DIY Couple Create Stunning Garden For £200 From Scaffolding Boards, Saving £1800
- Emma Hartgrove-Tubby, 36, and Steve Hartgrove-Tubby, 38, wanted to transform their garden on a budget
- They used old scaffolding boards to build a U-shaped outdoor sofa, decking and coffee table
- The couple added the finishing touches to the area with paint and accessories from Home Bargains, B&M and Amazon
Now that the weather is finally looking up, many of us will be planning to breathe fresh life into our gardens.
But one garden transformation on a budget really caught our eye.
Emma Hartgrove-Tubby, 36, a beauty therapist, and Steve Hartgrove-Tubby, 38, a scaffolder, wanted to transform their garden space without spending a fortune.
The couple, who have two children together and live in Harleston, was given old scaffolding boards and used them to build a U-shaped outdoor sofa, decking and coffee table.
They then added the finishing touches to the area with paint and accessories from Home Bargains, B&M and Amazon.
Emma told money-saving Facebook group DIY On A Budget UK: "My hubby Steve and I have been saving desperately to buy our own house in the next couple of years which is extremely tough as the property market is through the roof.
“In order to save we are on a very tight budget, saving every spare penny we have.
“We are lucky our landlords are very good to us and let us do what we would like to make a house a home.
“Because we look after it well they keep the rent low for us, but I’m also very aware this is not our own home so we don’t want to spend silly amounts when we could be saving.
"Because we are on a tight budget it means we are entertaining more at home, especially through the summer months.
"I said to my husband I’d love a U-shaped sofa.
“These were about £2,000 which I did not want to dip into the savings for, so I suggested he built one out of scaffolding boards.
“He was surprisingly up for the challenge!
"I had an image in mind and searched the internet for what I liked and what I didn’t.
"I gave him some pics of what I liked and in two days he had put it together.
“My hubby is a hard worker and he works all hours so we can save what we can and to have the lovely things we do have.
“His boss was kind enough to give him the scaffolding boards for free and my hubby got him a crate of beer to say thank you.
“We bought some wood for £20 and built a frame, so we had something to attach the boards to and take the weight.
"The decking he built out of pallets about eight years ago had rotted so I pulled it up and hubby built the new one.
"He built the frame, the decking and the coffee table, and I did the rest.
“I wanted a boho style for a relaxing feel and for when I have friends over and parties in the summer.
“The rug was B&M for £10, the fire pit was £25 off Amazon, the mirrors are from Home Bargains for £3.99 each, and all the plants you see my dad mainly gives to me from his garden.
“The big white planters in front of the shed were orange and from a Facebook site. I bought them for £10 each and painted them.
"We both have very busy lives with our children, my daughter does dance and my son plays for Harleston youth football club and he’s also in Norwich City elite football, and he’s recently started boxing.
"I work part-time as a beauty therapist and I like to train in the gym weightlifting five times a week and my hubby is a member of the golf club, so when we are all together as a family our time is so precious together.
“We now have a lovely area we can relax together. I’m so happy it’s made our little garden perfect!
“When we move I want to take it with us too.
“In total, it cost about £200 with the paint, cushions, fire pit and accessories.
“You can do anything when you put your mind to it.
"We are absolutely made up that we have saved approximately £1,800.
“It means we are one step closer to getting our forever home as the money we have saved has gone into the house fund.
“We are excited to be hosting our first party at the weekend!”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “Buying new garden furniture can be seriously pricey, costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
“Hats off to Emma and Steve for finding an amazingly affordable way to get the garden of their dreams - it looks truly wonderful!"
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