How to upgrade your home for free without moving

Are you outgrowing your house? Feel like you need to move? There might be a way to upgrade your home without moving. It’s what I’ve done over the last 22 years since I’ve been in my house. Here’s how.

When I purchased this house with my (now ex) husband 22 years ago, we had plans to have children eventually one day so a 3 bedroom home was going to be more than enough space. In the 4 years before our children were born, there was a spare room I used with a single bed for visitors, our desktop computer (it was the early 2000’s so desktop computers were still relatively a new thing) and a second bedroom set up for visitors.

How our home started out

In the 4 years before our children were born, there was a spare room I used with a single bed for visitors, our desktop computer (it was the early 2000’s so desktop computers were still relatively a new thing) and a second bedroom set up for visitors.

I thought there was more than enough space for our clothes in the built in cupboard in our bedroom and there was a freestanding wardrobe in the third bedroom and plenty of cupboard space in our relatively small kitchen. No real pantry as such but I certainly could make do (and just quietly, love my small kitchen – there’s less to clean and it functions perfectly).

My ex always though there wasn’t enough storage but not having a lot of clutter, back then, I found it quite easy to fit everything in that we owned.

The converted garage

We were lucky that we had what was a converted double garage under our house that was an entertainment room. There was a built in bar, a pool table, a dart board and a TV. Everything that a young couple, soon to be married needed to entertain family and friends. The downstairs laundry had enough room for the washing machine, a dryer and storage under the internal stairs.

I was an avid gardener back in those days so one of the first things we did was put in a downstairs second toilet. It saved me having to run upstairs to our only toilet if I was in the middle of yard work.

The next thing we did was put in a double carport with a solid roof. There was only a timber structure with mesh to cover and it didn’t provide much protection to our vehicle if it stormed.

Getting a double shed

The next thing we did was put in a double shed in the back yard. This was a huge expense at around $10,000 but well worth it in the end. It is now a really great space for storing garden equipment, a workout space, kid’s wet weather space, out of season clothes, Christmas decorations and tools for my now husband to do odd jobs. (My ex didn’t keep the space very neat and tidy so it was a nightmare to find or store anything so a bit of a wasted space all those years ago. It’s been a great asset to the house and come in very handy. It has allowed any storage that didn’t fit inside the house to be stored in the shed.

In saying that, we have tried to declutter all of these things in the shed. There is no point in holding onto them. My husband keeps it very neat and tidy and uses wall and ceiling space to store things out of the way like his surfboards and gardening equipment.

When the children arrived, sadly the days of entertaining and partying were over so it didn’t take long for the downstairs room to become a convertible space for visitors. We had a convertible lounge/fold out bed that my in laws used when they visited. There was a fridge downstairs so they could make their own tea and coffee. Also that downstairs toilet. They could come and go as they pleased and joined us for meals.

How the house changed when the children came

Upstairs, the third bedroom became the nursery. Two years later, my second child was born so the first baby went into that second bedroom and the new baby stayed in the nursery.

Built-in cupboards were put in both the second and third bedrooms nearly tripling the amount of storage space I now had in my house. Out of that came a linen closet. Something I hadn’t had before but made do with a freestanding wardrobe.

When the children were babies (both born in November), it was hot in the summer and I tried to stay indoors in the air conditioning so the living room became the play room. There was a blow up ball pit, a box of toys each (that were on rotation) and we painted outside and drew at the dining table. As they got older, that downstairs room became their play area with a TV/video player, lounge and our computer (where I started this blog all those years ago).

It was also my sewing space, craft area and where Santa would leave the presents for the children under our tree.

The downstairs room became such a convertible space over the years. The trouble was, it was only ever a built-in garage with a cement floor that the previous owners had converted into that entertaining space all those years before. We had no clue that it could or would ever flood as we hadn’t seen flooding in my home town of Brisbane since 1974.

Making changes after flooding

By my daughter’s 7th year, things were going to change with the downstairs room. Heavy rain came in 2011 that flooded the downstairs room. Carpet had to be thrown out, timber swelled around the walls. We had a terrible mess. Little did I know that over the years we would get even more rain and every attempt at rebuilding the space and reconverting it to something bigger, better and more useful met with more heartbreak.

After the last rain of 2022 where we received a year’s worth of rain in 3 days and we were flooded again, we decided to keep the downstairs room as it was intended and that was a concreted floor garage that has a few lounge chairs and my son’s gaming equipment, ie TV and PlayStation.

