Kmart shopper wows with DIY living room transformation using $8.50 item: 'Huge difference'

In a time when Aussies are having to make every single dollar count, the idea of replacing big-ticket items for your home is pretty overwhelming, if not impossible. That's why plenty of people are hunting for clever solutions for their home decor problems, so they can live in style without stressing even more about cash.

One very clever Kmart and Bunnings shopper has shared a potential solution for anyone who is longing for a new coffee table but can't stomach the idea of shelling out hundreds for a brand-new one. Newcastle native, Jordon Wilkie, spent around $50 in total to transform her existing coffee table, giving it a fresh look and a new life.

The creative customer told Yahoo Lifestyle that she believes even people with no DIY experience could achieve something similar as her method "involved minimal prep and was really time savvy compared to painting."

Kmart and Bunnings items used in DIY

Jordan shared the results of her project on a popular Facebook group, writing, "We had a coffee table/TV unit that wasn’t going to match our interior and it had seen better days.

"I upcycled using Kmart “Self Adhesive Film White Texture ($12)”, Kmart “Gold Look Wavy Handles ($8.50)” and Twine rope from Bunnings (starting at $5.20).

"Stoked with how it’s turned out, it’ll last us a couple more years now."

As you can see from the photos, Jordan turned a dated black and glass unit into a chic, coastal-inspired piece that fits in perfectly with her home, which she explains is "a soft coastal vibe with a neutral palette and pops of orange."

Kmart shoppers praise 'genius' transformation

"I wanted to create something that would match our interior," Jordan told Yahoo Lifestyle. "I started with the idea of completely covering the cabinet in the Kmart Textured Adhesive, but as I went along the idea of the twine detailing popped into mind. I'm a creative person by nature and find once I start a project it can really get the creative juices flowing."

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Her creativity was certainly noticed - and appreciated - with her post being flooded with compliments such as:

"Absolutely gorgeous - well done."

"That looks amazing."

"Wow. What a great upcycle. It looks amazing."

And, "Fantastic, I love it, such a huge difference, you are clever."

How long does the DIY take?

For time poor people who would love to dip their toe into the world of DIY, Jordan assures that the project was not as time-consuming as it may look.

"I completed it across a few weekends doing a bit at a time, but it probably took a total of 3 hours to complete," she explains.

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As for the hardest part of the DIY venture, Jordan said that the trickiest part was finding the right technique to apply the Textured Adhesive.

"I did waste one roll practising the application, but once I found the right technique, it was quite easy and quick to apply. In the end, I had to pull apart the coffee table to make sure all surfaces were covered bubble-free," she said.

Advice for DIY'ers

So, what advice would Jordan give to anyone thinking about attempting their own upcycle project?

"I would suggest practising with small sections of the adhesive before jumping into applying, otherwise you could end up wasting a roll like I did," she cautions. "Glue guns are also your best friend, I used a glue gun to hold the twine in place. These are really user-friendly!"

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