Yasmin Fatollahy, an interior designer from Gateshead, has given her small patio garden a complete refresh for just £200.
Her aim was to create a serene outdoor place for her and her dachshund Cyrus to enjoy, without breaking the bank. Here, Yasmin – who documents her home transformations on Instagram, @homeatheathfield – shares some of the cost-effective ways she was able to transform and upcycle her items and space.
When undertaking such a project, 'don't be scared to get your hands dirty,' Yasmin tells Bloom & Wild. 'You will have a real sense of achievement if you complete the work yourself.'
Yasmin created the illusion of a larger space by using a base layer of light stones over the whole area. She then added personality using furniture, accessories and plenty of plants and flowers.
'Buying flowers that give off a scent throughout their blooming period is an added bonus to the enjoyment of sitting outdoors,' she says.
Yasmin upcycled plant pots by repainting them with leftover paint from previous projects. One of her neighbours gave her a large wooden planter to reuse, too. 'One of the better things to come out of national lockdown was making strong relations with neighbours and having a sense of community,' she says.
Even though Yasmin didn’t have a set budget for the project, the transformation cost her approximately £200. £103.80 was spent on a bag of Cotswold Stone chippings and £45 on IKEA furniture. The remainder was put towards plants and flowers.
'I spent around £70 on plants and flowers as I wanted a sense of having a garden where wildlife and insects could have a place to visit. I have so many bees come to visit, and I’ve had a lot of sparrows coming to eat the seeds from my birdhouse,' Yasmin explains.
On the lookout for some inspiration? Take a look at the before and after images below...
BEFORE
AFTER
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