For Aina, becoming a content creator (@ainasalsabila_aznan) started during the COVID lockdown. “There wasn’t much to do at home, so I thought I’d share some decor content,” she recalls.
When they finally bought their own home, Aina decided to take content creation more seriously, sharing about her house renovation journey, home decor ideas and how her husband DIY-ed parts of the home to save on renovation costs. We caught up with her to learn more about how they transformed their home from an empty unit into the cosy family abode for just RM41,000 (excluding loose furniture and appliances).
About Aina and her family
I’m a 35-year-old housewife, and I’ve also been working part-time as a content creator for the past two years. I’m married to Badrul Hisham, and we have two children, aged eight and ten years old.
Both of us are originally from Taiping, Perak. We became friends after high school and dated for five years before getting married. It’s been 12 wonderful years together!
About the house
Before this, we lived in a rented terrace for nine years. After so long in a rental, we decided it was time to have our own home, a place we could renovate, personalise and decorate exactly the way we wanted.
Located in Sitiawan, Perak, we purchased a one-storey, intermediate terrace spanning 1,300 sqft, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. We chose this area because housing prices are relatively affordable compared to where we used to rent. Even though it’s a bit farther from the city center, it’s not a big issue for us.
The property is brand new. We purchased it directly from the developer in 2019 when it was still just an empty plot of land, and we finally received the keys in 2023.
About the design choice
Even before we got the keys to our house, I was already dreaming up how I wanted it to look like. I’ve always loved the Scandinavian style, but over time my design preference evolved. Now, our home is a combination of Mediterranean, wabi sabi and of course, Scandinavian.
For inspiration, I love looking at homes from overseas. I spend hours on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram, watching house tours and picking up ideas. One of my favourite YouTube channels is Rizki Abadi where some of his house tours influenced my design choices.
When it comes to colour, we focused on natural, soothing tones. I mainly used Jotun paint in the ‘Space’ shade which is a bright, warm tone that’s not stark white. I love it because it’s cosy, aesthetically pleasing and creates a serene atmosphere that makes us feel calm at home. This colour is used in the living, dining and kitchen areas. To add contrast and elevate the overall look, we incorporated accents of white, nude brown, grey, and black. To save cost, my husband painted the entire house himself.
For furniture, decor, and materials, I enjoy bringing in natural elements like rattan, wood, and stone. We went for mostly loose furniture, sourcing pieces from IKEA, SSF, Joy Design or local furniture stores.
For decorative items, I usually shop at Shopee, Hooga, SSF, UJU Home, IKEA and Objet. These stores usually have wabi-sabi esthetic pieces which are simple, natural with a bit of imperfections to add character to a space.
About the renovation works
We didn’t hire an interior designer for our renovation, but we did work with several contractors. Most of them were recommended by friends who had done their own home renovations.
Both my husband and I played active roles in the renovation. I focused on design ideas for the kitchen, porch, and bedrooms, while he came up with designs for the dining area arches, the TV cabinet in the living room, plaster ceilings, and the lighting. We also shared the task of coordinating with the contractors where some projects were handled by him, and others by me.
The open plan living and dining area
Our house has an open-plan layout that combines the living and dining areas. The design leans towards an organic look, with touches of contemporary and rustic elements.
In the living room, we installed a simple L-box plaster ceiling and added a ready-made TV cabinet from a nearby furniture store. It even comes with built-in LED lighting, which makes the wall look more stylish and inviting.
There’s a huge urn in the living room that originally belonged to my mom. It had been left unused in her house, so I asked if I could bring it into our home. I painted it with oil paint and turned it into a beautiful vase for our artificial olive plants, giving it a new life in our home.
If you’ve noticed, there’s no coffee table in our living room and we kept the seating simple, just a three-seater sofa and an armchair. I wanted the space to feel more open, with plenty of room to walk around, and it’s also safer for the kids to run and play, especially since they’re still growing and active.
