This is not a makeover. It is merchandising.

I love this. It really shows how a little makes such a big difference!

The afters look surprisingly mature considering how little-girl the before looks.

I like 3 and 5. But if I had to come home to one, I'd pick 3. 5 would be a great guest room to stay in at somebody elses home. :)

Ohhh I really like this! I wish I could upload my own bedroom and play. I think 4 would be my pick.

Think of the impact of also changing the wall color...

IKEA should do this with a bed that has built-in storage for all the changes of "clothing"!

(I like the idea, but I choose bedding for the long term -- and I only change it if I get REALLY sick of it or if it becomes worn or damaged. I've had comforters for more than a decade and still liked them just as much as when I got them.)

This also goes to show how much having neutral walls and furnishings allows for greater flexibility over time. Stretch your decorating dollar when you're on a budget by starting with a neutral canvas.

Number 1!

I agree with monarda - it's a not a real makeover since the only thing that changed was fabrics.

ChrisGal...wasn't that the whole point? To show that a makeover can be done by just changing fabrics and accessories?

Kudos to Ikea. They could have kept the same room layout but completely changed the furniture as well. But instead of trying to get us to buy yet more furniture and add to landfills they showed how to have a big change at a much simpler level.

#2--brings back fond memories of Guatemalan open air markets overflowing with beautiful color.

Why not buy nice stuff as and when you can afford it one piece at a time and then you can always be 'updating'. Ikea is selling consumerism. Their stuff doesn't last. True of accessories, true of furniture. Go to the Goodwill, better quality and non-cookie cutter design is more work but totally worth the effort to produce an aesthetic that doesn't scream IKEA! at all your guests.

@Sleepy dog- Word, their stuff definitely unravels and peels with (short) time. But the person who isn't interested in making an investment in furniture won't mind. My current dresser is a Malm from Ikea that I adde lucite pulls to. It is slated to be passed on to a 22 year old coworker next weekend. It has served me well, from my parent's home during law school when I was in desperate need, to starting my own home. But I am in the market for a grown up bedroom dresser these days. Although I am impressed by how luxurious picture 1 looks, and it's hard to find a straightforward dresser with so many drawers like the one pictured. Believe me, I have been looking!

So, making your bed isn't part of decorating anymore?

I love this idea. So helpful to see that the furniture doesn't necessarily set the tone. I like number 3.

Sleepy dog, believe it or not sometimes people want a complete bedroom worth of furniture. While it might be nice to live out of boxes for 5 years and have your bed on the floor while you save for a great piece of furniture, its not always the most practical approach.

A large portion of our home is thrift/craigslist/antique store/homemade furniture. Our bedroom though is the same IKEA furniture we have had for 8 years as we slowly upgrade. Its nice to see how some small changes could help the room look nice/different while we focus on more important things, such as nursery furniture.

what i think is especially interesting with this group of pictures is how different the wall color looks in each shot, depending on the colors in the room, and the type of drapery used.

Meh. I don't find any of these particularly attractive.

I'm in a place where I'm just starting out with assembling a permanent, more upscale furniture (young professional beginning a career, moved in for the first time to an apartment that's meant to be long-term before buying a condo/house), and still have a bunch of mismatched furniture assembled from hand-me-downs and Ikea. Something like this is very encouraging. I can only replace one bit of furniture at a time (and probably only one a year, depending on how high quality/new/non-second-hand I go) and it's good to see that a room can still look cohesive and stylish with just a few, more temporary changes.

I'm gonna have to disagree with the author. Unfortunately, most Ikea furniture IS disposable.

I suppose I have just been incredibly lucky with IKEA. Wonder if I'm the only one? We've have had pieces for YEARS (bookcase for 15 years, chairs for about 10, lights for 10) and nothing is wearing, tearing or breaking. I think it's a question of buying the right pieces (the more expensive stuff at IKEA) and taking care of things.

I don't know why people are so up-in-arms about the fact that it's IKEA. Okay, so they used their products in this particular example - that doesn't mean you can't apply this approach to ANY brand - whether a high-end one, a flea market find, or anything in between.

