Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Harrison Moore & Steven Smith

Mum transforms kitchen for £200 while studying law and looking after kids

A mum transformed her entire kitchen for £200 after getting stuff for free off Facebook and learning DIY tips from YouTube. Nikki Coles 37, started the project in lockdown and has been chipping away, job by job, in-between studying law and looking after her two children.

She has retiled the floor, re-covered the work tops, repainted the cupboards, painted the walls and fitted new wall tiles. The soon-to be-graduate, who is also a self-employed childminder, completed all the work herself after watching countless DIY YouTube videos.

Not only did Nikki not employ any help, she also completed her entire kitchen makeover for just £200. She got stuff for free from Facebook, shopped in furniture charity shops and bought from cheap retailers like Poundland.

Nikki from Colchester, Essex, said: "The kitchen refurb cost around £200 and the tiles themselves were actually a bargain find from Poundland. The worktops are done in an oak finish, which I purchased online and all the little pretty bits are just bits I brought in that reflect my style.

"It kind of started with a little bit of tweaking here and there and then I really got the bug - I’ve managed to transform my whole home on a tight budget. Working as a childminder and studying for my law degree as well as being a busy mum doesn’t leave much time for interior design - but over time I've managed."

Nikki's kitchen before the revamp (Nikki Coles/SWNS)
Nikki's kitchen after the transformation (Nikki Coles/SWNS)

Nikki says she has just one more bathroom to redecorate before she has transformed her entire home.

"My son was like 'oh my God Mum you need to start a TikTok' but I'm not to sure about that just yet!," she said. It just goes to show what you can do even as a busy mum on a budget - and If I can inspire other mums in any way shape or form then I'm happy."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.