The Manchester Flat Renovation Guide
- Jul 12
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 13
Braw House is an interior design studio based in Edinburgh, UK and working with clients worldwide to reimagine homes worth living in. This guide is brought to you by a decade of design and renovation experience, spearheaded by Founder and Lead Designer, Chris Law.
You’ll learn how to design a flat in Manchester and connect the dots between function and feel.
As of April 2026, the average house price in Manchester was £247,000. That number goes down to £192,000 for flat owners. Becoming a first-time home buyer in Manchester isn’t cheap and the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, but compared to London, Manchester is relatively accessible for the average dual-income-no-kids (DINK) couple with a decent chunk of savings.
But what are you really buying and how do you make it feel like your own?
Let’s get into it.
What You’re Buying
Manchester’s history as the first industrial city remains the foundation of the city’s housing market today. Defunct factories and mills with a grim past in cotton production have been converted into airy flats in Ancoats and the Northern Quarter.
But the greatest sensation of Manchester real estate is the modern high-rises that continue to define the skyline. On the swankier end, developments like St. Michael’s (branded by ex-footballer and commentator Gary Neville) paint a picture of refined luxury, entirely move-in ready. And then there’s the average developer tower; grey-scale and rapidly dated, this is where many Manchester residents will start their journey on the property ladder.
If you’ve happened into an adapted factory loft, a structural survey will give you extra peace of mind ahead of any dreams of a layout adjustment or a full-scale kitchen renovation. For newer builds, we recommend a snagging survey, which will identify any sketchy foundational elements worth fixing up front. Uneven flooring in the kitchen, degraded sealant in the bathroom, dodgy installs on the bedroom closets… get it all out in the open.
While it may be economical to build (and buy) a tower unit, it’s not always easy to make it feel like yours. You may have found yourself scanning listings on RightMove, wondering, who actually lives here? How do you give cold, builder-grade rooms a much needed face-lift (and at what cost)?
Budgeting for a Realistic Manchester Flat Renovation
The major upside of buying a flat with modern finishes is that you can focus on refinishing rather than the messiness of refurbishing. Another reason to work within the existing structural elements is the reality that most buildings have strict regulations and lengthy sign-off procedures for major renovation tasks. This is largely for safety reasons, and should be top of mind if you intend to go this route.
If you’re thinking about a full interior re-design of a two-bedroom flat in Manchester, you’re looking at somewhere between £20,000 and £40,000. If you do decide to (and get permission to) significantly change the layout or replace structural elements, that range will get closer to £35,000 to over £60,000.
Here’s an idea of where that budget might go:
Kitchen replacement (units, worktop, appliances, install), £10,000–£20,000.
Bathroom and en-suite renovation, £6,000–£14,000 combined.
Flooring throughout, £3,000–£7,000.
Decor, including any wall panelling or feature walls, £3,000–£6,000.
Custom joinery (molding, shelves and storage, wardrobes), £2,500–£6,000.
Lighting redesign, £1,500–£3,500.
Hardware and socket swap-outs, £800–£2,000.
Working with the Layout
Most modern flats are open-concept but they are also compact, which might feel like a challenge when it comes to reimagining your space. An off-kilter nook beside the kitchen may only seem big enough for a dining table for two. Awkward diagonals and bulky columns might feel like restrictive eye-sores.
Disregarding the narrow visions of developer plans is an important first step to tailoring a unit to your preferences. Developer blue prints are rarely detailed enough to consider how you will flow through your day; from cooking, to working, to relaxing and sleeping. That’s where interior zoning comes in. Picking the right-sized rug for the living room, working with existing structural elements to build out custom storage, and using colour to unearth character filled areas are all ways to tailor your plain box within the existing walls.
Don’t forget about that balcony that many high-rise Manchester flats flaunt in photos. Any outdoor space in an urban flat will have a daily battle with dirt and dust. But putting time and effort into this area will not only expand your living space in the warmer months, it will solve for the otherwise depressing accompaniment of bare concrete.
