
My council flat is so stylish thanks to second-hand finds – plus the treasure chest place you need to look for bargains
Charlene Bonnici, a bargain hunter from the UK, confirmed that she was on a mission to give her pad a makeover without breaking the bank.
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Now, thanks to second-hand buys and bargains from Dunelm and Temu, Charlene's home is incredibly impressive and super unique.
Posting on social media, the young woman gave her followers a close-up look inside her home, leaving many totally stunned.
Alongside clips of her council property, which has been kitted out with funky prints and glam accessories, Charlene explained: 'Living in a council flat doesn't mean giving up on beauty or style. It means finding creative ways to make every corner feel like home.
'This is about making the most of what we have, proving that warmth, personality, and pride don't depend on where you live, but how you live.'
Since then, Charlene has opened up to Fabulous about her council flat and how she has been able to make it look so luxe whilst sticking to a tight budget.
The DIY enthusiast told us: 'Most of my wall prints are from Temu - which are a couple of pounds each - and Desenio.
'A few still don't have frames yet, but I like to get them up on the wall anyway so I can admire them until I can afford the frames.
'My sofa is actually a broken second-hand IKEA one I have had for years. I'm actually saving for a new one….it's on a slope on one side.
'I've covered it with a Comfortly sofa cover that I saved up for ages to get.'
Not only this, but Charlene also revealed the treasure chest place you need to search if you want to get your hands on purse-friendly interior finds.
Trolls say council houses can't look nice but my stunning hallway will prove them wrong
'My coffee table was a total Facebook Martketplace bargain, (originally from John Lewis) I grabbed it for £30!
' Facebook Marketplace is such a treasure chest,' she added.
As well as looking online for bargains, Charlene also loves shopping in the sales too.
I very rarely buy things brand new unless I really love them and have saved up for them, so it's all been a bit of a mix-and-match process
Charlene Bonnici
She continued: 'My rug was from Dunelm for just £25 in the sale, which I'm still so happy about.
'I buy most of my things second-hand, and if I've got my eye on something special (like my Smeg kettle), I'll save for months until I can get it.
How to do your council house up on the cheap
Take inspiration from pricier shops and head to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decorations.
Head to YouTube for easy to follow tutorials on how to decorate rather than paying for professionals.
For a quick glow-up for your floors or anywhere with tiles, opt for stick-on vinyl to save on costs.
A lick of paint does wonders to make a room feel brand-new.
Switch out kitchen cupboard knobs for modern ones instead of buying brand-new cupboards
'I also love picking up little decor bits from Amazon, TK Maxx, Dunelm and H&M when they have sales.'
Thrilled with her home's glam look, the content creator shared: 'I've collected everything so slowly over time - I very rarely buy things brand new unless I really love them and have saved up for them, so it's all been a bit of a mix-and-match process.'
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DIY fans beam
Charlene's TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ at_home_with_charl, has clearly impressed many, as users eagerly raced to the comments to praise her 'beautiful' home.
Not only did people think it was 'cosy' and 'stylish,' but others were 'obsessed' with Charlene's glam decor.
One person said: 'Lovely. Clean, tidy, organised and cosy.'
Another added: 'Wow, this is actually stunning! What a beautiful home.'
A third commented: 'I love your style.'
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