I transformed my tired caravan into a gorgeous grey haven for just £140 – Mrs Hinch would definitely approve
IF YOU fancy doing a DIY project but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place.
Often DIY can seem daunting and the thought of splashing out a tonne of cash is not the most appealing thing.
But one savvy DIY fan has proved that you don’t need to spend a fortune for a glam transformation.
Lucy Gray, 29, from York, bought a caravan for £610, and took on the challenge of transforming it herself.
Using budget materials such as DC Fix and Frenchic paint, she took the caravan from drab to fab for just £140.
Lucy told money-saving Facebook group : "I’ve always wanted a caravan and from a very young age I’ve loved making things and projects so it’s been a really enjoyable experience.
"I actually bought this as a short-term living solution but wanted to make it nicer and more homely for the few weeks I’ll be in it.
"Plus then it’ll be fab for holidays come summertime with my two dogs.”
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Lucy’s caravan needed quite a bit of TLC, but she was able to completely transform it by herself, without any professional help.
"I started with the curtains. I had seen on Pinterest some black gingham curtains in a kitchen and loved them so created the rest of the look around those using Pinterest and Facebook DIY pages for ideas.
"I bought the fabric for my curtains from a company called Terrys Fabric for roughly £35.
"I have a basic knowledge of using a sewing machine so I made these myself.
"Then I used Frenchic paint for everything.
“I used Cool Beans for the cupboards and doors, Wise Old Sage for the seating area and walls, Dusky Blush for the bathroom and cupboard area, and Blackjack for the kitchen area.
"A tin of Frenchic is roughly £18, and I buy all mine from a local stockist called Grandads Shed and Vicki Kress Interiors - she’s fab!
"Then I used two types of DC Fix for the sides and flooring which is so easy to use and only about £8 a roll from B&Q.
“For the seating I just used blankets I already had.
“I bought the caravan for £610 and spent about £140 doing it up.
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“It cost £35 for the fabric, £19.95 for each tin of paint so £79.80, three rolls of marble DC Fix which were £6.50 each and one roll of a colourful tile effect for the cupboard area for £10.
“That was it - everything else I already had or came with it!”
In under two weeks, Lucy was able to completely transform her caravan, alongside her job.
She continued: "I bought the caravan on the 5th, and I finished it on the 17th, as I was doing it before and after work.
"Tips wise, my dad was a builder so I’ve never been scared to pick something up and give it a go.
“A caravan seems like a big job but it took me about a week (around work) and I’d say the most ‘difficult’ thing I’d done was still new holes for the replacement handles.
“So it was all pretty beginner-friendly and just needed a bit of elbow grease!
"I’m going to paint the outside in the summer - but Frenchic shouldn’t be used in cold weather so it’ll have to wait for now!”
Lucy's transformation is seriously impressive and with her grey décor, we're sure that Mrs Hinch would approve!
Meanwhile, we transformed our caravan using bargains from Aldi, Primark and Home Bargains – it’s a pink chic paradise.
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As well as this, I turned a rusty old caravan at the bottom of the garden into a woodland haven, it’s like going on holiday.