HOUSE THAT
My damp covered council house had a ‘criminal’ ceiling – I transformed it with DIY and buys from B&M and Home Bargains
The DIY whizz was terrified the rundown home would fall apart like a cardboard box
A WOMAN who was given a council house after being stuck in temporary accommodation for years has revealed how she transformed the rundown property into a dream home.
Naomi Wells, 32, is the guardian of two young children, her niece, Aurora, eight, and nephew, Flynn, seven and transformed the entire house for just £4,000.
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She revealed she was homeless for two years and was grateful to get the council house despite it's terrible condition when the family moved in.
After spending years in hostels, Naomi was determined to turn the property into a dream home for herself and the kids.
Once in the property, Naomi saw the extent of the damage and was scared the mould-covered home and cracked ceiling would make the house 'unfold like a cardboard box'.
But she quickly got to work to turn it around.
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In a TikTok video, racking up 222,000 views and over 5,000 likes, she shows the various issues with the property, including a “porch full of mould”, missing bathroom tiles, a “criminal” ceiling and “cracks” everywhere.
I was quite overwhelmed as every room needed to be completely redecorated
Naomi Wells
“I was so grateful when I was offered my council property - it felt like such a long time since we had anywhere to call ‘home’,” Naomi, a carer from Southampton, told
“I’d been left homeless after my old landlord sold the property.
“Before I accepted the house, I was sent a video of it, but it didn’t really show the full extent of how much of a bad condition each room was in.
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“At first, I was quite overwhelmed as every room needed to be completely redecorated.”
Despite being overwhelmed, the woman got to work immediately, giving the entire place a DIY makeover.
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She said: “I have always loved decorating and furnishing my homes.
“In the weeks leading up to moving in, I had been planning how I was going to decorate each room in my head and made lots of vision boards on my phone.
“I made a start on the rooms pretty much as soon as I moved in as they really weren’t in great condition.
“I was lucky enough to be given a decorating voucher from my Housing Team when I moved in, which meant I could purchase paint straight away - that helped with being able to get started as soon as I got the keys.
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“I had also been saving up to purchase paint and decorating tools and had been buying things in the sales or when they were on offer too.
“It’s been done slowly as and when funds allowed it!"
The savvy decorator loves the likes of B&M, The Range, Dunelm and Home Bargains to buy decor for the home.
People have this image that if you live in social housing you must not work or your house must be dirty and that’s just not the case.
Naomi Wells
The family have been living in the home for the past year and a half and hope to finish the DIY by end of the 2024.
For more specialist jobs, Naomi hired professionals in - such as replacing the kitchen which was “old and falling apart”.
She also replaced the floors in the property within her £4,000 budget.
the woman added that she hoped her video would inspire others to turn their house into a home - even if they don't own it.
She said: “People have this image that if you live in social housing you must not work or your house must be dirty and that’s just not the case.
“I don’t smoke or drink or socialise all that often and the majority of my money has gone into fixing up my home.
“My niece and nephew absolutely love having their own space after living in a hostel and then temporary housing for so long.
“For a long time all of their belongings were in storage, so they couldn’t wait to decorate their rooms with all their own things.
“I absolutely love my home now!
“It’s like a completely different house compared to when I first got the keys.”
Sharing her top tips for others, Naomi added: “Try not to get too overwhelmed! Rome wasn’t built in a day!
“Just enjoy the process and remember that when decorating it always looks worse before it gets better!
“I would always recommend investing in good tools, especially paint brushes!
“Buy cheap, buy twice.
“If you are starting from scratch and furnishing your home make sure to check your local charity shops and Facebook Marketplace as you can find some great bargains!”
Users have flocked to the comments, with many people shocked about the property’s original state.
“That house was in a terrible condition to be let out for rent. You really have given it a lot of love […],” one person said.
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Someone else commented: “Perseverance. Stunning little home.”
“Are they allowed to give you the keys with the property being in such a state with children?! Absolutely shocking but brilliant that you’re able to fix it up,” Isha added.
COST BREAKDOWN
Doors – £600
Flooring – £1,200
Decorating (incl paint, wallpaper and panelling) – £1,200
Furnishing – £1,000
Total: £4,000
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