A single mother of two from South London has spent eight years renovating her council flat on a tight budget, sharing her DIY tips online to challenge negative perceptions of social housing.
Charlene Bonnici, 38, who works as a cleaner, began documenting her home improvements in 2024. She says she wants to show that council tenants can take pride in their homes despite limited funds. 'There's a real stigma – people hear council housing and they think Benefit Britain,' she told Metro.
Bonnici moved into the flat with her two daughters eight years ago, describing it as 'winning the lottery'. She has furnished and decorated the home using second-hand bargains from Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, and free materials from builders. She saved for eight months to buy a £200 IKEA bed frame.
'We should have the right to make our home beautiful, within our means,' she said. Bonnici, who lived in hostels after having her first child at 19, says her upbringing taught her to make the most of any space.
Her approach is to work on the flat only when she can afford it, after bills and food. 'Sometimes it's not for a very, very long time,' she added. Her next project is the bathroom, which remains 'really grotty'.
