Since buying our first house last August we've literally been full steam ahead, donning overalls (read unloved clothes), grabbing paint brushes and even a steamer to decorate our little cottage. With nearly all the upstairs complete and our funds almost depleted we're now focusing our energies on outdoors. That was until Look Again* got in touch with a challenge, to create a mood board showing how I'd revamp a room with a £750 budget. I thought this would be a walk in the park but boy was I wrong. Look Again have a huge selection of home goodies and I was blown away with the level of choice. Unsurprising to none, keeping in budget was a challenge #storyofmylife but I knew straight away which room I'd be tackling...

Credit to Pinterest for the inspirational images here and here. 

The blog room also known as our smallest bedroom/wash room/general dumping ground. When we first moved in this was painted similar to a chocolate box although Hotel Chocolat it was not with a dark brown ceiling, thick mink carpet and matching walls. So far we've steamed it, re lined the walls and painted them, had a jazzy wallpaper put on a feature wall (thanks Papa Wild) and Craigs bestie has put us a new carpet down but that's where the fun ends. The room is now furniture less (except for a chest of drawers) and is being used for anything but blogging.

Tip - Get creative and try your hand at DIY, what's the worse that can happen? It saved Craig and I lots of money plus I promise you'll have a giggle with a steamer and paint brush in hand. If you get stuck, draft in friends and family members. Fancy Farrow and Ball shades but not the prices? Ask your local paint specialist to mix up the colour for you, leaving you change for cushions. That's home maths right there!

The inspiration behind my blog room choices? A country cottage with a delicate, perfumed garden which is far too beautiful to leave outdoors. Our cottage is old (dating back to 1820 to be precise) and although incredibly charming it's lacking in light, I blame the tiny windows. As such decor has to be carefully planned to give the light and spacious feel we crave. One thing I have to be conscious of is over loading our space, the minimalist look isn't my bag but there's a fine line between curated picks and clutter.

My first choice for Cagney and Lace HQ would be the Torino day bed, perfect for blog writing sessions or for when guests come to stay. A double feather down duvet is an essential buy and I'm a firm believer in buying quality, you spend far too long in bed to scrimp on these things. I also like to buy duvets bigger than the actual bed too for that increased snug factor, don't knock it until you've tried it! To cover my feathered friend I adore this Freya duvet set which brings a flurry of candy strips and coloured lace into an otherwise monochrome room. Bringing a necessary dose of print and texture are my mismatched selection of cushions, Hello Kitty was a teenager fave, I'm digging the vintage feel of this one and how hilar, and scarily accurate is this offering?

Tip - Furniture can be a hugely expensive outgoing when you first buy a house. My tip? Beg, borrow and seek (never steal!) My parents gave us two old sofas to start us off and we found some amazing crockery at a local vintage fair. Don't become that panic buyer, we've all been there and it costs!

Speaking of furniture I'd be thrilled to see the Aimee Dressing Table in my blog room, with a certain je ne sais quoi this striking piece would be a beautiful background for blog shots, somewhere to apply make-up or it could even be used as an official blogging desk. The possibilities are endless. Making the table my own I'd add this cute ice cream print and personalised trinket box to store all my jewellery/secret chocolate stash. I'll let you guess what's more likely...

Tip - Putting your personal stamp on a space doesn't have to be expensive - frame postcards of your travels, pictures of your buds or create mood board if your room is going to be used in a creative light (like mine). You can bring the outdoors in by taking cuttings from the garden and popping them into milk bottles like my Pinterest shot, inexpensive and quirky.

Are you planning to refresh your home for Spring? What do you make of my blog room picks?

*In collaboration with Look Again.