DIY-wiz completely overhauls her outdated 1950s house for only £3,000

A teacher has revealaed how she completely overhauled her dated 1950s house for £3,000 – spending less than what it would have cost to get one room done professionally.

When Rachel Bell, 25, from Glasgow, purchased her three-bedroom 1950s semi-detached home just six months ago, much of the interior was outdated and in need of a serious overhaul.

Rachel’s DIY experience was minimal, but without a budget for endless tradesmen and having been inspired by other female DIYers on Instagram, Rachel decided to undertake transforming the house herself.

She managed to redo her living-room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen for only £3,000 thanks to bargain items and DIY techniques found on YouTube tutorials.  

The bedroom now. Rachel created the wall panelling herself, which doubles as a headboard for the bed 

The corner's of Rachel's bedroom before the renovations, with salmon walls and carpeted floors.  She updated the bedroom from floors to ceilling for less than £150

The corner’s of Rachel’s bedroom before the renovations, with salmon walls and carpeted floors.  She updated the bedroom from floors to ceilling for less than £150 

Teacher Rachel Bell, 25, from Glasgow, revealed how she only spend £3,000 to renovate a semi-detached house dating back to the 1950s she bought six months ago. Pictured: the bathroom before

Teacher Rachel Bell, 25, from Glasgow, revealed how she only spend £3,000 to renovate a semi-detached house dating back to the 1950s she bought six months ago. Pictured: the bathroom before

Pictured: The bathroom now. A new bathroom can cost £4,500 to renovate, but Rachel managed to do it for a fraction of the price, spending less than £200

Pictured: The bathroom now. A new bathroom can cost £4,500 to renovate, but Rachel managed to do it for a fraction of the price, spending less than £200 

‘I realised my passion for DIY when I was house hunting for my current place,’ Rachel said.

‘I wanted a project and to be able to put my own stamp on it, but I knew I didn’t have the budget for endless tradesmen.

‘I followed an account called @femalediycollective and they made DIY look accessible for everyone. I wanted a home with original features, so I’ve focused my projects on restoring these.

Rachel began with the bedroom using elbow grease and a spray bottle of washing-up liquid to remove three layers of woodchip wallpaper before tackling sanding the wooden floor. Rachel borrowed a sander from a friend – spending just £20 on some new sanding belts and £40 on some matte lacquer.

With the room prepped, Rachel purchased some timber costing £30 to create wall panelling that would also double as a headboard. With just a lick of £40 paint to go, the dated salmon and navy room was transformed into a modern and Insta-worthy bedroom for less than £150.

The average price of a new bathroom in Britain is around £4,500 but budget savvy Rachel was able to update her suite for less than five per cent of that cost. She painted the existing tiles using some leftover Frenchic paint and purchased extra paint from Decorating Centre Online for £20 to cover the walls.

Next, Rachel purchased new taps from B&Q costing £60 and sourced some new £55 vinyl flooring before finishing off with a new shower curtain, bathmat, towels, and faux plant – the decorative items totalling less than £50.

The living-room's very old fireplace and wall when the house was purchased, which Rachel renovated by herself as well.

The living-room’s very old fireplace and wall when the house was purchased, which Rachel renovated by herself as well. 

Rachel's beautiful living-room now, which she also redid on a budget. The teacher has only spent £3,000 on renovations so far

Rachel’s beautiful living-room now, which she also redid on a budget. The teacher has only spent £3,000 on renovations so far

Rachel swears by YouTube tutorials for helping to keep costs down. They’ve helped Rachel to overcome her fear of using power tools which has saved hundreds of pounds on the cost of getting tradesmen in.

‘YouTube massively helped me get over my fear of using power tools and I’ve never looked back. There are endless tutorials from basic skills to more advanced things,’ she said. 

She added her DIY adventure helped her to gain the confidence she needed to complete the project and get the good materials. 

Rachel's outdated kitchen with formica furniture when she bought the house, with basic equipment

Rachel’s outdated kitchen with formica furniture when she bought the house, with basic equipment  

The DIY-wiz's new kitchen cupboard, which she upcylced with some parquet applique and paint

The DIY-wiz’s new kitchen cupboard, which she upcylced with some parquet applique and paint 

Rachel's beautiful gallery wall located in her living-room. She painted the walls and redid the floors herself

Rachel’s beautiful gallery wall located in her living-room. She painted the walls and redid the floors herself

‘I think I had to overcome the feeling of intimidation when going into DIY stores and having the confidence to ask for help.

‘I went to a timber merchants to order wood for the panelling in my bedroom. I was initially nervous as I was the only female there. Doing my reading, heaving my measurements and going in with a purpose helped me overcome this.’

Rachel said she had little experience in DIY before undertaking the projects, but knew she wanted to do some DIY

Rachel said she had little experience in DIY before undertaking the projects, but knew she wanted to do some DIY 

She also recommends using tester paint pots if you’re only painting a small area – offering the tip that B&Q have particularly generous testers.

So far, Rachel has transformed her bedroom, lounge, bathroom and kitchen for less than £3,000 – the cost of some plastering bumping up her total – but many might expect to spend this on one room alone proving the monetary benefits of DIY.

Next, Rachel hopes to transform her hallway. She’s already begun stripping the woodchip wallpaper and patterned carpets – soon to be replaced with self-made half-height panelling, herringbone flooring and a feature bannister.

‘Be prepared to live in a building site for a while,’ Rachel said.

‘DIY on a budget means things taking a lot longer than if you had a professional doing the work.

‘Look at items that you really love online but then research how you might upcycle a piece to get it for a fraction of the cost. I’m all about IKEA hacks that you see online.

‘Anyone can do DIY. It may be overwhelming but the pride you get is totally worth it.’

Rachel in her new bedroom. The teacher said the project helped her gain confidence as a woman in DIY

Rachel in her new bedroom. The teacher said the project helped her gain confidence as a woman in DIY

Rachel's looking cosy in her home. The teacher is gearing her to renovate her hallway next. She said DIY meant that projects like these took longer than if someone employed professional help, but that the pride she got from seeing the work completed was worth it

Rachel’s looking cosy in her home. The teacher is gearing her to renovate her hallway next. She said DIY meant that projects like these took longer than if someone employed professional help, but that the pride she got from seeing the work completed was worth it