The room still needs a bit of work to make it look nice, ie painting walls and ceilings, painting the concrete floor with a non slip paint and a new blind for the window. Just small cosmetic fixes. But the home office/craft space is now in the spare bedroom and that’s a job and a half to sort through.

I’ve been having a big declutter and trying to make the space still calm and that’s been a work in progress. The upstairs living room, which was just a quiet space to sit and read, without a television, is now a homely and cosy space again. We purchased 2 x $79 rugs and repurposed the TV unit to hold all of the sound system and television.

There’s still a bit of sorting and decorating to do but not too much. As it’s coming into winter, the throws will come out and I can give it an update with a few new cushion covers.

Conclusion

You can outgrow a house but you can look at it as rather rethinking a room or space. Ask yourself:

• Can I repurpose this room?
• Can I reuse furniture and décor that I’ve already got?
• If I haven’t used or touched something taking up space in this room, can I donate, sell or repurpose it?

We are so influenced by what we see in magazines, on television and on social media to think that we need a bedroom for every child, a bathroom for every person in the house and a toy room, a walk-in pantry, a kitchen island (and the list goes on). Unless you can really afford to move and upgrade to a bigger house (and bigger mortgage), stay put, enjoy the home you already have and rethink spaces.

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How to Make a Sunroom the Best Part of Summer

No matter where you live, if you have a sunroom, then you have a room that can bring the outdoors inside. This versatile space lets you enjoy the beauty of nature while keeping warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer. With our tips, you can quickly learn how to make a sunroom the best part of summer.

With lovely sunroom decor, you can have a versatile room that lets you enjoy the summer without worrying about mosquitos, humidity, and critters.

Make Your Sunroom Comfortable

The key to making your sunroom the best part of summer is to make it as comfortable as possible. You don’t need to use stiff outdoor furniture in a sunroom, so take advantage of cushy sofas, loveseats, and oversized chairs. Add enough comfortable seating for everyone in your family to enjoy the sunroom.

Another way to make sunrooms comfortable is to cover the floor with a beautiful rug. Add some large floor cushions so that people won’t have to sit on the cold, hard floor. Massive bean bag chairs and other inviting seats can make the sunroom incredibly comfortable.

Because the outdoor elements affect the temperature in a sunroom, keep blankets and throw pillows around for everyone to get cozy when temperatures drop. Keep the lighting low, as the purpose of a sunroom is to enjoy the natural light even at night. Don’t forget to add trays and end tables so that everyone can have their beverages and snacks in the sunroom.

Mix And Match Your Style

If you love a cottage core aesthetic, or you thrive on minimalism, carry your favorite style into your sunroom. Your sunroom should be an extension of the rest of your home. It just happens to be in a room surrounded by nature. 

As you move your style into the sunroom, consider pushing it a little farther. Sunrooms offer more comfort than a porch, but they can still have that cozy quality. Regardless of your style, think about how you can make your sunroom a mixture between a patio and a living room. Some people add exterior string lights with Edison bulbs for a consistently porch-like look.

While buying furniture for your sunroom, consider pieces that are flexible and moveable. You might need to rearrange your sunroom for parties, guests, and other reasons. You might want to install built-in benches with storage so that you can tuck away items that you don’t always need. Sunrooms get extra sunlight that can fade colors and damage some textiles however.

Consider Your Privacy

Unfortunately, not everyone has privacy from neighbors, so curtains or window coverings are necessary for some homeowners with sunrooms. Choose a window covering that you can easily push to the side or roll up to the ceiling so that you can take advantage of beautiful days and lovely nights. Some sunroom owners add a privacy tint to their windows to block the gaze of nosy neighbors.

Natural window coverings like bamboo or woven shades keep your sunroom looking like an outdoor space. You could also add plants outside of your sunroom to provide privacy, while some people install awnings. You can also add a privacy fence around your yard so that you don’t have to put window dressings in your sunroom.

Add Heating And Cooling Elements

Sunrooms can become extremely hot in the summer and cold in the winter. As you’re looking to make a sunroom the best part of summer, consider adding a reconditioned PTAC unit to it. You might not need air conditioning all over your home, but a wall unit in your sunroom might be the perfect solution to summertime heat and humidity.

You could add an electric stove or freestanding fireplace for cold winter months so that you get the right amount of heat for a minimal amount of money. Anyhow, you’ll only be using your PTAC unit for air conditioning and freestanding fireplace when needed so that your energy bills stay low.

