Share your small space glow up to win $150 in the Real Homes competition

Submissions for January 2023 are now open!

DIY competition
(Image credit: Future)

January is literally the perfect time to upgrade your space DIY and if you follow Real Homes, then you're probably not afraid of getting hands-on to make your space beautiful. The best way to give your entire home, or even just bedroom space, a glow-up without going over budget, is to get creative and think outside the box.

This month, we're focusing on small homes, so if you've managed to enhance space in a tiny room or small apartment. Whether you're a total novice or a self-taught pro, we're here for it and no DIY project is too small to celebrate.

What's in it for you? If we love what you've done, we will let you know ASAP and each winner will win $150 (or the equivalent in GBP), and your full project will be featured on realhomes.com and/or exclusively in Real Homes magazine...

A 2022 winner

Built in with Billy Bookcases and dog yogi

(Image credit: Mary Buck)

One entry that we LOVED in 2022 was this media wall, created with trusty IKEA Billy bookcases for a fresh finish in this living room space.

How to enter the Real Homes' competition 

Get involved by filling in the form to share a snapshot of the project you'd like to contribute and every month we'll pick up to five lucky winners. The last submissions for this month will be at midnight on January 31st and we will aim to contact winners by the 7th of February.

Please note that we will need a set of basic step-by-step instructions to accompany your submission should you be chosen! This should be roughly 300 words.

Terms and Conditions apply. Good luck!

Terms and conditions

All entries must be submitted via the online entry form. This competition is Open to all residents of the UK and US (excluding residents of Rhode Island, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. military installations in foreign countries, or any other U.S. territory where prohibited or restricted by law) aged 18 years and over, except employees of Future Plc and its group of companies (“Future”). 

Entries limited to one per household. Use of automated devices or methods of submission are not valid forms of entry. There will be up to five (5) monthly winners in total each entitled to $150 (or equivalent in GBP) (the “Prize”). By entering your images and / or videos (“Media”) you: (i) confirm that you have the permission of the homeowner to submit the entry; (ii) agree and understand that your surname and county of residence will be published if selected as a winner; (iii) confirm that the Media has not been shared with other home publications  (vi)  grant Future an exclusive right to publish, feature, reproduce and use the Media  in Future’s print and digital media (including social media), in existence now or later invented with credit to you, and (vii) grant Future’s licensees the right to publish content incorporating the Media, providing the publication is in the same context as Future’s use. All photos must be submitted as jpegs at 300dpi. Computer-generated or computer-altered Media will not be accepted. Artwork and illustrations will not be accepted. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of all Media entered. Future does not accept any liability for the publication of unlawfully reproduced Media. 

The winners will be selected by members of the Real Home editorial team (the “Judges”) from all valid entries received. Future reserves the right to withhold prizes if, in the opinion of the Judges, the quality of entries falls below the standard required. The Judges’ decision as to the winners is final and no correspondence relating to a competition will be entered. The winners shall be notified by Future by email/telephone within 28 days of being selected and will be required to supply details of a UK or US postal address. Future will deliver the Prize. The Prize is non-transferable. There is no alternative Prize. No purchase required. Void where prohibited. The value of the Prize may be taxable as income and each Prize winner is solely responsible for any taxes, including, but not limited to all applicable federal, state, and local taxes that become due with respect to the value of the Prize. By entering this competition, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, the competition rules at: www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/ and collection of personal data in accordance with Future’s privacy policy at: https://www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy/. We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend a competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside its control.

Camille Dubuis-Welch
Former Deputy Editor

I'm Cam, the former deputy editor of Real Homes who worked on the site from 2020 to 2023. As a renter myself, sharing a home with two friends (and my cat) in London, I know all too well the challenges that this can pose when it comes to creating your perfect setup. As someone who has always loved everything interior design-related, I cannot rest until a home feels right and I am really passionate about helping others get there too, no matter what their living situation, style, or budget may be. It’s not always the easiest to figure out, but the journey is fun and the results are so worth it.


After interior design, travel, art, and photography are my next big passions. When I’m not writing or editing homes content, I’m usually tapping into other creative outlets, exploring galleries in London or further afield, taking photos, scribbling, or drawing! 

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