DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

Best part? The changes are renter-friendly, too.

This redo proves you can go a long way on a small budget.

Amazingly, no walls were painted in this cheerful refresh.

Feeling cramped? These upgrades will help.

There's a spot for everything in this little room.

It features three paint colors and the cutest knobs you've ever seen.

It took a lot of "woman-power" the homeowners say, but the end results are worth it.

Colonial-style houses come with many gifts, like great windows, symmetry, and tall ceilings. But like any place built over 100 years ago, homeowner Katrina’s 1900 Colonial Revival house needed some updating — especially in the living room. While it had large windows, the space felt dark and uninviting because of the old gray carpeting, dark valances, clunky ceiling fan, and striped beige ’70s-era wallpaper.

The hack these DIYers used on their old 1990s vanity will blow you away.

It's hard to believe there's an IKEA piece hiding in there.

Let this inspire you to give the weird and underused spaces in your home a new life.

This redo proves the power of color.

Moving into a new home means that you get to start fresh with decor, and that’s doubly true when you’re working within a builder-grade home that offers mostly blank slates. For Amy Wadsworth (804 Sycamore), one of those blank slate spaces was her teenage daughter’s bedroom — a white room with beige carpet and lots of potential.“My daughter is 14 and wanted a more mature bedroom design that reflected her style,” Amy says.

You can't even tell it's IKEA anymore.

This redo is full of smart money-saving hacks.

It's still got some vintage flair, but now it's brighter and more functional.

Beneath those scuffs and stains lie lots of potential.

It's still tiny, but now it's functional.

This bathroom went from dreary to dramatic.

Best part? It's all DIY.

They're renter-friendly, too.

The "after" is a breath of fresh air.

It’s nearly impossible to renovate every room of your home at once, so some spaces have to wait a little longer than others for a transformation. At Michela Andrioletti’s (@casa_in_newyork) home that she shares with her husband, that space was the entryway. “We put in the first things we could find at the most affordable budget when we moved here five years ago and then we just didn’t have time to fix it,” Michela says.

You'll be obsessed with its new pillows.

It's all happy vibes in the after.

It's amazing what the right lighting can do for a space.

The space is way more organized now.

"I can't believe it's the same dresser!"

This DIYer uncovered a sweet surprise in his renovation.

These editor-approved tips might help your project make it to the site this year.

The "after" will make you gasp.

This mini makeover was transformative.

This kitchen went from dull to dreamy in only three months.

This DIY update looks totally high-end.

The "after" is completely unrecognizable, in the best way possible.

It's a complete 180.

Here's proof that you can sneak style into the most surprising of spaces.

The wallpaper! The mirror! The architectural details! This upgrade is 100% luxe.

These redos let the original wood and metal shine.

The before? Nice, but too small. The after? A real stunner, and way more practical, too.

Since her home was built in 2019, the fixtures were all new — but the finishes were just... dull.

A big renovation just isn't always in the cards, since it usually involves a large budget, a lot of time, and plenty of work. But there are smaller fixes that you can make to a dated space while you wait to give it a full reno.

Hallways might be pass-throughs, but they deserve love, too.

This renter got tired of staring at a plain wall, so she DIYed it beautiful.

They're unrecognizable now.

Knocking out a wall makes it feel way bigger, too, though the footprint stayed pretty much the same.

Secondhand finds look first-rate in this dining nook transformation.

It's hard to be stylish and practical, but this bedroom is both.

The before paint color? Meh. The after? Marvelous.

Using just one wall of this room to create a laundry setup makes the whole space extra practical for the whole family.

You'll want to paint your cabinets when you see this makeover.

With the help of one of Apartment Therapy's House Tour alums as the designer!

It's hard to believe it's still the same space.

Smart re-uses of items helped keep this project's budget low.

One major difference? Uncovering the original hardwood floors beneath that carpet.

A highlight: the new DIY headboard, made for just $53.

It's still only just 280 square feet, but feels so much bigger.

Here's proof that little changes add up to big results.

This smart DIY keeps all the comfort of a standard office chair, but makes it way more stylish.

These redos pack a big punch on a small budget.

This redo features a smart trick for unsightly medicine cabinets.

It went from so-so to smile-inducing.

It's a fresh look, but still feels cozy and lived-in.

The classic look of the new kitchen makes it feel timeless.

This bathroom is full of smart design hacks.

Little changes add some pop to this small entryway.

This cabinet was going to be trashed until one DIYer turned it into a treasure.

The results are stunning.