I saved £10k doing up my kitchen with DIYs – my gold taps were cheap from Amazon & we even got a chandelier
IF your kitchen is looking a little tired, you’ve probably thought about renovating it – only to be put off by the cost.
After being quoted over £10k to transform her home, one woman decided to make over the space herself with items she found online.
Like many young people, Lauryn Roach had little money left over after purchasing her first home with her fiancé Dean.
Desperate to make their house into a home, the 26-year-old even approached local fitters about renovating the space and was quoted over £10,000 for the refit.
Even just replacing the worktops would have cost her £4,000.
With a wedding and mortgage to pay off, this was way beyond her budget so Lauryn decided to tackle the project herself.
It was a huge undertaking, with the insurance worker later telling the Daily Star that she’d been determined to fix her ‘soulless’ kitchen.
She started the work earlier this year, visiting DIY stores on evenings and weekends, while also searching online to find the best buys.
Her efforts soon paid off though, as she was able to makeover her black laminate worktops with oak vinyl wrap from B&Q.
Impressively, this cost Lauryn just £45.
The thrifty DIYs didn’t stop there though, with her buying gold-toned cupboard handles off Amazon for £30 and £15 white wall paint.
To give her kitchen a cottage-like feel, the insurance worker decided to use Silver Sage kitchen paint, with the Rusto -Oleum tin costing her £75.
She even cut costs on hardware, managing to get golden taps, a sink and the plumbing for £180 – which were also from Amazon.
Then came the finishing touches, with floor tiles from Wickes for £100 and a stunning chandelier from Homebase (£85).
As Dean is a tradie, the couple were able to do most of the work themselves and used YouTube videos to fill in any gaps in their knowledge.
This included plastering, fitting lights and installing the new vinyl.
Though it has been a labour of love, the couple were able to complete the renovation last month and the space now looks unrecognisable – despite just spending £500 in total.
Lauryn even showed off the incredible before and after on TikTok with her video going viral and gaining more than 181,000 views in a month.
In comments, her fans were in awe of the transformation.
One gushed: “Looks beautiful! That oak top is stunning!”
“Looks beautiful! That oak top is stunning,” another added, with a third writing: “This is incredible.”
Some of her followers even begged the influencer to tell them where she found items and how she transformed the space.
“Please can you share more details? this is what I need to do,” asked a fourth.
After seeing this stunning transformation, we might be tempted to tackle our own space.
How to save cash while renovating
If you've been inspired to makeover your space, there are easy ways to save money.
- DIYs are a must – though painting your cupboard or laying new tiles can feel daunting, doing this will save you a fortune on labour costs. Just like Lauryn, you can use YouTube tutorials to help you.
- Find cheap materials – finding low-cost or refurbished items has never been easer. A quick scroll through Facebook Marketplace or B&Q, could help you lower costs.
- Buy second hand tools – if you haven’t got your own tool box, sourcing screwdrivers and power tools second hand can help keep costs down.
- Use samples – if you are unsure about what paint to use, get a sample tin. These will help prevent costly mistakes and help you find the perfect shade.
- Always get three quotes – it sounds extreme but talking to mutiple tradespeople can help you find the best price and assess what work is actually needed.