful, within our means.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tShe loves details lie the fireplace (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

Charlene has lived in social housing for most of her life, having moved from private housing in Hampshire<\/a> to London<\/a> with her single mother before she was a teen.<\/p>\n

\u2018I had quite a hard upbringing, if I\u2019m honest,\u2019 says Charlene, now 38.<\/p>\n

\u2018But no matter where we lived, I would always be moving the furniture in my room around. We didn\u2019t really have much, but I was always making the space my own.<\/p>\n

\u2018I realised then how different spaces can make you feel.\u2019<\/p>\n

Her love for interior design has remained, however Charlene\u2019s situation previously made it difficult to express her creativity.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tCharlene had her first daughter at 19 (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

\u2018When I was 19 I had a baby, and I spent many years living in hostels. It\u2019s not easy getting any sort of social housing,\u2019 Charlene explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018I went through a lot of difficulty with the instability of where I was living, with two babies after I gave birth to my second.<\/p>\n

\u2018But after 11 years, finally I got my council home.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018It felt like I won the lottery, actually,\u2019 Charlene says. \u2018It was a feeling of utter happiness, and I was just so, so grateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018I still am. Even though it\u2019s a council estate and not the prettiest outside. I\u2019m just so thankful for my space and where I am, especially being in central London.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tWhile the outside of the building is not the most glamorous, Charlene has created a beautiful haven inside (Pictures: Supplied)<\/p>\n

Charlene didn\u2019t hesitate to put her own stamp on the place, creating a dream home for her and her teenage daughters.<\/p>\n

\u2018When we moved in, I had nothing. From day one, I saved. If I found something expensive that I really loved, I would search Google, Vinted and Facebook<\/a> Marketplace for second hand deals.<\/p>\n

\u2018You wouldn\u2019t believe some of the bargains you can get.\u00a0It\u2019s funny \u2013 some people say to me \u201coh, wow, how can you afford that?\u201d, and I say \u201cI actually got it for free off Facebook.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n

For a few more expensive items, Charlene saves long-term. For an IKEA bed frame she had her heart set on but cost around \u00a3200, Charlene put money away for eight months. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tThe kitchen is also a stand out feature (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

While Charlene says she is \u2018private\u2019 about her income and outgoings, her approach is simple: just spend as little as possible on the rennovation.<\/p>\n

\u2018I get a lot of people questioning how I can afford to renovate when I live in a council house \u2013 I explain I don\u2019t have a lot of money, but I\u2019m creative and have a passion, so I always find a way.\u2019<\/p>\n

Charlene also levels up cheap furniture through DIY<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018One evening, I was looking at my cheap TV cabinet. I didn\u2019t really like it, so I got some Etsy doorknobs to put on it. They\u2019re brass, and they really elevated it.<\/p>\n

\u2018My fireplace didn\u2019t match the house, so when I saw [a member of staff at] Tops Tiles taking out a bag, I asked if they were throwing them away. They said they were, and asked if I wanted a couple of boxes for free.\u2019<\/p>\n

Charlene has never set herself a budget for the transformation.<\/p>\n

\u2018I just work on it when I can afford it, after bills, food and everything. Sometimes it\u2019s not for a very, very long time.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tThe pink door is much-loved by Charlene\u2019s followers (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

The overall price of the rennovation is impossible to calculate, Charlene says. \u2018The focus was on creating a home I loved without spending a huge amount of money, and it\u2019s happened gradually.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I keep all of my old paint cans on one side of my balcony. Then, if I get an idea, I russel through that to see if I have the colour.<\/p>\n

\u2018I painted the inside of my front door bright pink, which everybody loves. That paint was the wrong colour for my floor, so I used it there instead.\u2019<\/p>\n

The checkered hallway is just one statement feature of the house that her 23,700 Instagram<\/a> followers love, however Charlene says she painted it \u2018on a whim.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I just had an idea, and then it looked so good I decided to do it on the upstairs landing too.<\/p>\n