I think the point of this is that it's a great pictorial example of how color and texture can change a room - and that if you want a change of pace, you don't have to go out and purchase new furniture. After all, if you've got perfectly good furniture (again, doesn't matter what brand) but want to add life or emotion to a room, I think this is an incredibly useful idea of how to start.

People who haven't their whole lives designing interiors (see: me) or reading design publications are sometimes a little clueless as to where to start, so seeing how the little touches can make a big difference is really helpful for me.

IKEA is made for staying where you put it after it was assembled. Rarely does anything travel well without being damaged. With so many people hacking IKEA stuff it is kind of nice to see someone work with it instead of making another kitty litter station.

If you plan on staying in a place for a while you need to change things up from time to time. Especially if you rent and they don't want you painting walls.

IKEA is just one stop shopping for many people. Since so many of their items are tend to be similar sizes it makes using different accents and storage easier.

Have to agree with abstractionist. I have plenty of things from Ikea that are holding up fine. I've seen furniture/storage options available elsewhere that are far worse.

Fabric items I've gotten at Ikea hold up fine. The duvets I have from there have gotten me through three winters.

A lot of it is attitude, which doesn't seem to be in short supply.

Yeah, I really don't get the vehemence re: Ikea. As several posters have pointed out, carefully selecting which items you buy can result in sturdier, longer-lasting furniture that still fits a budget.

I do a seasonal switcharoo in my bedroom where I change my duvet cover, drapes and throw rugs in the fall and spring. It makes the room feel new without having to make any dramatic alterations or purchases. This is a great illustration of that concept, regardless of whether your furniture is from Ikea or a more upscale retailer.

Actually, this is pretty helpful since I'm currently deciding on a duvet cover and my bedroom has an almost identical color scheme.

kimberly k completely read my mind. i second her comment, word for word. this post is interesting because the idea can be applied to ANY furniture.

I like black and white and gray, but the rug in #3 is practically the same color as the floor/walls.... can always go with a sheepskin or cowhide instead, I guess.

All of a Doodah is right on the money -- IKEA furniture, once assembled, is not meant to come apart again. I found this out the hard way when my bed was taken apart to install new flooring throughout the house, then put back together. It collapsed the next morning, with me and two small dogs in it.

I started buying things @ IKEA back in the 90's at one of the first US stores in Elizabeth, NJ. I still have several of the things I bought back then.

I recently reupholstered and then sold a pair of chairs (Romme, discontinued) for MORE than I paid for them 15 years ago. (well that was due to the fabric, but you get my point)

I have always defended and maintained that IKEA makes great stuff and very well built stuff, BUT (and here's the kicker) YOU, the buyer, must be discerning enough to know a 'disposable' when you see it.

Caveat Emptor. Was true for Romans and it's true now.

You and only you, are responsible for the quality of the products you buy. All companies that work for profit offer a multilevel quality/price/value proposition. So pay attention to the function, not just the form.

IKEA doesn't intend their furniture to be disposable. Sure, there are some items that are in their collection for those who come in with a very small budget, and are meant to be upgraded. As another poster mentioned, you don't necessarily want to live out of boxes while you save up for another piece of furniture. However, a lot of their items are built to last. I doubt they would offer up to 25 year warranties on things if they weren't meant to last. Also, they indeed aren't meant to be taken apart once assembled. You wouldn't take apart any other furniture you purchased, would you? Call me crazy, but I certainly wouldn't try to take apart my antique china cabinet so I could paint, I don't know why I would take apart anything else.
I think these photos show the makeover the average person is willing and capable of. Build a collection of somewhat neutral items you love, and change the accessories! Pretty smart, especially when you want to be budget conscious!

I like the colors in #2. We've got lots of IKEA furniture, and the Billy bookcases are holding up just fine. We've got a dresser that unfortunately wasn't assembled properly and so falls apart if moved. Follow those assembly instructions to the letter, people! :)

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has had good experiences with IKEA. Obviously IKEA has items at a range of price points, but for any buyer willing to open drawers, test things out, and willing to look beyond the lowest-end stuff I think IKEA furniture can be quite good. Several designer friends of mine who are deeply into quality, (i.e. Poggenpohl kitchens and B & B Italia sofas) rely on IKEA for all sorts of things that they recognize as pretty decent stuff at a good price. So do several architect friends of mine.

