B&Q unloved rooms revamp - review thread for MNers getting stuck in! NOW CLOSED

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

This thread is for the 20 MNers who have been chosen by B&Q to revamp an unloved room in their home.

Those selected have been sent a B&Q giftcard to buy the things they need to give their unloved room a makeover. They've undertaken to complete the makeover by 3rd June, and will be keeping us up-to-date on how their revamps are going on this thread as well as posting photos.

Please do follow their stories and add your own comments if you want to show some support!

Below are the questions we'd like testers to answer but please feel free to add your own comments too. Please give us a bit of info about the room you're revamping and what you plan to do with it in your response.

• Why is your unloved room unloved? What do you want to change about it? What has stopped you until now?
• Where did you get your inspiration for doing up the room from? What sort of style are you going for etc?
• Have you had much help along the way with the revamp? If so, who from? And what sort of help - practical or ideas-based?!
• How did you find your shopping experience at B&Q? Were the staff helpful? Did you find anything in store you maybe didn't expect to beforehand?
• Did you use any of the help and advice that B&Q offer? This includes their videos on YouTube, leaflets and classes in store etc. If so, how useful was that help and advice?
• If B&Q could do anything more to help you next time you visit, what would it be?
• Have you had any feedback on what you've done with the room from family/friends? Has the transformation had a big impact on you and/or your family?

If you're not an official tester but would like to be in with a chance of winning a £200 B&Q giftcard, please post on this thread to tell us about your own room revamp successes (or failures!) - we'd love to hear from all MNers who have a room makeover story to share!

Thanks very much
MNHQ

Our most successful room revamp was our bathroom. Our house is a new build and most rooms still have cheapo builder's magnolia (daubed on messily if you look closely) which is so poor quality that when DS gets something on the walls and I wipe them, the paint just comes off and we're left with a plaster streak!

We are not particularly seasoned DIY'ers, and so DIY lessons at B&Q sound like a fab idea, so we got my uncle to tile the floor in the bathroom (replacing horrible plastic cream/grey tiles which were just like you'd get in a portacabin). We went for a very dark grey tile, and then turquoise bathroom paint (both from B&Q). Even though it's a couple of years since we did it, I still think it looks so much better than before, and the tiles aren't as cold as I first thought they might be.

So inspired by all the makeovers on this thread - they look great!

Lovely colours, chippy. I don't normally go for floral paper, but that's really cheerful and the pattern isn't so regular that I'd wake up in the morning and see dogs or faces in it! :o

Ours is done! Fingers crossed the boys will sleep past 5am with the blackout curtains back up - the blackout blind alone just isn't enough! Hopefully, the nasty heat rashes they've had today will clear off in the morning and I'll get them both to school so i can stage the room a little and take some photos - at least for a half day until they trash it again and WibbleBoy has to take the odd shelf bracket back to change it (there's a massive B&Q around the corner from where he works)!

I also need to brush my hair, put on some clothes without holes in and paint on them and do my final face to camera video . I must remember to make the hair appointment I scrapped when I found out I was in on this! Hopefully the boys will cooperate for the video of them using the room (they usually only get to sleep in it!) when they get in from school and DS2 won't try to steal my iPad before my 90 seconds are through! (I did contemplate just sneaking up there and videoing them asleep, tonight :o)

Hi guys. Aiming to catch up on the thread in the morning (been away part of the weekend) but have just finished the second coat on the walls. It's still drying obviously so I'll attach a photo in the morning but attached is a photo of the first coat. I'm totally in love with the colour .

I had my decorating class on Thursday - I hope B&Q read this thread so they can know what a credit to them their two guys at the YCDI section of their Cribbs Causeway store are. My tutor was Stu, and both him and his colleague Aaron put me totally at ease. I was the only student there so Stu went through everything I wanted to know with me from filling to glossing doors and doing edges (which I was really nervous about beforehand).

Stu was totally honest about all the products B&Q stock and took me round the store showing me every.hing. He showed me the Valspar paint section and the little booth that shows how different colour paints look under different light which was so useful. I decided then and there not to use the Dulux paint I bought and instead picked up the Valspar green called Dried Coriander Seed. He also persuaded me to try using paint rollers instead of pads - I've used them and he was right about how much easier it is if you know what you're doing! Stu also showed me other products, helped me pick out my first drill - I ended up spending £190 of the voucher that day . It's amazing how quickly £300 goes!

Anyway, I'm definitely going to go back and do other classes, feeling totally inspired! I'm putting together an itinery of how I spent my £300 which I'll to post tomorrow.

