I gave my pergola a makeover with a £6.99 purchase – now I never put furniture in it again

A WOMAN has revealed how she gave her pergola a huge makeover despite being on a budget.

Amy, a single mother from Derbyshire, UK, explained that she had a new roof put on her garden pergola and refurbished the structure for just £60.

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Not only will this give her and her son some shade this summer, it will also ensure her garden furniture doesn’t get damaged by torrential rain (as you can never predict the weather in Britain).

The content creator posted on social media explaining how she made her own ‘cheap pergola canopy for under £60’, leaving many amazed.

She explained that her pergola had been built two years ago and that she had temporarily put a large piece of polyethylene on it as a roof.

But now, 24 months later, the clever mother revealed that her pergola was in need of a makeover.

In the short clip shared online, Amy was seen painting the pergola. She confirmed: “I painted the entire pergola.”

She then removed all the old plastic and stained the top of the pergola and the wooden slats.

Next she added the new piece of polyethylene and held it in place with the wooden strips.

She beamed, thrilled with her clever pergola renovation: ‘And I had a Nice roof clean again.

“A few bruises later and it’s done!

“Now all my cushions can stay outside until October.”

It’s not known what kind of plastic sheeting Amy used to build her pergola, but other gardeners can buy this type of sheeting for just £6.99 from B&Q.

How to renovate your garden cheaply

IF you want your garden to impress this summer, you’ve come to the right place…

Planning and prioritizing

• Rate your space: Take a walk around your garden and see which areas need improvement.
• Set a budget: Determine how much you can spend.
• Prioritize projects: Focus on the areas with the greatest impact first, such as pathways, seating, or focal points.

DIY projects

• Build your own planters: Use reclaimed wood, pallets, or other materials to make your own planters.
• Make garden art: Use old objects like tires, bottles and cans to create unique garden decorations.
• Paths: Lay down gravel or mulch to create affordable and attractive garden paths.

Plant smart

• Buy seeds, not plants: Seeds are less expensive than mature plants and offer greater variety.
• Share and exchange: Exchange plants and seeds with friends or join a local garden club.
• Growing perennials: Invest in plants that come back every year to save money in the long run.

Use free resources

• Compost: Make your own compost from kitchen waste and garden waste to enrich your soil.
• Rainwater harvesting: Install a rain barrel to collect water for your garden.
• Wood chips: Use leaves, grass clippings or wood chips as mulch to retain moisture in the soil and suppress weeds.

Reuse and upcycle

• Old furniture: Turn an old chair into a plant stand or a chest of drawers into a planter.
• Containers: Use buckets, cans or even old shoes as separate planters.
• Pallets: Create vertical gardens or compost heaps from discarded pallets.

Smart shopping

• Offers and discounts: Check for end-of-season offers or discounts at garden centers.
• Second hand shops: Visit thrift stores or garage sales to find pots, tools, and decorations.
• Online marketplaces: Check sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for free or cheap garden supplies.

Maintenance

• Regular weeding: Keep weeding to keep your garden looking neat.
• Pruning and flowering: Prune the plants regularly and remove faded flowers to encourage growth and flowering.
• Tool care: Maintain your tools by cleaning and sharpening them to extend their life and effectiveness.

With these tips you can give your garden a fresh, renewed look without spending a lot of money. Enjoy your garden!

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS RESPOND

The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @homebyamyandhhas clearly caused quite a stir, as the video has quickly been viewed 303,300 times.

Social media users were impressed with Amy’s pergola makeover, with many expressing their appreciation in the comments.

Looks absolutely gorgeous

TikTok user

Not only did people describe it as “beautiful,” but others also admitted that they felt inspired by the DIY project.

Someone said, “That’s true, that looks really good.”

Another added: “It looks absolutely beautiful.”

A third commented: “Well done, we all need one this summer to catch the rain, not the sun.”

Meanwhile someone else wrote: “Very nice, if I had such a space, that’s [the] kind of [thing I’d] Doing.”