Studio Apartment Renovation – Weekly Diary of a Home Makeover

Welcome to My Tiny Renovation Adventure!

Our studio apartment renovation story begins like this:

We bought a flat I hadn’t even seen.

Yes, really. My fiancé visited it, walked through the rooms (well—room), took some quick pictures, and messaged me that it’s too small, dark, and not in the best shape. I looked at the photos, smiled, and replied: “Let’s buy it.” He thought I was joking. I wasn’t!

But I saw its potential. As an architect, my mind instantly began rearranging walls, visualizing smart furnitures, hidden storages, and mapping the flow of a calmer, more functional life. 

Few months later – after all the paperwork was done, the keys handed over, and the last stamp dry—it was already ours. I stepped in, looked around, and… okay, it was tiny. But I saw more.

(Side note: The apartment is really tiny. To be specific: the whole flat is just 173 square feet – or 16 square meters!)

And now, I’m inviting you to follow every step of the “studio apartment renovation” project — mess, beauty, decisions, doubts and all.

This blog post will be the central page of our renovation journey. A weekly diary, a real-life transformation, a little mess, and hopefully some inspiration too. I’ll be sharing our progress, the design process behind every choice, what we’re learning along the way—and of course, how to make the most out of a very tiny space, while staying true to a slower, simpler lifestyle.

I’ll also be weaving in the values I live by: slow living, organization, and creating a home that supports your everyday rhythm—not one that overwhelms it. If you’ve ever felt your space should feel more “you” but didn’t know where to start, I hope this journey gives you courage and clarity.

Why We Decided to Renovate It — and How I’ll Approach It as an Architect

Fast answer: look at these pictures!

We didn’t just want to decorate this apartment — we needed to rescue it.

Ok, maybe I was a bit dramatic, actually it does not look that bad. But the place had definitely seen better days. Years of neglect left behind peeling finishes, outdated fittings, water damage, and a sad, swollen sofa that had clearly lost the will to live. The layout felt tight, the atmosphere was rigid, and it just didn’t function as a home should.

But behind all the broken pieces, I saw its quiet potential:

• perfect location: close to the center, touristic area on a hillside, with eternal panorama
• small but really good layout – the rooms had a good shape
• the building was quite new (compared to the surroundings)
• first floor – easy to reach (to be specific, it is in the attic)

We dreamed of transforming it into a peaceful, clever, and cozy space. Not just stylish, but deeply livable—a place that feels calm to come home to, even when life gets busy. Where everything has its place, and you’re not bumping into your own belongings every time you turn around. A place that supports slow mornings, quiet nights, and creative bursts.

As an architect, I’ve designed many compact homes before—but this one is different.
This time, I’m my own client.

This studio apartment renovation is a personal challenge and an exciting opportunity to apply my own design philosophy and work method inside my own space. I’ll be combining minimalist principles, smart organization, and timeless functionality—all within a very limited floor plan and an even more limited budget.

What This Diary Will Be About

In each weekly post, I’ll walk you through not just what we’re doing, but why. From space planning and light flow to material choices and storage tricks, I’ll be sharing both the emotional and technical sides of creating a functional and beautiful home. 

Each week, I’ll be sharing a new update from the “Studio Apartment Renovation” project: 

• where we are
• what decisions we’ve made (or postponed)
• what worked
• what went totally sideways
• how we’re moving forward
• my infinite small home ideas
• probably a bunch of DIY and IKEA hacks
• furniture tips for small homes
• and the principles of my work

Because, renovation isn’t only about building walls or painting doors—it’s about building space for a life. 

This isn’t just a visual transformation—it’s a story.

 And I want to take you behind the scenes of all of it.

The goal? To blend real-life renovation experience with the kind of structured thinking and creativity that I use when designing homes for others.

So whether you’re planning your own home makeover or just love peeking behind the curtain of a real-life project, I hope you’ll follow along, week by week. This post will keep all the links collected in one place, so feel free to bookmark it and check back for new updates!

Studio Apartment Renovation Project – Weekly Updates

Here’s how our home makeover is unfolding, step by step. Each week I’ll add the latest link below.

Click through to follow along our studio apartment renovation — as seen through the eyes of an architect + slow living enthusiast. Stay tuned — each update brings new lessons, architectural insights, and progress toward a tiny home that feels like more.

Week 1 – How to Start an Apartment Renovation Project? (Big Dreams…)

Week 2 – How to design a functional layout for small apartment?

Week 3 – Apartment Renovation Budgeting (With a free template!)

Week 4 – Renovating a Studio Apartment Interior – Part 4, Demolition

Week 5 – 5+ Smart Studio Apartments Layout Ideas – Versions for 16 Sq M

Week 6 – Minimalist, Small Bathroom Renovation Ideas – my reno diary

More weeks coming soon…

Who This Series Is For?

If you’ve ever walked into a room and thought, “How can I make this work?” — this is for you.

This renovation diary is more than just bricks, paint, and Pinterest boards. It’s about finding calm in compact spaces, building a home that reflects who you are, and learning to love the process (yes, there can be occasions where you would think: why did I even started).

Maybe you’re…

• Living in a studio apartment and craving more breathing room.
  
• Planning your own renovation and need some real-life insight.
  
• Obsessed with clever small-space solutions and beautiful functionality.
  
• Curious how an architect actually thinks through design decisions.
  
• Or just here for the story, the mess, and the before & afters.
  

Whoever you are — you’re not alone here.

This journey is about showing that design can be both practical and soulful, even on a budget. It’s about turning limitations into creativity, and building a space that supports a slower, more intentional life.So whether you’re sketching your own floor plan or simply dreaming of a home that feels more you…
→ Let’s do this together.

What’s Coming Next in Our Studio Apartment Renovation?

This is just the beginning—and I can’t wait to show you what’s coming next.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll share the step-by-step transformation of our little apartment:

• Reworking the layout so it actually feels bigger (yes, it’s possible!)
• Clever storage solutions that make use of every corner
• Planning a tiny kitchen that still lets me cook properly (and happily!)
• Choosing materials that are affordable, beautiful, and long-lasting
• …and all the behind-the-scenes thinking that turns chaos into calm.

As an architect, I’ll walk you through the logic behind each design decision, but I’ll also share the human side: the trial and error, the mess on the floor, and the joy of creating. This isn’t a Pinterest-perfect fantasy—it’s a real-life, budget-conscious renovation that blends functionality, emotion, and personality in every square meter.

And the best part? We’re just getting started.
Let’s turn this tiny, slightly wonky apartment into something that feels like home.

Come Along for the Journey

I hope this studio apartment renovation series gives you ideas, encouragement, or just the warm feeling that someone else is also figuring it out, one screw, sketch, and paint-sample at a time.

So grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s build something beautiful—together.
→ Ready for Week 1? Let’s go.

If you need more advice on small home ideas, please feel free to read my older posts about compact homes:

• Small kitchen ideas – maximize your tiny space for the best comfort!
• 6 practical tips for best furniture for small rooms
• Small room ideas – 8 tips for the best furniture and interior design choices

And of course: I am always open for your thoughts! Have you done a renovation or what do you dream about? Tell me in the comments!