Boris Johnson is in hot water for the lavish overhaul of his Downing Street flat - so maybe someone should have told him you don't need £840-a-roll wallpaper to create a dream makeover.
The PM and fiancee Carrie Symonds reportedly spent £200,000 doing up their No.11 home - sparking a probe into how he funded £60k of the refurb.
One person who knows all about OTT makeovers is Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who is fronting a revamp of Changing Rooms on Channel 4.
The TV design guru remarked: "Who knew that wallpaper could be so political?"
But you don't need friends in high places if you want give your home a new lease of life.
What is your view? Have your say in the comment section
© Free handoutLaurence Llewelyn-Bowen says 'who knew wallpaper could be so political?'
Mark Millar, from new series Dream Kitchens and Bathrooms, says: "It's possible to do a room on a small budget if you change how you think.
"You need to be adventurous - think about upcycling and recycling."
Here are some innovative make-overs that could have saved the PM a lot of cash.
- Dream Kitchens & Bathrooms with Mark Millar is on Tuesdays, 7pm, C5.
Whole house... for £50,000
Becky and Adam used TV shows and online tutorials to fix up their four-bed 1960s home.
"Most looks you see you can recreate yourself with a bit of elbow grease," said Becky.
Over five years they scoured budget shops and salvaged bits.
She said: "A family member gave us their brown dated patio set which we upcycled.
"Ikea is our favourite. The Range, Dunelm... Poundland."
Their South East London house has risen £200k in value, see it on Instagram @21oakham.
Bathroom... for £6,000
© PR HandoutThe dramatic bathroom
This dramatic bathroom cost Camellia and Evan from Maidstone, Kent, about £6,000.
Brick-shaped tiles can be arranged in all sorts of patterns, from chevrons to squares or straight lines, so get creative.
Here, the deep green classic layout offsets the pink wall.
The vanity cabinet was found on Facebook Marketplace for £30.
© Pi Productions All Rights ReservedMark Millar is a professional
Camellia said: "I'm really happy with my colour scheme and just the vibe and feel."
See it on an upcoming Dream Kitchens & Bathrooms on C5.
Farm kitchen... for £15,000
Kitchens are notoriously expensive to re-do - and gigantic kitchens even more so.
Created in the old barn of a rustic cottage in Aberdeenshire by Emily and Chris, they opted for classic oak worktops with a flash of blue to modernise the look.
© PR HandoutClassic oak worktops with a flash of blue
Suspended pendant lamps over the "island" make a big impact for relatively little.
"I can't believe I've got my dream kitchen," said Emily, who reused the barn's trough and toolbox for the wall.
See it on Dream Kitchens & Bathrooms.
Living room... for £4,000
Clara McGillan and Nicholas Felstead decided it was finally time to ditch the 70s wallpaper and 60s fireplace...
In their place is a modern bare-brick chimney breast and £985 bio-ethanol stove.
© free handoutClara McGillian and Nicolas Felstead spent £4,000 transforming the dated lounge of their home in Bridgend, Wales into a vibrant, modern relaxation space
Their other big outlay was £700 on shutters.
Sticking to pinks and greens but mixing textures and prints has updated the lounge in Bridgend, Wales.
Cushions were hunted out in Tesco, Matalan and Aldi.
© free handoutThe original, dated lounge
Clara said: "We did the work ourselves which saved money."
The pair posted the project on Instagram @dustandbricks.
Living room... for £2,000
This bold overhaul cost property consultant Rachel Johnson £2,000.
The clever - and cheap - dark grey feature wall with natural wood accents has brought it up to date.
© free handoutThe bold overhaul of the lounge
The biggest cost was the £700 floor.
Known as The Secret Seller (thesecretseller.co.uk), Cheshire-based Rachel offers bespoke room revamps for people hoping to sell.
She said: "Creative interior design doesn't have to be associated with astronomical price tags.
© free handoutThe original beige look was uninspiring
"Secondhand furniture is the way forward."
Calm bedroom... for £500
Sometimes creating order out of chaos is half the battle.
Clean lines, neutral paint (£40) and matching pictures (£30) have turned a messy kid's bedroom into a guest-friendly spare room.
© free handoutThe bedroom after the revamp
© free handoutThe kid's room needed an update
And Secret Seller Rachel Johnson reckons it can be done for even less.
She said: "Can you create a designer-inspired bedroom on a budget of £200?
"Of course. It's all about being creative with what you want to achieve."
Adding: "Paint is cheap and makes a massive difference."