I increased a property's value by $78,000 with DIY renovations that cost under $2,000. See the before-and-after pictures, plus how I stayed on budget.

• Bethan Juliff began flipping furniture and toys as a pandemic hobby and posted photos on Instagram.
• A friend asked for Juliff's help to refresh her London apartment on a tight budget of under $2,000.
• Here's how she increased the home's value by $78,000, as told to Salina Jivani.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bethan Juliff, a knitwear designer who flips furniture on Instagram. Insider verified the home's appraised value through documentation. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always loved fashion. I specialized in designing handmade knitwear full time. In 2020 I went to China looking for manufacturers to produce at scale.

Before I could launch my new brand, London went into lockdown.