I've never had issues with any of the IKEA furniture I've owned. It will last a long time if you properly assemble it. If you do not assemble your IKEA furniture according to the directions, it will fall apart! Always keep your assembly books stashed away, so that if you ever need to break something down, you have the instructions on how to put it all back together!

OK...with that being said, I think that IKEA is a marketing genius. They are not asking people to buy a whole new bedroom set, they are showing you ways to change a room, just by changing the fabrics. It is the smallest changes that can make the biggest impact.

my ikea dresser made it from Europe to the US and back. still looks the same! I have been having it for 5 yrs now.

their spring mattress is the best till now I slept on (except for westin:-) ). i slept so well at home all the time on my mattress..

you guys here in the US have no idea that even in Europe lot of ppl can afford basically anything else then IKEA (that looks a bit stylish). ... `grown-up` furniture...

I like the Before the best :(

i saw this on the ikea website yesterday. i can't decide whether this is lazy reporting, consumerist coercion, or just cute-looking pictures. i'll save my mind and go with the latter, but i still have my doubts about this one.

pict 1- ikea, pict 2- eyekeeyuh. its the same blah room no matter how much more of their own fluff they add.

I kind of like the before the best too... maybe because it looks a lot like my bedroom. :) Peaceful!

I can't believe people actually have Ikea furniture from the 90's! Granted, I have some Ikea furniture, too. BUT, I am not so delusional to think their furniture is great quality!

I really like this concept..I often switch things through out my house to make the rooms feel fresh again instead of buying new. I just put my dresser from our bedroom into our living room to use as a tv stand..Our room is wayyy too small so it definately helped us gain some space in here! Good post in the fact that it shows the concept of updating accessories for a whole new look instead of tossing out your furniture..

I understand the concept behind these sort of makeovers "minimal effort". This is more like changing sheets, quilt covers, and curtains which all of us do. At least, make an effort to change the furntiture setting.

*furniture*

I agree that the rooms are kinda boring, but they were just trying to illustrate how versatile your decorating options can be by making a few simple changes. Anyone can shop elsewhere for great accessories and make those boring rooms amazing.
As for IKEA quality, I hardly believe anyone is buying a $49 bookcase intending it to be passed down to their children. With that said, they do have better quality items on the higher end of their price scale, and you can't beat their quality if you're looking for durable, simple and affordable modular storage. For their furniture, it really does come down to picking the right pieces and finishing them correctly. I've had the 3 drawer version of that dresser pictured for about 4 years now and it still looks brand new-- and that's with 2 kids wailing on it. I got it because I knew the glossy laminate finish would repel crayon and marker and BOY does it! We used wood glue when assembling it (I had no intentions of ever taking it apart again), and I also went a step further and put a coat of gloss paint on all the raw wood in the drawers. My friend on the other hand (no children) bought the dark wood version a year and a half ago, just used standard assembly and is already looking to replace it because its falling apart.

3 and 4 all the way!!

sleepy dog-- I still use my ikea duvet from high school. it has a great modern print and has worn really well over time. my second duvet cover is a newer ikea print (the cheapest one) and it also has been holding up well. it's not precious fabric of course, but it does the job and looks nice!

feeling the hate-on (and love!) for ikea with this one!
I love (love love love!) Ikea and have since I was a freakish 10 year old that memorized the names, prices, and pages of the ikea catalogue every year.

I don't judge people who spend 1000's of dollars on furniture or spend a great deal of time scouring thrift stores for great pieces (which I also do, and 90% of those pieces were once bought from a retail store as well), so I'd really appreciate not being judged for not wanting (or being able to) to do the same. Inspiration and creativity comes in many different packages.
To each their own!

I'm with Abstractionist. My Ikea stuff has always moved with me gracefully. Very little damage and nothing not repairable. Which, quite frankly, I've been surprised by, given everyone who says it falls apart.

It probably really does depend on what you buy, but I, for one, have never had any problems.

Also, I like that Ikea has done this as well. Buy classic (or at least neutral) furniture. It's better for the planet and the wallet in the long run.

