A mum transformed her "damp" council home for just £600 - by teaching herself DIY and upcycling charity shop bargains."

Becki Foster, 31, and her husband Adam, 32, didn't have much time to look for a new home when he was medically discharged from the army.

The mum-of-four was heavily pregnant and were only able to view photos of their new home before moving in September 2023.

The couple were shocked to find the three-bed home near Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, was "damp" and "smelly"."

Becki hired a tradesman but after being left with a botched job and £2.5k out of pocket she set about doing it herself.

She re-plastered, repainted and upcycled furniture for her kids room, her bedroom and living room.

The self-employed baker has spent around £610 so far and says she is "proud" of herself."

Becki said: "The difference is amazing."

"It properly changes our mood."

"When all the walls were stripped it looked horrible. It was almost embarrassing."

"It didn't feel like home."

"Now it just looks nice."

"It does feel like a big accomplishment."

Becki and Adam were forced to leave their military home last year after Adam was medically discharged with a chronic back injury.

Becki was on maternity leave and the couple were left with no option but to apply for council housing.

They were offered a house near Middlesbrough but were unable to view it in person as Becki was 32 weeks pregnant and Adam couldn't drive after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Becki said: "We just thought is the house big enough and accepted it."

"I was 38 weeks pregnant when we moved in and my feet went straight through the floorboards."

"The carpet in the living room - we could smell a musky smell."

"There were damp patches. It stank."

"We couldn't get rid of the smell."

"It looked horrible."

Becki and Adam were able to get support from the Royal British Legion for new carpets.

They then hired a handyman to get the house up to scratch.

Becki said: "We used the money my husband got from being medically discharged to make it nice."

"But it was just shocking."

"The skirting boards they didn't prime so the paint just came straight off."

"They got paint on the brand new carpets."

In the new year Becki decided to teach herself DIY instead and set to work redoing all of the tradesman's work.

She said: "I've never decorated a house before - or put up curtains."

"It's been fun."

Becki started with her kids room and redid all the painting and sanded down the skirting boards.

She painted over all the doors which were a "hideous brown"."

She even did her own plastering - despite trolls telling her it will look "terrible" if she didn't get a professional in."

Becki said: "It doesn't look that bad to me."

"For the bedroom I was scrolling through Pinterest."

"Both my husband and I have different tastes. He likes gothic stuff. I knew I wanted panelling."

"I've got a princess bed and I've gone for taupe and black."

"I upcycled our own furniture."

Becki managed to get her hands on a chest of drawers from her local charity shop and a similar one from Facebook marketplace, sanded them down and painted them.

She also grabbed some bedside tables for £20 from Facebook marketplace.

She has recently tackled the living room - painting it a forest green and repainting the fireplace black.

Becki said: "It looks really cool."

The mum has kept things to a budget as much as she can - spending just £250 on her bedroom and £200 on accessories from B&M, The Range and Shein.

She has spent around £160 on her living room so far and hopes to try her hand at making her own furniture for the space using left over wood.

Becki said: "The kids are happier with it all now."

"It's getting there."