Where to spend
The Kitchen
Whether you like to cook, love to cook or can’t get enough of a good takeaway, your kitchen is still the heart of your home. It’s a place where people instinctively gather and in a Manchester high-rise, it’s probably extremely visible to the rest of the flat. In other words, it’s worth improving the design.
Customize the cabinets. Companies like Naked Kitchens and Plykea allow you to customize the front of your cabinets (i.e., the part you see the most). This is a worthwhile investment, and an opportunity to set the tone with a new colour or texture. Consider a rich tone like Deep Reddish Brown by Farrow & Ball or something from Lick’s cozy and warm collection like buttery Yellow 07.
Upgrade the surfaces. A stunning worktop will transform a sterile kitchen into an inviting place to be. Since you are usually working with a small surface area in modern buildings, you may be able to spend a bit more on your dream stone. If you keep the budget tight, there’s plenty of affordable materials to consider like a classic sealed wood counter or stainless steel.
The same applies to your backsplash. You’re likely working with limited area, so don’t be afraid to lean into a design element that adds to your space, rather than simply blending in. We love the look of these organic tiles like these ones by Claybrook. For more classic looks, take a browse through the Baked Tiles collection.
Invest in the hardware. There’s nothing more satisfying than replacing all the dingy chrome finishings in a modern flat with warmer tones and character-filled designs. The world is your oyster here. Depending on your vision, you might lean toward aged brass, blackened-steel or brushed gold. Check out these ones from MG&Co. and deVOL.
Warm it up. Unless you enjoy feeling chilled all the time, colour and lighting are your go-to strategies to warm up. Boiled potatoes and tuna melts look better under 2700K watt bulbs. Don’t forget about hidden lighting. Warm strip lighting under your cabinets (and above them, if the space is there) will instantly increase your chance of a great mood.
The bathroom: Small fixes for a big impact
This is not the worst room in a typical Manchester flat. While the tiling might not be your favourite, there’s a high chance that it is neutral enough to work with. You probably also lucked into a decent sized mirror and a full-sized tub or a spacious shower. It takes less budget than you’d think to add in some character here.
Paint the walls and/or ceiling. The most affordable way to significantly change any space is to paint it. Work with the existing tile palette to bring in new tones that add personality. Refinishing your vanity with new outer cabinets or drawers, or simply painting the ones you have will ground your choices on the walls and ceilings into a more cohesive design.
New hardware, of course. Same as the kitchen. Upgrading away from the default chrome is going to elevate the room and tone down the modernity. Matte or brushed finishes are your friend, like these brushed bronze ones by Scudo.
Adapt the pot-lights. If there’s one thing developers are addicted to, it’s pot-lights. Keeping the option for a well-lit bathroom is not a terrible idea, but why not put those ceiling glimmers on a dimmer? It will cost you next to nothing, and allow you skip expensive re-wiring for new fixtures. But just because you’re keeping the pot-lights, doesn’t mean you can’t give them a friend. Bring in another source of light that is always warm and cozy.
Texture, texture, texture. If your bathroom feels like a slippery seal, you’re probably in desperate need of a plush bathmat, a woven trash basket, a patterned hand towel and other finishing touches that will bring the space together like a framed textile or painting. Since most high-rise bathrooms don’t have windows, you miss out on the opportunity to bring in curtains. But a shower curtain is rarely out of the question if your space is craving more coziness.
Floors, Doors, Storage and More
The elements worth investing in are not always obvious. Replacing flooring and doors, and adding custom storage to your space, may turn out to be one of the biggest investments you make. But these elements are what will truly change the foundational feel of your flat.
Flooring. It’s grey, it’s laminate but it’s in perfectly good condition. Why replace it? Because if you don’t, you will have grey laminate floors. A nemesis of all interior designers, grey flooring zaps the life out of your space before you can ask yourself, “How do we brighten things up in here?” But we get it, real wood flooring is expensive! However, once again, you’re likely not working with an enormous surface area which could give you the legs to step up your flooring game. Explore more options like engineered oak from Woodpecker or reclaimed materials like this collection from Ted Todd. Keep in mind that your building might require a protective layer for sound-proofing.
