DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

“You don't always have to renovate a space to make it look pretty,” this homeowner says.

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.

It’s renter-friendly!

Before, the oatmeal-colored walls made the whole room feel dark despite its large windows.

The “after” adds color and drama but still feels bright and cheery.

“The cottage’s original details had been completely stripped away,” the homeowner describes.

“I wanted to renovate my whole bathroom one day, but doing this definitely saved me a lot of money,” the homeowner says.

“We knew we wanted a stone floor instead of linoleum and to replace the upper cabinets with shelving,” the homeowner says.

The bedroom is filled with vintage finds.

The layout for this living room makeover was a mystery — until 3 a.m. inspiration struck.

The old chandelier was incredibly heavy.

“I wanted something brighter, more colorful, and more personal,” the homeowner says.

The paint color is perfect for fall.

The apartment dweller was after a minimalist, modern-meets-vintage look.

The tile DIY is totally reversible.

The color lesson here? Lean into what feels true to you.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a space transform through your own effort,” the DIYer says.

Plus, the new floors are stunning.

My kitchen was stuck in the worst version of the '70s, but I gutted, refinished, and rebuilt it with vintage design in mind.

I realized I could embrace the wood cabinets and balance out the wood tones.

The fireplace is now a focal point, not an eyesore.

“Don’t ignore the small spaces,” this DIYer says. “Our entrance is now a lot more welcoming.”

The DIY coffee table saved tons of money.

The DIY shelves are so good.

No white ceilings here!

It feels so much larger.

The blue reminds me of wildflowers!

The taupe cabinet paint is incredibly cozy and warm.

“Making the entryway extra special” was on these DIYers’ to-do list when they moved in.

See this space go dark (in the best way).

The blue paint choices create a calm vibe.

This bathroom makeover has an incredibly clever trick for upgrading a light fixture.

In this kitchen, every wall is a feature wall.

Even just rotating furniture, like the DIYers did here, can make a bedroom feel brand new.

“As a renter, I’m always on the hunt for reversible and renter-friendly solutions,” this DIYer says. “This, luckily, is a combo of both!”

It's the perfect workspace!

The red trim is so good, too.

And it only cost about $250!

“I was in love with the green and black tiles,” the homeowner says. “I wanted to spotlight them and honor the incredible craft that went into building our bathroom.”

Now, it’s a groovy space for hosting friends.

Smart design choices and budget-savvy shopping gave this blank space a charming new look that totally fits the home’s 1941 roots.

“The room is so much brighter now and feels like it is truly me,” the DIYer says.

The “after” is bright, airy, and art-filled.

The project has several budget-friendly features.

The color scheme is very berries and cream.

And it took three tries to nail the color!

The paint color is dreamy.

This hallway finally got “the attention it deserved,” the DIYer says.

Minor projects went a long way.

An IKEA ELVARI was the perfect find here.

The goal was to incorporate “vintage and cottage touches.”

There's no such thing as too much color.

The homeowners wanted to add toy storage to their living room without turning it into a full-on playroom.

Now, it’s much more functional for a family of five.

The green paint inspired the rest of the studio’s design.

The gallery wall is personality-packed.

“It’s an area we walk through several times a day, so I wanted it to feel more alive,” the DIYer says.

I’m actually excited to get up and get ready every day in my new space.

The homeowners aimed for “unique on a tight budget,” and they certainly delivered.

“Don't be afraid to go bold with colors in small spaces,” the homeowner says.