"I can't believe people actually have Ikea furniture from the 90's! " wow what do you actually DO to your furniture ? I'm no fan of Ikea, I furnished my mostly flat with street treasures and custom-made furniture but even I do have an Ikea cabinet from my teenage bedroom (it is thus 13 years old ouch) and my desk still is at my parents and looks just fine. When you choose furniture at IKEA, goodwill or in the street, just choose quality, the planet will thank you.

This is a makeover. The purpose of a makeover is to "make"-"over" an existing structure/space with cosmetic changes i.e. the way a facial makeover doesn't require one to get a nose-job or chin implant but rather change the tones and colors one applies to his/her existing face. (I don't really wear much makeup but you take my point!).

The distinction is between "makeover" and "renovation" -- the former is cosmetic, the latter structural.

That said, I'm not crazy about any of these truth be told. They all look very, very Ikea to me. I get that that's the point from Ikea's perspective, but I agree with some of the other postings here that to make these rooms really pop you'd absolutely want to pepper it with natural and/or found objects to add warmth and character.

#3 . . . the black and white room. Classic.

My mother worked for a law firm as a librarian, one of the (young) lawyers was telling her about (the lawyer's) new home, and how they'd furnished it with Ikea - because we can change it & throw it out later, when we have more money. Mum didn't bother telling said lawyer that she & dad were saving for a new lounge from Ikea, and that the previous one had lasted about 15 years. It's not necessarily the furniture that is trashy...
& using a catalogue for ideas doesnt mean they're forcing you to buy their stuff.

People I know who bought IKEA a decade or more ago got some long-lasting pieces. The few things I purchased a couple of years ago are falling apart and I'm having to superglue them together. I think the quality has declined in the last few years.

And what's the point of shopping Goodwill only to buy someone else's nasty 80s peeling laminate dresser or desk.

Really good furniture is out of reach for most people.

I like the red themed makeover best. That far wall still needs something though. It looks too empty!

I love Ikea...great affordable design that really is the "gateway drug" for better quality furniture at some point in ones life. That being said, any one of the photos could have been in my local Ikea store, so they don't seem much like makeovers...more like photos that didn't make the catalog.

I don't care that is features ikea furniture although I have had both very good and very very poor experiences with ikea. But I do love the idea of changing accessories to change the mood of the room. It's something that i picked up from my mother. Changing pillows, throws, curtains, bedding, and other items to change the room without having to change furniture. She of course made a lot of the items herself so the cost of having these items was low.

I have mostly Craigslist finds, hand-me-downs, and some nice vintage pieces I bought on my own. But I did buy some Ikea furniture for my bedroom because of a very tight, winding staircase that leads to our bedroom upstairs (we live in an old farmhouse that has a few quirks). I had to either get ready-to-assemble furniture to put together in our room, or buy 10 tiny dressers to fit all our stuff up those stairs. And it's the Hemnes line shown in the images, but in the black/brown color. It's nice and does the job.

I think everyone has different needs and different tastes, and I would no sooner criticize someone who buys Ikea stuff for their home than criticize someone who spends thousands on a table or dresser or whatever.

I like #5. It's interesting to see what you can do with a blank slate, and how you can add your own touch.

I love the one about using glue when assembling furniture. As classy as press-on nails...

Making the bed would have been the best change-up in these photos.

Do stagers think that these unmade beds are sexy?

Let's see, we have five furniture items from IKEA, and not a single complaint about any. (Can't say that about West Elm.) So much depends, as Suzy8track pointed out, in how much care went into assembly.

I am digging #3. Although, all of them are wonderful. It is great how brown and black work together to bring sophistication.

I've got a couple of different Ikea duvet covers (mostly purchased on sale for about $20), so when I get bored with my room I change the bedding and it's a different look for a while!

I think it's funny that the lamp cord is always down the side of the dresser when it could so easily be tucked behind. Is that, like, "new and casual"?

I have one piece of IKEA from the mid 80s that has done several house moves plus been shipped internationally and it is still as strong as it ever was. My 10 yr old IKEA bed has now done 3 moves and is just fine too. Maybe the US gets sent the worst quality product? Who knows.

I don't mind having IKEA basics because, as these pics show, you can then dress the room with interesting pieces ...so I'll buy an IKEA sofa because I can then buy the lamp that I covet from Artemide(because guess what I see when I sit on my sofa...and it's not my sofa!)