On days without a breeze, use fans to get the air moving. Some people install ceiling fans with beautifully designed blades for a true outdoor look. Add the heating and cooling elements that make your sunroom comfortable.

Pick The Perfect Flooring

When you design your sunroom, consider the floor. It’s time to move to high-end tile, stone, or tile. If you spend cool winter days in your sunroom, add radiant heating elements under the flooring. Choose a durable floor that may get wet and is easy to clean.

Add Plants And Flowers

Another way to turn up the beauty in your new room is to add plants and flowers. With so much focused sun, your plants can thrive in a sunroom. Ferns, lemon trees, and jade plants love the sun and thrive in bright sunrooms. You can have fun decorating your plants through the summer with little ornaments and holiday decor. Consider adding seasonal flower pots in your sunroom too.

Have Fun In The Sun

Sunrooms are perfect spaces for entertaining. The comfortable areas are easy to decorate, especially for children’s parties or book clubs. When you have your party in one room, you have less to clean up at the end.

Many people leave electronics out of their sunrooms, except speakers so that they can listen to music while relaxing. Don’t hesitate to add a TV or video game console. It’s your space, and you can do what you want in it.

Be Creative

Sunrooms can be more than space for a pair of couches. You can use it as a guest bedroom, a home office, dining room, game room, or a personal yoga studio. They can be breakfast nooks, she sheds, and playrooms. The only limit is your imagination.

You can make your room a space that you never want to leave. With comfortable seating, useful touches, and beautiful surroundings, your decor can make that space the best part of summer and your home for years to come.

Kitchen Ideas When Renovating to Help Get the Best Cooking Space

The cooking space is considered the heart of the kitchen. It is where you prepare and cook food for your family, relatives, and friends. Likewise, you will be comfortable and enjoy your cooking when you have the best cooking space. Here are some kitchen ideas when renovating to help get the best cooking space.

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If you want to renovate your kitchen, take into account the flow of your cooking space and at the same time the area you will allot for it. Here are some kitchen renovation ideas that could help you in coming up with the best cooking space.

Apply the “work triangle”

The “work triangle” is the good circulation flow of the three appliances you see in the kitchen. These include the refrigerator, the oven or hob, and the sink/dishwasher. In planning your kitchen, you must apply this “work triangle,” which is adequate for food preparation, cooking, washing, and storage. This layout makes cooking inside the kitchen easy as everything will be handy and in close proximity.

Opt for a U-shaped kitchen layout

A U-shaped kitchen layout follows the “work triangle.” In this layout, you can make the most of your kitchen. You have enough areas for preparation and cooking. The middle is left spacious, and you could move quickly and comfortably. A U-shaped kitchen layout is perfect for those who love to prepare and cook food every day. Moreover, you will have a lot of space for storage that will keep your kitchen organized and neat.

Build an island

If you have ample area in your kitchen, build an island, which is very helpful in multitasking. The island can be utilized for food preparation or eating breakfast. Some islands also have a built-in oven. You could also incorporate a second sink in the island, which makes your food preparation and cleaning up utensils easy and fast.

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Also, you could entertain your guests and eat on the island top. A marble island top is presentable for dining. You could have quality marble for your kitchen top at euromarble.com.au. They feature a wide selection of superior quality marbles that could make your kitchen island appealing and attractive.

Have an easy-to-maintain backsplash

The backsplash is the area that receives most of the grease from your oven and stove. To help keep your cooking area tidy, you must clean the backsplash always and remove the dirt and oil. It is advisable that you choose a backsplash that is not just aesthetically beautiful but also easy to clean.

Provide open shelves and hook rails

You can cook comfortably and fast if you have easy access to your cooking materials and condiments. You may build open shelves near the oven/hob to accommodate your spices and other cooking utensils.  Likewise, you may put hook rails on the walls near your oven, in which you could hang your pans and pots. In case you do not want to expose your pans and pots, use the lower cabinets near the oven.

 

The best cooking area in your kitchen will definitely inspire you to prepare and cook for your loved ones. Moreover, having a functional and appealing kitchen can make your house beautiful and increase its value.

 

 

 

7 tips to decorate the Laundry Room

While kitchens are often the warm, snug, heart of a home and the humble bathroom has become our private spa, laundry rooms have tended to remain purely functional and not necessarily very well-loved places.  It doesn’t have to be like that, though. Laundry might never be your idea of a good time, but you can make it more fun (or less bad) with a well-decorated and well-thought out laundry room.  Here are 7 tips to decorate the laundry room which is both functional and attractive.

