One common question I receive every year between March and May is for ideas on how to spruce up the government bungalows. This is the time of the year when many families move to a different location. So, who better than Vibhuti Pandey,who lives in one such sprawling bungalow in Patna, take us through budget-friendly ideas to decorate your rental home.
For the better part of my childhood, we lived in homes – called official accommodations / government quarters – that were part of a colony in a factory. Even the newly constructed ones became a eyesore in a couple of years with bad plumbing, dirty mosaic flooring, peeling off wall paint etc. Years later, when we were married, and I started visiting / staying at the government bungalows, I realized the homes we lived in were in a better condition.
The common thread is the space – no dearth in terms of square footage and garden size, but a far cry in terms of quality of construction, lighting or layout. The constraints faced by the residents are often the same: no permanent woodwork, how to cover open shelves aesthetically, easy to move furniture, budget-friendly, how to hide seepage in walls to name a few.
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Also see: A 640 Sq.Ft. Rental Home in San Francisco Decorated With Heirloom Treasures
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Vibhuti takes us through how she revamped her home in Patna over a course of two years. Her Insta feed (@embellish.vp) is brimming with recycling everyday objects as decor pieces like coconut shell as a vase, used shoes as a planter, drum as a table and many more.
About the home:
Who lives here: Vibhuti along with her husband
Location : Patna
Type: a 6-bedroom government bungalow
Owned or rented: Government accommodation
Years lived in: 2 years
Image Courtesy: Vibhuti
The single-storeyed house faces East and has a garden in front and a kitchen garden at the back. It has six rooms, with a lobby and two patios (in front & back). There is a kitchen, two store rooms and four washrooms.
When asked about the structure of the houses and challenges one faces, Vibhuti explains,
The Government allotted houses are never in a good condition. There is a lot of work which you have to put in, to make it livable. All the home decor & interior should be such which does not require any construction because its generally not allowed.
When we shifted here, I just had the option of colour choice. There was no option of change of any of the furniture, which was already kept here. This bungalow was in a very bad state, as if no one has lived here since years. It took me 1 and a half months to shape it up..clean every bit and corner of it and then decorate.
As a Fauji, we have to limit the stuff which we buy because the next accommodation in a different state may not be as big as this one. Plus the transfer happens every 2-2.5 yrs so increasing stuff and then carrying it everywhere is too much difficult. So while decorating, I always keep in mind to use less things in a creative style, add more DIYs and keep shuffling the stuff, to give a fresh feel every time.
Vibhuti’s style is inspired by colours and comfort with electric and boho decor mixed with Indian touches. Her decor style: DIYs, lot of patterns, colours, lights, and comfortable nooks.
Storage Tip
I have actually not stored anything in open shelves, but as far as storage is concerned, I have boxes{the army culture} which I have painted and decorated. So it serves the purpose of storage,carrying our possessions in transits and decor.
Also see: Asha & Sudhir’s Home Is a Sanctuary of Treasures & Handcrafted Products
Leave a comment if you have specific queries about how to make the most of your government accommodation.
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I like it, I want to decorate my home ,so how can I approach you or contact you , kindly look after it and reply me.