How to make my flat feel like home on a budget

[thetorturedpoetsdepartmentssecretary]

I live in a housing association flat, for which I am incredibly grateful. However, due to various reasons I can't seem to make it feel homely.

One is the glass door from lounge to hallway, I don't know what it is, but it just looks wrong.

Secondly the stairs to the flat are concrete and lead up from the front door to the landing. I sort of feel as if I'm living in the upstairs of a house - which I suppose I am! But it doesn't feel like a home because of that. I've painted the stairs white and put carpet treads down, but I don't like it at all. When I moved in I was on an incredibly tight budget, and still am. I'd love to carpet the stairs, but just can't afford to.

I like my living room, have vinyl flooring and a big rug, but due to the glass door and stairs in the middle of the hallway it all feels disconnected somehow. I don't think I can do anything about it though.

The other problem is the walls in the living room and bedroom are wallpapered in old fashioned embossed wallpaper. I removed it on the landing, the walls underneath were in terrible condition, plaster coming off etc, so that removing the wallpaper in the other rooms isn't an option, as I can't afford to get someone in to put up lining paper and can't do it myself due to a health condition.

I have to stay here, so really want to make it feel like home, but am struggling to see how I can. I like it light and airy, it's all painted white with one turquoise feature wall, light flooring, cream sofa, pale wood and then shades of blue wall art, soft furnishings.

What could I possibly do?

I agree glass film. But your home is lovely, it’s just takes time to get it right. Can you photo the stairs. If they are outside a flat near me has bedding plants in pots on the stairs - my indoor stairs which are open plan I have framed photos on the steps at one side

Don't forget Freecycle. Where you can look for things that are offered and make wanted requests.

How about a long curtain next to the door(s)? It might soften the appearance of that wall. I saw a thing the other day where someone had glued individual runner mats along their stairs to create one long runner. It looked fantastic and cost them very little, as each mat was only a few pounds.

ETA if you google stair runner hacks there are some great (and cheap) ideas

It looks fresh and spacious and loved!
Has the embossed wallpaper in the photos been painted? Hard to see from the photos, but maybe a very flat matt paint would help hide some of the texture?
And you cat is gorgeous.

As some have said glass film. Or take the door and hinges off completely? Open up the space? easy to rehang the door at a later date if needed

Your sitting room looks lovely, it's bright and cozy and the old fashioned embossed paper doesn't look too bad actually.

For the glass door agree that glass film is a good idea. Or you could have a rising portiere rod and a curtain for the door to make it warmer. Or both!

For the hallway stairs I saw someone on instagram buy some cheap runners and used those as a stair carpet which seemed like a good idea. Or you could try a different paint colour, white can feel a bit dingy if there's no natural light so it might be as simple as swapping to a different colour. Or what about painting the steps with a pattern or different colours? You could put pictures up the wall or have plants (if enough light) or have battery operated wall lights. I like the tile idea above, you can get plastic stick on tiles which are a lot cheaper than the real thing, probably better on the uprights though, not sure how tough they'd be for the treads.

Finally, just wanted to say, doing your home up takes time even if you have a big budget. You clearly have a good eye because your sitting room looks lovely so try and enjoy the process and finding good solutions at reasonable prices.

I love the living room, ours is the same! Also laughed at the unexpected meningitis.

I know this isn’t helpful, but I think it looks lovely. Maybe get some more plants?

I use window film it's beautiful. Got it off amazon. I got a white lace pattern one.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

More photos attached. Wallpaper in living room and bedroom, stairway and glass door.

It looks lovely. I live in the first floor of a converted house and know the feeling of it's not a proper home. But your place is fab. It took me 10 years to do up our flat to my tastes a bit at a time.

Much bigger artwork on the walls will make it look more styled. Especially on the stairwell.

For the glass doors I get what you mean, even though I quite like them. You could get glass film decal to make them frosted.

It all looks so nice and homely already though!

The wallpaper has been painted over in the living room, unfortunately with a glossy paint.

I have quite a lot of artwork in an attempt to hide as much of the wallpaper as possible.

Thank you. Yes I agree I need bigger artwork, I put up pictures someone painted for me, but will look for some bigger prints and move the small ones elsewhere.

I did think about curtains on the doors, but I'm not a fan of them really.

I've got stair treads but they were cheap and look it!

I hadn't thought about painting it a different colour, but to be honest it's so high I couldn't do it myself, painting is a challenge due to a health condition anyway.

Yes, I think bigger things on the stairwell walls will make a huge difference. If you’re up for it, paint the stairs again, this time a deep colour? I have Inchyra Blue stairs with a bright runner.

What is your actual issue with the glass door? Is it its transparency you don’t like? I think I’d hang a curtain over it..? Echoing others in saying your home looks lovely!

I find any room more comfy with fairy lights it's an instant pick-me-up

Could you hang a blanket/curtain on the door - narrower than the door so you can still open it, or on swing arm Curtain pole so you can still open the door??

Stairwell - I agree that stair carpet is a PITA. Could you put plants and books on the ends of each tread?

Me too 😊 I have fairy lights and candles.

I'll see what I can do with the stairs. It doesn't help that each step has a wooden bit so that carpet can be attached, but the paint doesn't cover it so it's always visible. I'll attach a photo. It's really difficult painting it again, the paint smells very strong, it makes me feel ill and definitely isn't good for my cats! Something I can stick on to cover the whole step would be better. I'll have to Google.... I like the thought of books at each side though, I've plenty of those!

Stair treads

You could put shelves on the wall and put the plants on that.

Those tiles look really nice heavybuthopeful.

The stairway isn't helped by the mismatched banisters! I can't afford to replace them and do need them both though.

I've searched high and low for larger stair carpets but they don't exist. Painting again isn't an option, as the cat would run up and down them and make a mess! I think I'll have to stick some white vinyl down.

The heating bill would go right up unfortunately. All that hot air mixing with the cold air coming from the stairwell.

OP I don't think there's anything wrong with being picky or having high standards, it's just being that way and on a budget and wanting everything properly nice right now, that's the problem.

It's that age old problem of life. Applicable to anything.

You want it:
Done well
Done fast
Done cheaply

Pick any two, you can't have all three, it isn't possible.