A first-time homeowner has told of how she managed to give her boring bedroom a stylish makeover for less than £100.
Interior design-lover Kirsty Wright, 26, transformed her worn-out magnolia bedroom into a vibrant and cosy sanctuary.
She upcycled furniture from family with DIY hacks and bought budget accessories from Aldi to do up the place.
READ MORE:
The marketer purchased her home in Glasgow in 2019, and has since slowly been renovating each room, showcasing her progress on Instagram.
She describes her home style as an ‘eclectic mix with bursts of colour’ - a far cry from when she started out.
"When I first moved in, the property was a typical ex-rental property - structurally sound, but a sea of magnolia and worn, smelly carpets," she told Swyft Home.
"I've tried to inject my personality into my home.”
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article22809580.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_MEN_SEO_191_bedroom-transjpeg.jpg)
With the help of her ‘very handy mum’, Kirsty has used DIY tricks, upcycling hacks and shopped pre-loved furniture to renovate the entire property on a modest budget.
“Living by myself has meant I’ve needed to decorate on a budget and stretch my limited DIY skills to make the most of the space," Kirsty said.
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article22809547.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_MEN_SEO_191_bedroom-transformationjpeg.jpg)
"With the help of my very handy mum, we’ve avoided getting expensive decorators or tradespeople to save money.”
Though Kirsty describes her DIY skills as ‘limited’, she has in no way shied away from taking on projects.
"I've recycled scaffolding boards to make shelves, painted kitchen cupboards instead of replacing, upcycled a salvaged fire surround, used discounted offcut of flooring to revamp the bathroom, handmade curtains and blinds, and upcycled tired-looking furniture.”
For the bedroom, despite its expensive look, Kirsty says it's where she has spent the least amount of money.
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article22809542.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_MEN_SEO_191_bedroom-transformation5jpeg.jpg)
“The bedroom is probably where I’ve spent the least," she said. "Probably under £100 (excluding the bed and frame)".
She re-upholstered an old armchair for the room to give it a new lease of life, creatively upcycled her grandpa's old toolbox to turn it into a dressing table, and salvaged a fireplace from her aunt's house that she painted bright yellow to add a bold pop of colour.
The homeowner ripped up the old carpets to expose the original floorboards, and painted the shelving unit in a dark grey for contrast.
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article22809565.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_MEN_SEO_191_bedroom-transformation2jpeg.jpg)
Explaining how she transformed the old chair, she said: "A family friend was throwing out the chair and asked if I wanted it as an upholstery project.
"I, of course, said yes, because I love a project.
"So, my mum and I got some cheap black cord and used leftover pink fabric we had already and gave it a makeover.
"I’d love to take all the credit for the upholstery work, but I really couldn’t have done it without my mum. It’s a great low-cost way to freshen up a sturdy piece of furniture - I love the little pink trim!”.
![](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article22809538.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_MEN_SEO_191_bedroom-transformation3jpeg.jpg)
To accessorise, she found items from budget-friendly stores, including Aldi, Wilko, IKEA, TKMaxx, as well as small businesses on Etsy.
She added: "Artwork can be expensive, so I painted a canvas I had with acrylic paints and framed things like postcards and a beer mat."
Kirsty’s interior style is bright and cheerful, with a touch of decadence.
She uses Instagram to find inspiration, using hashtags including #colourfulhome #victorianterrace and #eclecticdecor.
Have you transformed your home on a budget? Get in touch at saffron.otter@reachplc.com.