Home decor can be expensive, to say the least. So when one mum revealed how she had turned her daughter's bedroom into a mermaid wonderland for under £20, we were all ears.
Sharing a snap of an incredible turquoise wall with shimmering tiles that imitate the effect of mermaid scales, Katie Blackbourn, 30, from Essex showed that DIY didn't have to be difficult or pricey.
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Posting on Facebook group, Extreme Couponing And Bargains UK, Katie told awestruck followers that she'd created the look with nothing but some bright paint, free wallpaper samples and wallpaper paste from her local B&M and B&Q stores.
Speaking exclusively to Pretty52, the NHS credit controller and budding designer said she never expected her efforts to get so much attention.
Explaining her thoughts behind the design, she added: "This project began with the idea of a green/blue theme.
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"I went to B&M to look for paint and bought Dulux Feature Wall in Proud Peacock for £14.99. I didn't buy a tester so hoped for the best that it would look as good on the wall as it did on the tin!
"From there I had no idea what to do next, I just knew I wanted some sparkle. I got some wallpaper samples from B&M and B&Q and took them home to look at with the paint.
"I genuinely couldn't decide on one I liked the most so I decided to cut a few bits and place them together. I love collage and mixed media so I was in my creative element. I tried a few different things and the scales just seemed to click!"
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When Katie realised the paper samples were beginning to take shape alongside each other, she begun cutting them into the same scale shape using a cardboard template.
"I used Solvite Wallpaper paste from B&M at £1.99 and began to arrange the scales on the wall," she said. "I stopped at the point I decided was enough and added a little mirror in from Poundland because I like the idea it broke up the pattern."
We think Katie's design looks incredible! You can follow her on social media to see what creative projects she gets up to next!
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She isn't the only thrifty shopper who has been revamping her home with budget products recently.
Ipswich local Sandra Young also used £10 B & Q products to tile her stairs - and the result was stunning.
Who says home decor needs to cost a bomb!?
Featured Image Credit: Katie BlackbournTopics: Home Decor, DIY, Life, Stylish