July 22, 2026
Who says you need to own a home to make it beautiful?
From the outside, you’d probably never guess that this kampung house hides a modern, thoughtfully designed interior. What’s even more surprising? The home isn’t owned by the family, it’s actually a rental.
But for home décor enthusiast, Intan, renting didn’t stop her from creating a space that truly felt like home. She transformed the house into a warm and cosy retreat, putting just as much care into renovating and redecorating as any homeowner would.
We had the opportunity to tour the house and chat with her about the inspiration behind the makeover, how she renovated her rented home, and the thoughtful details that brought her vision to life.
About Intan and her family
Intan (I): I’m a mother of three and I also have four cats with various breeds like munchkins and golden british long hair. We used to live in a double-storey terrace house in Puncak Alam. But after my husband passed away three years ago, we decided to downsize. The old house held so many memories of him, and it was difficult for us to stay there.
My children have all grown up now, so the house also felt much quieter. My eldest son, who’s 27, and my daughter, 26, are already working, while my youngest is 20 and now in college. We usually spend time together during the weekends whenever everyone is free.
Earlier this year, I decided to take early retirement. I’ve been working in the publishing industry for more than three decades before deciding to quit my job to slow down and enjoy this new chapter of life.
My extended family owns a big piece of land in TTDI, where many of my relatives have lived for generations. Since the 1980s, several houses have been built there and passed down within the family. The house I’m staying in now belongs to my aunt, who rents it to me. It’s really nice because I get to be close to my relatives.
The house is about 700 sqft and has a cosy kampung vibe, even though it’s located in the city. It’s a single-storey home with two bedrooms and one bathroom, which is just the right size for me and my family.
About the home renovation
When it came to designing the house, I went with a modern contemporary style because I’ve always loved clean, simple spaces that are easy to maintain.
I naturally gravitate towards bright interiors, so I chose grey and white as the main colour palette. To keep the space from looking too plain, I added black accents here and there to create a bit of contrast and make the overall design feel more balanced.
The house was still in good condition, so there was no need for major renovation work like rewiring the electricals, or replacing the plumbing. Instead, I focused on making small changes myself and took on a few DIY projects. Because of that, I managed to keep the total renovation cost to around RM10,000, including furniture.
There were still a few things I left to the professionals, though. I hired contractors to retile the bathroom and parts of the kitchen, as those jobs were a little too technical for me to DIY.
Before I moved in, my aunt had rented the house out to a group of single ladies, so the interior was filled with colours like pink, purple, and yellow, and there was wallpaper in several areas of the house. It just wasn't the look I was going for, so I asked my cousin to help repaint the entire house white. He even repainted the doors from cream to grey so they would better match the modern colour palette I had in mind.
The original floors were bare cement, so I installed vinyl flooring myself. It instantly made the home feel warmer, cosier, and much more inviting.
Since the house is quite small, I didn’t want to add too many built-ins as it might make the space feel bulky and cramped. Instead, I decided to furnish the home with loose furniture, which gives me more flexibility to rearrange the space whenever I want.
Most of the furniture and décor pieces are a mix of items I collected from different places, including second-hand shops, IKEA, Shopee, UJU Home, and Object. I enjoy the process of finding pieces that fit the space and slowly putting the home together over time.
Since I live opposite IKEA Damansara, it’s also very convenient for me to drop by whenever I need to look for new furniture pieces or get inspiration for the home.
The living room
The living area is where we spend most of our time together as a family, so I wanted it to feel comfortable, cosy, and welcoming. Since the space is quite small, I had to be mindful about my design choices. To make the room feel taller than it actually is, I installed curtains from just below the ceiling to the floor which helps create the illusion of a tall ceiling.
I also avoided bulky furniture like a traditional 3+2+1 sofa set, as it would make the room feel cramped. Instead, I chose smaller pieces like an armchair and wooden bench, and added character to the space through decorative details like a table lamp, throw pillows, and blankets.
My favourite part of the living room is the wainscoting detail on one of the walls. I installed it myself, and it not only adds a decorative touch but also helps make the space more spacious. On the opposite wall, I added fluted wall panels, which I also DIY-ed, to bring more texture and dimension into the space.
Since I have 4 cats at home, I installed a sliding glass door between the living area and the kitchen. This helps keep my cats from entering the living room and bedrooms at night.
The kitchen and dining area
The kitchen and dining area are my favourite part of the house because this is where we gather, enjoy meals together, and spend quality time with each other.
Since the kitchen area is quite compact, I decided not to install built-in kitchen cabinets as they would make the space feel more confined. Instead, I opted for loose cabinets to store and display my kitchenware. I also kept the essential appliances such as the fridge, to avoid making the space feel cluttered.
For the kitchen countertop and backsplash, I chose tiles with a similar glossy finish. They’re not only easy to clean and wipe down when there are spills, but the light tones also help make the kitchen look brighter.
To save on renovation costs, I also came up with a simple DIY solution for the area below the kitchen counter. I installed a shower rod and added a white shower curtain that I cut to fit the space. It’s a small detail, but it helps keep the area looking neat while keeping the renovation budget low.
Instead of curtains, I installed white blinds for the windows, which help bring in more natural light and make the overall space feel brighter and more open.
I also added black pendant lights above the dining table to create contrast against the white and grey colour palette. Despite the limited space, I managed to fit a dining table that comfortably seats six people, which is really useful when hosting family and friends, especially during festive occasions like Raya.
Previously, the kitchen area didn’t have air-conditioning, so it could get quite warm, especially in the afternoons. After installing one, we found ourselves spending much more time here. It has become a more comfortable space for the family to gather, allowing us to fully utilise every corner of the home.
The bedrooms
For the bedrooms, I kept the renovation and décor minimal because of the limited space. Both rooms are the same size, so I focused on making sure they had all the essentials without overcrowding the space.
I furnished each room with only the necessities, including a bed, vanity table, and wardrobe. Since the bedrooms are where I rest and recharge, I wanted to prioritise comfort, so I invested in good-quality mattresses and quilts to make the space feel cosy and relaxing.
The mini garden
I’m a huge plant lover, so one of my favourite parts of the home is the mini garden I created outside the house. I usually spend my mornings and evenings here tending to my plants and enjoying some quiet time. It has become my own little space to unwind and relax.
I added a variety of green leafy plants like Monstera and colourful flowers like petunia, roses, and frangipani to bring more life and colour into the area. To make the space more comfortable, I added an outdoor bench, chairs, and a parasol where I can sit and enjoy the garden.
In the evenings, the space feels even cosier with the addition of string lights. I also installed a wall fan, which makes the garden much cooler and more comfortable to spend time in here during the day or at night.
To sum up
We’ve been living here for two years now, and Alhamdulillah, I’m much happier living in this home despite it being smaller than our previous house. One of the biggest changes is that I’m now much closer to my relatives. Most of them are within walking distance, so I can easily spend time with my cousins and aunts.
The smaller home has also brought me closer to my family and created more opportunities for us to spend time together.
Looking back at how the house looked before the renovation, the transformation has been huge. It used to feel quite dark because of the bold colours, but with the lighter colour palette and the changes I made, the space now feels much brighter, airier, and more welcoming. I’m really happy with how everything turned out and how this home has become a place that truly feels like mine.
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