A frugal homeowner has wowed people with her budget-friendly balcony renovation.
“The world’s ugliest balcony” is how one woman, Fern Oxley-Browning, described the feature of her home before she renovated it.
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In contrast to the beautiful garden, the balcony was ‘disgustingly dirty’ as the couple never used it and it felt like there was ‘ten years’ worth of grime on the surfaces.
After the couple had thrown out the furniture and cleaned up the area, Fern – @fernoxley browning – ”could already see the vision and the vibes”.
The first step in the massive transformation was repainting the balcony railings, which had small flecks of gold paint left behind by the previous owners.
According to Fern, who regularly posts content about homes on her page, the gold speckles made the black railings “look even dirtier.”
Although the DIYer didn’t necessarily want to clean up the mess, Fern did admit it was a “nightmare” and that she had spent a lot of time fixing it.
“Special to the landlord, I painted some of the bushes, so I’m sorry,” she chuckled about her painting skills.
“This took hours, you wouldn’t believe it. It was absolutely ridiculous – and yet there was still a lot of gold not covered.”
Once the paint had dried, Fern arranged for her brother’s landscaping company to help the duo lay artificial grass. This was a simple but effective change that immediately made a huge improvement to the overall aesthetic.
“It already looks like a completely different space,” the homeowner couldn’t believe her eyes the video.
Before the big reveal, Fern and her partner added the finishing touches: two comfy chairs from Danish furniture store JYSK for £20 each, plus cushions and a £10 table from Dunelm.
To make the space even more inviting, especially on balmy summer evenings or around the holidays, Fern also added ‘cheap B&M lights’ around the balustrade.
Fern was thrilled with the result, which she had achieved without spending a fortune, and couldn’t wait to get back to sitting on the balcony.
“I can’t wait to actually spend some time on this balcony.”
Although Fern said she “loves real grass,” the homeowner was very pleased with the artificial version, and viewers couldn’t get enough of the breathtaking glow.
More than 100 people responded en masse and shared their thoughts about the creative woman. One of them wrote: ”It looks amazing… it was worth it.”
10 DIY Tricks for Less Than £1 Each
These simple and affordable DIY tricks can help you get creative and save money at the same time
Homemade air freshener:
Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh.
Upcycled tin planters:
Clean and paint empty cans so you can use them as stylish planters for herbs or small plants.
Custom Phone Stand:
Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to make your own phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint.
Homemade lip scrub:
Mix sugar and a little honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container.
Personalized Bookmarks:
Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for the finishing touch.
Decorative Mason jars:
Paint or decorate old preserving jars and use them as decorative vases, storage containers or candle holders.
Simple cable organizer:
Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape.
Magnetic herb pots:
Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or the refrigerator for easy storage of herbs.
Handmade coasters:
Cut squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to make your own 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 to clean surfaces in your home.
Another said: “It would be lovely to sit outside in the evening with a blanket.”
Someone else agreed, writing: “It looks great. It shows what we can do without spending too much money. Well done.”
“I wasn’t convinced about the artificial grass on the balconies, but this is absolutely beautiful,” wrote a fourth.
