How a 26-Year-Old Achieved Her Tiny Minimalist Home
With careful research, MJ Loleng builds her dream budget home
Life wasn't always easy for 26-year-old MJ Loleng. During her younger years, her family would keep moving from one home to another. "Talagang inaasar ako ng mga friends ko na 'NPA' [ako], ganyan, 'No Permanent Address' ka," MJ tells the OG team.
These experiences motivated MJ to pursue owning her very own home, and one she would be proud of. "From there, 'yon yung naging inspiration ko to have my own house someday," MJ shares. Having set up businesses, she used the earnings from these to slowly build her dream home in Victoria, Laguna.
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Simplicity, beauty, and functionality
MJ's house may be tiny, but it looks and feels spacious. Measuring just 49 square meters, MJ took inspiration from books about minimalism and minimalist homes in Japan to create an airy, inviting feel.
"Normal kasi before sa mga house na natirhan ko, sobrang dilim, konti lang yung lighting," MJ recalls. "So dito talaga, ano siya, very functional. The only time na magbubukas ka ng ilaw is kapag madilim na, kasi may natural lighting."
The first section that greets visitors is the living room with a two-seater couch. Walls are painted in neutral colors and potted plants pepper the area, adding a sense of freshness. To save on costs, MJ bought decor online.
READ:Â Building Your First Home? You Need to See This Tiny House in Batangas
"Itong sofa pinili ko talaga siya as pinakamaliit para to give more space sa family kasi after namin mag-work, hindi talaga kami nagiging connected," MJ explains. "This is where we bond, this is where I play with my kid."
Small but big on convenience and comfort
Next to the living area is the dining area and fully-functioning kitchen, which features cooking equipment and ample storage for supplies and pantry items. An extension of the granite kitchen counter serves as their family's makeshift dining table, while across the kitchen is the laundry area.
The minimalist, all-white theme continues with the bedroom of MJ's child, made tidy with toy containers for easy cleanup and a study table.
READ:Â Homeowner Builds Tiny House in Laguna in Three Months
Out of all the areas in the house, MJ's favorite is her work area, which she considers the most comfortable.
"Meron siyang natural light na yung tipong 'pag umaga na, yung magiging alarm clock mo is yung liwanag, 'saka nanggigising," MJ notes. "From here, this is where I do everything that I need sa business, my reports, printer, very minimal printer for my paperwork, and at the same time, ang gusto ko dito, nandito yung lahat ng books na kailangan kong aralin."
In photo: MJ maximized the available outdoor area by turning it into an outdoor dining space for their business.
Planning is key
To those planning on building their own home, MJ says details must be planned thoroughly and that the home should be built from scratch, so that any issues or errors can still be addressed.
"Once na nandiyan na tapos may namali sa plano, wala na, hindi mo na mababalik 'yon, e," MJ advises.
Learn more about MJ's dream home by watching the video below:
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