\u2018Obviously, there\u2019s certain things I can\u2019t do, like knocking down walls, so that\u2019s why I often use paint.\u2019<\/p>\n

Through her home transformation, Charlene hopes to myth-bust the idea that tenants can\u2019t make council properties their own. Though it\u2019s important to check the details of your contract before splashing paint on the walls, she personally hasn\u2019t encountered any problems. <\/p>\n

\u2018I speak a lot with my housing officer. They\u2019re not really bothered about it to be honest, and last time she came over she said the inside of my door looked great,\u2019 says Charlene.<\/p>\n

\u2018I lifted up the very cheap, laminate flooring, and I found parquet flooring under that. It was amazing \u2013 I sanded it down and varnished it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018With the transformation, I think the housing officers are really happy with me to be honest. I think I\u2019m their favourite.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tThe bedrooms are feminine and cozy (Pictures: Supplied)<\/p>\n

In ways, the project has been a lifeline for Charlene through recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve struggled with quite a lot of mental health<\/a> issues, like anxiety<\/a> and depression<\/a>, but creating a safe haven for me and my family through our home is quite therapeutic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s been healing. I\u2019m kind of addicted to it, really,\u2019 she laughs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s very feminine, and I do feel it\u2019s lucky that there aren\u2019t any men in the house. It\u2019s girly and warm and is just a safe space. It makes me feel at peace.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tOne of her daughters wanted green and the other wanted pink, so Charlene created statement pannelling with both colours (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

Charlene\u2019s hard graft has seen her nominated for three categories at the Ufurnish Home Awards; for Best Home, Best Use of Colour and Best Interior Content Creator. Online voting<\/a> is open until June 22.<\/p>\n

\u2018Being shortlisted for the awards feels incredibly special and quite emotional,\u2019 she says. \u2018When I first moved into the flat, I never imagined it would one day be recognised in this way. <\/p>\n

\u2018Every room has been a labour of love and has evolved over time through patience, creativity and making the most of what I had.\u2019<\/p>\n

She says she hopes to challenge stereotypes that still surround council housing.<\/p>\n

\u2018This feels like recognition that beautiful, personal homes can be created on any budget and in any type of property, including a council flat.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018My advice to anyone living in a council home that doesn\u2019t feel like home yet is to be patient with yourself and your space. Home making is a journey, not a race. <\/p>\n

\u2018Focus on adding things that you genuinely love, even if it\u2019s one small item at a time and don\u2019t feel pressured to keep up with trends or what you see on social media,\u2019 Charlene says. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tCharlene is always adding touches to her home (Picture: Supplied)<\/p>\n

She highlights that the \u2018most important\u2019 thing is to avoid comparison.<\/p>\n

\u2018Never compare your home to someone else\u2019s, everyone\u2019s circumstances, finances and timelines are different. Comparison can have a real impact on your mental health and make you feel like you\u2019re falling behind when you\u2019re not. <\/p>\n

\u2018Your home should reflect you, your personality and what makes you feel comfortable and happy. The most meaningful homes aren\u2019t necessarily the most expensive ones \u2014 they\u2019re the ones filled with love, memories and are made by the people who live in them. <\/p>\n

\u2018Small changes over time can make a huge difference, so trust your own vision and create a space that feels right for you.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: I spent 4 years and \u00a340,000 on trying to have a baby \u2014 but I was already a mum<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Parents pay \u00a378,000 more to live near a top-rated nursery<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: The science behind why your dog loves your partner more than you<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now<\/p>\n

\t\t\tComments
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThe Key<\/p>\n

Sign up for must-read property stories, DIY hacks and tips for buying a home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Charlene says her beautiful house remains a work in progress (Picture: Supplied) \u2018I haven\u2019t got enough money for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60720,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[26],"tags":[2447,1929,424,27,29465,152],"class_list":["post-60719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-london","tag-family","tag-interiors","tag-lifestyle","tag-london","tag-mums","tag-property"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116730825515268727","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60719\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}