I got a quote of £5,000 for a bathroom renovation so I did it for over 10x less
A cash-savvy mum has wowed social media users with her amazing bathroom renovation on the cheap.
Facebook user Laura Buchanan from Sproatley, Yorkshire, was paid a staggering £5,000 to renovate her ‘clinical’ bathroom, but did it herself for a fraction of the astronomical sum.
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According to the financially savvy mother, the original bathroom resembled a hospital that had “seen better days with broken/missing tiles.”
Not only was the floor “hideous,” but Laure couldn’t bear to look at “the yellowed, filthy cupboards” attached to the cream-colored walls.
Although Laura had added a few small touches to the bathroom, it was still in need of some TLC, but she wasn’t prepared to spend the staggering £5,000 the experts had asked her to spend.
Instead, the thrifty DIYer decided to take a smart approach to the transformation, especially since the family had already spent a fortune building and renovating their home.
“After a year of building and decorating, the budget was exhausted, so this renovation absolutely had to be done within budget,” she told her fellow members of the popular Do it yourself on a budget page.
”The quote was around £5,000 but with a lot of patience and swearing I’m very happy with it.
”I felt clinical before and had seen better days with broken/missing tiles, the floor was awful and I couldn’t stand to look at the yellowed, filthy cupboards.
“It feels cozy and inviting now and I can’t wait for my first long bath!” she chuckled in the caption.
While sharing the fabulous glow-up, the frugal parent also shared where she made the cheapest purchases, including B&M’s stick-and-peel tiles for the walls.
The bargain, which was dirt cheap, was advertised as suitable for floors, but clever Laura had attached them to the boring walls instead.
The DIYer had also spruced up the boring cabinets with self-adhesive film she bought on eBay and created a fantastic accent wall near the wall using another bargain from the same store.
The once cracked floor was also restored without having to be removed, all thanks to self-adhesive floor tiles from online giant Amazon.
Laura was thrilled with the beautiful renovation, which included purchasing a radiator from eBay, and proudly showed the bathroom before and after renovation.
Unsurprisingly, the results have gone viral online, with the post receiving a whopping 160 likes.
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.
The difference was incredible – and how little money she had spent to transform the bathroom from drab to fabulous.
“Wow, that’s beautiful. It’s amazing what you can do on a budget.”
Another person joined in the conversation and also wanted to renovate his house.
”Awesome! I’ve been wondering for weeks if it’s possible to put sticky floor tiles over tiles, since they’re bigger and cheaper to buy than the wall tiles themselves. Now that I see this, I’m definitely going to try it.”
