This 1921 cottage had a tiny, 75-square-foot kitchen that needed a little TLC. After finding a charming cast iron sink, Alison O’Reilly knew exactly what to DIY — a beautiful sink combination with her antique Hoosier cabinet.

Mary Zenker, founder of Shaker Home Studio, put off renovating her family bathroom for as long as possible. But plumbing issues forced the family to say goodbye to the butter yellow tiles and hello to a calming retreat.

A color consultant discovered a bright cobalt blue Victorian fireplace boarded up in her 1890s home office — and it pulled the whole room together.

When this couple moved in, they redid the guest bathroom with a geometric accent wall. Years later, they’ve learned a thing or two and decided to redo the space with bold, colorful details — completely DIYed.

Working with her landlord’s permission, she made five simple swaps that changed everything about her kitchen.

Artist Maggie Beckett already had her dream NYC apartment. But when her husband moved in, the space needed an update to reflect both of their personalities. Their tiny bedroom with no closet space was the perfect place to experiment with an IKEA PAX DIY nook and landscape mural.

An all-gray living room had no privacy, but the interior designer, Rainbow Shaker, created a colorful, sun-lit space with privacy for a London-based family.

After getting a quote for $15,000, Bre Okoren decided to DIY the patio to fit her $2,000 budget. She loved hosting friends and family, and wanted to recreate a space that offered warmth and connection.

First-time homeowners transformed their 1800s Italianate home and color-drenched the dining room after extensive research to find a historically accurate color. They used a bold Roman Clay shade that they later found out was original to the house’s dining room, too — making it meant to be.

As a New York City renter, Sarah Ingle had to pick her battles when renovating her tiny bathroom. She left the frosted glass shower but added warm textures, colors, and unique wall decor.

As a college graduate, I had officially moved out — it was time to say goodbye and let my parents have the home they always wanted post-kids.

DIYer Amanda Oleri and carpenter Jason Staebler wanted to add unique charm to their 1980s kitchen, while including a fun spice-storage solution. The couple’s DIY spice cabinet went viral for the smart storage solution.

TJ’s Dwellings & Designs took a “dark and unusable” Jack and Jill bathroom and turned it into a stylishly elevated space for the homeowners to unwind in — while still honoring the 1910 bungalow’s character and era.

For this family of five, the laundry room was the most used space in the house — but it wasn’t working for them when they first moved in. Now, it’s filled with even more storage, organization, and joy.

Jill Arden Lukeman, a Connecticut-based interior designer and owner of The Mariner and the Muse, transformed her 1920s cottage and turned the downstairs bathroom into a fun, “feminine” moment.

A Wisconsin 1928 bungalow needed some TLC and elbow grease, and when it came to Maudie Francek and Ronnie’s bedroom, they combined their love of the outdoors with mid-century modern style to create a “cozy minimal” space that restored the home’s character.

Only took 6 hours, $250, and some elbow grease.

An interior curator put his bed in his loft’s cubby and color-drenched the space. By adding an IKEA PAX wardrobe, Kiron Thomas maximized his creative space and gave himself a separate, relaxing area to wind down each night.

This "forgettable" and "emotionally flat" entryway turned into a fun, joyful welcome that set the tone for the rest of the house.

Four builder-grade bathrooms become magical and personality-filled after an interior designer made two easy swaps that matched the client’s business goals for Maeve House.

A couple’s cottage in Door County, Wisconsin, didn’t have a garage for storage, so they created a potting shed for their tools. Now, it’s a “beautiful” space they enjoy beyond gardening.

This dining room was only used once a year — now it’s used daily as a family room because the owners recognized what their home needed.

A couple bought a 1920s Foursquare home fixer-upper and doubled the size of the bathroom, adding a soaking tub and walk-in shower.

Sarahli Wilcox, a DIY influencer, used secondhand tiles to create a mosaic-style flooring. It saved her gazebo’s concrete flooring and only cost $400.

TJ’s Dwellings & Designs needed to take an “outdated” bathroom and turn it into a personality-filled space that could work as both the primary and guest bathroom.

A small rental backyard had several hiccups during renovation, but after being nearly doubled in size, it's the coziest garden escape. With trellises, an IKEA loveseat, and renter-friendly hacks.

With colorful interior cabinets, fun tile flooring, and new appliances, it feels like a whole new kitchen.

A designer renovated his 1980s cabin’s bathroom — blending mid-century modern tiles with fully restored redwood paneling.

It was a forgotten two-foot space, but now it's a breath of fresh air this spring.

Kara Hobbs used a few existing items from the room and added bold colors to create an engaging space to rest, read, and play.

“We transformed a yard with a chain-link fence and no privacy into an oasis,” says Rebecca Taylor, a food stylist, photographer, and content creator living in Ojai, California, with her partner, Max. Over the past four years, they’d been slowly remodeling their 1960s ranch-style home, but their overgrown yard became neglected while they focused on making the inside of the house a place where the three of them (including their dog, Oli) could start a life together.

The Michigan-based interior designer hand-painted a floral design on her bedroom walls — adding a stunning detail to her creative, lived-in family home.

IKEA hacks are an enduring form of creativity and ingenuity. With some strategic purchases and a can-do attitude, these skillful DIYers take budget-friendly and accessible pieces and turn them into custom-looking pieces with three-dollar-sign style. These 10 IKEA hacks take that familiar and austere Swedish construction and turn it into something luxe and high-end (without the high-end price tag). Read on for inspo for your next budget-friendly project!