When Zoe was still little, I decided to carve out a cozy corner for her in our bedroom. At first, it was very simple – plain white walls with a pink-and-brown trim along the bottom. But I felt the space needed something more, something feminine and special.
And you know what? I decided to tackle it in the cheapest and most creative way possible – using paint I already had at home.
Step One: Stripes on the Wall
On one wall, I placed a tiny play kitchen that I actually found on Facebook Marketplace for… £10! Of course, I couldn’t leave it as it was, so I repainted it to match the room’s decor. To make the wall more interesting, I came up with the idea of creating a striped wainscoting effect. Sounds complicated? Actually, all it took was painter’s tape and a bit of patience. Each strip of tape marked the space between the painted lines. The end result looks just like wallpaper – but it’s all paint!






Step Two: Waves Traced from… a Bowl
On the second wall, I wanted something more original. I found inspiration online for a wavy wall design, but there were no stencils anywhere. I thought, “Why not try it myself?”
So, I grabbed a kitchen bowl, traced half-circles on the wall, and painted them with a brush. The result? Simple, yet striking – the wall looks like a trendy decorative finish, and the cost? Absolutely nothing!


The Final Result
With just a few simple tricks, I created a cozy, feminine little corner for Zoe. All done on a very small budget, but the joy and satisfaction were priceless.
Looking back at the photos, I can’t help but smile – the room doesn’t even look the same now. It’s already gone through several more makeovers (because, you know me – I can’t leave a space looking the same for long). I love decorating and styling, so changes are just part of our home.
But this first transformation is really special – because it’s where it all began.


What About You?
Have you ever redecorated a space on a budget?
Have you ever painted walls yourself, without a stencil or professional help?
Or maybe you have your own tricks for quick and cheap makeovers?
I hope this story inspires you to try small makeovers in your own home, even if you’re on a tight budget. Sometimes all it takes is a few simple tricks, a bit of patience, and a little creativity to completely transform a space.