My DIY windowsill hack instantly added character to my boring new-build & saved me £440 – everyone says it looks amazing
A DIY-LOVING mum has been praised for her purse-friendly windowsill makeover which only called for a lick of paint.
New build homes always lack character – they are usually white, modern boxes.
One mum, Lauren Rose recently moved into a new-build and described her windowsills as “boring”.
Instead of replacing the wood for a chic oak, Lauren wanted to try and replicate it but on a budget.
First she wiped down the windowsill, then prepped the area with masking tape to prevent the paint from dripping or transferring to the walls.
Then she took a small paint brush and dipped it into Frenchic’s Crème de la Crème Lazy Range – a chalk and mineral paint, and applied a base coat.
This particular paint is priced at £10.25 for 250ml tin, or £21.95 for 750ml tin.
Then, using another paintbrush, Lauren went in with the second product, a Browning Wax by the same brand.
Priced at a budget-friendly £17.95, this little bargain pot is perfect for for sealing paint and adding a rusting wooden effects.
In the video, which has been viewed nearly 300,000 times, the UK-based mum-of-one could be seen going over the surface with a small brush several times to achieve the perfect decorative result and a realistic wooden feel.
To make the faux wood appear even more natural, Lauren also twisted the brush in a circular motion throughout the revamped windowsills, creating ”wood knots”.
When the paint was finally dry to touch, the DIY super fan removed the yellow tape around the windowsill and revealed the jaw-dropping results.
The mum, who regularly shares parenting-related content on her page, was so chuffed with how it had turned out, she said she was ”obsessed”.
”Brb [be right back[, off to do this everywhere in my house.”
She went on the comments, writing: ”It really is a trust the process kinda job but sooo worth the end result.”
Wooden oak windowsills can cost anywhere from £35 to £45 per plank.
If Lauren was to replace all the windowsills in her house with new oak beams, it could cost her £350-£450 if she had 10 windows.
So Lauren has saved herself a fortune by DIY-ing it.
The savvy mum, whose video has impressed many, added that for high traffic areas you will need to seal with a matt varnish to ensure the paint doesn’t wear away.
Replying to someone who said she could’ve opted for an easier option, the parent wrote: ”If I wanted to vinyl wrap I would have, for me personally it doesn’t look as good as it has a sheen and it’s much more difficult to do. This was fun, vinyl is stress.”
Four cheap home renovation tricks
YOU don't have to spend loads to give a room a new look. Here are five other home renovation tricks you can try.
Kitchen cupboards
One way to give your kitchen a complete transformation for less is to change the look of the kitchen cupboards. There are loads of different vinyl coverings out there to choose from, and it’s a quick and easy way to update your home.
Handles
Another thing you can try that won’t break the bank is to change up the handles. You can pick up relatively cheap handles in DIY stores, or even in the charity shop. Adding new ones to your kitchen cupboards, or doors in your house, can be extremely effective.
Leftovers
Most of us have old half-used tins of paint in the garage, but they’re often forgotten about. However, there may be enough in the pot to paint a feature wall in another room, and you won’t have to spend a penny.
Freebies
It’s worth checking your local Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle, to see what other people are getting rid of. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. And if someone’s planning to revamp a room, they might want to get rid of a sofa, or a coffee table, which you could use to give a lounge a new look.
Hundreds flocked to comments to share their thoughts, as many praised Lauren for the fabulous glow-up.
One mega fan of the transformation confessed: ”OK…I wasn’t trusting the process but omg.”
Someone else said: ”Love that! We wrapped ours, I prefer yours though, ours has a slight shine that irritates my soul. So I might have to try this.”
”That looks beautiful and I am a die hard all white house kind of gal!” a third added.
”I did this to my banisters and a couple of my upstairs doors, I love the cottage look,” a fellow TikTok user commented.
Someone else wrote: “Il be honest I was like why is she ruining them , then I saw the end…Amazing!! I’ll hush now.”
Another comment read: “Impressive. Wasn’t sure at first but wow. Looks really classy when finished and everything put together.”
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