I transformed my council house kitchen with paint & a £13 B&Q buy – after we were left waiting 4 years for a free update

The Sun

02-06-2025

A THRIFTY DIY fan has wowed people with her epic council house kitchen makeover on the cheap.
According to data by HiF Kitchens, the average cost of a mid-range kitchen transformation is around £20,000-£30,000 - but one woman has proved a house transformation doesn't necessarily require spending thousands.
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Sarah B. was able to give her kitchen a mega overhaul under £250, thanks to shopping at the popular home goods store, B&Q.
Thrilled with the DIY makeover, Sarah took to her TikTok page to share a before and after look at her jaw-dropping project - and it's left many open-mouthed.
Before the epic glow-up, the council house kitchen was pretty basic, featuring standard light wooden cupboards, grey tile flooring and cream walls.
But thanks to shopping smart and doing everything herself, Sarah was able to give the outdated room a fresh and modern feel.
Breaking down the costs and sharing the steps, Sarah said: ''Can you believe we transformed this kitchen for under £250?
''Of course this didn't include accessories, but we already had most of this prior to moving.
''Our kitchen was due to be replaced in 2021 but hasn't been done as of yet so we were given free reign to "spruce it up" and that's exactly what we did!''
The DIY fan kicked off the process with cleaning the cupboards with sugar soap before going over the surface with Kitchen Cupboard Paint - Steamed Milk & All Green by Rust-Oleum.
This matt paint set her back £46 and Sarah needed only two layers to achieve the perfect look she was after.
Another rental-friendly tip Sarah shared was covering the old worktops with DC Fix - a self-adhesive vinyl wrap that's a cheap and cheerful way to spruce your kitchen with no faff.
I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap'
In the clip, the thrifty woman explained she used the wrap in Ribbeck Oak effect from B&Q, where it set her back £26 (or £13 per roll).
Raving about the kitchen bargain, Sarah said in another video: ''It is durable and waterproof, the only thing you cannot do is put hot pans on it (yay for worktop protectors).''
She also shared top tips for achieving a smooth finish: ''Clean your worktops with sugar soap to remove any grease.
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.
''Lay the product out first to make sure you're happy with it. Once you remove the backing use a bank card or smoothing tool to get out any air bubbles. It can be removed easily to correct any errors.
''Make cuts as necessary, around the sink can be a little fiddly. I recommend using a hairdryer to seal around the edges.
''It can make it more stretchy and adheres better to those awkward spaces.
''Make sure you try and match the joins or hide them as best as possible.
''It is so easy to remove afterwards and just needs a quick clean to remove any residue.''
Rather than replacing the white splash-back tiles, Sarah gave them a brand new look creating a geometrical pattern with a gorgeous mustard-coloured paint that cost her £50.
Another new feature in the jaw-dropping kitchen glow-up were GoodHome Dukkah Brass cupboard handles, £84 from B&Q.
This brought the total costs to just £248 - significantly cheaper than forking out for a new, professionally-done kitchen.
'Unbelievable job'
The video has since taken the internet by storm, winning Sarah close to 70k views, over 3,200 likes and more than 1,000 shares.
Hundreds of social media users - a total of 322 - flooded to comments to praise Sarah for the DIY job and her skills.
One viewer exclaimed: ''Honestly I think it's an absolute triumph!''
Another chimed in: ''Can I just say, I've literally copied ur [your] whole kitchen. went out and got the same vinyl and paint as u cuz I loved it that much!''
''Unbelievable job tbh, tiles brought it all together,'' someone else thought.
''You make my heart glad because you have a vision and then make it happen without just chucking money about… honestly you have huge talent,'' a fourth wrote.