My home is so ‘stunning’ folk can’t believe it’s council – people say my hallway is ‘perfect’, I used Amazon & B&Q buys
A DIY fan has given her home a mega makeover without breaking the bank.
Carol Rowan, a mother from the UK, was able to transform her pad from drab to fab – and people can’t believe it’s a council property.
The young woman used bargain buys from Amazon and B&Q to give her pad a jaw-dropping overhaul, all whilst staying on a tight budget.
Now, people have described Carol’s home as ‘stunning’ thanks to her latest transformation.
Eager to share a before and after look of her recent project – her hallway overhaul – Carol took to social media, leaving many gobsmacked.
Posting on TikTok, Carol gave her followers a before, during and after look at her hallway overhaul – and it’s very impressive.
The content creator, who regularly shares DIY clips online, was able to give her stairs a new lease of life, without splashing too much cash.
Alongside her short video, Carol penned: “Turning my council house into a home.”
At the start of the clip, we saw Carol’s hallway prior to its transformation.
The stairs were in desperate need of some TLC and were even broken and peeling.
But thanks to some bargain buys from the high-street and some hard work, Carol’s hallway is now super stylish and trendy.
Carol explained that she bought a matt black stair handrail from B&Q and nabbed her carpet from JW Carpets.
The DIY fan gave her hallway a freshen up with a lick of paint and confirmed that she used paint in the shade Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball for the walls and Dulux Black Eggshell, from B&Q, for the bannister.
To decorate the space, Carol bought a mirror from Amazon, black wooden blind from Blinds To Go and a vase and pampas grass from B&M.
Rules on transforming your council house
According to Gov, the kind of improvements you can make to your council property depends on the type of tenancy you have.
Introductory tenants are usually limited to minor improvements like redecorating inside.
If you’re a secure tenant, you have the right to carry out improvements to your property. These include:
- installing a new bathroom or kitchen
- building an extension
- putting up a garden shed or greenhouse
- installing a new gas fire or fireplace
- cavity wall insulation
- redecorating the outside of a house
- fitting an aerial or satellite dish
You might need your council’s written permission for work you do. Contact your council if you’re not sure.
But Carol acknowledged that her project wasn’t easy, as it involved “a lot of sanding” and “a lot of filler.”
She also confirmed that she “had to cover the front of the stairs with sheets of MDF because they were so badly broken.”
Carol described the home makeover as “such a long process” and admitted she “was so close to giving up at one point.”
DIY fans beam
But luckily it appears that Carol’s hard work has paid off, as her TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @carolrowan20, has quickly racked up 112,300 views, 2,775 likes and 50 comments.
Looks great
TikTok user
Social media users were stunned by Carol’s hallway makeover and numerous users eagerly flocked to the comments to share their thoughts.
One person said: “Love this.”
Another added: “Gorgeous.”
How to do your council house up on the cheap
- Take inspiration from pricier shops and head to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decorations.
- Head to YouTube for easy to follow tutorials on how to decorate rather than paying for professionals.
- For a quick glow-up for your floors or anywhere with tiles, opt for stick-on vinyl to save on costs.
- A lick of paint does wonders to make a room feel brand-new.
- Switch out kitchen cupboard knobs for modern ones instead of buying brand-new cupboards
A third simply commented: “How did you get the stairs so perfect?”
Meanwhile, someone else penned: “Looks great.”
At the same time, another chimed in: “I love the way you turn the council house into a home.”
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