 

Use barn doors to reduce noise while saving space

DIY Sliding Barn Door

Barn doors or sliding doors can be fitted into many spaces because they don’t need to swing open and closed.  From a practical perspective, they help to reduce the noise of doing laundry. From a decorative perspective, they provide an extra surface with which you can have some fun.  

For example, you could give them a coating of chalk-board paint, which gives grown-ups a message board and children a place to draw. If your budget is too tight for this, or you really can’t fit them in, then consider using a curtain, which won’t be quite as good but can be a lot better than nothing, plus you can sew pockets in it for extra storage.  If you can’t work out how to fit a curtain rod into your space, then see if you can use a tension rod.

Make the most of your floor

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Laundry room floors need to be robust and durable, but that doesn’t mean they need to be boring.  Use something sensible as a base, such as vinyl or tiles, and then put something easily washable on top of that for interest.

Obviously, the laundry room is not the place for your finest antique Persian rugs, but these days there are plenty of hard-wearing, washable rugs available at very affordable prices.  

Have at least some bright, bold color

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Most laundry appliances are white, a few come in silver or black.  There’s a very good reason for this, good-quality appliances are expected to last for years and to fit in with all kinds of home décor changes.  At the same time, if everything in a space is white (or silver or black); it can wind up looking cold, clinical and basically very uninviting. Because of this, the laundry room is one room where you usually want to make a point of using at least some bright, bold color where you can.

Use adhesive “tiles” for affordable and simple updates

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Real tiling is expensive and usually unnecessary in a laundry room, unless you actually have a laundry sink.  Even if you do, then you can save yourself money and increase your options for making changes later, by using plain white tiling behind the sink and putting the adhesive tiles over it.

Give preference to open storage

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Unless you have a really big laundry room, open storage is the way to go because it eliminates the need to allow space for cabinet doors to open and close.  Even if you do have a larger laundry space, open storage is generally still the best option.

Basically, in a laundry room it’s usually fairly easy to hide unsightly items in attractive containers, which takes away the main advantage of closed storage.  The big advantages of open storage, however, still remain, namely that it keeps items easy to hand and that you can make the shelves do double duty for storage and decoration. Also, open storage will allow you to see the wall behind the shelves, which can be useful for adding color.

Mix and match your storage pieces to create interest

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Pinterest is full of pictures of laundry rooms where everything matches perfectly with everything else and white appliances sit below white countertops with white cabinets and/or white open shelves filled with white storage baskets.  

These can make for great, styled photographs, but it’s a look which isn’t likely to work well in real life for most people, particularly not people with children and/or pets. On the other hand, randomly picking storage and décor items can quickly make a space look fussy and cluttered and hence somewhere you don’t want to be.  

The solution here is to pick a theme and run with that, it doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s consistent. For example, you could have different colors and shapes of wicker baskets, as long as they’re unified by a common material or you could choose one or two colors and ring in the changes with different textures.

Create a small “pamper station”

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Depending on the space available, this can be anything from a small jar to a standard tray.  The key point it that it’s a place to hold little treats for yourself to make doing laundry more appealing.  

Keep small glass jars for loose change found in the laundry, sweets, hand cream, oil diffuser etc.  Add a plant or faux flowers to the tray. You can also include a tray with all your base materials and tools for removing those hard to remove stains.

 

How to create an oasis in your home

Once upon a time you’ve found your dream house, fell in love at first sight and lived happily ever after in it. Well, it sure does sound like a fairy tale but what really happened is that your family got bigger and your house got smaller. Not to mention all the remodeling, redecorating and necessary updating over the years. With all the hustle and bustle of a busy lifestyle, it is not strange that you’ve forgotten to refresh your relationship with your house. Here are some tips and tricks to help you reconnect with your home and how to create an oasis in your home.

Decluttering sets the foundation

A house becomes a home only after you’ve put your heart and your soul into creating a place of your dreams. But there comes a time when you forget to appreciate it and just start overcrowding it with unnecessary things until you realize that you have lost the comfort and that it doesn’t feel like a home anymore. So, obviously, the first step to falling in love again is getting rid of all excessive belongings. And I mean all of them.

There must be a lot of things just lying around, collecting dust, unused for years – well, it is time for them to go. You don’t have to throw them away. Donating or selling is a great option and it has its benefits. Clean out the space to create a good energy flow and a more positive atmosphere.

