B A Hometypes Apartment

“I'm surprised by how fundamentally different the space looks — and the ability to get there without spending thousands and thousands of dollars,” this renter says.

The new “garage” is super cool and super reversible.

A color change makes a big difference.

It went from “an uncomfortable beige box” to technicolored and oh-so clever.

Best yet, the upgrades only cost $1,000.

“A little IKEA mixed in with higher-end items is always a good idea, in my opinion,” this renter says.

These renters squeezed a super practical (and beautiful!) kitchenette into just 40 square feet

The matching seating, wallpaper, and curtains are patterned perfection.

The whole transformation cost just $250.

From four-cubed KALLAX to something MoMA-worthy

If you're a maximalist who rents, grab a pencil (and scissors and peel-and stick)!

The apartment owners had a little over 16 square feet to work with.

The homeowners were specifically looking for something dated that they could redo, and the “before” totally fits the bill.

This kitchen went from brown, white, and dated to brown, white, and totally modern.

One highlight: a hand-painted floral pattern on the walls.

“Because this is a small apartment, this room had to accommodate both a bathroom and a laundry area,” this apartment owner says.

Now, the DIYer says the kitchen “feels like walking into a giant hug.”

This home blogger has great advice for creating an entryway that works for you.

It’s no surprise this redo is full of great design and DIY ideas — it belongs to the Small/Cool Contest winner from 2021!

This DIYer says calm, tranquil bedrooms can still mix colors and textures — and her bedroom redo is here to prove it.

This living room redo is chock-full of tips for filling up a small space without it feeling overwhelming.

The fresh vibe comes courtesy of new wallpaper and some smart DIYs.

“Our larger coffee table allows ten people to play games together (with room for cocktails or wine),” the renter says of her redesigned space.

The makeover — $1,800 all in — is completely renter-friendly.

“I knew this space had the potential to pack a huge design punch,” this DIYer says.

Are entryways the new powder rooms? (Which is to say, the new secret spots to go bold and create a jewel box within your home?) This entryway redo suggests yes!

“I always really wanted to add open shelving, but didn’t think it was possible because we were renting,” this DIYer says. Using about $200 worth of materials, she proved herself wrong.

This smart entryway redo is from YouTuber Alexandra Gater’s first book — and she gave Apartment Therapy an exclusive look at the project.

See how a blah beige living room gets a glam glow-up that’s both trendy and timeless.

“I plan to stay in this place for some time, so the effort put in is worth it,” this renter says. His (totally removable!) updates cost $600.

This DIY is perfect for art lovers on a budget.

When these homeowners moved in, the bathroom's 10-year-old renovation had started to look "a little shabby" — and things had only gotten worse from there.

This would be the perfect spot to curl up with a book on a Saturday morning.

With some clever DIY, this bookshelf is completely unrecognizable.

Visions of Paris inspired this cozy makeover.

This redo is packed with personality — and a couple budget-friendly makeover ideas, too.

Paint and peel-and-stick wallpaper played a major role in this makeover.

This accent wall is pure sunshine.

After a few setbacks, this intrepid DIYer figured out how to make her dream accent wall a reality.

Small-space tips and renter-friendly advice incoming!

"I'm lucky to have some amazing original features, like an exposed brick wall and cast-iron columns, and the doors felt really out of place," this apartment owner says of her dated interior doors.

Because of their limited square footage, these renters didn't want to bring in baby stuff for the sake of stuff. Maximizing vertical space was key, and they did this by way of wall-mounted book racks, a hanging clothes rack, and floating shelves to hold baby care essentials.

A bold paint color paired with vintage finds gave this once-bland space a luxurious new life.

"As renters sometimes we feel powerless to improve our spaces," this apartment dweller says. She and her husband (and their landlord) came up with some quick fixes for this once-dated kitchen.

The "after" serves as vibrant dish storage.

Everything in this rental bedroom's cheerful redo is landlord-approved.

This couple used BILLY bookcases to cover an awkward door and add much-needed storage to their historic condo.

"The before was dull," this renter says. "If the electric mirror wasn't present, the bathroom would've had no hope at all. It felt cold and unwelcoming — not in my dream home!"

Revamping the exposed brick and the fireplace rescued this living room from its dark motel room roots.

What was old is new again.

The bathroom is a great place to start when it comes to making changes to your home as you grow older.

The best part? The whole redo is renter-friendly.

Some snazzy wallpaper and new paint do a lot to make this kitchen feel bigger and more inviting.

This kitchen redo is packed with plenty of small space inspiration.

This one belongs in the IKEA Hack hall of fame.

This part-DIY, part-pro reno made the most of a teeny galley kitchen.

A little contact paper goes a long way in this teeny kitchen.

"The after is just an entire vibe!" this DIYer says. "It's warm, soulful, and sophisticated."

When it comes to completing a budget kitchen reno that's also stylish, it's hard to beat IKEA.

This cheerful desk redo came together in just a few steps.

A just-OK 2014 bathroom gets a stylish and serene budget-friendly makeover.

DIYers Faith and Julia found this slab of wood on Facebook Marketplace.

Whether you use them all, or just pick one idea to bring to your own space, this makeover is packed with inspo. And by the way: The new floor and wall treatments are renter-friendly!