DIY Renovation Tips From the Little House of Boho

An aspiring interior stylist from Brisbane with a natural eye for creating spaces with a relaxed bohemian chic, Bethany Marsh of @littlehouseofboho is evolving her passion into a profession. Currently studying interior styling, this stay-at-home mother of two young children is also a DIY renovator transforming the family home – an early-’90s “brick beauty” that came complete with a bright blue kitchen, kitschy tiles and faux slate sheet vinyl flooring – into her dream as she puts her studies into practice. Bethany shares with us her DIY renovation tips from the Little House of Boho.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Just after my first child was born, I looked to Instagram to find inspiration to decorate her nursery. I fell into the world of interiors online and felt so inspired. My passion grew from there. My favourite designers are Sarah Sherman Samuel (@sarahshermansamuel – her design collaborations with brands are to die for), Amber Lewis (@amberinteriors – her style is boho/eclectic perfection) and Three Birds Renovation – @threebirdsrenovation (these women are so talented. They stop me in my tracks with every room they style and every home they renovate). I also love @makingprettyspaces (they have total DIY reno goals with tutorials) and @thejoshuatreehouse (this renovation of an Inn in Tucson, Arizona is such a beautiful, earthy space).

How would you describe your style?

Neutral, boho and textured. I’m very into boho/beachy-style interiors that have a fresh and airy feel to them.

What’s been your favourite DIY renovation project? 

My favourite project has definitely been the main bathroom. I painted all the tiles a bright white then stencilled the floor with a repeat grey pattern to create some interest and break up the white. I absolutely LOVE it! It took so long to complete but it was worth it. We then changed out the benchtop, tapware, basin and handles and it looks like a completely new space. The difference is amazing.

What’s your advice for would-be DIY renovators?

Shop around! There are so many discount stores that sell big brands for much less (especially online) so it’s worth spending some time looking around so you can save a bit of money to put towards another project. And when renovating, do not under any circumstances expect things to go smoothly from start to finish! That has been the hardest lesson to learn so far – every project we have done has come with many challenges.

What’s next for you?

We are currently focusing on renovating our backyard, which is so exciting. It has basically been a mud pit for the last year, so I’m thrilled to soon be able to sit out on our patio with a coffee and take in our beautiful bushy surroundings.  Once the house is complete (and the kids are in school – my youngest starts kinder next year) I will most likely provide online styling services so I can reach a large number of clients, but I would also LOVE to get into display home styling.

Quick quiz …

(Images courtesy of @littlehouseofboho)