Mum transforms dingy garden for just £45 using Facebook freebies & B&M bargains
THE cold weather is (almost) behind us with warmer, sunnier days approaching, and with that, naturally, comes more time spent outdoors.
Luckily, Sarah Takhtash, 39, from Manchester has a new garden to relax in after completely transforming it using Facebook freebies and cheap B&M buys.
The mum-of-four wanted to stop avoiding her cluttered garden area and instead make it feel warm and welcoming.
"Over the years I have never done anything to my backyard, and I absolutely hated it. I wouldn’t even hang the washing out in it!" she told money-saving community .
"I follow lots of DIY groups on Facebook and was always in awe of their garden makeovers," she added, which is ultimately what gave her the push to embark on her own project.
Knowing she "couldn't afford to do it professionally" Sarah decided to do it herself, especially as she's a "big believer in reusing and upcycling furniture."
The savvy mum got the ball rolling by scouring Facebook for products.
"I spent about two months collecting everything," she revealed. "The hardest part was driving out to collect items, as some people were a bit further out than where I lived."
While she sourced supplies, the first step was to clear everything out of the backyard.
Then, it was time to use Sarah’s first find - two tubs of outdoor floor paint for the walls and fence. "It was only £10 for both," she said.
She got hold of a colour-coordinated green table and chairs, which just so happened to be painted in the same mint green as her walls and floor - so they matched perfectly.
She also managed to get a large piece of astroturf which covered most of of the floor area.
"I then picked up some rugs, floor cushions and a storage box. At this point I placed the plants out with a few lanterns which I already had," she said.
"Someone kindly gifted me a large parasol, which I attached the light chain to.
"The last thing I collected was another table and chairs set - one was not enough as we are a family of 6.
"The most I paid was £25 for the floor cushions and the solar powered lights only cost £10 from B&M."
Sarah then decided to get creative and used part of her broken washing machine to make a crafty fire pit.
"My washing machine broke in February and I remembered how people had posted on Facebook about using the drum as a fire pit," she said.
"It was hard work taking it to pieces," she admitted, but the labour has now paid off.
After searching through Facebook listings and finding a barbeque, plus some wood and bricks to place under the fire pit, her work was complete.
It’s safe to say Sarah is pleased with the result.
"Honestly, I didn’t think it would all turn out so lovely. I love it and enjoy sitting out. It’s like I have gained an extra room."
Tom Church, co-founder of , says: "I love what Sarah’s done with her garden. It’s great that she managed to get most of her supplies from Facebook - there are so many hidden treasures that can easily be repurposed.
"Using a washing machine drum is a great way to upcycle old white goods. Just be sure to remove all of the plastic when you’re taking the machine apart, as it can be toxic when it burns.
"When I took my own machine apart, I had some plastic inserts which needed removing - so I tapped on the outside with a hammer and they simply fell off.
"If your drum comes with a spindle, why not use it to keep your new fire pit sturdy? Push it into the ground if your garden has a grassy area and you’ll reduce the risk of it tipping over."
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