Before After

“I really like the feel of an old library, but I also love some elements of more modern style,” the apartment owner says.

It’s entirely DIY.

“My plants love it,” the DIYer says.

The built-in bookshelves are so dreamy.

The bedroom "before" looked nice, too, but the homeowner was ready for a change of pace.

The paint color is perfect.

The mural was improvised.

“Everything had to be renter-friendly,” the DIYer says.

Even though you might not live in a rental home forever, that doesn’t mean you have to grin and bear it if you’re not loving the look and feel. There are plenty of smart ways you can update a space in a reversible, temporary way. Renter Sarah Bryant (@sarahlouwho) knows this well. After moving into a charming 1901 apartment in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, Sarah decided to make some changes to what she guessed was an “early 2000s” kitchen.

Leaning into color — not away from it — will make a space feel calm, according to this DIYer.

It’s good for more than just the garden.

Get ready to drool over the wood detailing, roof color, dog statues, and dreamy fall backdrop.

It was inspired by something from the designer’s yard.

This is proof that a small budget can make a big impact.

“I’ve just been craving something new in the living room,” the DIYer says.

It’s forest-inspired.

A basic big-box find becomes stylish shoe storage with striking stripes.

It looks so sophisticated.

“It makes me happy every time I open the front door or walk into the living room,” the DIYer says.

“It 100% paid off,” the homeowner says.

The cabinet was free from Facebook Marketplace.

Plus, the homeowner wanted to create a “boudoir” vibe!

“I love curvy furniture,” the apartment dweller says. “I like things that are kind of playful.”

It's so much brighter.

Goodbye, cabinets. Hello, bright bathroom.

The gist of this project is straightforward: Assemble a BILLY, then surround it with trim.

The original East Atlanta garage was built in 1950, but you’d never be able to tell because the space is so modern now.

The homeowner saved up for four years to make it happen.

Paint for the win!

The tub is the same one as before — just refinished — and the tiles are stunning.

The homeowner wanted to lean into color wheel opposites.

Everything “feels like it belongs in a cottage,” the homeowner says.

See how the “builder-grade, landlord-special kitchen” took a turn for the colorful and whimsical.

This homeowner loves her little galley kitchen — she’s totally over open-concept.

I’m in love with the look.

“It caught my eye in the store, and no one could talk me out of it,” the homeowner says of her tile. “Now, it’s the talking point.”

“The transformation reads bright and airy in the day, and deep and moody after twilight hours,” the DIYer says.

“This was very cost-friendly and fun,” the DIYer says.

There are clever DIY ideas to borrow whether your kitchen is a temporary or forever place to cook.

It came with great bones, like a fireplace and original woodwork.

The details are everything.

The lesson in this porch makeover? Think colorfully!

It works way better for this family of five.

“As a homebody, introvert, and remote worker, it feels especially important to create a space I truly enjoy being in,” the renter says.

The layout was entirely overhauled.

And it has the prettiest accent wall.

“When one piece of furniture can play double duty, it’s a win for me,” the DIYer says.

“I was drawn to a simple, classic, and subtle nautical look,” the homeowner says.

Long live the lawn flamingo!

The project included several DIY “firsts” for the homeowners.

Plus, there’s cool new texture and hardware.

The DIYer’s grandpa built the kitchen cabinets.

Now we can all enjoy this space.

There’s even an indoor trellis!

"I had been getting really inspired by rich burgundy tones in homes," the DIYer says.

It proves every corner counts!

It took less than 10 minutes.

The DIYer says it’s like “being immersed in an oil painting.”

“We didn’t want to pour money into a rental, so it had to be budget-friendly,” the DIYer says.

The DIYer has over nine different wallpaper patterns in her home, and this is a fan favorite.

The “after” has several design nods to the original.

For $1,700!

“I literally love everything about this room,” the DIYer says.

“I wanted to really celebrate the craftsmanship of this space and highlight the features,” the homeowner says.

“I cannot believe how we were prepping meals before the renovation,” the homeowner says.

Goodbye, brown cabinets.

The $872 bedroom makeover was inspired by a boutique hotel.