House That
I spent £20k turning my council house into a ‘luxury palace’ – but saved loads by shopping in Home Bargains and B&M
Danielle reckons she has save thousands by switching to high street buys
HOME is where the heart is, with many of us spending countless hours making our pad perfect.
One mum has spent over £20,000 transforming her council house into a ‘luxury palace’ though, with items she has found on the high street.
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Whilst other council house tenants are replacing wallpaper, Danielle Leigh had grand plans for making her three-bed property like a ‘hotel’.
Despite spending a staggering sum on the Teeside property, the 26-year-old says that she saved a fortune by shopping at discount stores.
Like many women, Danielle was heavily inspired by the interior design shows she watched, such as 60 Minute Makeover, and social media.
Dreaming of renovating her own home one day, she got the chance when she finally received the keys in 2021.
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"I had to start from scratch with this house - but I’ve transformed it into a luxury home,” she proudly told press after renovating her family home.
“I’ve done a lot of research on Instagram and Pinterest - there are people who can afford to spend £10,000 on just a single room. I can’t afford that, but I just knew I could get the same results on a budget."
Armed with a vision board and her phone, she set about putting her own stamp on the ‘blank canvas’ property over several years.
Three years on, she has spent £20,00 on the family home.
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Bargains include a £50 bed for her daughter from Facebook Marketplace and an Ikea wardrobe for £1,200 – despite her being quoted £5,000 for a unit.
Other items came from high street stores, with the mum revealing: "I buy a lot from Home Bargains, Shein, Tesco, Facebook Marketplace and occasionally Dunelm. It might seem small, but one of my favourite purchases so far are my butterfly-shaped drawer handles.
"I looked online for them, and saw they cost £8.99 for one - when I needed about 20. But I went on to AliExpress and found a pack of 10 for 99p."
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Her home now has a luxurious feel, this amateur interior designer has stunning golden décor in her house, girly furniture with butterfly handles and stunning leopard print bedding.
Sadly, not everyone shares the carer’s eye for design.
“A lot of people think I’m wasting money on this house because it’s council - but I wouldn’t do that if I didn’t want to buy it,” she explained, adding: "I’m just waiting until I can afford to buy it outright - I see this house as my own.”
However, there is an important reason why the mum is so dedicated to making her house a safe haven: her family.
Living with Danielle is her six-year-old daughter who has autism and her mum, 43, who has MS, so comfort is key.
Her transformation is over either, with the proud mum currently renovating her kitchen ‘completely ripping it out’.
She added: "People say it looks like a very 'standard council kitchen' at the moment [but] I'm going for a traditional-style kitchen - I'm obsessed with the big dresser-style mantlepieces around the oven.
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"I've looked at the price - and it looks like it's going to be around £2,000 just for the mantle. But I'm sure I'll find one on a budget.
"My maximum spend is hopefully going to be £5,000 - but I'm going to make it look £20,000."
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