Renovate Your Hungarian Home with Confidence

Hands-on renovation guides written for people who want to do the work themselves. From tiling a bathroom to laying new floors, these pages cover the tools, the materials, and the steps — based on experience with Hungarian homes and local suppliers.

Guides Available 3 Projects
Updated Mar 2026
Language English
Home renovation tools and materials spread across a work surface
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Why DIY Renovation Makes Sense in Hungary

Labour costs in Hungary have risen steadily over the past decade. A full bathroom renovation in Budapest can easily cost two to three million forints when done by contractors, and finding reliable tradespeople has become its own challenge. Waiting times of several months are common, especially for skilled tilers and plumbers.

I started renovating my own apartment in the 9th district of Budapest in 2019, partly to save money and partly because I could not find a contractor willing to take on a small job within a reasonable timeframe. What I learned over the following years — through mistakes, hardware store visits, and conversations with experienced builders — is what these guides are based on.

The focus here is on practical, achievable projects. These are not guides for building an extension or rewiring an entire flat. They cover work that a careful person with basic tools can complete over a weekend or a few evenings, producing results that are genuinely good.

Project Guides

Step-by-Step Renovation Instructions

Bathroom during renovation with new bathtub and tiling in progress Image: Wikimedia Commons
Bathroom

Complete Bathroom Renovation: From Demolition to Grouting

Hungarian panel apartments built in the 1970s and 1980s typically have small, dated bathrooms with ageing plumbing. This guide walks through the entire renovation process — from removing old tiles to installing new fixtures — with specific advice on materials available in Hungarian hardware stores.

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Kitchen renovation in progress with tools laid out on the counter Image: Wikimedia Commons
Kitchen

Kitchen Upgrade: Countertops, Backsplash, and Storage

A practical kitchen upgrade that avoids a full gut renovation. Learn how to replace countertops, tile a backsplash, and add functional storage without moving plumbing or gas lines.

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Self-leveling concrete being applied to a kitchen floor before tiling Image: Wikimedia Commons
Flooring

Flooring Installation: Laminate, Vinyl, and Tile

Choosing and installing new flooring is one of the most impactful renovations you can do. This guide covers preparation, material selection, and installation for the three most common options.

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Practical Advice

Before You Start

Where to Buy Materials

OBI and Praktiker are the two largest hardware chains in Hungary and carry most of what you need. Diego specialises in flooring and wall coverings. For tiles, dedicated tile shops like Zalakeremia outlets often have better selection and prices than the big chains. Online ordering from marketplace.hu can save time on bulk purchases.

Tools You Actually Need

Start with a quality drill, a spirit level, a set of screwdrivers, and a decent tape measure. For tiling work, a manual tile cutter handles most jobs — an electric wet saw is only necessary for large-format tiles or natural stone. Rent expensive tools from Praktiker or OBI rather than buying them for a single project.

Understanding Hungarian Building Standards

Electrical and gas work in Hungary requires licensed professionals — doing it yourself is not just inadvisable but legally restricted. Plumbing modifications should be documented. For everything else, Hungarian building regulations are broadly similar to EU standards, and common sense about load-bearing walls applies.