A Glasgow woman's budget-friendly living room makeover has become an unexpected viral sensation after TikTok users hilariously compared her £35 transformation to the interior of a McDonald's restaurant.
The Viral DIY Transformation
Content creator @vhairimua recently shared her dramatic living room facelift on TikTok, showcasing how she installed wooden acoustic wall panels behind her television. The panels were purchased from B&Q on sale for just £35, reduced from their original price of £60. In her initial video posted in November 2025, she enthusiastically captioned the footage "such a bargain," clearly pleased with her affordable find.
The decorative panelling represents a growing trend in home improvement, offering homeowners an accessible way to create feature walls without breaking the bank. These panels can be easily installed using screws, adhesive, or wall glue, and their size and orientation can be customised to suit individual tastes.
Mixed Reactions and McDonald's Comparisons
While @vhairimua was delighted with her bargain purchase, the online reaction revealed sharply divided opinions about the aesthetic appeal of acoustic panels. The most memorable response came from user Colin, who commented: "Always wanted my living room to look like the inside of a McDonald's."
Other viewers suggested that the acoustic panel trend might have already peaked, pointing to the recent price reductions as evidence. One critical user noted: "Those are the floppy-backed panels, not great. And they are going cheap because it's already a trend that is dying so surplus stock."
Function Meets Fashion in Home Decor
Despite the playful criticism, acoustic panels offer genuine benefits beyond their decorative appeal. They provide dual functionality by enhancing sound quality through absorbing unwanted noise, making them particularly desirable in open-plan living environments and home cinema setups.
Elle Decor recently highlighted that acoustic panels are evolving into popular home features, noting that "technological and creative innovations" are transforming sound-absorbing panels into "full-fledged decorative elements." A simple search for "acoustic wall panels" on TikTok reveals hundreds of videos from DIY enthusiasts showcasing their own creations in bedrooms, living rooms, and other spaces.
Good-Humoured Response to Critics
@vhairimua took the McDonald's comparisons in stride, responding with characteristic good humour. In a follow-up video, she embraced the fast-food comparison by adopting the well-known slogan, stating "I'm lovin' it" and playfully renaming her transformed space "McSlaying."
Her positive response highlights how social media creators are navigating the sometimes harsh world of online commentary while maintaining their enthusiasm for affordable home improvement projects.
The debate surrounding @vhairimua's makeover underscores the highly subjective nature of home decor tastes. However, the rising popularity of acoustic and decorative wall panels signals a broader shift toward multipurpose, affordable home improvement solutions that successfully blend style with practical function.