Unfortunately I havn't done the glossing yet as I've booked a sander to do the floors myself next week (eek) so I'll have to do the glossing afterwards. Then I need a new computer desk and dining table (sadly none of the B&Q ones suit) and I've ordered a big canvas painting online to go above the fireplace to suit the new walls.

I can't wait to finally start using the dining room as a place to eat and socialise as a family after nearly 5 years of using it as my hoarding area, and I'm so grateful to both Mumsnet & B&Q for giving me the chance to flex my DIY wings. I'm planning more projects in my head as we speak!

I hope the rest of you have enjoyed it as much as I have

Hi everybody, I have got the answers to the questions here, but the photos will have to wait until tomorrow because I can't post them from this iPad. I have emailed them to my work email address and I will post them from work at lunch time.

- Why is your unloved room unloved?

I moved out of the family home and into rented accomodation for a trial separation. I picked the flat based on location, and felt that as this was a potentially quite short term move, i would not change any of the decor, which is well done, but not the colours i would chose to live with. I felt that my bedroom was the least loved roomin the house, as it was previously a nursery, and north facing and grey.

What do you want to change about it?

I want to move away from an unwelcoming dull grey with teddies, to a cheerful room where i can read and relax before going to sleep early.

What has stopped you until now?

I possessed a single screwdriver in the way of tools. Therefore my strategy has been to invest in some good quality tools so that I can do this project using some materials and papers that I already have. A drill, bits, wallpaper stripper, cable extension, staple gun, tape measure, hammer, and so on have taken up most of the budget, along with paint, roller, tray, brush, tape, dust sheet, scraper, filler and paste. I was fortunate already to have a step ladder.

I hoped it would be a short term trial separation, but it looks like I might be staying in this flat longer term now.

Where did you get your inspiration for doing up the room from?

I have an artist friend who does silkscreen printing. Within the limits the landlord has set regarding colours, the look comes from her designs.

What sort of style are you going for etc?

Like I said, the landlord has set limits on colours, so I was not able to use any of the whacky wallpaper I would have chosen, or used my choice of paint colour, so I have gone for bold patterned details, and practical, useful lighting.

- Have you had much help along the way with the revamp?

I have talked it over with a few artistic people, but i have done all the work myself.

- How did you find your shopping experience at B&Q? Were the staff helpful? Did you find anything in store you maybe didn't expect to beforehand?

More expensive than I had realized. £300 is a lot to me, but by the time I had bought some lamps, value paint and tools, I have not much budget left. I normally use our local independent DIY shop where you can buy the rawlplugs you need for 5 or 10p each, instead of a bag of 50 for £4.00.

The staff were very helpful, and gave good advice about tools and paint.

I think b&q 'sort of' do soft furnishings. Ie the range is not that wide or comprehensive. I would go elsewhere to buy soft furnishings really. However for paint colours, tools and lighting it was good.

I can borrow my dp car sometimes to get to band q, but otherwise it would be a total nightmare to get there on public transport, and although I know I am getting free stuff, my personal budget is too tight to use a taxi.

- Did you use any of the help and advice that B&Q offer? This includes their videos on YouTube, leaflets and classes in store etc. If so, how useful was that help and advice?

Not really. The videos were mostly about 'looks' which was not the practical advice about shelving that I was looking for.

- If B&Q could do anything more to help you next time you visit, what would it be?
Not sure.

- Have you had any feedback on what you've done with the room from family/friends?

Yes, they are impressed with the details, I am pleased to say, and they are also amazed that I have had the energy to do it, given that I have had some extra work on the last 2 weeks, so effectively working full time, and had a long weekend booked to take the kids away for the bank holiday weekend.

Has the transformation had a big impact on you and/or your family?

It has really helped me to start feeling that this is my home. I have proved to myself that i can get loads done in the evening if i plan it. The kids have started thinking about curtains and 'interior design' which is not something I have talked to them about much before as I usually just use what comes to hand, so overall, yes, it has had a big impact on my life... Far more than I thought it would!

green accessories to match green walls (mirror and photo frame)

finished room (pic 1)

finished room (pic 2)

finished room (pic 3)

posted pictures above of the bedroom now its finished. did 2 lime green walls and 2 magnolia walls. the paint was great, and dried very quickly which was good. had a new lampshade, where we didnt have 1 before. new lined, grey curtains, to replace the unlined, brown ones we had before. green accessories on the wall to match the paint; mirror and photo frame. green and grey cushions and a green throw for the bed, as they no longer did duvet covers at b&q. a very positive and easy experience overall. good experience with b&q, friendly staff, lots of variety, apart from being disappointed with the choice of lined curtains, as there wasnt a lot. also, witht the money i thought it would have got us more things, but the items were more expensive than i thought. the revamp has inspired me to do other rooms in the house, as we've not done a lot of decorating, showed me how it doesnt take a great deal to change the room, make it more modern and nice. now we've had the revamp, the room isnt plain and boring, its brighter, modern, and I will definately spend more time in there, as opposed to just sleeping in there.

