I bought a retro caravan from Facebook Marketplace & transformed it with Temu & B&M buys – I used a £4 bowl for my sink
A WOMAN has revealed that she bought an old caravan from Facebook Marketplace and has given it a total transformation whilst on a budget.
Ebony Poole, a mother from the UK, explained that she used bargain buys from B&M, Dunelm and Temu to turn the once retro home on wheels from drab to fab.
The DIY enthusiast took to social media to show a before and after look at her caravan, leaving many open-mouthed.
She confirmed that not only did she reupholster the seats using dust sheets, but she also used a bowl for just £4 as a sink.
In a clip shared online, the savvy mum wrote: “Come on our caravan renovation journey with us.”
The content creator gave her followers a close-up look at the run-down caravan prior to its overhaul.
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It had red seats, brown cupboards, grey flooring, and was in need of modernising.
But the mother then got to work, and in another clip, shared a look at her caravan’s impressive makeover, leaving many totally stunned.
What was once very dated has since been given a new lease of life and is now an incredibly modern and fresh space.
It is incredibly bright with trendy cream sofas and a dark navy paint has been used to add style to the tiny home.
Not only has the flooring been replaced but the kitchen area has also been given a revamp too.
Ebony opened up to Fabulous on her caravan’s renovation, as she explained: “We found our [caravan] on Facebook Marketplace and we wanted something home from home.
“I reupholstered the seats using dust sheets and it cost £90.
“We bought a bowl from B&M for £4 and used that as our kitchen sink as we wanted something fancy but on a budget.
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“I bought wallpaper from Temu [and] all the cupboard handles were from Temu.
“Our floor was an off cut from a carpet place for £40 and we wrapped the worktops/tables in D-C-Fix from B&M.”
Not only this, but the savvy saver explained that to save cash, she painted her blinds and nabbed discounted items from Dunelm.
We’ve still got a bit to do but we love it
Ebony Poole
She shared: “We just painted the blinds using leftover Frenchic paint from the cupboards to give them a freshen up.
“We also had a lot of things out of the bargain basket from Dunelm such as the jungle themed wallpaper - it was £3.80.
How much does it cost to live in a caravan?
LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here's a breakdown of potential costs:
Initial Costs
- Caravan Purchase: £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition)
- Caravan Insurance: £200 - £800 per year
Ongoing Monthly Costs
- Pitch Fees: £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities)
- Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 - £120
- Maintenance and Repairs: £20 - £80
- Internet and TV: £20 - £50
- Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 - £40
Other Potential Costs
- Waste Disposal Fees: £8 - £25
- Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance
- Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 - £1,600 (one-time)
Sample Monthly Budget
- Pitch Fees: £400
- Utilities: £80
- Maintenance and Repairs: £40
- Internet and TV: £40
- Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25
- Total: £585
Annual Estimated Cost
- Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020
- Insurance: £500
- Maintenance and Repairs: £480
- Total Annual Cost: £8,000
Tips to Save
- Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons.
- DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself.
- Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs.
While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK.
“We have removed the oven and fridge as we didn’t want to be using gas in the caravan so we bought a fridge from Facebook Marketplace, we got it for £30.
“It’s a family-sized fridge, as we are a family of five we didn’t think the original fridge you get with a caravan would fit enough in for us.
Why caravan holidays are so underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a British staple.
And with the cost of living crisis wreaking havoc on Britain's purses, more of us are turning to them for an affordable break.
Josie O'Brien, Senior Digital Writer on Fabulous, weighs in on why she thinks caravan holidays are seriously underrated...
WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She’d use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the ‘gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There’s no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don’t find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there’s the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I'm spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I've had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I'll buy my own one day.
“We will just use our air fryer when we go away as we thought it was wasted cupboard space.”
As well as this, the DIY fan continued: “We built a new kitchen area - the wood was cover sheets which made it cheaper and they were more flexible as well - we got this from a timber merchant, it was around £40.”
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS BEAM
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as social media users flocked to the comments to praise the caravan’s renovation.
One person said: “Fabulous, love it.”
You have done a phenomenal job! Well done, it's gorgeous
TikTok user
Another added: “Omg love this!”
A third commented: “It’s lovely.”
Whilst someone else wrote: “This is goals.”
At the same time, another beamed: “Wow…you guys have done a phenomenal job! Well done, it's gorgeous.”
Not only this, but one DIY fan penned: “We’ve just bought our first van today and this is giving me MAJOR INSPO!!!
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"Stunning work!!! Well done.”
To this, Ebony replied and wrote: “We’ve still got a bit to do but thank you, we love it.”