A woman who decided to cover her entire home in leopard print has surprisingly added £90,000 to its value.
Content creator Lois Connors from Oldham, Manchester, loves leopard print and after being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, decided to redecorate her home.
The 39-year-old says that due to her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder she finds herself drawn to busy patterns and textures.
And she says she has found decorating an helpful way of accepting and handling her ADHD with the disorder heavily influencing her decisions.
She bought her three-bedroom terrace house in 2021.
Now her home is valued at £400k, Lois adding £90k value to her home through her renovations.
Lois has always leaned towards maximalism, never saying no to anything.
Alongside her eccentric patterns, she loves to incorporate period furniture and Victorian-era restorations.
In total, Lois thinks she has spent £12,420 on everything, saving money by using second-hand items and gifts.
Lois’s pride and joy is Priscilla, her giant ceramic leopard statue that guards her home.
Lois knows her style is not for everyone, having received many comments of the years on her unconventional designs. She has been called “colour-blind”, “tacky”, “too feminine” and “offensive”.
Despite this, the negative opinions have never bothered her, Lois building a large following of fellow maximalists and vintage lovers.
She said: “My style has always leaned towards vintage and maximalism.
“I am by nature a collector and don’t say no to anything anyone is giving away.
“My home is filled with second-hand, family hand-me-downs and eclectic items.
“I am a ‘more is more’ decor lover and have never been afraid of colour and pattern.
“I have ADHD so am naturally drawn to busy and interesting patterns and textures I think this is where my love of leopard print comes from. And it’s very handy that it goes with everything in my opinion.
“I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult two years ago and this has definitely helped me to accept who I am and stop trying to fit in.
“This definitely influences my design choices as my brain seeks dopamine.
“So busy wallpapers, quirky home decor items, textured furnishings and colour clashes really appeal to me.
“I have always admired beautiful intricate wallpapers and bold patterns and particularly in a house like mine from the Victorian era it feels so natural to incorporate bold patterns and prints - the ceilings and wall spaces are so large it suits the style perfectly.
“I love to balance out my unconventional choices with the restoration of beautiful period features such as fireplaces and woodwork.
“I’m obsessed with wallpaper - I love how transformative it is and I would say it’s what I love the most about the biggest projects we have taken on such as the bedroom makeover.”
“I have a giant XL ceramic leopard statue and a baby one both from a small business called @selekt on instagram.
“The giant leopard was handmade in Italy and is my pride and joy. She’s called Priscilla,"
She added: “Occasionally people are compelled to share their negative opinions and I have had lots of comments in the past questioning my choices.
“I’ve been called colour blind, tacky, too feminine, offensive - but it doesn’t bother me at all everyone is entitled to their opinion especially when you post on social media.
“If you are not ruffling a few feathers, you aren’t doing it right.”