Of the photos above though, 'Before' gets my vote.

When I look at the photos, I want to replace the furniture! I hate to say it, but no amount of nice bedding or cute little flowers by the bedside is going to make that furniture look like it's not Ikea. I love the idea of making do with what one has and would love to see this project done with real furniture. Doesn't have to be designer furniture, even a hand-me-down or street find. My boyfriend has some Ikea furniture and it is junk, especially the Billy bookcase, which has sagging shelves despite proper assembly. His Malm bed we had to retrofit with a piece of metal to prevent the slats from falling to the floor during sexy times.

This essentially only proves that white furniture is very versatile to dress up.

I agree... This is not a makeover. Take into account that it is 1. A set and not a real room. 2. It is taken with professional lighting at the perfect angle. 3. It's not showing any inventive way of changing your furniture in a DIY way it's just showing you how to buy more ikea products.

I find it funny how many people hate the furniture because it looks like Ikea furniture, i.e. the Scandinavian clean&simple style. Well, to me it just means you don't like this style, the same like I don't like traditional American style furniture or houses. Also, recognizing that a piece is from Ikea probably means you are very familiar with their catalog and maybe visit it quite often. Well, I once heard that the only other book on earth that was present in people's homes as often as the bible was the Ikea catalog...so...
I mean, I don't care if it is an Ikea chair or an Eames chair, if it is comfortable and looks good. Mind you, also, I have fallen in love with an Eames chair just as I once fell in love with an Ikea one.

As others have pointed, the point of the photos is to see how you can do a makeover, or create a different feeling in a room by paying attention to the fabrics and small things. I know that very well, as I traveled much in college and changed many dorm rooms and apartments. Numerous times people would comment on how cozy and nice my dorm room was, and how different from everybody else's - even though their room had exactly the same furniture, the same wall color. The secret was a few fabric pieces (color!), something nice on the wall, a living plant or a vase with some twigs, maybe a few bottles transformed into candle holders, etc.

And again, it seems ridiculous to me to criticize the pics for using Ikea pieces, and not, say DIY stuff....well, guys, Ikea meant to show you what you can do with their stuff, and also to inspire you to use any other stuff. And sometimes you don't have time or resources for DIY. I will never forget my first Ikea purchase. My first day in Barcelona as a volunteer, I was really depressed by the look of my dorm room. I hated it and couldn't endure it for more than a day. What solved it: a trip to Ikea to buy colorful bedsheets that would match the all-beige room, a few empty wine bottles to hold some ivy twigs and 2 candles, and a collection of post-card size prints - reproductions of some 17 century botanical drawings. One of my scarves transformed the lamp, and another replaced the drab curtain. In a few days I had my dorm-mates coming to check out my room, because someone told them it felt so nice inside. I believe that if you change the way a room feels, that counts as a makeover.

I love #2, it is nice and cozy.

Most of my furniture was free from relatives or friends, but it is also good quality. I pass on most free laminate items, but will snatch up free solid wood pieces. A bit of paint or stripper and varnish and they look great.
The 1980's couch has no style, but it is solid and comfortable enough to sleep on.

It's not about the amount of money spent, it is about choosing well and treating your pieces nicely when moving.

Dang, a lot of IKEA hate here. Good thing I'm not so pretentious to snub my nose at affordable furniture -- being fresh out of college, I don't exactly have a billion dollars to spend on eames chairs and tiffany lamps, and i really dont think anyone is judging me for it. sheesh.

I find it so bizarre how much people on this site criticize ikea. If one of your criticisms is that all of these look "so ikea," then obviously you've shopped there, looked at the catalog, etc. enough to know that, so why are you dissing it?

This is an ikea ad, people!!! Do you criticize other ads for promoting their products? Their point is not to dispose of their furniture, accessorize it differently.

I personally have had great luck with ikea. Is it solid wood, handmade furniture that will be passed down for generations? Of course not. Will it last most of my lifetime (or least my daughter's childhood)? Yes.

