DIY mum creates stunning panelled wall for just £46 – saving her £100s

Tanya O’Kane spent just £46 on creating an on-trend slatted wall in her hallway and will use the money she saved to go on holiday with her family for the first time since Covid

A mum who didn’t want to spend hundreds of pounds doing up her hallway has explained how she transformed the space on a budget.

Tanya O’Kane, 47, a mum-of-three and visual merchandiser from Derry City, spent just £46 on creating an on-trend slatted wall to her home.

To keep costs down, she stocked up on supplies from DIY retailer B&Q and did it herself.

Tanya estimates getting her hallway done professionally would’ve cost hundreds of pounds.

She was inspired to do up her wallpaper after seeing stylish designs online on Instagram and is thrilled with how it has turned out.

She told money-saving Facebook group DIY On A Budget UK : “I came up with the idea of doing a slatted wall in my hallway, as I’ve seen a few businesses doing it and I liked it.

“It was super easy to do by myself as I love DIY and would give anything a go.

“I used softwood planed smooth timber strips from B&Q and No More Nails glue.”

Have you transformed your home on a budget and want to share how you did it? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Tanya started by gluing the slats on before letting them dry. After this, she was able to paint them.

“I cut the strips around the mirror to have the mirror sunk in as I only wanted it overlapping the mirror,” she said.

“I also used black paint below the slats to make the wood pop.

“My mitre saw and jigsaw made it easier. I had all the materials like the paint and saws at home so I only spent £46 on wood and glue, and saved a fortune doing it myself.”

Tanya bought the wood at B&Q at £18 per pack of eight and needed two packs in total for her project.

She said she wanted to save money as her family are planning on going on holiday this year for the first time since the Covid pandemic hit.

“I have an Instagram page @59bytheriver that I started up when I was off work with breast cancer,” she said.

“It gave me something to keep myself occupied. I love interiors so it gave me a little boost to keep going and busy.

“I definitely saved a lot doing this by myself as when you get someone out to do it, it would cost a few hundred pounds.”