I transformed my dark & dingy council house by finding free stuff on the street…people can’t believe it’s the same place
WE’RE a house-proud nation, spending more on home improvements than anything else.
But with the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis, we’re having to find cheaper and thriftier ways to do up our pads.
Marketing worker Emma Campbell, 32, has been living in her council flat in Portsmouth since she was 17.
She completely transformed it on a budget of £5,000 using wallpaper samples and roadside freebies.
Single Emma says: “I qualified for a council flat in 2007 and have been living in my two-bed flat in an old naval base ever since.
“It’s a four-story Brutalist building with approximately 50 other flats and I moved into the top floor.
“Having spent the previous 18 months in hostels, I was so happy to have my own space and I loved it, despite its rough edges.
“But after about three years, the shine of having my own place began to fade and I started to notice the metaphorical cracks in the walls.
“The decor was outdated and faded — and in the kitchen I realised the bizarre, red, hand-painted footprints the previous owner had done were actually a bit creepy.
“In fact, the whole place suddenly felt dark and dingy.
“I didn’t have any furniture of my own either and I was forced to prop my TV on an old chair.
“I decided to start saving with a view to renovating the pad and put away £30 a month minimum.
“Then, weeks before lockdown hit in 2020, I was offered the chance to buy my flat through the Right To Buy Scheme for less than £60,000, and the rest of my savings had slowly grown to £5,000.
“I was delighted, but spending 24/7 inside working from home only intensified my desire to renovate.
“I decided to spend my savings on doing as much as I could.
“The kitchen was a mess, so I spent £3,000 on a new pale grey fitted kitchen, leaving me with only £2,000 for everything else.
“After looking at Instagram and Pinterest, I wanted to fill my flat with plants to give it a botanical and modern feel.
“I spent approximately £30 using budget shops online, and picked up cheap plants from local shops too for a couple of pounds a time.
“On Facebook Marketplace I found a smart chrome dining table for only £40 and in perfect condition.
“I scoured the streets for freebies like lockdown clear-outs, and found a wooden footstool, wicker chair and a bamboo plant pot I could upcycle.
“I even plastered the bedroom and living room myself, learning how to do it by watching videos on YouTube.
“After that I felt confident so I tiled and painted the kitchen, again by watching YouTube.
“To make the bathroom match the feminine, floral style I favoured, I used flowery wallpaper that I managed to get for free by finding a sample that was just the right size from a DIY shop.
“I got a great discount on the bath unit and sink I spotted on an online bathroom retailer.
“They cost a combined £60 as it was being discontinued.
“It’s taken three years, but I have transformed my flat into the stylish bolt hole I had always dreamed it could be.
“People should never judge council houses, they’re just as amazing as any other type of house and there’s loads to be done to them.
“When friends saw it after lockdown, they could not believe it was the same place.
“The local paper ran a feature on my house and I was really chuffed.
“Trolls on the local paper’s comment section said it’s not to their taste, but I’m never happier than when I am there and I love how my flat looks.
“A job in interiors is not my calling but I’m very proud to have done this all by myself.”