DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

“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.

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

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.

DIY cabinets help keep the whole family organized.

“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.

The “after” keeps the pink!

“We have SO much more storage now — we actually have more storage than we need (although I'm sure we'll fill it all eventually)!” this homeowner says.

This dining room kept the classic black-and-white color palette, but everything else is totally new.

From agricultural to avian-chic: This bathroom redo swaps dated ‘90s wallpaper for something sophisticated for 2023.

It’s fit for an incredibly stylish baby!

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There’s a surprise lying underneath the tub’s white finish.

BILLY bookshelves are the secret ingredient in this living room makeover.

I spent less than $100 on this redo.

“It looks like completely different people live there now!” this homeowner says.

Wallpaper makes the biggest difference in giving this gray living room an inviting new look.

Budget-savvy DIYs ahead!

This tiny A-frame kitchen’s redo is timeless and small-space efficient.

“I had an apartment before where I just did a rectangle on the wall, and I LOVED how it looked,” this DIYer says. “Now that I have my own house, I knew I could get a bit more extra with it.”

“From execution to completion (dry time), it only took us about 36 hours or so,” this DIYer says of this beginner-friendly project.

Looking to make a small change to rejuvenate your space? Consider giving a piece of furniture that you walk by every day a revamp.

The cabinets may be new, but they’re designed to fit in with the architectural details of this 1926 home.

The project is practical, sure, but it also brings some personality to what this DIYer calls her “cookie-cutter townhouse.”

You’ve heard of mid-century modern, but have you heard of modern-meets-mid-century? This kitchen redo is inspired by the ’60s but fit and functional for the 2020s.

Wooden serving bowls? As furniture feet? Groundbreaking (really!).

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!

A low-budget IKEA product, plus a little bit of paint, were the perfect sleek solutions for an awkward spot in this house.