A 200 million won Jeonse house in Seongbuk-dong: A designer's DIY interior completed with 2.5 million won

The home of freelance designer Pickhome, who lives in a 12-pyeong two-room Jeonse (deposit of 200 million won) in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, has been revealed, fully decorated with her own taste using a budget of 2.5 million won. Even within the constraints of a Jeonse housing type, the process of completely changing the atmosphere of the space by removing upper cabinet doors or using handmade props was captured.

DIY strategy overcoming Jeonse constraints, "I removed the upper cabinet doors"

The Seongbuk-dong house where Pickhome resides has a structure where the living room and kitchen are connected, with an actual area of about 11–12 pyeong. As a designer, she cited 'removing doors' as the first thing she did after moving in. To make the space look wider and less cumbersome, she detached all the doors of the kitchen upper cabinets and stored them in the boiler storage room. It took less than an hour to remove the doors using a screwdriver, and she carefully stored the screws so they could be reattached later.

'Plywood' and 'adhesive sheets' played key roles in the kitchen interior. To change the atmosphere of the existing kitchen, she first applied adhesive sheets to the tiles, but because she quickly grew tired of the color, she repainted them with white paint tint. To add a wood mood, she custom-ordered 4T thick plywood. She attached the plywood, which had custom-colored paint applied over the adhesive sheet, using double-sided tape; this is a method that allows for restoration by simply peeling off the adhesive sheet when moving out later.

Her ability to utilize props was also outstanding. She created lighting using a 2,000 won cutlery holder and a 3,000 won soup bowl purchased from AsungDaiso, and a memo pad made by applying UV resin to 500 won clay and baking it also caught the eye. Furthermore, since there were no posters she liked, she drew illustrations herself, printed them, and attached them to the walls, creating an original atmosphere while saving costs. In the kitchen, she added convenience by installing a faucet product that can be used like a water purifier just by replacing the filter.

The transformation of a Karrot giveaway table and how to use a 2.5 million won budget

The cafe table in the living room is the result of recreating a product received as a giveaway from Karrot. To achieve the recently trendy 'Berued' feel, Pickhome used Berued materials purchased from Temu. After a week of manual sanding work, she stripped off the old varnish and gave it a new look. She also attached wheels to the table herself to ensure mobility.

The total budget invested in the entire interior is approximately 2.5 million won. Instead of expensive lighting, a mobile-type light made by inserting wire and her own illustrations replaced high-end fixtures, and she minimized damage to the walls by fixing it with paper tape and a glue gun. For the windows, she applied lattice adhesive sheets in the 20,000 won range to create a foreign atmosphere, and chose curtains with ribbons to mimic the look of Roman shades, increasing the completeness of the interior. Additionally, to hide the messy intercom and switch areas, she installed a partition worth about 160,000 to 170,000 won, which she designed and commissioned, completing the aesthetics of the space.

A minimalist's bedroom and a relaxation space with a cat

The bedroom advocates for 'minimalism' with a simple appearance featuring only a bed. To create a hotel-like atmosphere, she chose a bed frame from the brand SLQK and matched it with checkered bedding and cooling bedding from FINCA products, which were inspired by an Airbnb in the United Kingdom. In particular, the bedding was configured to be easy to wash and separate by using a snap-button waterproof mat.

Next to the bed, a light is installed that can adjust brightness and color via smartphone, allowing her to adjust the mood and reduce eye fatigue before sleeping. Pickhome cited the moments when she leans against the bed to work on her computer or lies down with her cat 'Beomi' as her happiest moments. This house was introduced as a space with high residential satisfaction due to the neighborhood's characteristics, being close to Seongbuk Stream and walking trails and having many famous restaurants.