Latest news with #budgetrenovation
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I turned my three-bed home into a four bed for £240 so my teen could have her own room – B&Q bargains made it a doddle
A SAVVY mum looking for more space in her three-bedroom house has shared how she created a whole new bedroom for just £240. Amber Camm, from the UK, took to social media to share the budget home transformation that allowed her teen to have more privacy. 3 3 While most people would either suck it up or move house, Amber decided to put her thinking cap on and see what other options there were. She quickly realised her open plan kitchen and dining room area was space they didn't need, so used the back of the kitchen to create the new bedroom. Taking to Facebook, she said: "We wanted a 4th bedroom for our teenage daughter who was really struggling to revise whilst being in a room with her younger sister. "So we popped a wall up between our kitchen and dining area. Luckily our lounge is just big enough for a dining table." Amber revealed the renovation cost just £240 and broke down the exact costs of the bargain buys. She first bought plasterboard from B&Q for £100, wood for the frame cost £60, £75 for flooring from Online Carpets and filler from B&M for £5. Once all the materials were in the house they began cutting the old flooring out and swapping it with vinyl. Amber added that she kept the old flooring to use as an outline for the new one to save them time. Once the floor was done, they used the wood to make a frame for the new bedroom wall and attached the plasterboard. After, they used the filler for any gaps before adding a door and a lick of paint and the bedroom was done. 3 Shoppers urged 'not to blink' and get their hands on Home Bargains garden essential that sold out fast last time and it makes your garden extra cute - TikTok homebargainsofficialuk Amber added: "Our daughter chose the colour. She is so happy to have her own space. It's not the biggest of rooms but it's hers and she loves it." The post was shared on the Facebook group, DIY On A Budget Officia l, which boasts 2.2 million members. People were quick to take to the comments to congratulate the mum on the cheap DIY job. One person wrote: "A great space." Home upgrades that add the most value to a house The best renovation to add value totally depends on your property, the local market and your potential buyers. Zoopla shared a list of upgrades that will instantly add value to your home. Loft conversion - increase of 15% Off-street parking - adds £50,000 to property price New kitchen - increase of 15% Garage conversion - increase of 15% Cellar or basement conversion - increase of 10-15% Open plan living space - increase of 3-5% New bathroom - increase of 3-5% "Looks lovely, fantastic that you could do this for your daughter," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "What a great idea! She also has the best access for midnight snacks!" "That's excellent,' claimed a fifth. Someone else added: 'Brilliant job."
The Sun
22-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
We spruced up our kitchen with Facebook Marketplace and £10 Amazon bargains – people say it ‘looks so much better now'
ARE you keen to give your home a revamp this year - but don't want fork our a small mortgage? Now, one woman has proved a house transformation doesn't necessarily require spending thousands. 2 2 Lauren Marie, from Batley, near Leeds, was able to give her kitchen a quick and easy overhaul ''on a semi budget'', thanks to shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Amazon. Thrilled with her DIY makeover, Lauren took to social media and posted on DIY On A Budget Official, a private Facebook group with 2.2million members, to share a before and after look at her jaw-dropping project - and it's left many open-mouthed. The DIY fan also explained how she was able to keep the costs as low - which included not just scoring epic deals online but also upcycling her current furniture. One of the main features that social media users love are the brick-effect slips that Lauren had attached as a splash feature. These, as well as the modern kitchen table, were spotted on Facebook Marketplace and set her back just £30. While Lauren didn't replace cupboards, they still looked brand new - thanks to chic black handles to replace the existing white ones. Another fabulous element that tied everything together was the wooden-effect worktop - which immediately gave the room that cottage feel. Lauren wrote in the post: ''Chairs were my old grey ones but bought black chair covers from Amazon £10!'' As well as this, she also purchased a new sink from Victoria Plumbing and paid £80 for it - still keeping things relatively affordable. Showcasing the gorgeous makeover, the thrifty DIY fan said: ''It's taken a lot of patience and time but so happy with it.'' I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap' 'Looks so much better' The epic transformation has since taken the internet by storm, with the post amassing over 40 likes and heaps of comments. Social media users flooded to share their thoughts, as many praised Lauren. One person said: ''Fab.. kitchen looks soooo warm.'' ''Great job, looks so much better, love it,'' another chimed in. ''Looks lovely,'' a third wrote, adding a thumbs-up emoji. 