Empty closet with open louvered doors, a safe, and a cluttered desk with papers and electronics.
Here’s a Before and After We’ve Never Seen: A Balcony Becomes a Bathroom
We’ve seen plenty of impressive room conversion Before & Afters—closet to nursery, kitchen-turned-bedroom, closet to mudroom—but a balcony-to-bathroom renovation is definitely a first. The space was languishing as a slightly awkward office, when what the family really needed was a bathroom. They wisely turned to the pros for help. Let’s take a look at the full-length “Before,” so we can see both the wood-paneled sloped ceiling and the beige carpet.
Mar 22, 2018
Before and After: This Bedroom Actually Makes Beige Carpet Look Good
When a DIY enthusiast moved from British Columbia to Toronto to be with her husband, she knew something had to be done about his nearly empty bedroom. Perhaps some bedside lights and a few throw pillows? Or would an entirely fresh start—new marriage, new city, new home—be more appropriate? Now this is a breath of fresh air! This gorgeous makeover was conceived and executed by Kamaldeep kaur Jawanda of Get Kamfortable, and the result is so airily gorgeous.
Mar 21, 2018
Before & After: A San Francisco Gem Goes From Funky & Disjointed to Enviably Cohesive
From disjointed and funky to completely enviable.
Mar 19, 2018
Before & After: From Neglected Garage to an Enviably Gorgeous Airbnb
This humble garage was transformed into a hot vacation spot
Mar 16, 2018
Before and After: A Budget Fix for a Tired, Old Linoleum Floor
Haven’t we all had a kitchen with this floor at some point—a faded, yellowed, aggressively patterned linoleum that’s nearly impossible to decorate around and incredibly expensive to replace? What kind of floor should it be replaced with that would be worthy of that beautiful paneling, table, and chairs? A concrete floor is a fabulous solution! But installing a concrete floor is surely a major undertaking best tackled by a professional, right?
Mar 13, 2018
Before and After: A Three-Week $500 Kitchen Facelift
The materials in this kitchen appear to all be of high quality — stainless steel, pretty wood cabinets and floors, granite countertop—but I can also understand why reader Devann referred to this kitchen as “bland brown-on-brown-on-brown.” Sometimes even the most beautiful finishes need contrast in order to shine! Here’s a full-length shot of the original kitchen and Devann’s description of it: Before, our kitchen was very monotone.
Mar 12, 2018
Before and After: An Empty Entryway is Now a Functional Triple Threat
This shoe storage had its issues — scuffs, unpainted areas, general ricketiness — but it’s still better than my Heap O’Shoes. Can the less-than-ideal but serviceable shoe storage racks be improved upon? Is attractive, accessible, adaptable, practical shoe storage actually possible? We shall see. This is amazing! It looks incredibly cool, and the shoes are within easy reach of both the door and the shoe-putting-on bench.
Mar 11, 2018
Before and After: An Easy, Low Risk Way to Go Bold and Big in a Small Bathroom
Here’s a perfectly fine, perfectly plain bathroom! The sink is cute, the walls look like they’re freshly painted, everything is fine—but could this bathroom perhaps become something beyond fine, maybe even fabulous? This is so fun! Small bathrooms—this is a half-bath—are the perfect place to go bold and go big.
Mar 9, 2018
Before and After: This $200 Peel-N-Stick Kitchen Redo is All Sorts of Amazing
This project has so much going for it: it was done for less than $200! It was done in a rental! It features faux DIY granite countertops and a covetable KitchenAid! (Mixer obviously not included in the $200 total.) Click through and get dangerously inspired. I love this! The pink + celadon + white + gold combination is comfortingly and charmingly vintage, but the clean lines of the cabinet doors, handles, and subway tiles keep things modern.
Mar 5, 2018
Before and After: A Masterful Master Closet Makeover
This is another in a series of bravely honest closet photos that have been submitted lately—such as this one—and we cherish each and every one. Keep sending your unfiltered closet pics so the rest of us can be wildly inspired by your brilliant closet makeovers! But before we admire the closet now, let’s get a full-length view of the closet before . . .
Feb 25, 2018
Before and After: Another Gorgeous Use For a Cheap Placemat
What a lovely placemat! It would be great for protecting a table or beautifying a table or . . . that’s pretty much it. A throw pillow, you say? Well, now I’ve heard everything! This is so pretty! I’m now convinced that placemats (which I generally have no use for) are made to be pillows. They’re generally nice and sturdy, as well as being just the right size.
Feb 24, 2018
Before & After: One of The Best $2K Bathroom Makeovers We’ve Ever Seen
Wow. This is one of those makeovers that you can’t believe was done on a budget. The results are so impressive, and the new bathroom looks like a million bucks. We shouldn’t be surprised, however, since Kristine has shared some equally impressive DIY projects in the past, including this gorgeous dresser refresh and jaw-dropping cabinet transformation.