Doors. Upgrading hollow, builder-grade doors (that compliment your new floors) to solid-core doors will ground your space. Every time you open and close them, you’ll feel the quality.
Sockets and switches. Companies like Socket Store and Switch design modern sockets and switches inspired by the past. These details will function beautifully in your home, adding to the everyday appeal of your redesign. Why not elevate the elements you interact with the most?
Custom storage solutions. While living your life in a Manchester flat, storage will most definitely become an issue, if it isn’t right away. Modern high-rises tend to lack cohesive storage space throughout, or only offer a shell of a closet that’s begging to become a black hole of clutter. You will never regret getting organized with optimized storage up front. If you’re building from scratch, custom joinery will maximize the function of your space and blend into your design seamlessly. If you have closets to work with, invest in building them out with custom or pre-fab solutions.
Choosing the Right Designer and Trades
For all the developers in Manchester turning out lifeless, grey boxes, there’s ten tradespeople with the skills to transform them, and only a few interior design studios with the gumption for the job (just joking, but we seriously recommend Braw House).
Renovating and designing your flat can and will feel like a full-time job without the support of a quality team. Finding and securing talented tradespeople can be harder than it sounds. Working with an interior design studio like Braw House helps you clearly imagine a stunning vision and connects you with the people who will make it happen. Reimagining UK houses and flats is our bread and butter here at Braw House studio. We’re around for a chat, whenever you’re ready.
But if we were in your shoes, here’s what we’d consider when deciding who to work with:
Look at photos of finished work, not just qualifications. A designer or tradesmen is never limited to the work they’ve already done, but in order to trust their skill, you need to look for a variety of skills and approaches. Someone who only installs flat-pack kitchens may not thrive in a bespoke re-design. A designer with a portfolio full of designs you hate is probably not going to vibe with your vision (speaking of varied, talented portfolios, check out Braw House’s here).
Ask around for a minimum of three quotes. When approaching a re-design, it’s important to gather all the facts. Ask a lot of questions, especially when it comes to managing flat designs and renovations in high-rise buildings. Hiring a coordinator or contractor will likely cost 15 to 20% more than coordinating separate tradespeople yourself. In our experience, clear, consistent communication between designers, contractors and tradespeople is key to running a smooth project.
The Timeline Nobody Wants to Talk About
Renovating a two-bedroom flat in Manchester will likely take 8 to 14 weeks, depending on the specific design decisions and accounting for the possibility of some structural changes. With Braw House, this timeline takes you from plans to polished install and final touches.
Following our top areas of investment from earlier (assuming no major structural adjustments), imagine the following sequence:
Week 1: Remove unwanted kitchen and bathroom elements (cabinet fronts, hardware, lighting).
Weeks 2 to 3: Flooring updates.
Weeks 3 to 5: Install new kitchen cabinets, appliances, worktop and hardware.
Weeks 5 to 6: Bathroom upgrades (painting, hardware swaps).
Weeks 5 to 7: Custom joinery, molding, shelving and wardrobes.
Weeks 7 to 8: Additional light fixture changes outs and upgrades (e.g., dimmers).
Weeks 8 to 9: Finishing touches.
And remember this: As any resident of a high-rise will know, most buildings have restricted access to service lifts and will require tradespeople to be verified visitors. This will slow down your renovation timeline if you don’t plan ahead.
Our Final Two Cents
Buying a flat in Manchester is a solid start for home owners. You’re working with straight forward, builder-grade designs which allow you to re-imagine the space into your own. Don’t be fooled by the cold tones and empty feels, it’s possible to turn your flat into a space that stands out from every other unit in the building.
Overwhelmed? Braw House can help fill in the blanks with a free 30-minute consultation. Give us a shout. We specialize in creating homes worth living in.
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