Home staging in Dordogne: how to go from electric blue to fresh butter (and not break the bank)

When you buy a holiday home in the Dordogne, you dream of old stones, vines, endless barbecues under the trellis... but you sometimes forget that the interior is often stuck in the 90s .

Rather than sell a kidney to redo everything, I opted for the “MacGyver of the paintbrush” solution: home staging . The goal: to create a smart, effective makeover that's pretty enough for my friends to think I'm a decorating whiz (even though I struggle to open a can of paint without getting it everywhere).

Step 1: The Bedroom — From Electric Blue to Cool Butter White

The room had potential: beautiful window, green view... but the walls screamed "2000s nightclub." Electric blue, the kind of blue that keeps you awake even with the blinds drawn.

👉 Radical solution: we repainted all four walls . Not just one, no. All four. Three full coats to tame that infernal blue and obtain a pastel white the color of “fresh butter” (yes, that’s a real color name, not a joke).

DIY tips to avoid blowing your painting budget:

• Never throw away : the remaining paint can be stored in a small airtight jar → practical for touch-ups or another room.

• Protect your brushes : no need to wash them between coats, wrap them in plastic wrap or a freezer bag and they'll last until the next day.

• The pro hack : spot an overpriced paint job at a fancy store, note down the color code... and have it repainted for half the price at your local Bricomarché. No one will notice.

👉 Room budget: around €300 (paint + some accessories). The result: a room that breathes light and fresh air, perfect for a post-duck confit nap.

Step 2: The bathroom — goodbye cold tiles, hello wood effect

The bathroom had that old-house charm: everything was functional... but sad. Plain tiles, icy floor, vintage "retirement home" wall lights. In short, not the place you want to hang out with your fig-scented shower gel.

👉 Express transformation:

• Gerflor wood effect flooring → 100% fake, 100% stunning, and above all 100% warm feet.

• Large second-hand mirror → it doubles the space and the ego in the morning.

• IKEA wall lights for €15 → repainted in “factory” gray for a chic industrial look. Who would have thought that two inexpensive spotlights could compete with a Scandinavian designer?

👉 Bathroom budget: around €400 . And the feeling of having gained 20 years of modernity in one day.

Step 3: The art of low-cost home staging

The real secret to home staging isn't just paintbrushes and Gerflor. It's also a state of mind:

• Save money without sacrificing style : a tip found among DIY enthusiasts → buy “entry-level” paint and have it tinted like a high-end paint. Same color, half the price.

• Smart recycling : repainted wall lights are magical. Before: ugly. After: industrial.

• Don't waste : we always keep the leftovers (paint, flooring, accessories), because a house is like a Netflix series: there's always a season 2.

Conclusion: Home staging, the magic wand for vacation homes

In two weekends, I managed to transform my vacation home in the Dordogne without breaking the bank. The bedroom breathes, the bathroom inspires, and all for less than €700. The bottom line: home staging isn't just a trendy word, it's the decorating version of "common sense": you can do more with less .

👉 Bonus: When my guests arrive, they rave about the “country chic decor.” I don’t tell them that my wall lights cost less than foie gras at the market… but I smile inwardly.