DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

I even made a new light fixture using a $3 thrift store find.

The furniture flipper behind this project swears by four steps: preparation, priming, painting, and protecting.

The “after” works for all seasons.

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

“I’d say 75% of this room project was just painting,” the homeowner says.

Get ready to have major plant envy.

The cabinet was a jackpot thrift store find.

As one Instagram commenter says, “Literally would never stop reading books with big cozy socks on in this room.”

This once-plain shoe cabinet is now a stunning entryway statement piece.

The DIY ceiling is a must-see.

The tile from before looks totally refreshed, and the DIYer only spent about $53 to make it all happen.

“We spend way more time in here now than we did the first two years of living in the house,” says the homeowner.

Only a few steps were needed to give these IKEA shelves the look of custom built-ins.

Could this be Barbie’s dream cottage? Probably.

Yes, they’re the same doors!

The “after” feels fresh and lively.

The stylish storage isn’t the only improvement in this one-time dining room.

While wallpaper didn’t work out in one spot, it totally paid off in another.

“What I love most about the "after" of this project is that the space is now defined. It has a purpose,” the DIYer says.

This hardworking space now has a home for everything.

The after is “the embodiment of maximalist design,” this homeowner says.

The footprint stayed the same, but the “after” looks so luxe.

It feels both new and old.

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

Tile paint for the win!

Before, this DIYer says, using the bathroom was like “peeing in a pea-soup cave.” A quick redo changed that!

Opening up a wall made a big difference here.

These are some of the best Before & Afters featuring IKEA ever showcased on Apartment Therapy, selected for the function, style, and smart use of IKEA staples, of course!

A few DIY projects made a big difference in adding some warmth to this bare entryway.

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

Before, the fruit tiles, tan color scheme, and melamine cabinets were straight out of 1985.

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.

If you’re a DIY novice looking for an easy IKEA hack to start out with, this KALLAX upgrade is your friend.

“I wanted it to be a small and mighty room — tiny but big in personality,” this DIYer says.

With a stylish solution for the existing wood cabinets!

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 redo brings a whole new vibe to this gray dresser.

Buying secondhand tile for the floor and shower saved a ton of money — it cost just $100 to tile the whole room.

The secret: epoxy!

This renter-friendly redo has a great solution for brightening up a retro wood-paneled space.

The kid wanted a Star Wars-themed bedroom; the DIYer wanted to stick to a $500 budget. Here’s how they succeeded on both counts.

For her bathroom reno, this homeowner wanted materials that would arrive quickly and match the vintage style of her 1940s colonial house.

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.

"I love everything about it!" this homeowner says of her revamped entryway. "It’s gorgeous and light and has sweet personalized details."

Plus, this first-time cabinet painter has some great DIY tips for getting the job done.

It’s totally sophisticated and totally pink.

A cheery blue paint color and statement-making wallpaper came in clutch.

This color-loving homeowner knew the neutrals had to go.

“I always keep a rainbow of spray paints on hand for random projects,” this DIYer says.

The homeowners kept costs down for this full renovation by using some clever workarounds.

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

DIY cabinets help keep the whole family organized.

A favorite travel destination inspired many pieces of this personality-packed gallery wall.

“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 rich paint color is a showstopper, but for the real highlight, look to the door.

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

A coat of paint and new hardware was all it took to transform this secondhand piece with good bones.

The space has a seamless new look that’s also clutter-free.

This DIYer used some clever tricks to save money in creating her new bathroom.

The new space looks like a swanky lounge at your favorite fancy hotel.

Wait until you see the $141 accent wall.

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

Because the DIYers already owned the plywood and the base of the bench, the project was basically free.

And it has a genius DIY idea for laundry room artwork. (Yes, laundry rooms can have framed artwork, too!)

The new “fireplace” gives me back almost a foot of floor space.