15 Year Apartment Makeover
15 Year Apartment Makeover in San Bruno: Full Transformation While My Parents Were Away
Keywords targeted: apartment makeover, small apartment transformation, San Bruno apartment makeover, before and after home makeover, budget home makeover, senior apartment makeover, decluttering tips, plant repotting, DIY apartment remodel, Living Spaces furniture review, Wayfair furniture, small space design ideas
Introduction: A Real Apartment Makeover After Fifteen Years
In February 2024 my parents left for a month-long trip to Costa Rica. They had lived in their San Bruno apartment for almost fifteen years, and despite multiple attempts to update it, the home always ended up feeling more cluttered and outdated.
While they were gone, I decided to take on a full apartment makeover.
This meant decluttering, cleaning, repotting plants, replacing furniture, reorganizing storage, fixing long-ignored issues, and rebuilding every room from the ground up.
This is the complete before and after makeover, with real photos and every step of what it took.
Before and After: Complete San Bruno Apartment Makeover
The apartment started with old heavy furniture, overgrown plants, crowded layouts, messy cabinets, and spaces that simply were not working anymore. The makeover focused on creating a brighter, cleaner, more functional home with modern furniture, better layout choices, and a calm feel.
Step 1: Fixing the Plants That Were Dying From the Roots Up
One of the first challenges was the plants. When I lifted one from its pot, the roots were completely knotted and suffocated. Years of compacted soil and zero drainage had left them barely alive.
Makeover tasks included:
- repotting each plant
- untangling roots
- adding fresh soil
- moving plants to brighter spots
- replacing dying pots with modern planters
Healthy plants instantly brought life back into the apartment.
Step 2: Measuring Everything Before Buying New Furniture
Before choosing new furniture I measured every wall, corner, and doorway. It quickly became obvious why nothing fit.
I found:
- uneven flooring
- dead electrical outlets
- scratched walls
- closets with poor space usage
These measurements helped build a layout that finally made sense for the apartment.
Step 3: Removing Outdated and Oversized Furniture
The old bedroom set was massive, dark, and heavy. Disassembling it uncovered years of dust, lost items, and stains hidden under the frame.
Cleaning the space from scratch allowed us to rebuild a much brighter and cleaner bedroom.
Step 4: Shopping for New Furniture and Home Essentials
Here are the exact places where I bought the new furniture and upgrades. This section is ideal for embedded ads or affiliate links.
1. Living Spaces Millbrae
- dining table
- chairs
- decor items
- pillows
2. Wayfair
- bed frame
- nightstands
- shelving
- closet storage
3. Best Buy
- bedroom TV
- tools
- mounts
- electronics
4. Amazon
- curtain rods
- LED bulbs
- pots and planters
- organization bins
- cleaning supplies
- caulk
- drill bits
5. Lowe’s
- soil
- fertilizer
- screws
- wall plates
- sanding blocks
6. Target
- bedding
- towels
- storage items
7. U-Haul Bayshore
- boxes
- moving blankets
- dolly rental
These purchases played a major role in transforming each room.
Step 5: Deep Cleaning and Decluttering Every Space
This makeover required serious hands-on work:
Kitchen
The kitchen cabinets were full of expired products, sticky shelves, and a mix of random household items. I removed everything, cleaned the shelves, and reorganized the categories.
Bedroom
Once the old furniture was removed, I cleaned the carpet, repaired the walls, and mounted a new TV to free up floor space.
Living Room
Clearing out old decor made room for brighter, modern pieces. Adding warm lighting and repotted plants completely changed the energy of the room.
Closets and Laundry Area
- reorganized shelves
- removed unused items
- cleaned the laundry closet
- created better storage flow
The apartment finally felt open and functional.
Step 6: Designing the New Apartment Layout
The new design focused on light, warmth, and simplicity.
Living Room Upgrades
- new dining table
- green velvet chairs
- matching curtains
- white TV stand with electric fireplace
- optimized seating
- warm lighting
Bedroom Upgrades
- low profile wood bed frame
- fresh bedding
- wall-mounted TV
- organized storage
Plants and Decorating
- several repotted plants
- modern planters
- better placement for natural light
Kitchen and Storage
- organized cabinets
- cleaner countertop setup
- functional layout
Everything finally worked together instead of competing.
The Final Reveal: A Completely New Home
When my parents returned from Costa Rica, they walked into a home that felt new.
Bright. Peaceful. Organized. Comfortable.
A huge contrast to the dark, cluttered apartment they had lived in for years.
This makeover proved that you do not need a luxury budget to create a home that feels good. You need intention, planning, and a willingness to clear out what no longer serves the space.
