Mum Of 2 Saves £100s With FREE Mrs Hinch-Style Wardrobe Makeover
- Tes, 48, wanted to turn her disorganised wardrobe into a super-tidy haven
- She completed a Mrs Hinch-style makeover for FREE - and even ended the job in profit
- The space was designed to be ‘simple and functional’ with a ‘fun pop of colour’
- She cut out 200 hexagons by hand for the wall design from an existing paper stash
We all get into bad habits around the house, and a common one is throwing clothes, shoes and anything else we don’t know what to do with into our wardrobes. Eventually, though, they become a disorganised mess that feels impossible to fix - and you can never find the top you want when you need it!
One mum of two decided to take control of her wardrobe situation and transform the space on a budget. Tes Boberg, a 48 year old civil servant from Dover, Kent, told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I got fed up of trying to cram half my stuff in a wardrobe where there was no design to it. The space was utterly useless for my needs, so I spent two days on a DIY project cutting, building and sorting with a fixed vision in mind. Before, my wardrobe had comprised a clothes rail with barely any clothes on it, storage boxes crammed in underneath and a chest of drawers which weren’t making good use of the space, so it had to change.
‘I looked at the area I had and what storage I needed based on how I used the wardrobe already and what did and didn't work for me. From there I decided how I wanted to use it. I like simple and functional furniture so the layout was purely practical but I do love patchwork and colour so creating a fun pop of colour in a space rarely seen appealed to me. I could do whatever I wanted with colour in there no matter what my bedroom is decorated like as it can't clash if the doors are closed most of the time!
‘What’s more, the whole project was free. My parents were renovating their home and so their fitted wardrobes were taken out and they donated the largest panels to me so I could reuse them. Everything else I used was things I already had. In fact, I found £7 in change while I was emptying my wardrobe so technically I'm in profit!
‘The first step is always to create a brief outline of what I want to achieve. Then I measure and draw up a design. Once I have that I can create a cut list for all the pieces I will need and get cutting. I usually leave the pieces a little large so I can make any adjustments during the build. Once the building work was done I sat down and cut out 200 hexagons by hand using a homemade template from my existing paper stash.
‘My biggest challenge was dealing with wonky walls. But during this build, I dealt with heat, menopause and needing to take regular breaks as I'm tired a lot. I was happy to keep occupied as it was just before my third operation for cancer so it was a welcome distraction. Getting out of my own head was a challenge for me.
‘I wouldn't change anything as I always learn with every project I do - regardless of whether it’s successful or not. The trick is to not be afraid to fail miserably. We all get things wrong but we also learn from those mistakes. DIY is no different.’
Tes created nine dedicated sections for her new, super-organised walk-in wardrobe. The biggest slot on the left was built with a rail so she could hang up her clothes, with space underneath for additional folded items.
Underneath, Tes created a space wide enough for storage boxes, and at the bottom she created a three-tiered shoe rack for the pairs she wears the most. Next to it she built a space for more storage boxes, designed for overflow shoes and other miscellaneous items.
To the right of the clothes rack, Tes built in three dedicated shelves for clothes - organising them into categories such as t-shirts, trousers and pyjamas. Along the top of the new space was additional storage room for further boxes, making it easy to find everything.
‘The style of my wardrobe design is all me. Good design makes you feel good and so when I open my wardrobe that sight makes me smile. That's what makes a good design for me. My mum always encouraged me to be creative in any way I could as a child and taught me to sew, knit, crochet, draw, and look at things differently to most people. That stuck with me. So now I create what makes me feel good and that, in turn, creates a happy environment for me to live in.’
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Wow, Tes has completely transformed her walk-in wardrobe and created a space which anyone would love! It reminds me of Mrs Hinch and her super-organised fridge, cupboards and drawers - but Tes has taken it to the next level by doing it without spending a penny.
‘What’s more, I’ve seen bespoke walk-in wardrobes priced at £100s, especially if you’re getting it fitted to an awkward area or wonky walls as Tes has described she has. It just goes to show what you can do if you put your creativity to work.’
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