A mum-of-two has transformed her bland new build home into a colourful oasis for under £10K.
Lauren Hubbard gave her run-of-the-mill new build home a trendy makeover during lockdown and started her own Instagram account @homeofgetkooky to track her progress of the makeover.
The 31-year-old who has her own business, Get Kooky, an online shop for self-adhesive decorative vinyl is on a mission to show that your average new build can be transformed into something stylish, colourful and extraordinary.
Lauren, an interior fanatic, describes her home as 'quirky and colourful' and started her Instagram account to show off her efforts to family and friends who couldn't visit after she moved her partner's home just before the pandemic hit.
She revamped the house for under £10k and her bathroom, one of the most drastic makeovers in the house, was done on a small budget of £350.
Lauren told Insulation Express : "Our bathroom has had a complete makeover and looks like a completely different space. It cost me £350 including all the accessories."
She covered the wall and bath panel with vinyl from her Get Kooky business, the mirror unit was from Ikea and sprayed gold, the under-sink cupboard was from B&M and re-painted, plus floating shelves from Homebase.
Lauren also bought wall prints from small online businesses Oh So Daisy, Printed Weird and Nanas of Anarchy plus the quirky, fun accessories from Wild One Interiors and Love at Number 18.
She added: "Pretty much all of our house has been accessorised using these same businesses. The whole home has been a gradual process that we are decorating slowly as and when we can afford to do it as we don't have the capital for big payouts.
"But in total has cost £10K so far but a large amount of this is due to our furniture choices and we were basically starting from scratch after always previously renting. As for the decor, that has only cost around £1500.
"As soon as I saw this house, I could immediately see the potential of being able to impose my own style upon it and could begin immediately with no outlay for repairs and renovations."
Lauren added that she was fearless when it came to designing her home in Hull, East Yorkshire.
She said: "I love vibrant colours, patterns, bold designs and I am very experimental. Getting maximum effect for the least money possible. I am not afraid to try different combinations, if they don't work you can always change them. It also partly depends on the season I am decorating in.
"I went for a mint green in the bathroom as I was creating a ‘Miami vibe’ and with it being mainly enjoyed by the kids. I knew they would love the nice bright colours but equally, it's perfect to wind down for a soak after a busy day with some candles.
"I wanted a Miami vibe bathroom, probably because during this pandemic I have been craving going abroad and holidaying in the sun so I recreated my own paradise to escape to."
Lauren also said that you should never be afraid to experiment with colour.
"Pink and green is my absolute favourite combo - gone are the days of 'Pink and green should never be seen' I think they contrast but at the same time complement each other."
"I painted our living room a dark green because I wanted to create a calm, elegant and cosy dark space, that we could enjoy, particularly on an evening once the kids have gone to bed with dim lights and candles. The pops of pink bring a sense of warmth, fun and love."
"Colours impact greatly on our mood, bright colours can be very uplifting. We don't always get the best summers in this country, so bringing bright colours into our homes, particularly into those rooms we use a lot on a daily basis, can brighten even the dullest of days.
"It can also bring a sense of summer inside and really lift our spirits. That might be particularly appropriate this year as many people are opting for staycations rather than going abroad."
