I’m a money-savvy mum… I saved £470 when I made a kitchen island out of items in my garage – it’s identical to IKEA’s
A THRIFTY mum has revealed how she made an Ikea-style kitchen island from used scaffolding boards for just £200.
Kayleigh Sherbourne, 34, from Oxfordshire made a kitchen island in her garage for a fraction of major retailers’ prices.
The DIY move saved her a whopping £470 compared to a shop bought island typically fetch around £700.
In just six hours Kayleigh, a mum of two, made this attractive kitchen island from two IKEA units that were cleaned and sanded.
Five scaffolding boards which were cut to size, and glued and clamped together, before being sanded and stained.
She also used a piece of MDF and a piece of steel that she made strips from, panelled and made doors from.
Other tools included screws, runners and a mix of two paint colours, and some furniture wax to leave a quality finish on the island.
Kayleigh described how she first came up with the idea of making a DIY kitchen island.
“I got my inspiration from looking at Pinterest boards”, she said.
“With most of my builds they also come from my head too, I just think of a way to make something similar to what I’ve seen online and go from there.”
Kayleigh’s first project was a sandpit for her sons, George, 10, and Harry, 7, from pallet wood when the boys were three and six months old.
“My first project was for my son’s sandpit, it wasn’t very well made but it was my first real experience of doing a DIY project”, she said.
“Around 90 per cent of the furniture in my home is made by me as a DIY project.
“It started as a hobby, but now it’s something that has saved me so much money on furniture, and has unexpectedly become a business too.”
Kayleigh said her family and mindset was the most important thing that encouraged her to try DIY projects.
“My dad was a painter and decorator, so it’s always been instilled in me to think, why can’t I make that myself and I held onto that mindset”, Kayleigh said.
“We didn’t have much money, and he’d always make the best out of what we had.
“When I was ten years old I always wanted a cabin bed and asked my dad to make it for me, but he said it was far too complicated.
“But I’ve always thought if someone else can make it then I can make it, and that has always been my inspiration and where my interest in DIY started.
“I used to be quite a tomboy, I always played football, and so I’ve always felt that just because you’re a woman, it doesn’t mean you can’t build things and get your hands dirty.”
Kayleigh started regularly making furniture during lockdown in 2021 to build a table for home-schooling.
“I started this table for homeschooling my son during lockdown, and made quirky little things for my garden”, said Kayleigh.
“I basically started to make the time go quicker during lockdown and then realised that I could make these regularly and turn this into a business.
“After that I created my Instagram to separate my projects from my personal life, and then the business took off and has become successful.”
She shared her advice for those interested in their own DIY projects.
“Social media is a great place to start for inspiration, do your research first to find ways to do things”, Kayleigh said.
“But there’s always a way to do something, so ask friends and family who are in different trades for advice.
“There’s lots of people out there who will be willing to give you advice, since many people are interested in upcycling and that’s how you get started.”