Feb 22, 2018
Before and After: An Endlessly Satisfying $100 Closet Makeover
This is one of the most inspiring types of projects: it was done for approximately $100, it includes a detailed budget breakdown, it is neither glamorous nor thrilling, both the before and the after photos were taken in the same artificial light, and it hugely improved someone’s quality of everyday life. May we all tackle similarly approachable yet satisfying projects! Let’s explore. It’s so much brighter now! Well done, Old House To New Home.
Feb 21, 2018
Before and After: A Dramatic “Renovation Free” Kitchen Redo
Although Charlotte says, “A full kitchen renovation was never in our budget,” you’ll be astounded by the changed appearance of this “renovation-free” kitchen. With a few clever moves and a lot of paint, it went from super ’70s to marvelously modern. Check out what it looks like now… Wow! This makeover was done by Charlotte of At Charlotte’s House, and the most dramatic changes were the painting of the cabinets and walls (au revoir, chartreuse!
Feb 19, 2018
30 Ways to Remake the IKEA MOPPE Mini Storage Chest
The MOPPE is one of IKEA’s most popular products, and it’s not hard to see why: it offers six storage compartments for $16.99, it’s made of attractive minimal birch plywood, it’s eminently stainable and paintable, and its drawers can be reversed to hide the opening notches. As one featured DIYer put it, it’s a perfect craft victim. Here are 30 ways to make the MOPPE — freshly available after a much-lamented hiatus — your own.
Feb 18, 2018
Before and After: The $100 Closet-Turned-Mudroom Makeover
Other than the John Malkovich/Narnia door in the back, this was a totally ordinary closet. Thanks to a clever vision, some spatial strategizing, and a bunch of affordable accessories from IKEA and Target, this closet is now a super-handy mini-mudroom — and the whole makeover cost less than $100. For such a small space — just 3’x3.75′ — this room now contains an enormous amount of super-smart storage.
Feb 17, 2018
Before and After: An Unbelievable $5K Kitchen Renovation
This kitchen has an enviable amount of storage, but that same storage — the hanging cabinets — make the room feel a bit claustrophobic and dark, and make the counters less accessible than would be ideal.
Feb 14, 2018
Before and After: A Shabby, Barely-There Bathroom Gets Its Due
This bathroom was an afterthought—the cottage didn’t have a bathroom for decades!—and it’s finally gotten the love and attention that every room should have. Watch it go from “the cheapest materials available,” exterior paneling (!), and a very casually laid linoleum floor to a bright, inviting room full of mid-century modern charm . . . It’s so cute now!
Feb 13, 2018
Before and After: The Show-Stopping Magic of Amazing Tile
Those of you who are absolutely sick of white bathrooms with white floors, white walls, and white fixtures are going to LOVE this renovation. However, all you fans of black sinks are in for some heartbreak . . . This is an astounding makeover! The geometric tile is completely irresistible, and I love the playful choice to apply it to the floor and one wall. The mid-century modern vanity and fascinating tub pop against the blue backdrop; the hues are perfectly complementary.
Feb 12, 2018
Before and After: A Rotting Bathroom Is Now Beautifully Rustic
Melanie bought a house that was previously a rental for many years, and the bathroom was just not loved and cared for all that time. Not only was the space ugly, it had some real issues, including potential mold. When she and her husband renovated, the only thing they kept was the tub (and even that was refinished) … Wow! The bathroom is now so graphic and modern, that little sink is the cutest thing ever, and the vanity is ridiculously cool.
Feb 9, 2018
Buyer Beware or Bad Rap: Should You Avoid Builder Grade?
If you google “builder grade,” you’ll see a ton of posts celebrating basic rooms getting a major upgrade—or getting the boot entirely. The builder grade materials in questions will inevitably be described as “sad,” “generic,” “cheap,” “boring,” and, in some cases, “orange-y.” But are builder grade materials all bad? What even are they? Let’s explore… Let’s start with the basics.
Feb 8, 2018
Before & After: A Newly Renovated Apartment Gets An Unbelievable Redo
What was stark and modern is now warm, inviting and basically, our dream apartment.
Feb 7, 2018
How to Unclog a Shower Drain Like a Boss
These ten methods will keep your bathtub and shower truly clean, inside and out.
Feb 3, 2018
Before & After: A Remarkable $1,300 Kitchen Facelift
We feature a lot of amazing kitchen projects, but this kitchen makeover might just have the very best dollars-to-damn ratio yet. It went from oh-so-’70s to totally timeless, thanks to some hard work, tile bravery, and some stickers. So charming! I love the interplay of the hexagonal tiles of the backsplash and the ornately patterned floor tiles. The combination of black, white, grey, and stainless is fresh and modern, while the wood counters add warmth and coziness.
