I once spent an entire weekend trying to make a 30-square-meter studio feel like a home, armed with nothing but a hundred euros and a lot of determination. The biggest challenge was the sleeping situation. I had a tiny living area that doubled as my bedroom, and guests meant sleeping on a lumpy air mattress that deflated by 3 AM. The solution came from an unexpected place: a friend was moving and selling her old furniture for next to nothing. That is how I discovered that decorating on a budget is not about buying new things, but about being clever with what is available. You can start by looking at secondhand marketplaces and asking around. People often give away solid pieces just because they are redecorating. The key is to look for items with good bones, like a sturdy wooden table or a classic mirror, which you can refresh with paint or new hardware.

The sofa bed became my secret weapon for small spaces.