“Thrift-store finds define our home’s style”: how interior architect Laura Luoto created a warm-toned rental on a budget

This stone building, built in the 1950s, is located in Kamppi, just a stone’s throw away from central Helsinki.

Moving into their first shared home felt like a good idea. The pandemic had restricted everyday life; interior architect Laura Luoto, 25, and social services professional Ville Kokko, 24, both mostly worked from home, and living alone started to feel tiresome. In 2020, the couple began searching for a place together.

They found their new home in Helsinki’s Kamppi district. Laura immediately fell in love with the charming view of the Ruoholahti wooden-house neighborhood and its atmospheric old courtyards. In central Helsinki, you often see tall stone buildings, but here the openness comes from low-rise structures. Laura and Ville love the location, because they can walk to the city center in just a few minutes.

The couple decided to rent the two-room apartment based solely on the online photos, but Laura still went for a quick in-person visit. She fell in love with its light-colored walls and floors, as well as its bright atmosphere.

Laura, how did you develop the color scheme for your home?

We didn’t want to do any surface renovations in a rental, so it was wonderful to find a place that was already light in color. We wanted to create an atmosphere through furniture and decorative elements, which worked well because the overall look was bright. We have plenty of wooden furniture and rattan. I love the natural warmth of wood. To complement the wood and white, I’ve brought in a range of soft, warm browns. My favorites are toffee, nougat, latte, terracotta, and sand.

Which materials and patterns appeal to you?

I prefer solid colors over prints. I favor natural materials, and we have a lot of linen, cotton, and wood.

Where do you get ideas for decorating your home?

I get most of my inspiration from Instagram. I follow all kinds of accounts and gather ideas from a range of styles. Right now, my favorite accounts are @jamesstreethouse, @ezzwilson, @thuyngn, and @danielatascayork.

How did you manage to transform a rental home to suit your personal style so well?

Many landlords are fine with painting, but we didn’t want to renovate. The main priority was that the walls and floors were light, because they form a good backdrop for the furniture. When choosing a rental, it’s important the layout adapts to your everyday needs. If it doesn’t work day to day, settling in can be tough.

How would you describe your interior design style?

Thrift-store finds define our home’s style, and I arrange the rest of the décor around these beloved treasures. I’m always willing to pass items along when I find something that works even better for us. With limited square footage, you need to be very conscious of what you keep. If we ever get our own place, I’ll decorate it in a Japandi style, blending Japanese and Scandinavian influences. If I could choose every surface finish, I’d lean more toward minimalism.

What do you think turned out best in this home?

I’m really fond of the living room, especially the view from the sleeping area. The furniture we brought in also fits the proportions of the space very well.

What sort of budget did you have to decorate such a lovely home?

We had a very small budget. We combined furniture from each of our previous homes. We also picked up items from thrift stores that I’ve painted to suit our style.

What have you specifically looked for when buying secondhand?

I’ve acquired all sorts of beautiful things for our home from thrift stores. I buy a lot of vases, lamps, and decorative objects, and I have a particular soft spot for chairs. I love creating eye-catching arrangements on surfaces around the house, so all kinds of small decorative items call out to me.

Where do you most often discover your finds?

I buy a lot of pieces through Facebook and Instagram thrift groups, as well as on Tori. Sometimes I get lucky at Kierrätyskeskus or Fida. I also browse thrift stalls around Helsinki. My best discoveries so far include the rattan room divider in the living room and a brass ceiling lamp.

What quality criteria do you consider when buying preloved goods? What do you pay attention to?

Aesthetics are my top concern: the piece’s beauty and shape have to appeal to me. I’m a discerning buyer. I believe a thrift store is the place to make affordable discoveries. I’m willing to pay more for furniture as long as it’s in good condition. I also think about whether it will be easy to pass on later if we no longer need it.

How have you refurbished your thrift-store purchases?

Mostly by painting, and I’ve also reupholstered an armchair. I updated the bedroom cabinet doors with rattan mesh and changed the handles. I also paint vases, lamp bases, and other small objects. For the bedroom, I built a side table from tiles.

Is there anything else you’re dreaming of?

Our shared dream is to someday renovate and personalize a place we own. I’ve wanted a wooden-frame futon for a long time, and now that wish has come true—I found one at a thrift store and just need to bring it home.

Here’s how Laura updated the cabinet doors with rattan mesh:

1. Remove the doors from the cabinet and take off the handles. Also remove the hinges if necessary for painting.
2. Get a wide base or new, pretty legs for under the cabinet.
3. If you want new handles or want to change their placement, fill and smooth the old holes.
4. Gently remove the glass or plywood from the door frames.
5. Sand all surfaces to be painted. Use primer if necessary. A hardware store can offer good advice. Laura’s cabinet is finished in Tikkurila’s X463 Hiekkakivi.
6. Apply a second coat of paint if needed.
7. Attach the cabinet’s legs or base.
8. Cut a piece of rattan mesh slightly larger than the opening in the door frame and stretch it across using small nails or a staple gun. Rattan mesh is sold by the meter at craft stores. Trim any excess from the edges.
9. Screw the hinges back on and reattach the doors.
10. Attach the handles.