Like others have said, people need to have places to sleep, sit, eat, and store belongings and can't always wait for that "perfect" piece. Also, many people don't live in big cities with great craigslist finds. I have regularly scoured mine for the 3 years I have lived here and have yet to find anything worth purchasing. Same with goodwill, etc. Yes, if I had the time to scour flea markets, garage sales, etc. constantly, I could find more unique pieces, and I do this when I can.

But, hello, do any of these people have children? Ikea is good style at an affordable price. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but don't look down on people or criticize them for owning ikea furniture.

We will never have the money, even with careful saving, to buy the kinds of unique pieces that we would ideally love. That's the price you pay for choosing careers that are meaningful to you and yet don't pay super well. I have developed a personal, unique collection of home furnishings over time, too, but I love that ikea exists to furnish reality.

I like #3. I have my share of Ikea furniture, and honestly, department store furniture is no better quality. I have a bookshelf from Sears Home that has dramatically sagging shelves. Yes, I would love to have funky cool thrift store finds with designer flare, but as many times as I visit Value Village, I have yet to stumble upon anything fantastic.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the comment about glue and press-on nails... What's wrong with glue? My grandfather made solid wood furniture and all the joins were glued. Granted, it is important to use wood glue, and wipe up any excess that oozes out, but I thought all good carpentry was glued.

Yes, I wondered about that, too. Joints, pegs, and glue are fine, it's staples and nails that are red flags.

I adore Ikea, because they have given me an outlet to change up my rooms without spending way to much! I like room look#2 the most but, I think its because I have that duvet set lol

I have this furniture. I absolutely love it. I've dressed it up really well, I think, and have added a lot to it by the art I hang on the walls and the colors I use throughout the room. It all moved with me cross country. Everything Assembled, Disassembled, and then Assembled again. The only item that suffered was a bookcase and that was the mover's fault, not the weakness of the furniture. Everything else looks great and is sturdy. And I'm betting that person who's bed collapsed just didn't go to the trouble to get some planks cut to support the mattress. Those metal supports aren't really enough, but they want you to buy their support systems anyway.

Ikea is a base. You add the character with other things.

@Janel Laban, #3 is my favorite. Thank you for posting this great illustration of how one can create different looks & moods. What better place to do this than in the most intimate/personal place in the home? Your writing expressed your purpose in posting these photos with clarity & eloquence ... encouraging readers to take a chance & experiment with accessories, texture, color, lighting, etc.

I’m sorry that you have received so many negative comments & don’t understand it. I imagine you read those comments & thought “Did you actually READ my title & explanation before commenting/criticizing? I explained all of this already!”

- IKEA hatred - If someone hates IKEA ... why would they even click to “read more” of a post with the word “IKEA” in it? Your post title is crystal clear “Before & After(s): 1 Bedroom, 5 DIFFERENT IKEA MAKEOVERS”.
- Complaints about the products all being from IKEA – Again ... the title of the post says it all. So why complain that all the products are from IKEA?

Take all that with a grain of salt. Your post is an encouraging spring-board for even more expression ... if someone sees that they can express their style with such diversity at one store, how much more style can be expressed if one uses items from a variety of stores, resale shops, estate sales, websites, inherited items or DIY.

@ Anna Bananna, I agree totally! The fact that the bedroom set in this post is white reminds me of my daughter’s room & the transformation there over the years. Now that she anticipates going to college soon, I am reminded of how important it is to bring & choose items (old & new) to transform a blank slate/dorm room into home or haven ... a warm transition for a student away from home. I hope she enjoys transforming her dorm as you did.

As a teenager, my parents blessed me with a new, white, solid wood bedroom set that had clean lines, silver hardware & somewhat Asian style to it. I loved it & made it mine. I have fond memories of looking for linens. When my mom & I didn’t find what we were looking for, we had fun shopping for sheets which were used to make my curtains, valence, chair cushion, shams & bedspread were all made from those sheets! My first sewing project ... a patchwork pillow has squares of those striped, multi-colored sheets in it. My daughter loved the furniture & has enjoyed it over the years. She first enjoyed it in my parents’ home when she visited her grandparents a few weeks each summer. I have photos of my mom reading to her in that bed as a toddler. She loved it enough for us to ship it to our own home & made it hers with different linens; but, kept my original chair cushion cover & pillow. Make it yours ... make memories!