Our small garden was a mess before but a DIY hack with wooden sleepers transformed
WITH two bank holidays and warmer weather this month, most of us have been getting into the garden.
One couple has revealed how they totally transformed their space with a simple item they used in a surprising way.
When it comes to renovating your home, the costs can quickly add up and some areas don’t get the attention they deserve.
Like many couples, Joe and his wife were on a tight budget as they tried to balance a new mortgage, a wedding and an extensive renovation.
Better known as @a_watt on TikTok, the newlyweds decided to use the app to document their changing home and share some of the budget-friendly DIYs they used.
Just as with the rest of the house, they undertook the majority of the work themselves and spent several days in sunshine tackling their garden.
As with many older homes, the garden had become overgrown with shrubs, ivy that climbed the leaning fences and the space had become a dumping ground for odd plant pots.
Even the lawn needed some TLC, as it was patchy and rocky in places.
After clearing the space of plant debris and replacing the fences, the content creators were more determined than ever to create an idyllic space.
Dreaming of a fire pit and raised flowerbed, the newlyweds decided to save money and used thick wood sleepers to help realise their design.
On the left -hand side of their garden, they trimmed the wood to create a box that spanned almost the entire of length of the garden – perfect for adding plants to later.
They also added a small raised flowerbed at the back of the garden, which would be ideal for shrubs and would provide a pop of colour for their fire pit.
They then got extra creative and used extra wooden sleepers to create benches in the garden, instead of splashing out on expensive garden furniture.
Even better, each bench only required two sleepers and a few nails to make them.
Not only would they make three benches, but the robust seating took pride of place around their fire pit – perfect for when loved ones come round.
While it might not be a conventional approach, the couple could have saved themselves a small fortune with the simple seating – 2.4 meter sleepers start from as little as £19.99 at Selco.
Alternatively, you can often find wooden pallets for free on Facebook Marketplace and other apps, to make into DIYs.
This DIY is an absolute must, as some garden furniture can cost hundreds of pounds.
These savvy swaps also help the couple stretch their budget for finishing the garden, with extra turf, gravel and paving stones being laid.
With their impressive transformation complete, the influencers could sit back and enjoy their outdoor space.
We wonder if they’d be willing to make over ours?
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Garden design expert Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote.co.uk has created a guide on how to make your small garden look larger.
Add shelves – for additional storage and place to hold more plants.
Use foldaway furniture – to take up less space when not in use.
Add privacy – with fencing, trellis, brick walls or hedging.
Add a water feature – to make your garden seem like a natural retreat.
Go bright – when choosing plants, opt for bold colours to make the space pop.
Use large planters – to get more plants in less space.
Plant vertically – add plants upwards to make your garden seem fuller, and therefore, bigger.
Use blue flowers at the edges – blue flowers and plants recede into the distance and make the garden appear bigger.
Grow tall plants – it’s better to think big when it comes to a small garden.
Keep clutter a minimum – as it can give the illusion of less space than there actually is.