Jan 29, 2018
Before and After: This IKEA Desk Just Defied Its Humble Beginnings
There are tons of IKEA furniture hacks out there—always fun!—but this is one of the subtler, classier ones we’ve seen. Individualizing the ubiquitous MICKE desk is a totally approachable project—and just as affordable as the desk itself. This linen-wrapped desk (less-costly cotton could also be used, of course) was featured on Lark & Linen, along with extremely thorough step-by-step instructions.
Jan 28, 2018
Before and After: A Clever “Wall Plus Headboard in One”
We featured Malcolm’s epic small kitchen renovation earlier this week, but couldn’t resist sharing another DIY project from his condo. In less than a week (while being sick as a dog), he installed new wainscoting that transformed a second bedroom into a guest-ready retreat. Not only is it a subtle yet striking architectural statement, but no additional headboard is needed.
Jan 24, 2018
A “Kinda-Tavern” Basement Gets Reimagined Into a Modern Retreat
Welcome to Design Doctors, our new series in which two designers offer expert prescriptions to readers who need help with a room in their home. These are not full renovations being suggested, but rather approachable, generally affordable changes that can be made by laypeople. The doctors are in! In this second installment, we have a basement that the owner describes as, “A half-timbered dingy cream stucco kinda tavern.
Jan 23, 2018
Before and After: It’s Hard to Believe This is the Same House
As nice as it is to see Before & After projects that seem totally approachable—$15 under-cabinet lighting, a refreshed bathroom—aspirational whole-house renovations are highly entertaining and inspiring. And that’s exactly what we have today: a “bland, boring ’60s ranch” gets a total—and totally amazing—makeover. If you’re having a hard time orienting yourself in this room, it’s because it used to be two rooms and an attic.
Jan 23, 2018
Before & After: A Mauve Toilet Meets Its End
Scuffed mauve toilet, periwinkle walls, mauve sink, pebbled glass shower door, yellowed shower stall—what’s not to love? Well, perhaps a few tiny updates might be in order here… Ahhhh, much better! I know there are those of you who dislike white-centric makeovers (I always love them), but in this case, the interplay between the mostly white walls and the mostly black floor is so fun and vibrant, and the room really pops.
Jan 8, 2018
Before and After: An Unbelievably Quick Kitchen Update
This kitchen has quite a bit of vintage charm, and all that white certainly does a great job reflecting the sunlight pouring in from the window. And there’s nothing better than a window over the dishwashing sink, but the room could definitely use a little something. Fortunately, that certain something was do-able in a single week.
Jan 4, 2018
Before and After: A Dreamy New Kitchen For a New Year
This particular kitchen project was a major undertaking: new appliances, new flooring, new cabinetry, new countertops, new backsplashes, and a host of other major adjustments. Despite the dramatic changes, the new kitchen fits into the home perfectly and makes the most of the available space and light. Interiors Addict has done such a lovely job with this room.
Jan 2, 2018
Before and After: A Cramped to Spacious Studio Makeover
This renovation is very near and dear to my heart, having lived in many studio apartments, including one that was nearly identical to this one in size, configuration, and location. Watch this 300-square-foot studio go from dingy and cramped to bright and seemingly spacious. Laurie Jones, of Laurie Jones Home & Lifestyle, designed and executed this remodel for her daughter: The before is what every apartment looks like in Wrigleyville.
Dec 27, 2017
Before and After: This Kitchen Was a Rat-Infested Nightmare
Sometimes, when people describe a room as “a nightmare,” they’re talking about shag carpeting or hideous laminate or cheesy ’80s style. Today’s kitchen sounds like the stuff of actual nightmares—read on lest you think I’m talking about the blue-mustard color combo you see here. (But don’t worry—the space now is totally dreamy.) What a difference a new everything makes!
Dec 19, 2017
Before & After: A Kitchen Goes from Beige to Bright
This kitchen had so much going for it—high, wainscoted ceilings, gorgeous black countertops, tons of cabinet space—but it needed a little something. Does that something involve pineapples? Perhaps… This renovation by change & co is one of the few Before & After projects we’ve seen recently in which so many of the original elements have been retained. The countertops, faucet, and fridge are all the same, and the cabinetry and island were simply repainted.
Dec 2, 2017
Before & After: A Living Room Goes From Perfectly Fine to Flat-Out Perfect
See? Wow! Some of the changes in Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth’s living room are ambitious and intimidating—the wainscoting, the (SPOILER ALERT) fireplace—but others are more doable while still having a major effect. Swapping out the art, throw pillows, and accessories made such a difference, and the new sofa and rug turned a cozy living room into a dreamy, airy space.
