How we transformed a shabby flat in just two weeks

Scroll to see before and after photos of Iris’s flat - Nikki Hinton

When Iris was finally handed the keys to her new home, the relief was short-lived. She and her young daughter had spent months in a refuge, followed by temporary accommodation, so she was overjoyed when social housing became available for them. But the flat was bare and unsafe, with no flooring, patched and peeling walls, a broken boiler cupboard, and windows that didn’t close. “I didn’t know where to start,” she says. “I was very happy to be offered a new home, but it didn’t feel like a home.”

Fortunately, she was referred to Furnishing Futures, a London charity founded by former social worker and interior designer Emily Wheeler. The charity transforms empty social housing into warm, comfortable homes for women and children starting again with nothing. It works with homeware brands that donate surplus pieces. As less than two per cent of UK social housing is currently furnished, even with basics such as flooring or white goods, the charity is filling a vital gap.

Em Brogden, a designer with the charity, worked with Iris on the project, and the entire transformation took just two weeks.

A room to breathe

To create a serene, light-filled environment, Em narrowed down paint options to a few neutral shades from Coat Paints. Iris wanted white throughout and pink for her daughter’s bedroom, so Brogden specified Coat’s Nada, a warm off-white, for the walls and ceilings. Iris’s daughter’s bedroom, designed as a calm, uncluttered environment for a child on the autism spectrum, was finished in a soft, dusky pink called Ciao, Sofia.

The dusky pink palette in Iris’s daughter’s room is playful but gentle - Nikki Hinton

Every decision, from colour to texture, was intended to promote restfulness and ease: quiet colours, rounded forms, and soft textures, with layered lighting and natural materials to calm the senses. “We think about how a space makes someone feel,” says Em. “It’s not about trends, it’s about comfort and stability.”

Essential repairs

Once the plan was in place, the process moved quickly. The first task was to make the flat safe and structurally sound before adding any of the softness that would make it feel like home. The boiler cupboard was secured, faulty windows repaired, and trip hazards cleared. Fresh plaster smoothed over damaged walls, and a biscuit-beige carpet was laid throughout to soften sound and add warmth underfoot. Painting the ceilings the same colour as the walls gave a seamless, cocooning backdrop and also sped up the decorating schedule.

Seamless paintwork has created a warm, calming foundation - Nikki Hinton

The living area

In the living-dining room, the floor space was tight, so the designers chose a Swyft modular sofa in an earthy tone that arrived in boxes and was easily assembled. “We kept everything tonal – wood, rust, ochre – so it felt warm and welcoming,” says Brogden. To link the sitting and dining zones, she paired two Soho Home rugs edge to edge, creating warmth and cohesion. “It softened the acoustics too, which helps a room feel calm.”

A window bench from Anthropologie provides relaxed seating without crowding the room, allowing Iris to host friends comfortably. The curtains were kept light and single-layered, as the flat sits high, framed by treetops, so the view remains open and private. A mirror from Coach House above the console table reflects light into the alcove, and Cotswold Co dining chairs complete the look.

A window bench offers relaxed seating, while light curtains frame the treetop view, maintaining both privacy and openness - Nikki Hinton

Creating calming bedrooms

In Iris’s bedroom, simplicity was the guiding principle. The off-white paint wraps the walls and ceiling, creating the peaceful feel she wanted. Matching Atkin & Thyme bedside tables and lamps introduce symmetry and balance, while a Soho Home armchair sits by the window to create a quiet reading corner. The large-scale abstract artworks are from Loughran Gallery.

The dusky pink palette in Iris’s daughter’s room is playful but gentle, paired with a Mustard Made wardrobe in soft lilac and Tielle Linen bedding. A fabric canopy over the bed creates a safe nook – a small but meaningful design choice for a neurodivergent child. “For children on the spectrum, having an enclosed space can feel grounding,” says Brogden. “It gives them control over their environment.” Floor cushions form a safe play zone, while textile wall hangings by Sparrow & Grass and prints from Pretty Story Prints add texture and colour.

The finishing touches

Harsh overhead lighting was replaced with soft, dimmable bulbs and woven rattan pendant shades to diffuse the glow. Natural materials such as wood, linen, ceramics, and plants introduce texture and add to the soft palette throughout.

Every element, from the paint finish to the lighting, was designed to make the space feel tactile and grounded.

Soft lighting and natural materials like wood and linen create a warm, tactile space, adding texture and grounding the design - Nikki Hinton

“When Iris walked in, she said she’d never had a home like this before,” recalls Em. “The whole flat finally felt warm, safe, and lived in. The change is always clearest in the children: they’re calmer, more playful, more at ease. They get excited about the simple things that most of us take for granted.”

“I feel like I’ve just started my life now,” says Iris. “It’s made such a great difference.”

‘The whole flat finally felt warm, safe, and lived in’ - Nikki Hinton

Em Brogden’s tips for transforming your room

• Cocoon with colour. Extending paint across walls and ceilings erases visual boundaries and creates a sense of enclosure – a simple design trick that makes even small rooms feel intentional.
• Layer for softness. Combine rugs, curtains, and upholstery in different weights and textures. Linen, wool, and bouclé absorb sound and light, lending stillness to busy rooms.
• Design with symmetry. Balanced pairings, such as lamps, bedside tables, or artworks, bring quiet order. “The human brain reads symmetry as safety,” says Brogden. “That feeling of equilibrium is key to how a room calms you.”
• Contrast the natural with the refined. Juxtapose woven or raw finishes, such as rattan, oak, or unglazed ceramic, with something polished like brass or stone. The tension between textures gives a space character.
• Scale up the art. Large, abstract canvases have a meditative quality. “Organic shapes feel softer and less intrusive than rigid ones,” notes Brogden. “They anchor a space without overwhelming it.”
• Treat overhead bulbs as a background layer. The atmosphere in a room comes from low-level pools of light – a reading lamp, a shaded wall light, or a soft glow from a table lamp.
• Create a change of scene. Even in compact homes, a single armchair by a window or a slim bench under a sill offers a psychological reset.

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