I was quoted £6.5k for a built-in office – I did it myself using IKEA buys & people can't believe how good it looks

The Irish Sun

21-04-2025

A CASH-SAVVY woman has left people gobsmacked after sharing her epic DIY office.
Facebook user
Gemma Charnley
revealed she had been quoted an eye-watering £6.5k to make a
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The woman saved more than £5,750 thanks to the bargain buys
Credit: FACEBOOK/Ikea tips, hacks and more!
2
To complete the fabulous office space, Gemma added the viral BILLY bookcases on top
Credit: FACEBOOK/Ikea tips, hacks and more!
But rather than forking out the astronomical sum, the money-smart woman decided to get crafty - and instead, used affordable IKEA buys for the jaw-dropping room makeover.
To give the space a brand new look and make it functional as an office, Gemma snapped up several items from the popular Swedish retailer.
To create a makeshift table, the shopper used kitchen furniture from the ENHENT collection where you can find cabinets with shelf doors for as little as £65.
Meanwhile, for the table surface, the savvy IKEA customer used a gorgeous SÄLJAN worktop with a stunning oak effect.
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A little over 73 inches of the kitchen/office essential will set you back £60 - and it's already gleaming in dozens of five-star reviews on the brand's website.
To complete the fabulous office space, Gemma added the viral BILLY bookcases on top, giving her plenty of room for storing books, photos and other
Fellow IKEA fans can purchase the simple yet classic bookcases for as little as £35, making it the perfect pick for those on a budget.
However, Gemma didn't stop there - as she also spruced up the room with a lick of lilac paint, giving the room more character and a cosy atmosphere.
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She told DIY lovers on the popular
page: ''I was quoted £6.5k from a fitted furniture company for something similar so we did it ourselves with ikea stuff.
''Bases are Enhet kitchen, Saljan worktop and Billy bookcases on top.
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''The build was really easy, hardest part was all the prep for painting.''
'It's absolutely delightful'
Since being shared online, the epic glow-up has already taken the internet by storm, winning the woman a whopping 1.6k likes.
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Renovations expert Andy Simms, from
COLOUR DRENCHING
Colour drenching involves using your colour across walls and ceilings to maximise the impact and create the illusion of a bigger space - doors, radiators, and even furniture won't escape the paint job if you want the full effect. Brown, terracotta, beige - once the preserve of the 70s, earthy colours have been slowly gaining popularity. Similarly, bold greens and blues are also making a return, with the intention of colour drenching rooms.
STATEMENT WALLPAPER
Wallpaper divides designers, with some loving it and others preferring painted walls. 2025 will see a resurgence of wallpaper, and the bolder the better. For small spaces, such as downstairs loos or studies, choose a bold print and ignore any concerns about making the space look smaller. For larger spaces, consider a stunning mural theme.
BROKEN LIVING PLAN
Open plan living has been popular for over a decade now, but while it hasn't quite had its day, many are returning to smaller, functional spaces - with a twist. 'Broken plan' is when a bigger space is cut into various parts using screens, archways, crittal-style windows and doors or textured glass.
Amazed by the difference, more than 170 people flooded to comments to praise Gemma, with some asking for tips.
One wondered: ''How did you make the top look built in? I'm wanting to do the same.''
To this, Gemma explained: ''[I] measured the gaps and had MDF strips cut at B&Q to cover them.''
''This looks brilliant!'' someone else told Gemma, who estimated she'd spent ''less than £750'' in total.
''How anyone could quote 6.5k to do something like what you have done needs reporting! Absolute con artist and daylight robbery at that price!'' a Facebook user couldn't believe the quote.
''It's absolutely delightful,'' a fourth was stunned.