Bo was six months pregnant when she moved into this 538-square-foot rental apartment five years ago, and painting and decorating while heavily pregnant was her biggest challenge to making this space her new home.
Because she was coming from another flat, she didn’t have to buy a bunch of new furniture. And, built in the 1930s, the home came with lots of architectural character. Still, she wanted to put her stamp on the space — and she didn’t have a ton of budget.
“I love the high ceilings, the brick walls, the high doors, the industrial beams, and the typical Spanish tiles on the floor,” Bo writes. “As it’s a rental apartment, I’m not allowed to make big changes, so I’m very happy with the character this apartment already has even without any furniture/decor.”
She went secondhand for anything else she needed to buy, like a lot of baby stuff. And she has gotten incredibly creative with DIYing things, too. “I love creating things at home on a budget. Painting is my form of meditation. Even if something is cheap, the result gives me such a rich feeling!”
She’s made a vase out of a Pringles can and also one out of a poster package tube. She’s made a wall plant holder from an empty shower gel bottle. She’s even used a curtain rod as wall decor, hanging plants and prints.
She completely transformed a cheap IKEA table into a rustic wooden dining table using a rubber painting tool. She turned a dog pen into a baby pen, and made a baby gym out of wooden tools. And she turned an old IKEA shoe rack into a kid’s play kitchen.
It’s a home that’s full of creativity — not only for Bo, but also for her son Benjamin, who’s 4 years old now. You can follow along with Bo’s past and future DIY projects on her Instagram and her YouTube channel.
Resources
Paint & Colors
- Bo uses Amalie Prager paint; US residents can find similar products on Amazon.
Entry
- Cuckoo clock — Street find painted with chalk paint
- Mirror on wall — Leroy & Merlin
Living Room
- Coffee table — H&M Home (no longer available)
- Everything else — Secondhand, either bought in a shop or through Wallapop or Vinted (two apps popular in Spain)
Dining Room
- 2 metal bookcases — IKEA