Things I have learnt this weekend

1. I hate glossing
2. I will always hate glossing
3. fresly glossed brilliant white doors look beautiful
4. do not paint when tired. You will miss bits
5. Valspar paint is really nice
6. 2 paint trays and 2 sets if rollers will save time and effort (bitter)
7. wear gloves when painting
8. I am the worlds messiest painter and still have gloss in places I can't even reach
9. I hate glossing

Geordieminx I hate glossing too!

Geordieminx, we hate glossing too which is part of the reason for using satinwood which seems a lot easier to use! However, as detailed upthread we've decided that DS's wardrobe doors will look better white (just to reflect the light back into his room (which is not a very bright room particularly in the Winter) so we haven't entirely avoided it .

Yes, DW has finally got round to deciding that wearing rubber or latex gloves is the way to go when painting.....

Agree entirely on the two trays issue too...... DW wanted to buy two and I said one would be enough but actually two would have been better if only so that we both could have been painting in different parts of the room...

So have many of you are now basking in your glory - we still have at least half a days' work to do if not more ;-(! HELP!

We've finished (as I said up thread) and hit 'complete' in field notes) so this question is not relevant to us but may help those who are struggling to meet today's deadline (gazzalw I'm talking to you!)

In the field notes app, the deadline seems to say 7 June at 4pm...

Bit of a panic as, once I put the rug down, I realised that there were bits of (unsanded, unvarnished) floor visible, so I have just done a quick sanding and initial coat of varnish and will put a second coat on later today. I will mean I might not meet the deadline of today but hopefully I can upload my final video before midnight and satisfy the "rules" :)

Good work, everyone. Loving the transformed rooms!

Re my previous post, it could be that the 7 June is a deadline for 'feedback'? I have hit 'complete task' and it is now saying 'awaiting feedback' so it could be that. But might be worth double checking, time pushed folks!

I noticed that the deadline had moved again. Still, I need a break from painting because my neck is a wreck, now (I'm not going back to un-oranging the panelling up my stairs until next week!) and need to move from Changing Rooms to How Clean Is Your House? Because housework has been rather neglected over the past couple of weeks. I've kept up with laundry, but now need to get it all put away!

MNHQ, is this true that the deadline has been extended or is this just for completing the feedback tasks via that 'tool' we were sent??? Please could you let us know.....

Thanks, IceNoSlice, for the tip off! Although some bits are coming on quite nicely ...

Since we've finished, time for some piccies!

Just a reminder of the before and the state it was in. This was the window surround.

And this is the window after. MDF, plaster, paint, a capable wibbleboy and a brand new shiny curtain pole - not form B&Q but a bargain we picked up for £8 in a sale, earlier in the year, when the old wooden curtain pole came loose on one side.

The scruffy bed area where DS1 had steadily removed most of the wallpaper over the years now has clean, flat, hopefully pick free walls. We couldn't resist this picture, which was about £6 in B&S, just to, you know, er, brighten the room up a bit!

Er, B&Q. No autocorrect on my laptop.

Anyhow, this corner has new shelving. I've ordered some book ends so DS1 can organise his books how he likes. The bottom shelf is also a lot lower than the old shelves, so he doesn't have to climb to reach everything.

The lego storage boxes were a given. He's been wanting some for ages!

DS2 was somewhat confused when he went up to bed to find his bed back in its old position, last night (we'd had to move it around so we could paint - there was no possibility of moving the boys out of the room, since we only have the two bedrooms).

Even though it's been a hard physical slog, it's definitely been worth it, as I'm no longer ashamed to open the curtains for fear that someone sees into the room from outside - we're not even overlooked at the back, but the messy walls were visible from the street. Hopefully, this is now one less thing for DS1 to completely twist my ears about!

If there's one thing that B&Q could have done to make our experience better, it's have more staff on in an evening. I felt so sorry for that poor lad having to deal with 3 self service tills at once, all of which had people with a lot of shopping at them.

Before picture of children's room. You can see where the children started stripping wallpaper off the walls !

Before picture.

Before picture.