DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

The IKEA hack picture rail might just be it.

The color palette was inspired by old Victorian homes in San Francisco.

The DIYers thought of every detail.

The renter didn't let her lease stop her from personalizing the kitchen.

Plus, there’s the coolest plant storage idea.

The bedroom is in the upstairs add-on to a bungalow home.

This IKEA hack is BTPW (better than pole wrap).

“I wanted to think differently about apartment balconies and kind of make mine feel like an additional room,” the DIYer says.

You don't need a ton of space to make a home library, and this project is proof.

I’m immediately copying the lighting hack in this living room makeover.

It’s dark, Parisian-inspired, and dreamy.

Even though it has a window, this alcove always felt gloomy before.

And it’s all thanks to some ambitious DIYers!

It’s the prettiest “cement box” I’ve ever seen.

The space looks “brand-new, without the effort and expense of installing a new kitchen,” the DIYer says.

“We needed more storage and more space. And perhaps a bit more glam!" the homeowner says.

It’s the most maximalist space ever!

There’s something about a color-drenched bedroom that feels extra cocooning and cozy.

The project “saved me hundreds of dollars,” the DIYer says.

And it’s renter-friendly!

It’s lush with plants, and practical, too.

The transformation total was $200.

There's major design power in a can of paint.

The backsplash is inspired by Morocco.

“Booth seating is always the spot we gravitate toward at a restaurant, so I wanted to re-create this type of space at home,” the homeowner says.

A hula hoop can come in clutch in a tight space.

A 2-foot transformation made the kitchen look a little more bespoke.

The DIYer found a surprise in the walls.

“Creativity beats cash, and a little stubbornness can make even a landlord-friendly kitchen feel luxurious,” the DIYer says.

A (mostly) renter-friendly, colorful, euphoric riot? Yes please.

The living room is this family of eight’s favorite spot to hang out.

The potting table and raised garden beds create the perfect setup.

It’s wonderfully wild!

As with most DIY projects, there were surprises along the way.

The paint color is a popular one.

It’s so much cooler than paint.

The dresser was great for my first apartment, but I wanted it to better match my 2025 design style.

The floors were a labor of love.

“I really wanted the space to feel unique and tied to my cultural roots,” the homeowner says.

It cost around $5,000.

It looks way more expensive than it is.

The new shelving racks up major compliments.

The BILLY bookcase hack is a must-see.

The all-in cost for the DIYer was about $24.

She did the entire thing herself!

The makeover is packed with DIY projects.

“The biggest change is, honestly, adding plants,” the renter says.

This interior decorator is allergic to white walls.

This waterfall Art Deco dresser’s finish was beyond repair, so the DIYer decided to paint it.

It’s very nostalgic.

The kitchen "had all the character but needed some depth,” the renter says.

The beauty of wood, without the price tag.

The 43-square-foot bathroom is now “grand and moody.”

There’s another jaw-dropping DIY project in the corner, too.

“The whole thing was cheap and cheerful,” the DIYer says.

The “before” was “a 1990s hodgepodge of design choices.”

“I was excited to bring this kitchen up to code and bring it life and a personality,” the DIYer says.

This homeowner’s painting advice is “to be chaotic.” Find out why.

It’s not your average chair rail.

As Glinda from "Wicked" puts it, "Pink goes good with green"!

“I love how the room brings in elements from my heritage while still feeling fresh,” the DIYer says.

Now the bathroom wows.

The homeowner wanted to minimize waste in her kitchen transformation.

"No one would ever suspect its bones are IKEA,” the DIYer says.

“If you find something secondhand that's one-of-a kind, act fast.” this DIYer says.

The bathroom “hadn’t been maintained since, like, 300 B.C.”

Secondhand finds complete the kitchen.

The transformation cost under $500, and it feels like “a little jewel box” now.

I wanted to give the beige and brown bathroom with chrome finishes a style boost — plus make it functional for my growing family.

You've got to see the dazzling herringbone backsplash!

It looks completely different — for under $5,000.

The home was formerly used as a college rental, so the kitchen had “dingy” and “grubby” vibes going in.