Bedroom makeover: 'I overhauled my bedroom for less than £500!'

In desperate need of a new look for her dreary bedroom, Laura Magee kept costs to a minimum by revamping what she had to create her perfect sanctuary. Here, she tells us all about her budget bedroom makeover...

My bedroom makeover...

My motto for the bedroom revamp was ‘decorate, don’t renovate,’ as it already had really great bones. There were good-quality, sturdy wardrobes that were fully functional, a beautiful original fireplace and incredible bay windows.

All of the elements were in place, they just needed a little tweaking.

Visually, the room was drab and outdated with blue walls and a cream carpet. We had everything crossed that the original wooden flooring beneath the carpet would be in a good enough condition to leave exposed and, luckily, it was.

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We had it patched up and lovingly restored – our biggest challenge, owing to the age of the floorboards – and it instantly added warmth to the room.

As the walls on the ground floor of our house are quite dark and dramatic, I decided to go light and fresh in the bedroom with a colour palette of pink and grey with elements of green.

I chose Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White for the walls, which took three coats in order to cover the original blue paint, and Down Pipe to highlight the fireplace and wooden period features.

We already owned most of the furniture and accessories when we moved in, and I sourced curtains, plants, artwork and new handles to spruce up the wardrobes and give our space that art deco meets modern retro mash-up I’d been hoping for.

All in all, the makeover took around a week from start to finish. It’s had a big impact on my life – there’s nothing better than waking up on a Saturday morning, sipping a coffee and watching the sun stream into my dream space.

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My style advice

Repurpose what you can

Follow Laura’s mend more and buy less attitude and revamp what you already have. If fitted wardrobes or cupboards are in good nick and aren’t sacrificing unnecessary space, consider sprucing them up with paint, paper and new handles.

Not only is this a more eco-conscious option, but it can be time- and money-saving too. Also, rip up grubby carpets that might be dating a scheme and restore original floorboards underneath.

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Be realistic with your budget

It’s no good writing a wish list of designer items that take you way over budget; you’ll just end up feeling disappointed. Instead, make a list of non-negotiables to invest in, and from there you can figure out what you’re willing to compromise on.

Browse second-hand shops and online selling sites like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree for more affordable yet good-quality items. You could even sell unwanted items yourself and use the funds to upgrade your space.

Take inspiration from TV and films

Watch your favourite movies and TV shows for design inspo. This can be especially helpful if you’re inspired by interiors from years gone by or exotic destinations, as you can hone in on the little details that complete the scheme.

‘I watched The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Great Gatsby for décor ideas,’ Laura reveals. There’s plenty of places off screen to spark your imagination too. Trips to restaurants or exhibitions, visits to friends’ homes or magazine cut-outs and social media can all stir up some great design ideas.

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This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Home Style magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?