I’VE BEEN RENOVATING MY LONDON COUNCIL FLAT FOR 8 YEARS — I DESERVE A BEAUTIFUL HOME

‘I haven’t got enough money for another tin of paint, so only half of my living room is pink at the moment,’ confesses Charlene Bonnici, a mum-of-two who’s become social media famous for decorating her council flat.

‘One side of my kitchen isn’t tiled, but I only video the part that is. I’ve still got a really grotty bathroom – that’s my next project.’

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.

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.

‘Sometimes people come in and they say “wow, this doesn’t look like a council house!”. I don’t love that to be honest,’ she tells Metro.

‘There’s a real stigma – people hear council housing and they think Benefit Britain, with staff outside and people drinking beer outside the house on an old sofa. 

‘Most of my neighbours take great pride in their homes. I don’t think that’s shown enough. And when it is shown, people get upset about it.

‘We should have the right to make our home beautiful, within our means.’

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

‘I had quite a hard upbringing, if I’m honest,’ says Charlene, now 38.

‘But no matter where we lived, I would always be moving the furniture in my room around. We didn’t really have much, but I was always making the space my own.

‘I realised then how different spaces can make you feel.’

Her love for interior design has remained, however Charlene’s situation previously made it difficult to express her creativity.

‘When I was 19 I had a baby, and I spent many years living in hostels. It’s not easy getting any sort of social housing,’ Charlene explains. 

‘I went through a lot of difficulty with the instability of where I was living, with two babies after I gave birth to my second.

‘But after 11 years, finally I got my council home.’

‘It felt like I won the lottery, actually,’ Charlene says. ‘It was a feeling of utter happiness, and I was just so, so grateful. 

‘I still am. Even though it’s a council estate and not the prettiest outside. I’m just so thankful for my space and where I am, especially being in central London.’

Charlene didn’t hesitate to put her own stamp on the place, creating a dream home for her and her teenage daughters.

‘When 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 Marketplace for second hand deals.

‘You wouldn’t believe some of the bargains you can get. It’s funny – some people say to me “oh, wow, how can you afford that?”, and I say “I actually got it for free off Facebook.”’

For a few more expensive items, Charlene saves long-term. For an IKEA bed frame she had her heart set on but cost around £200, Charlene put money away for eight months.

While Charlene says she is ‘private’ about her income and outgoings, her approach is simple: just spend as little as possible on the rennovation.

‘I get a lot of people questioning how I can afford to renovate when I live in a council house – I explain I don’t have a lot of money, but I’m creative and have a passion, so I always find a way.’

Charlene also levels up cheap furniture through DIY.

‘One evening, I was looking at my cheap TV cabinet. I didn’t really like it, so I got some Etsy doorknobs to put on it. They’re brass, and they really elevated it.

‘My fireplace didn’t 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.’

Charlene has never set herself a budget for the transformation.

‘I just work on it when I can afford it, after bills, food and everything. Sometimes it’s not for a very, very long time.’

The overall price of the rennovation is impossible to calculate, Charlene says. ‘The focus was on creating a home I loved without spending a huge amount of money, and it’s happened gradually.’

‘I 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.

‘I 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.’

The checkered hallway is just one statement feature of the house that her 23,700 Instagram followers love, however Charlene says she painted it ‘on a whim.’

‘I just had an idea, and then it looked so good I decided to do it on the upstairs landing too.

‘Obviously, there’s certain things I can’t do, like knocking down walls, so that’s why I often use paint.’

Through her home transformation, Charlene hopes to myth-bust the idea that tenants can’t make council properties their own. Though it’s important to check the details of your contract before splashing paint on the walls, she personally hasn’t encountered any problems.

‘I speak a lot with my housing officer. They’re not really bothered about it to be honest, and last time she came over she said the inside of my door looked great,’ says Charlene.

‘I lifted up the very cheap, laminate flooring, and I found parquet flooring under that. It was amazing – I sanded it down and varnished it. 

‘With the transformation, I think the housing officers are really happy with me to be honest. I think I’m their favourite.’

In ways, the project has been a lifeline for Charlene through recent years. 

‘I’ve struggled with quite a lot of mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, but creating a safe haven for me and my family through our home is quite therapeutic. 

‘It’s been healing. I’m kind of addicted to it, really,’ she laughs. 

‘It’s very feminine, and I do feel it’s lucky that there aren’t any men in the house. It’s girly and warm and is just a safe space. It makes me feel at peace.’

Charlene’s hard graft has seen her nominated for three categories at the Ufurnish Home Awards; for Best Home (Ideal Home Show), Best Use of Colour (Dulux) and Best Interior Content Creator (Cox & Cox). Online voting is open until June 22.

‘Being shortlisted for the awards feels incredibly special and quite emotional,’ she says. ‘When I first moved into the flat, I never imagined it would one day be recognised in this way.

‘Every room has been a labour of love and has evolved over time through patience, creativity and making the most of what I had.’

She says she hopes to challenge stereotypes that still surround council housing.

‘This feels like recognition that beautiful, personal homes can be created on any budget and in any type of property, including a council flat.’

‘My advice to anyone living in a council home that doesn’t feel like home yet is to be patient with yourself and your space. Home making is a journey, not a race.

‘Focus on adding things that you genuinely love, even if it’s one small item at a time and don’t feel pressured to keep up with trends or what you see on social media,’ Charlene says.

She highlights that the ‘most important’ thing is to avoid comparison.

‘Never compare your home to someone else’s, everyone’s circumstances, finances and timelines are different. Comparison can have a real impact on your mental health and make you feel like you’re falling behind when you’re not.

‘Your home should reflect you, your personality and what makes you feel comfortable and happy. The most meaningful homes aren’t necessarily the most expensive ones — they’re the ones filled with love, memories and are made by the people who live in them.

‘Small changes over time can make a huge difference, so trust your own vision and create a space that feels right for you.’

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2026-06-11T05:25:52Z