I'm living in a tiny 12x12 room in a century-old house, and it's got this awful carpet that reeks from years of smoke. With no option to move, I'm looking to improve the space as minimally as possible. My landlord is cool about it since the condition is so bad that any changes are fine with her. Here's what I'm planning and need advice on:
1. Rip out the existing carpet and clean the area thoroughly. I'll be putting in new padding and maybe replacing the carpet. I need something warm because it's freezing in here.
2. The walls need scrubbing—should I prime before painting over the old coat? It still smells like smoke after all these years.
3. The electric baseboard heater stinks! I'm giving up on cleaning it and considering buying a space heater instead. Suggestions for budget ones?
4. The insulation is super thin. Any ideas to improve that, especially with windows needing to be open for a while?
5. Planning to sand and varnish the closet and main door, just need to clean the knobs too.
6. The popcorn ceiling is looking terrible—can I just paint over it or what?
7. I have some air humidifiers that work; I just need to change the filters.
8. I want to keep this cheap, but my landlord might deduct costs from my rent.
Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Nice plan! I love that you're tackling this yourself. For the carpet, totally go for new padding and get something warmer. Don’t stress too much about the seams; it’s all about the comfort, right? Regarding the walls, prime them well before painting to prevent old stains from bleeding through. Your idea to paint the popcorn ceiling isn’t bad, but be careful with how much moisture you use when scrubbing. As for the baseboard heater, yeah, space heaters can do the trick, just keep an eye on it during those cold months! Good luck fixing up your space!
Your ideas are solid! I’d just suggest looking into those window insulators too; they can help a lot with drafts.
Definitely start by ripping out that carpet! You'll feel better just getting rid of the source of the smell. After that, make sure to clean the floors real good. The walls are tricky: I’d recommend priming first because old smoke can seep through paint if you don't. As for the heater, go for a space heater that you can control easily, just watch the electricity costs. For insulation, consider adding some thick curtains—you can style it with some textiles too for warmth and a cozy feel. When it comes to the ceiling, you can paint it, but if you’re able to dampen it a bit, sometimes it scrapes off easily! Good luck, it sounds like a big project but totally worth it!
Totally agree! And if you do decide to scrape that ceiling, just be careful and watch for what's in it—it’ll be a cleaner look, trust me! I did this in my last place and it was a game changer.
Ozone generators are great too! They work wonders for smoke smells if you can rent one. Just don’t be around when it’s running because it can be a bit intense.
Appreciate your input, thanks! I’m all about making this space livable again.