A green-fingered woman tells how she transformed her dilapidated garden into a tropical paradise on a shoestring budget.
Vicki Collis began renovating her home in 2020, focusing on one area at a time so she could spread the cost and take her time with each room that needed renovation.
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As a lover of the outdoors, tackling the garden was a priority for her. With the help of her husband Matt, she transformed their neglected yard into a tropical oasis.
Because Vicki’s entire home needed renovation, she had to prioritize the money for the larger projects. To keep costs down, Vicki and her partner used scrap materials where possible and did all the work themselves.
In an exclusive interview with Gardeners Dream, Vicki shared the ins and outs of how she transformed her garden from start to finish on a budget.
Vicki, also known on social media as @our_little_doer_upper, spends a lot of time abroad, inspired by the style and vibe of the country, creating her own tropical paradise.
“My husband and I have both spent a lot of time in Australia and New Zealand and loved the tropical vibe, so we wanted to create a tropical paradise in our own garden,” she explains.
“We also enjoy watching home and garden TV shows, reading magazines and finding inspiration on social media about home and interiors. We combined this with our own creative flair to create a space that we love.”
After mapping out exactly what they wanted to achieve with their space, Vicki and her husband began to turn their ideas into reality, taking time to create their dream space step by step.
“When we started our garden project during the 2020 lockdown, we decided to first clear out our garden shed and turn it into a bar so we could ‘go somewhere else’,” she says.
“Then a terrace was constructed to make the most of the sun, with seating and a dining table.
“We then left the rest of the garden untouched for a year, so we could see where the sunny spots were in all seasons, and plan accordingly.
“In 2021 we built a second terrace at the bottom of the garden. This was where our hot tub was originally on a patio but we wanted to make this more of a feature so we designed a sunken hot tub area, an outdoor dining and cinema area with a tropical edge.”
“We allocated most of our budget to our hot tub space as we had done some bigger projects around the house by then and our holiday was cancelled due to Covid so we spent the money on this.”
Vicki’s research and smart shopping habits allowed her to cut costs while supporting local businesses.
“During the planning process there was a lot of negotiation involved due to the lockdown, but budget was always our focus as we wanted luxury on a budget,” she says.
“When building the tropical border, using wood scraps helped to keep the costs down as buying wooden borders can be very expensive. We also bought our decking from a local company and shopped around to get the best deals.
“We also did all the work ourselves, which saved us a fortune in labor costs. We researched the best ways to do things on YouTube and other social media apps to guide us through the whole process.
“Another thing we did when we did our shed was we used Frenchic paint because it’s durable and hard wearing. It’s been on for four years now and we haven’t had to paint it yet, so it’s definitely worked in the long run.”
Every renovation comes with challenges, but this renovation taught Vicki new skills that she can apply to future projects.
“One of the challenges we faced was getting everything exactly what we wanted,” she says.
“We actually wanted more musas and palms for our tropical border, but we had to compromise by planting more ferns, as they thrive better in shady areas.
Garden elements that add the most value to a home
A well-maintained garden can add 5-20% to the value of a home.
Sellhousefast.uk conducted a survey and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from the UK.
And the experts found that the garden feature that adds the most value to a home is a shed.
- Barn – 82%
- Terrace or paving – 76%
- Secure fencing, walls or gates – 72%
- Outdoor lighting – 66%
- Sturdy decking – 62%
- Water features, such as a fountain or pond – 58%
- Modern garden furniture – 54%
- Artificial grass – 40%
“Our biggest challenge was of course to start this project during the lockdown, because it was a lot of work to deliver something. That was another reason why we called on our local resources and businesses during this time.”
“Because we have been undertaking this huge project we don’t have the budget for a holiday so our garden is our holiday spot! With all of our projects we love seeing our designs come to life and knowing that we created it is what makes it truly special.”
Vicki’s best advice to anyone looking to transform their garden is not to rush it.
“Spend some time on your garden first, at least a year,” she advises.
Look at where the sun shines at different times of the year and build your garden around that.
“Renovating your garden can be expensive, especially as prices continue to rise. My advice, however, is to shop around and save more than you think you will, so that you can cover yourself if additional costs arise.”
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