2023 YouTube Studio Makeover on a Budget!
There is a basement room in my apartment, which also doubles as my fitness room and studio. And this is the story of how I turned it from that into this, learning new skills and saving some money in the process.
So, let's get started. If you have been watching my videos on YouTube for some time, you may be familiar to my previous room. I shot most of my talking head videos there.
But if you have also been watching my recent videos, first: you are one of my favorite people, and I love you. Second: Some of you may have noticed that the background has changed. This is because I no longer shoot from the basement. There was a water leak that damaged the basement walls.
So, I had to move my recording upstairs to my office space. But that space has its restrictions. I have to move around a lot of stuff, which increases the friction and reduces my video turnaround time. So, I need the studio back.
However, I live in Germany, and if I had to call a professional to repair and renovate my basement, it would cost me thousands of euros. So, what did I do? I decided to give it a shot myself. It was a lot of fun and a learning experience for me. So in this blog, I will walk you through the whole process so that you can also learn something and maybe give your rooms a makeover with little cost.
If this is your first time here, no, my channel is not for DIY videos. There, I normally talk about wealth and happiness. If that interests you, you can take a look at the channel and subscribe if you want to stick around.
Current State and plan
The outer coating is broken off due to the damage. There are some patches here and there, and I have no clue how to fix them.
So, I did my research, and here is the rough plan. First, I must remove the broken wall pieces and clean the area. Then, I should apply a filler and sand it to make it smooth before painting it over. And then two coats of paint.
Preparation and Filler
The first step is to remove the broken pieces from the wall, clean the area, and prepare it for the filler. The next step is to apply the filler. We're almost done; we just need to add some finishing touches.
It didn't turn out as smoothly as I expected, and my lack of professionalism is clearly visible. But considering how it was before, I would say there has been an improvement. Now, I'll have to let it dry for a few hours. I'll give it a day, and let's come back here tomorrow.
After a day, this is how it looks. It's not smooth, but I have a solution: a little bit of sanding. Okay. Now, that looks better. And before we go to the painting part, I have a confession to make. I don't know how to paint. I have painted small surfaces like furniture but not an entire wall. So, I did some research again.
Painting Prep
As soon as I picked up the brush, my instinct was to open the paint box and start painting. It can't be that tough to dip the brush in the bucket and move up and down. However, that would have been a mistake because I had forgotten something crucial. It's good that I bothered to ask Google before I started painting.
This is what I forgot: a primer.
A primer is a base coat applied to the surface to give the paint something to lock onto. I know it adds an extra step and takes a bit more time; in some cases, it is unnecessary. But I decided to get it anyway.
Painting
One thing that can be said about every paint is that it will spill. And considering how experienced I am with painting, I need to take some precautions. So there is this: FrogTape. I will attach frog tape to the corner and light sockets.Now let's just get the surface clean, and we will start with painting.
We are ready for the primer. After applying one coat, let's stop there for the day and let it dry. Tomorrow we will finally get to the first coat.
Painting day is here. I am excited. I used to have a black background, but this time I decided to select something in a dark green-blue color for the wall. I can't wait to see the final look.
Two things that I learned about painting are that you should always paint the corners first with a small brush and create a border before moving to the middle. Also, work in sections, covering one area and then moving to the next using long strokes in a W pattern for better coverage. This will avoid roller marks and leave a clean job. Once the wall is dry to the touch, it's ready for a second coat.
Personilization
So, that's it. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. The whole place looks a bit empty, so let's bring some personality to the space like plant, stand light, the shelf, books and other items on it, the guitar screws on the wall, guitar on the wall and posters.
I have to tell the truth, when I started with this whole project, I was a bit skeptical. I was not confident that I could do a decent job. But I am better than I give myself credit for. But before I show you the final look, I want to tell you one thing.
When I started making my videos, I knew literally nothing. I lived a comfortable, easy life with Netflix and social media.
But now, my days are packed, and every day, I realize that there is a hell of a lot to learn. I have to tell you the truth; there are moments when I want to go back to a relaxed life. But then, I am pretty sure I will get bored within a week. And, most importantly, there is something about being creative, building something with our own hands. It is a wonderful feeling to stand back and see the fruit of your labor. Scrolling on social media can give those short dopamine hits, but trust me it can never give me this feeling.
This started as a money-saving project, but I soon realised it was not just about the money. Indirectly, you are sending a message to the brain: "I'm going to do this even if I'm not ready, even if I don't know how" If I can do this, I can do anything—start a business, write a book, or play an instrument. It's all the same principle.
Everything seems impossible until it's done.
This marks a new chapter for me and for all of you who are with me on this journey. I hope this beautiful space will motivate me to create more valuable content for you.
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