A mature student has transformed her £500 a-month rental home into a maximalist heaven, crediting her dyslexia and dyspraxia for boosting her colourful creativity.

Interior design student Marie Springthorpe, 47, from Leicester, England, spent just £510 on the project she started during lockdown.

The mum-of-two first caught the interiors bug and learned how to decorate on a dime thanks to the skills of her dad and grandad.

‘I loved watching my dad and grandfather doing DIY while I was growing up,’ she said.

‘I am a very visual person and also have dyslexia and dyspraxia. So I put it down to that.

‘I have always been creative and loved colour and love using my creativity as mindfulness and time to switch off.’

During the first lockdown, Marie found inspiration in the rainbows being made for the NHS, deciding to give her space a technicolour makeover while stuck indoors.

She said: ‘That is when I started using the colours I have done my home with, and I have never been happier.’

Marie was only diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia six years ago, spending her childhood thinking she ‘wasn’t very clever’.

However, she shone in art and design and realised over time she was a visual learner.

Far from her self-doubting beliefs, she had a natural knack for interior design.

‘Now I know it’s one of the traits of having dyslexia and dyspraxia and these are just the way our brains function,’ said Marie. ‘We are very creative people too.’

The first changes she made to her house were in the hallway and living room, which cost £210 altogether.

She explained: ‘I used some black and white flooring and wallpaper that I bought at discount.

‘I used a block colour on the walls and then added bold bright accessories.

‘I also painted and upcycled the shoe cupboard giving it a bright and nice look.’

Next up, Marie painted an old fireplace – which had cost her just £5 years ago – a bright green, before adding toucan wallpaper to the living room.

She added: ‘I used gold leaf sheets for the back of the fireplace and picked up an original art deco cupboard from a local charity shop, which I then cycled up with a tester pot of gold paint.

‘For the final touch, I made my own window shutters and put up a picture rail.’

After this she upgraded the kitchen, which cost £200.

‘My kitchen doors were quite dated with a beech wrap on them and I wanted a shaker-style door,’ said Marie.

‘A few years ago I had put wood around them and painted them grey but found them extremely dull and boring.

‘I took inspiration from my tropical garden and brought some bright colour tester pots of paint and some discounted tiles and started my ultimate kitchen transformation.’

‘My first tiling wasn’t as easy as it looked but I carried on and also vinyl wrapped the cooker hood pink.

Although tiling was a difficult task, Marie got to grips with it and also vinyl wrapped her cooker hood and kitchen doors, adding new handles.

She wanted the bedroom to be a place where she wakes up ‘happy and smiling,’ so went for a Miami Art Deco and Palm Springs Era feel.

‘So I used the leftover paint, got some bargain wallpaper and upcycled the headboard to recharge the room,’ Marie added.

The student’s bright and busy new decor has won the seal of approval from most of her family and friends – and even her landlord loves the new look.

‘My family and friends love the house, especially the bar,’ she said.

‘But my sister, who is a minimalist and the total opposite of me, says I need to wear sunglasses.’

Marie added: ‘My landlord is in fact very pleased with the updated decor and allows me to do as I please as long as I don’t knock down the walls.

‘I love my home and I don’t think renting is a bad thing if you are happy in your home.’

When decorating, she recommends looking in charity shops and car boots for quirky items. She also believes people should put their own stamp on where they live.

‘I would advise people to have a go at making over your home yourself,’ said Marie

‘It’s not only much cheaper but gives you an immense sense of pride.

‘You save and learn a lot by shopping at charity shops, car boots, online auctions and selling pages.

‘It is definitely good for the planet and at the same time a great chance to have a home that reflects your personality.’

Cost breakdown:

• Hallway: £60
• Living Room: £150
• Kitchen: £200
• Bedroom: £100

Total: £510

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