I transformed my dull new build’s garden into a Disney haven – Asda & Aldi bargains kept costs down

A MUM was so bored of her dull new build garden that she decided to transform it into a Disney World haven instead.

Mel Hamblett, 35, has been a huge fan of the beloved brand since childhood, with the iconic songs from the films sparking her love for musicals and theatre. 

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After eventually visiting the theme park in America for the first time when she was 23, Mel found it such a magical escapism and wanted to capture reminders of that feeling in her own home. 

The mum of two, from Gloucester, already has a Little Mermaid-inspired bathroom which she revamped for just £200.

There are also references to her favourite Walt Disney films subtly littered throughout her house.

She said: “While the mermaid bathroom is very explicitly a homage to Ariel, I like to try and incorporate Disney in more subtle ways around my home.

“We have a neon sign above our bed which says ‘who disturbs my slumber?’ -  a nod to the cave of wonders from Aladdin, as well as an expression of our lives with a young child.

“My son’s bedroom has a rainbow theme, but also includes a gallery wall of Pixar movie posters - he’s a huge cars and Toy Story fan, so it was a way of adding colour to the walls with a nod to his favourite movies. 

“Our living room has custom art on the wall which says ‘look at this stuff isn’t it neat’ the opening lyrics from ‘Part Of Your World’ and photos from our trips to Disney Parks.

“We also have a rug in the kitchen with hidden Mickey Mouses on it, whilst the home office has a neon sign saying ‘to infinity and beyond’."

And her garden has also been given a magical makeover.

Whilst working full-time in communications, as well as being a mum and an interior influencer (@awholenewbuild), Mel managed to transform her weed-riddled new build garden into a space she completely adores.

Mel told Paving Superstore: “During the pandemic, we spent a lot of time outside and realised the garden didn’t have much life to it. It felt a bit unloved.

"When we moved in we didn’t even have turf, so it took us a few years to have basic lawn and patio slabs installed.

"I remember sitting on a beanbag and drawing out what my dream garden would look like, and once I’d got the idea I couldn’t let it go.”

And she drew inspiration from her love of Disney themes and colours to incorporate this into her own outdoor living space. 

She added: “Me and my husband are huge Disney fans, and love how when you visit a Disney park, you’re transported into other worlds thanks to the theming.

"I wanted to incorporate an element of that to try and make my garden feel like an escape and not a boring new build plot.

“I was inspired by the spikey and exotic planting in Adventureland during the day– lots of big leaves, palm trees and deep greens, and by night, the magical colours of Pandora, which is showcased in theme parks with coloured light everywhere that becomes magical after sunset.

"This of which is exactly what I tried to replicate in my garden."

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Merl hired builders to tackle the decking, pergola, fencing and raised beds before taking on the planting, painting and finishing touches herself.

She said: “Gardening wasn’t something I was confident trying in the beginning.

“I had very little DIY experience at the time of starting the garden makeover, so while I designed it, I needed the help of some builders to bring my idea to life.

"With more DIY skills a few years on, I think we could have given a lot of It a go ourselves and saved some money – but at the time it wasn’t something I was confident to try.”

She added: “Once the main landscaping elements were built, I filled my garden planters, and started hunting garden centres for the right tropical planting that was hardy enough to survive a British climate.

“Over the last 3 years, I’ve added new plant beds, saved up for a 7ft tree Fern which is my absolute pride and joy, and changed the colour scheme of the fences and decking to be a neutral stone– allowing the green of the plants and grass to really pop.

"It’s quite a different style to my very colourful and bright house– but I love the contrast between tranquil colours in the day and party vibes at night.

“I love how my garden has a real personality now.

“It used to just be a lawn, but while it’s still a relatively small garden, it works really hard for me and my husband."

Due to savvy shopping and the use of leftover materials, Mel was also able to keep costs low, not having to fork out unnecessary expenses. 

She scoured Asda and Aldi for bargains and patiently waited for end-of-season sales.

She revealed: “To be as cost-effective as possible during this transformation, there were a few ways where I was able to keep costs low, and not spend an arm on a leg on things where I didn’t need to.

"One of the things I did was create my own plant wall using leftover accessories from a friend’s wedding which she kindly donated to me which worked a treat.

"I also have a couple of plants which are cuttings from my Mum’s garden– one of which was a cutting she took from my late Grandma’s garden so that one is really special to me.

“I brought my furniture over a number of years to keep costs low.

“Our furniture has been bought over a number of years, waiting for end-of-season sales in Habitat, or through Aldi special buys, and is a great way to save money in the long run.

“I had to accept that plants are pricey.

“I always try and use discount codes and shop around for the best deals, but the way I’ve kept the costs down is by buying smaller plants where possible and allowing them time to grow.

"In 3 years we’ve had so much growth but I’d say time has been the biggest money saver compared to buying huge trees and plants to start with.

"Garden stuff is never cheap though, and that was the biggest learning curve for me– accepting that plants are pricey!”

And for any other gardening fans who are looking to transform their outdoor space, Mel has shared her top tips.

“I think my advice would probably be to not expect your garden to be perfect straight away and take your time before you invest money in it", she said.

"Me and my husband spent many years figuring out how we liked to use the space before I could design it to suit our needs.

"For example, asking ourselves questions like where does the sun set in the evenings in summer, and where do people tend to put the bbq when you have friends over? That really helped with deciding which areas to zone for different purposes.

"Not only this, but because of the cost of plants and landscaping, you don’t want to rush and make an expensive mistake that’s costly to change.”