DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

It didn't take much to turn this dump spot into a more practical, usable space.

And it's still filled with vintage charm.

This would be the perfect spot to curl up with a book on a Saturday morning.

Watch this bathroom go from blah to bold.

A designer renovated his 1980s cabin’s bathroom — blending mid-century modern tiles with fully restored redwood paneling.

This balcony looks like it's fit for a beach resort.

It was a forgotten two-foot space, but now it's a breath of fresh air this spring.

This 1956 house got the fresh mid-century-inspired look it deserves.

These homeowners saved literal thousands (!!!) with this IKEA dupe for built-ins.

Beneath those scuffs and stains lies lots of potential.

This blank box had a lot of untapped potential.

Solid pieces of furniture like this one can be made over again and again.

The bold green kitchen is the star of the show.

Kara Hobbs used a few existing items from the room and added bold colors to create an engaging space to rest, read, and play.

A walk-in closet is a hot commodity. Obviously, if you draw that dream ticket, you'd like your walk-in closet to actually be functional, not just a large room of minimal organization opportunities.

“We transformed a yard with a chain-link fence and no privacy into an oasis,” says Rebecca Taylor, a food stylist, photographer, and content creator living in Ojai, California, with her partner, Max. Over the past four years, they’d been slowly remodeling their 1960s ranch-style home, but their overgrown yard became neglected while they focused on making the inside of the house a place where the three of them (including their dog, Oli) could start a life together.

Small DIY changes went a really long way in making this 1977 house look totally fresh.

Long live the lawn flamingo!

The homeowner wanted to combine color and comfort.

A cool design tip to steal from this bedroom? The new paint color is custom color-matched to the wallpaper.

“We wanted to transform the space into a whimsical, inviting oasis that welcomed guests and made them feel at ease,” this DIYer says.

“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.

“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.

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

The paint color is perfect for fall.

The tile DIY is totally reversible.

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

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.

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.”

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 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.

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.

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.

This is such a great idea.

This project proves the power of paint and shopping your own home.

Before, this homeowner avoided including this wall in any photographs. Now, it’s ready for its close-up!

This once-blank space is now a collector’s dream.

It's DIY-packed.

Here’s how I used color and pattern to make the room feel distinct.