Kmart fans love Christmas makeover using $4 item: 'Magical and cost-effective'

One Kmart shopper has revealed how she transformed her seven-year-old son's playhouse into a beautiful Christmas-themed space using items that start at just $4. Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, the shopper shared that she did the makeover "for myself just as much as my son!"

Leonie O'Mahoney shared the incredible transformation on Facebook, writing, "Turned my boy’s everyday playhouse into a Christmas house!" The playhouse looks like every child's dream with lights, signs that say 'Santa stop here', a mailbox that says 'letters to Santa', a door mat with Christmas trees, candy cane lights and more.

The items were mostly purchased from Kmart, Big W and Target, with the actual playhouse initially coming from Catch.

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The Battery Operated LED Light Up Santa Stop Here Sign is just $4, while the Metal Letterbox is $12. Leonie also used the $5 Artificial Grass Table Runner as the entry to the playhouse.

Other Facebook users loved the transformation, with one user writing, "Totally awesome, very creative. Lucky boy."

"That's so lovely and full of Christmas spirit," another said. "Your child will always remember it."

"That is super cute! My kids would love this," a third added. "You have inspired me. Well done, I love it."

"Aww thats lovely! He will get some lovely memories in there," someone else said.

'Fun, magical and cost-effective'

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Leonie shared how the idea came to her, telling us, "I purchased Herb’s playhouse around six months ago. There was a moment when tidying it up that I thought it would look lovely with some Christmas lights hanging on the front, then the idea of doing a Christmas-themed house came to mind and I knew I had to make it happen! For myself just as much as my son!"

Leonie shared where she found all the items to make the playhouse, saying, "I purchased the Christmas tree, Santa stop here sign, Santa’s mailbox and the grass lawn path from Kmart. I feel these additions really helped pull it all together."

She added that another way to keep costs down was to visit her local op shops, "I just love the sense of nostalgia that purchasing second-hand brings."

Leonie says that seeing her son's reaction when he came home from school and saw the playhouse was "priceless".

"He is so incredibly grateful," the mum tells us. "It’s such a fun, magical, and cost-effective way of really making his Christmas that much more special. Herb has told me a number of times that he’ll never forget his Christmas cubby!"

How to create a Christmas cubby house with Kmart items

Leonie also offered advice for people wanting to do the same thing, saying they should "absolutely go for it".

"It’s a really fun, cost-effective way to get involved with the kids," she adds. "My son has also loved having his friends around for a play more than ever now! The process of finding all the bits and pieces for the playhouse is all part of the fun! I always believe that mixing old and new creates a sense of originality and uniqueness."

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Her final tip was an important one, "Don’t forget the lights - they help bring everything together.

"Also, think outside the box with what you already may have at home. I had some Christmas socks that I used as pot plant covers at the front of the playhouse, and a table runner as the lawn path!"

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