Nov 7, 2017
Daybeds, Murphy Beds & More You Can Make Yourself
The holidays often mean houseguests, so start preparing now. If you’re the type who prefers to make something rather than buy something, check out these DIY projects for daybeds, Murphy beds, trundle beds, and more – you’ll have enough room for everyone to sleep and sit.
Nov 6, 2017
Buying A Sofa Online Seemed Risky, But It Was The Best Thing Ever
My family and I live in a remote area—the nearest town has 200 people—so when it came time to replace our falling-apart sofa, our IRL shopping options were very limited unless we wanted to devote our lives to driving to furniture stores. The closest shops were perfectly respectable but lacked a certain flair. It seemed like ordering a sofa online was our only good option, and I’m thrilled it was, because it ended up working out great.
Nov 1, 2017
Before & After: This “Tuscan Cottage” Kitchen Is No More
This kitchen has a few issues that my own kitchen has—mismatched countertops, cottage-style details, cabinets stained a color I don’t care for—so I was so curious to see how it was improved. Perhaps there would be a few ideas I could steal! Alas, the makeover is so total, so incredible, that it’s a level of transformation to which I can’t currently aspire. But perhaps you can? Read on for a gorgeous transformation!
Oct 24, 2017
Calling All Collectibles: Inspiring Ways To Display Your Treasures
Whether you collect Pez dispensers, straw hats, heart-shaped rocks, or anything else on earth, you probably want to corral your treasures in an attractive, efficient fashion. These 15 examples, including detailed DIYs, might inspire you to put your beloved collection on display at last. The upper edge of this large-scale frame is the perfect spot to line up an impressive collection of Pez dispensers.
Oct 18, 2017
Are People Really Painting Their Walls White For Insta-Stardom?
The Wall Street Journal recently published a story with a simple yet shocking premise: “To make their home interiors look better on Instagram and amass more followers, millennials and social-media mavens are painting their walls white.” What do you think of that? What do we think of that?
Oct 12, 2017
We’ve Accepted that Hat Galleries are a Thing. Here’s How to Make One
Our hats are off (sorry) to this popular and DIY-able decor.
Sep 30, 2017
Is Aldi (Yes, the Budget Grocer) The Next Decor Haven?
When I moved to a small town and first encountered an Aldi, I did not understand it. There was, like, one employee working? And you had to pay a quarter for a cart (you get back the quarter, but still, good to know beforehand in case you don’t normally have change on you)? After a couple more visits, however, I was in love, and Aldi is now my favorite grocery store. It’s chock-full of incredibly low-priced food, wine and beyond, and the selection changes constantly.
Sep 29, 2017
Is Hygge Still A Thing? We Investigate.
Hygge was one of Oxford Dictionary’s Words of the Year in 2016, when the concept of conscious coziness was everywhere. Apartment Therapy featured What Does Hygge Mean?, How To Add More Hygge, Hygge Can Be A Recipe For A Happy Life, Hooked On A (Hygge) Feeling…and a handful of other hygge-theme posts. (We also ran Hygge and Hot Chocolate way back in 2007.) But as we head into fall 2017, does the Danish philosophy still have a hold on us?
Sep 25, 2017
On the Market: Old Houses Under $200K with Woodwork to Die For
Real estate daydreaming is one of the most enjoyable pastimes: you can envision all the lives you’d lead, all the outfits you’d wear, and all the updates and improvements you’d make without being confined by budget, building codes, or reality. Here are a dozen homes currently on the market for under $200,000, all of them fixer-uppers of varying degrees, all of them featuring ridiculously beautiful, ornate, and irreplaceable original woodwork.
Sep 23, 2017
How To Light Up Boring Lampshades: 12 DIY Ideas
I love lamp, but now I can love my lampshades too!
Aug 17, 2017
From Über-Ambitious to Super-Simple: Privacy Fences & Screens You Can Make Yourself
Got some outdoor space — a teeny balcony, deluxe patio, humble patch of grass, or minimalist concrete pad? Congratulations! Now that you’re part of the landed gentry, you’ll want some privacy. Block prying eyes, wind, and sun with these DIYs, ranging from projects requiring power tools I’ve never heard of to tutorials that amount to basically, “zip a zip tie” and “dig a hole.
Jul 21, 2017
13 Smart & Stylish Products to Up Your Bathroom Storage
Keeping bathroom ephemera organized—and possibly even attractive—requires constant vigilance, ruthless culling, and the right tools. This baker’s dozen of bins, caddies, shelves, and hooks will keep all of your supplies in order, whether on display for easy access or tucked away for privacy reasons. As seen in Ana and Patrick’s bathroom, above, a storage ladder can provide a ton of attractive storage on a small footprint.
Jun 8, 2017
Eke Out More Space: Put Your Windowsills to Work
It's like instantly adding more square footage without even trying.
Apr 11, 2017