A DIY-savvy mum has revealed how she completely transformed her kitchen on a budget by shopping at B&Q. Melissa Preston, 44, wanted to renovate her 'tired and tatty' kitchen but couldn't justify spending £6,000 to get it done professionally.
Instead, the mum-of-three took on the task herself and bought bargain items from B&Q such as £30 vinyl to help her transform her kitchen, which cost just £100 in total. It now looks completely unrecognisable from its former self. Melissa told money-saving Facebook group DIY On A Budget UK : “My kitchen was looking tired and tatty and didn’t go with the rest of the house.
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“I decided on painting the units dark grey and had some gold handles spare and used them. I used V33 paint which was £29.
"I wanted to originally get vinyl for the worktops to match the floor but I didn’t find anything that I thought matched so instead I went for a grey-brown wood effect which I feel goes very well."
One of Melissa's bargain buys was £30 vinyl she bought from B&Q, which she used to cover her existing tiles.
"As my tiles were very old and I couldn’t afford to get new tiles I started to hunt for stick-on tiles but I didn’t like the options and the reviews were not great," she said. "Instead, I found a vinyl that has a tile effect and I fell in love with the pattern and style and colours, as they complement all the colours I’ve used in my house."
Melissa also got creative when it came to making her own kitchen breakfast bar.
"I used an old wardrobe door to make a kitchen breakfast bar and covered this in black vinyl," she said.
“I covered the worktops in vinyl for £30, covered the tiles in vinyl for £30, and made the breakfast bar from an old wardrobe and covered it in vinyl for £10. The paint and vinyl were all from B&Q.
“Then my £100 kitchen makeover was complete. It might not be to everyone’s taste but I love it."
Melissa, who loves saving money through DIY, gave some top tips for others who are trying to renovate their home on a budget.
“My top tips are to remember that the hairdryer is your friend when using the DC Fix vinyl," she said.
“Clean, clean and clean a bit more with sugar soap before you even start. This will allow for a better finish and make lighter work in the end.
"Take your time. Remember you will make mistakes and want to throw the towel in. But it will be so worth it once you have finished.
“I’m so happy with the results as it all blends very well together. If I were to have a whole new kitchen it would have cost me about £6,000 as my neighbour has the same size kitchen and just had hers refitted.
"I feel fantastic about saving such a huge amount as now I can make other home improvements with the savings."