10 DIY hacks for under £1 each These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money Homemade Air Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh. Upcycled Tin Can Planters: Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants. Custom Phone Stand: Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint. DIY Lip Scrub: Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container. Personalised Bookmarks: Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders. Easy Cable Organiser: Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape. Magnetic Spice Jars: Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage. Handmade Coasters: Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters. Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home. More budget-friendly makeovers With Brits looking to spruce up their homes on the cheap, hundreds have taken to social media to show off their wallet-friendly home glow-ups. Recently, one woman shared how she did up her kitchen for just £30 after she was quoted a whopping £600. Meanwhile, someone else made their council house go from drab to fab with a lick of paint, spending a mere £75 in the process. Another woman stunned people with her kitchen reno that came up to under £100.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I was tired of my boring stairs so I did them up myself using Dunelm and The Range bargains – it cost me just £50
A CASH-SAVVY homeowner has revealed how she did up her stairs on a tight budget of just £50. It's no secret that big home projects can oftentimes set you back a fortune - but as recently proved by one woman, there's no need to spend thousands to transform your living space. 2 2 Money-smart Lori Beach left people stunned with her epic stair makeover - and not only did she spend less than £100, the results look so good you might think it was a professional job. Before the jaw-dropping glow-up, the staircase featured a basic dark grey runner, as well as walls that had beige paint peeling off them. To give the area a brand new look, Lori tackled the grubby wallpaper and gave the bannister a fresh layer of white paint - which matched perfectly with the rest of the aesthetic. As the walls were still looking a bit plain, the thrifty DIY fan decided to spruce them up with panels which she had purchased from B&Q. Wall panels have become all the rage as of recent and popular home goods stores offer a huge variety of ready-made panels you can simply attach with some adhesive. However, if you're on an even tighter budget, plenty of DIY lovers have showed how to make your own panels with no faff. Responding to curious Facebook users, Lori said: ''I drew the panelling on my wall how I wanted it to look then I measured form there. ''I used a mitre saw [to cut the angles of the panelling] but I had to watch some YouTube videos as my mitre saw only goes up to 45 degrees.'' During the epic glow-up, Lori also changed the colour of the panelling and gave it a lick of paint in grey to create a stark contrast with the darker runner. Another brand new addition to the dark staircase were the small lights by the sides, which instantly gave the space a more modern look - and are sure to come in handy at nighttime. I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap' The final touch was the gorgeous floral wreath she had snapped up from The Range, adding extra fake peonies and roses on top for a fuller look. Sharing the stunning transformation on the popular DIY On A Budget Official page, Lori said: ''Stairs panelling done. Another project ticked off the list. ''Total cost of the transformation came to about £50. I had some of the items left over from previous projects.'' 10 DIY hacks for under £1 each These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money Homemade Air Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh. Upcycled Tin Can Planters: Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants. Custom Phone Stand: Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint. DIY Lip Scrub: Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container. Personalised Bookmarks: Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders. Easy Cable Organiser: Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape. Magnetic Spice Jars: Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage. Handmade Coasters: Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters. Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home. ' I want to do this in my hall' Needless to say, the fabulous results have since taken the internet by storm, with Lori's post racking up over 70 likes and dozens of comments. More than 50 people raced to praise the thrifty DIY whizz, as one said: ''I think this looks soo classy.'' Someone else was inspired to transform their home too, as they confessed: ''I want to do this in my hall.''
