DIY Mum Transforms Her Patio Into Chic Boho Space For Just £116
- Nicola French, 38, used lockdown to transform her patio
- Inspired by Moroccan design, she stencilled the area by hand
- The entire project cost Nicola just £116 and it looks fantastic
The lockdown has meant many of us have spent more time than ever in our gardens.
And it’s prompted a wave of amazing DIY projects, with people overhauling their patios on a budget - like this savvy mum.
Nicola French, 38, a mum-of-two and midday meal supervisor at a special needs school, decided to use the lockdown to transform her home.
She created a stunning, boho-style patio all by hand - and the entire transformation cost her just £116.
Nicola, who lives in London, told LatestDeals.co.uk: "I wanted to create a relaxing outdoor space.
"I've always been into the boho and Moroccan style so I thought I would try and combine the two.
"I used a stencil and stencil brush and got on with it!
“The first thing I did was jet wash the patio, removing any dirt and letting it dry.
“Then by hand, using a large paintbrush and the white masonry paint, I painted the patio tiles, waited for that to dry, applied a second coat then placed the stencil at my starting place.
“It’s important to tape the stencil using masking tape to hold it in place - I chose the corner in the alleyway as my starting base.
“Taking a little of the black masonry paint, a piece of cardboard to remove any excess paint from the stencil brush and a stencil brush in a stabbing motion, I applied the paint to the stencil and filled in the pattern, then removed the stencil.
“I matched up the pattern from my stencil onto the next tile and repeated the process.
“Remember that your stencil brush needs to be touch dry to avoid paint bleed.
“Once completed, and when the patio is dry, apply a clear paint sealant using a paint brush to seam the paint and protect it from wear and tear.
"I ordered all the materials online, as due to our circumstances we couldn’t go out at all because of my son's condition.
“The paint brand is Sandtex, but you can use any masonry paint, and was £46 for both black and white paint from B&Q.
“The stencil was £37 from Dizzy Duck Designs, the stencil brush was £3.50 from Amazon and the patio sealer was £30 from ebay.
“I had the outdoor furniture from Next, cushions from Etsy, buddhas from Wayfair and table lamp from ebay already as I have been building up the collection over time.
“For a brand new patio it worked out at £116 - way more affordable than new tiles.”
Nicola is delighted with her patio’s stunning transformation - and despite the challenges of the project, thoroughly enjoyed the process.
"As a family we do have some challenges,” Nicola added. “My son has severe autism. I also have a daughter and I’m a single parent, so the garden really has helped provide a lovely space we can all enjoy.
"This was a project I took on solely, and to be honest, it helped me stay sane during lockdown, just having something to work on and make beautiful in a time of uncertainty.
"I’ve really enjoyed every moment. Yes, it was backbreaking work but it was so worth it. The kids and I love it!
"Anybody could create something like this too - you don’t have to be DIY- minded! Just brave.”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “With so much extra time at home, and stunning weather for months on end, this is the summer for patio transformations!
“Nicola’s patio looks like it walked straight off the pages of an interior magazine - it’s amazing to think it cost her just £116.
“There are loads of online tutorials on YouTube and Instagram for copying this kind of look - as Nicola says, you don’t need to be a pro at DIY, just brave and to take the time to give it a go."
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It's a bit misleading saying it only cost £116 when there is a thousand pound spent on all the other stuff.
It's a bit like saying my car only cost me £30 as I needed to buy some windscreen wipers, I already had the car from before.
Well I think the article was meant to highlight the patio itself and show anyone they can do it obviously the other things add to it but even if the other bits wasn’t there, and you had 2 old chairs, and a couple of potted plants you bought for £3 .. you could still make it a nice space xx 