Spice up your style 

When it comes to decorating, take a style risk. Shake things up a little and mix your favorite parts of any interior style to create your own unique one. When decorating you can follow the minimalism of Lagom with a pinch of Wabi-sabi’s wonderful decorative accents (bowls, vessels, tray gardens, bonsai trees) and a touch of modernism in the shape of a modern office desk, for example, with a rustic (again, Wabi-sabi influence) worn-out, wooden stool or chair.

The options are truly endless and you can combine whatever you find charming and lovely since it is all about creating a space that depicts your personality and makes you feel the right, homely atmosphere. Let your imagination run wild and call it artistic freedom.

A simple makeover is good for the heart

Refreshing your furniture with just a few minor updates like painting table legs in strong colors or repainting small coffee tables in unexpected tones will do wonders for your interior. You don’t have to break the bank to replace your old furniture; you can simply do a makeover of the worn-out or démodé pieces and still have the same effect.

Arrange your furniture applying feng shui principle to help you find your inner Zen. Play with different patterns and textures (fluffy, furry decorative pillows are an absolute hit among 2018 hottest trends) mix and match materials and add more colors to make a fun and happy place. Pick works of art that you really like and get rid of that old ugly painting hanging in your living room for ages. Let more natural light inside and surround your home with your favorite plants to bring the nature inside.

Your home needs a breath of fresh air to bloom

Don’t forget the outdoor areas as well. Lately, I have been watching a lot of DIY tutorials about how to make an oasis for relaxation in your backyard (I admit, I’m a bit obsessed with my garden renovation project) that can only make your relationship with your home stronger. There is nothing better than a cute house with a neat outdoor area to leave a lasting impression of a homey place. Having a real piece of heaven in your yard will help you find your own peace of mind and enjoy spending time at home with your family and friends.

So, make sure your landscaping is done properly and that your plants are well taken care of. Do a makeover of your deck with just a can of paint and colorful decorative accents (the key is in the little cute things) such as pillows, knitted throws, flowerpots, lanterns and wind chimes. If you have a green thumb and adore plants, go a step further and make a pergola covered with summer-blooming vines.

Also installing retractable pergolas and awnings with flowery patterned cloths instead of plain ones will give your garden the charming look it needed. And like a cherry on top, adding a gazebo will complete the look and create a romantic vibe in your wonderful backyard oasis.

After a stressful day at work, running all the family errands and being in a constant race with time all you really need is to relax in a cozy, comfortable place. Put an effort to create a perfect home – a peaceful oasis where you can hide from the busy schedule, forget about everything for a while and have a “me time” moment to recharge your batteries. These tips and tricks will help you create such happy place that will inspire you and give you more energy to face the days ahead.

Workout Apps For Busy Mothers

For a busy mother, it’s hard to squeeze in much in the way of personal time. Of course, if you’re a mother reading this I certainly don’t need to tell you that! And one of the things that a lot of mums (particularly new mums) find they miss is the chance to dedicate time to fitness. Taking the time to get to the gym is almost out of the question when you have young kids to keep track of, and organised sports or workouts with trainers are perhaps even trickier to fit in.

 

Because of this, a lot of mums ultimately find that their fitness efforts go further if they’re focused primarily on home exercise. And particularly these days, when there are innumerable fitness apps out there specifically to help people work out away from the gym, this is a pretty good option. Sure, you may still miss some of the communal aspects of gym sessions or group exercise – but the important thing is that you’ll be able to work up a sweat, stay healthy, and feel better as a result.

Keeping all of that in mind, I wanted to point to a few workout apps that are ideal for busy mothers.

Aaptiv

 

I’m starting with Aaptiv because I think it might be the most complete home workout app out there these days. As a review in In Style wrote quite accurately, there is literally a class for every fitness interest and level, or at least it feels that way. This is an app that streams actual fitness lessons, complete with motivators and high-energy music, to your mobile device.

You can simply scroll through, find whatever’s most appealing to you (from yoga to high-intensity interval training) and get moving. For some workouts you might need equipment, but it’s up to you which once you choose, and you can always purchase a little bit of in-home equipment for a particular exercise if you’d like to work it into your routine.

All in all, Aaptiv is just a perfect tool to start with to teach yourself that a home workout can be very effective.

7 Minute Workout

I don’t need to explain this one too much because it’s exactly what it sounds like. This is built for people who feel like they’re too busy to fit exercise in, and it’s one of the best ways to get your heart rate up and actually do some impactful fitness work in under 10 minutes.

