DRAB TO FAB
I’ve given my run down council house a mega glow up with Temu buys from just £2 – now people say my home is ‘beautiful’
Plus, scroll down for advice on how to transform your council house without breaking the bank
A DIY fan has given her run down council house a total glow up thanks to purse-friendly finds from Temu.
So if you’re on a mission to give your home a makeover, but are on a budget and can’t afford to splash too much cash, you’ll be pleased to know we’ve got just what you need.
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Celene Francis, a 26-year-old mum-of-two who lives in a two-bedroom house in Rotherham, shared that she used bargain buys from Temu to transform her pad.
With not much money to spare, the student midwife and mental health support worker took to social media to share her affordable finds, in a short clip posted with the caption ‘Temu haul part two home edition', just days after her part one video went viral.
The savvy mum, who previously opened up to Fabulous about how she used purse-friendly finds to transform her once ‘horrendous’ home, stocked up on homeware finds from as little as £2.48 - so if your purse is feeling the pinch as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, you’ll need to listen up.
The DIY enthusiast, who recently gave birth to her second child, Iris Valerie Duggan, nabbed herself a pack of four waffle dish towels for just £5.48.
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As well as this, Celene also decorated her kitchen with a gorgeous handcrafted resin strawberry vase, which has been slashed down from £22.49 to just £11.49.
The mother even nabbed a stylish ceramic vase, which is super trendy and perfect for a minimalist vibe.
Whilst the decorative vase was originally priced at £20.99, Celene was able to buy it for only £11.98.
The content creator then filled the vase with ten pieces of artificial eucalyptus, which she got for only £2.69.
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As well as this, Celene also stocked up on retro flower print hand towels, for only £2.48 each.
But that’s not all - to keep her fridge neat and organised, the mum-of-two bought plastic organisers, which were £5.48 each.
I'd never touched the grout in my council house kitchen but I did it up myself using a £10 Wickes buy
And to keep her shower tidy, she also got bathroom caddy rack shelves, which were discounted from £9.99 to £3.59.
To finish off her mega haul of Temu bargains, Celene also nabbed kitchen seasoning jars, which are sold in packs of 12 and 24, with prices starting from just £3.18.
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DIY fans beam
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 22,000 views.
You have a beautiful home
TikTok user
Bargain hunters were impressed with Celene’s cheap buys and many eagerly flocked to the comments to express this.
One person said: “You have made your home beautiful.”
Whilst another agreed: “You have a beautiful home.”
Celene’s council house transformation
Not only this, but Celene previously revealed all to Fabulous on her mega council house overhaul.
She shared that she regularly shops in B&M, The Range and Home Bargains and by watching YouTube videos, was able to give her home a stunning upgrade.
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And while keyboard warriors voice that her DIY work is ‘a waste of money’, Celene won’t listen and is obsessed with her beautiful home.
Celene previously told Fabulous: “I moved in a couple of years ago now and it was a blank canvas essentially.
“It was really run down, it was left in a state, there was nothing on the floor, the garden was horrendous.
Rules on transforming your council house
According to , the kind of improvements you can make to your council property depends on the type of tenancy you have.
Introductory tenants are usually limited to minor improvements like redecorating inside.
If you’re a secure tenant, you have the right to carry out improvements to your property. These include:
- installing a new bathroom or kitchen
- building an extension
- putting up a garden shed or greenhouse
- installing a new gas fire or fireplace
- cavity wall insulation
- redecorating the outside of a house
- fitting an aerial or satellite dish
You might need your council’s written permission for work you do. if you’re not sure.
“I think the previous people who lived there were smokers as it had yellow ceilings.
“It was your typical council house, what they deem ‘liveable’ - there was some paint but it was what was left - so some of the doors were purple.
“There was no flooring down, there was an old lino that had been ripped up so it was quite bare.”
Celene got to work on making the home her own and watched countless YouTube videos to improve her DIY skills.
It was your typical council house, what they deem ‘liveable’ - there was some paint but it was what was left - so some of the doors were purple
Celene Francis
She continued: “I’ve done all sorts of DIY. I’ve painted it all white.
“I painted the kitchen cupboards, got new handles, and painted the tiles.
“Obviously I put down flooring and just got laminate and carpets.
“On the stairs I did a stair runner and just used what was leftover from my carpet.
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“I did all of the DIY myself - obviously the carpet I had that fitted, but I did everything else myself, including fitting the stair rods and all of the painting.
“I watched a lot of YouTube videos but I’ve always been into DIY and interiors and doing things myself.”
Celene has tried to cut costs where possible and buys a lot of her home furnishings from cheap high-street chains.
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She added: “I like to be on a budget and especially in this day and age, I haven’t got loads of spare money.
“I’ve done everything gradually and I don’t really go out or drink [alcohol] so any spare money I have, I buy things for the house.
“I love IKEA and B&M. I like H&M Home but it’s slightly more expensive so I’ve only got a few ornaments from there.
How to do your council house up on the cheap
- Take inspiration from pricier shops and head to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decorations.
- Head to YouTube for easy to follow tutorials on how to decorate rather than paying for professionals.
- For a quick glow-up for your floors or anywhere with tiles, opt for stick-on vinyl to save on costs.
- A lick of paint does wonders to make a room feel brand-new.
- Switch out kitchen cupboard knobs for modern ones instead of buying brand-new cupboards
“I mainly shop at The Range, B&M, Home Bargains and IKEA. Some things I’ve got from JYSK.
“But my favourite shop is B&M. I absolutely love B&M. As soon as something is trendy, B&M have it straight away.
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“You see something you like in H&M Home and you go into B&M and they’ve got it in there straight away.”
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