Not having a coffee table also comes with a bonus as we use it as a gentle way to teach them not to eat in front of the TV. It helps keep the space cleaner and more enjoyable for everyone.
In the dining area, the arch wall is the focal point of the room. It was custom-made by our contractor, while the textured walls were DIY-ed by my husband using plaster cement. We also added lighting to highlight the wall’s texture and really make the feature wall stand out.
Below the arch, we added a cabinet purchased from a nearby furniture store. We had to hunt for one that would fit perfectly inside the arch, but it turned out just right.
The kitchen
For me, the kitchen is one of the most important parts of the house. After all, I’m a housewife, and cooking is one of my main jobs. Sometimes I also create content in the kitchen, so in a way, it’s like my office too. That’s why I put extra care and effort into the kitchen renovation.
We went for a Scandinavian style with white tones because I love how a white kitchen feels, bright, clean, and spacious. Some people might say white kitchens are hard to maintain, but I don’t find it a problem at all.
We created an L-shaped counter with a stove and sink, which makes cooking and prepping ingredients much easier for me. The countertop is tiled with a marble pattern, and the backsplash features a mosaic with a fish-scale design.
On the other side of the kitchen, we installed another counter for all my appliances, like the rice cooker, water dispenser, and coffee maker. In turns of cooking workflow and accessibility of items, this setup is really practical and convenient.
To keep smoke from spreading to the rest of the house, we installed a glass door with a black frame. It adds a Scandinavian touch, especially paired with the white tones and wood elements in the kitchen.
The bedrooms
In the master bedroom, my husband DIY-ed a shiplap feature wall made from MDF boards that we purchased from Shopee. He carefully measured each piece to ensure a precise fit, creating a cohesive, unified look before installing them one by one.
With the shiplap in place, we didn’t feel the need for a headboard, it already serves as a stylish backdrop for the bed. It gives the room a subtle Japandi vibe, especially paired with a tatami-style bedding.
In the kids’ room, my husband painted the walls in two tones with a scallop design, sage green for our son’s side and dusty pink for our daughter’s. We furnished the room with loose furniture so it can be easily swapped out as the kids grow older.
The porch
Previously, our porch had a low wall, so we decided to raise it by about two feet for more privacy. It really makes a difference as now we can sit outside comfortably without people driving or walking by being able to peek inside.
We also added breeze blocks to make the space look more stylish. Combined with the new automatic gate we installed to replace the developer’s original one, it gives our home a more distinctive feel compared to the other houses in the neighborhood. In fact, some of my followers often recognise our house when they pass by and compliment the gate and exterior walls.
To enhance the exterior further, my husband DIY-ed a planter box where we planted cactuses, adding both visual interest and a subtle Mediterranean vibe to the space. We also created a little seating area with a café-like feel and added warm lighting, making it a cosy spot to hang out, especially in the evenings.
To sum up
I’m really happy with how our home renovation turned out. Before, the house was just an empty space, but by designing it the way we liked, I finally achieved the look and feel I wanted.
Renovating our own home has truly been a dream come true. It makes me appreciate the space even more and makes me want to spend more time at home.
For example, the renovated porch has become a favourite spot where we hang out, enjoy a cup of coffee and just relax. Sometimes, we even feel too lazy to go out because staying at home has become so comfortable and enjoyable.
My advice for other homeowners: if your budget allows, I’d definitely recommend hiring an interior designer. They can offer useful ideas and guidance, making the renovation process much less stressful than doing everything yourself.
Handling a renovation on your own takes a lot of research and planning, and it’s easy to miss small details that could save you trouble later like adding extra plug points beyond what the developer provides. That small change can make a big difference down the line.
But if your budget is limited and you’re going on the DIY route, focus on the most important things first, like the plaster ceiling, kitchen cabinets, and painting. Once you’ve moved in, it’s really difficult to do major work without making a mess, so prioritising these essentials is key.
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