Now, you shouldn’t delude yourself into thinking it can fully replace, say, an hour’s worth of exercise. But it’s certainly better than nothing, and you can also get into it a few times a day whenever you have a break.

The exercises are focused on short, challenging bursts for which you don’t need any weights or machines.

Pact

This is an app that’s built on the idea that incentives keep people working out. If that sounds like a dubious concept, consider this story that went public a few years back, and had nothing to do with this specific app.

Back in 2014, a British man decided that he wanted to lose 100 lbs. in a year. He made a £50 wager and managed to win £5,000 on the effort, basically proving that enough motivation can lead to a Herculean fitness effort. Most of us don’t have the opportunity to make wagers like that, however, and Pact is probably the next best (or at least simplest) thing.

This app challenges you to set goals for your own activity, wagering real money that you’ll meet them. It then tracks those goals – through photos of healthy meals, integration with run-tracking systems, etc – and pays small amounts to those who do what they set out to. It’s a wonderful way to force exercises into your crowded routine, even if it just means jogs around the neighborhood.

Daily Yoga

I’ll wrap things up with a little bit about yoga, which should certainly be worked into your fitness routine. For one thing, it’s one of the easiest forms of exercise to do at home, and can even be effective in 10 or 15 minute sessions. For another, it doubles as an excellent form of stress relief, which ought to sound appealing to most of the mothers out there.

There are actually several different apps to choose from in this area, and truthfully most of them are pretty good. But this one, in my experience, is the most comprehensive. A comparison (which you should read to get a feel for the alternatives in this category) noted that Daily Yoga offers several different goals, which is something a lot of people will appreciate it.

Basically, you can choose exercises and design a program for anything from strengthening legs to getting a healthier back to mastering meditation.

 

Greek Style Mini Bathroom Upgrade for under $500

It’s great when your husband is on board with your frugal way of life. He has such an eye for a bargain and when our vanity unit was in desperate need of replacing he managed to find one in near new condition so we did this Greek style mini bathroom upgrade for under $500.

There wasn’t  much else that needed doing so that’s why we we managed to keep the costs so low. The tap handles in the shower and bath could’ve done with replacing, for cosmetic reasons only, but they’re still working fine so we kept them.

The paint job is still in good condition and even though the tiles might be a little outdated, it was the leaf pattern in the trim that gave me the idea to go with a Greek style makeover.

The main cost of the upgrade was to the plumber for installing a new ‘flickmixer’ style vanity sink tap plus the plumbing in the vanity. I did purchase a couple new things like this blue and white striped shower curtain half price for $9.99. We did have a sliding glass shower door there but it was always so hard to keep clean. I can just throw this curtain in the washing machine.

I was thinking of how I could make my own laundry basket. The bathroom is pretty small so I didn’t want a large basket. I just happened to be in KMart when this one was also marked down to $10 from $20.

I couldn’t have been more lucky with my curtain selection. This vintage tablecloth came from my Nanna. She had a whole heap of old photos wrapped in it. It was stained from age so I gave it a good soak and turned it into a curtain with a tieback.

It has the same matching leaf pattern as the tiles plus it also has a similar Greek key pattern on the corners.

There were a few secondhand purchases like the framed Greek picture for $5 and the other accessories on the vanity unit with all probably came to $2. Most of my mats and towels are already in similar colors and other bits and pieces were already in my home and reused in the bathroom

We were looking for a small medicine cabinet for the wall from secondhand shops but just happened to be at the major hardware chain store when we saw this one marked down on a specials table for $40.

I’m so grateful for all the space we now have in the bathroom. I don’t need to tell you what it’s like with children. You need to have lotions, potions, bandages and medications and I had them all over the house. Now everything’s in one spot. It’s also allowed me to stock up on my regular toiletry purchases when they’re on special and I have somewhere to store them.

Cost Breakdown of Makeover

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Item	Cost
Vanity Unit (secondhand)	$40
Shower Curtain (new)	$10
Laundry Hamper (new)	$10
Plumbing costs (including vanity flickmixer tap, plumbing hardware and labour)	$300
Medicine Cabinet (new)	$40
Accessories (including framed print, basket, artificial plants etc)	$10
Total:	$410

It just goes to show you don’t need to spend thousands to achieve a desired result. I got my new vanity, more storage in the bathroom and a fresh look with a few well thought out accessories.