How a Girl Did a Budget Renovation in a Rented Khrushchyovka Apartment (Before and After Photos)

There are several ways to do a renovation: invest a lot of money and get a luxurious layout, or... stick to a limited budget and get the same result! And all of this is quite realistically achievable even without the involvement of a designer, whose services also cost money.

Natalia Chuvinova rented an ordinary Khrushchyovka that had not changed since the 1990s. After doing a small cosmetic renovation, she decorated the space in a Scandinavian style by herself.

Renovation. Natalia has loved European design since childhood, so for her rental she chose simple housing from earlier decades — it was perfect for restoration work. Nothing major was originally planned: just a "cosmetic" touch-up and Scandinavian decor.Finishing

First, they removed the old linoleum, spackled and painted the wooden planks with budget paint Dufa in a white shade. Although cracks were already starting to appear in some places, for the style of the Scandinavian interior, this is not critical.

The walls and ceiling were finished with water-emulsion paint Dulux. Natalia wanted to achieve a "Stockholm white" interior, so she had to tinker with manual color matching at home.

In the bathroom, holes in the walls were filled with spackle, and loose tiles were secured. Wallpaper from Borastapeter with a geometric pattern was applied to one wall and the hallway.

In essence, the bathroom became the only part of the Khrushchyovka where dark tones dominate — all other rooms are done in neutral tones with light accents.

Balcony and Storage

The small open balcony was left as is, after clearing it of clutter. Now it's a perfect spot for relaxation, decorated with colorful Chinese lanterns that glow in the dark.

They decided not to create a full storage system because most of Natalia's belongings are stored on shelves and hangers in the hallway and bedroom. Seasonal accessories were sent to the attic, and household items were placed in a cabinet in the living room.Furniture and Decor

She didn't have to buy new furniture, since most of it came from her parents, and only a few items were bought at IKEA. The bed was built from wooden pallets, and the rest of the interior items were purchased for a few thousand rubles.

Bright posters from print markets and foreign platforms, plus Natalia's own artwork, are hung on the walls. There are many ceramic planters with succulents and other plants that significantly liven up the space.

Lighting and ambient atmosphere are created with candles, window garlands, and powder-colored textiles — all of this was found at IKEA and H&M Home. Following the main principles of Scandinavian style, the client decided to completely forgo curtains — luckily, the windows are hidden behind trees and open into a quiet courtyard.

The most unusual accessory was a cracked mirror in the bedroom, which accidentally got damaged during cabinet installation. It became a kind of signature element of the apartment and was not thrown away.

Interesting accents also exist in the hallway — the IKEA curtain rod was repurposed into a clothing hanger. The entrance door is painted in a graphite color, and the resulting coating allows for drawing over it. This all adds individuality to the interior.