British Heart Foundation tasks designers with £500 charity shop makeover challenge

Interior design experts were challenged to create an entire room using only items from the charity stores

children's bedroom with cloud bed and teepee
(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

British Heart Foundation tasked four pairs of leading interior designers and upcyclers to create a whole room scheme for under £500, in just 10 hours, and only using products found in their local store. 

The experts were challenged to create a living room, bedroom, children’s bedroom and dining room in a bid to show how easy and inexpensive it can be to give your home a seasonal overhaul.  

So why not be inspired by these beautiful, bargain transformations and give your home a quick and low-budget refresh this autumn? Not only will you be saving a fortune (with sofas from just £95!) and creating a truly unique look, but you'll also be helping to raise money for life-saving research into heart disease, stroke, vascular dementia and diabetes. 

We think the results are pretty impressive...

1. Cosy living room

Celebrity interior designer and upcycler Max McMurdo and assistant Phillip Ely transformed this bare brick-effect wall into a rustic living room with wooden furniture, a statement inky blue wall and on-trend geometric and animal prints.

before shot of interior design experts

Before

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

cosy living room with blue wall, a rocking chair, animal print rug and geometric cushions

After

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

2. Stylish master bedroom

Forward Features duo David White and Mark Russell turned these bare walls into a cosy main bedroom. We especially love the rattan chair, fabric wall hanging and classic dressing table, brightened with an abundance of indoor plants. 

Interior design experts before pic

Before

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

bedroom with indoor plants, a rattan chair, traditional rug and wooden furniture

After

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

3. Playful children's room

Sharp & Simpson’s Micaela Sharp and design partner Beth Clancy created a pretty and playful child's bedroom, complete with a cloud-shaped headboard, cosy rugs and even a teepee.

before pic of a plain blue painted wall

Before

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

children's bedroom with teepee, cloud bed, patterned rug and full length mirror

After

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

4. Traditional dining room

Interior Style Hunter’s Grant Pierrus and design friend Girl About House (aka Sarah Mailer) transformed this empty space into grand dining room with solid wood furniture, emerald greens and stand-out artwork to become a focal point. 

before pic of white plain walls

Before

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

dining room with wooden furniture and statement artwork

After

(Image credit: British Heart Foundation)

Linda Barker, interior design expert and TV presenter says, 'British Heart Foundation stores are a real treasure trove of hidden gems and a great place to get inspired when giving your home a fresh new look.'

So head to you local store, think creatively, and share your British Heart Foundation style using #BoughtatBHF to spread the joy of upcycling!

Amelia Smith
Content Editor

After joining Real Homes as content producer in 2016, Amelia has taken on several different roles and is now content editor. She specializes in style and decorating features and loves nothing more than finding the most beautiful new furniture, fabrics and accessories and sharing them with our readers. As a newbie London renter, Amelia’s loving exploring the big city and mooching around vintage markets to kit out her new home. 

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