Decor & Accessory Before & Afters

Long time readers may remember father and small space problem solver Jason who built his daughter Annabelle a stylish crib (above) to fit into a nook that was a few inches too small for a traditional crib. He took charge of his home and made it work for his family. As they all do, Annabelle grew up and was ready for a big girl bed. Here’s how Jason converted the crib into a toddler bed…and then back again when brother William joined the family!

"I counted how many times I used the stairs in question over the course of one day, and it was over 30!" this DIYer says. "That’s a lot of time to be in boring decor. It deserved a makeover."

Home DIYer and blogger Kristen Johnson upcycled her recycling bin contents by giving a plastic planter new life.

A helpful kit takes this laundry room closet to the next level.

"Our goal was to create a modern inspired tiny home on wheels, and that's exactly what we did," this RV owner says.

A designer added texture and artwork with special meaning behind it to a blank canvas spot in her home.

"I knew this cool piece of history needed to be saved," the DIYer says.

"There is life after the boob light," this DIYer says — and there's proof in her super contemporary, streamlined "after."

Learn how to give a thrift store lamp a high-end look with a few basic supplies.

The whole project — trailer included — cost $4,000.

This project is the ultimate cross between style and function.

“I hated having this family piece just sitting in storage," this DIYer says. "Giving it new life feels like I’m bringing my Nana back into my home.”

These one-wall wonders totally transform the entire look of a space.

There was no paint required for this simple update.

"I had all of these ideas and was struggling to narrow them down, to simplify the design, until I realized it’s my house, and in this small space I can take some risks," the homeowner says. "So I did all of them."

It's now a much better focal point.

Have an awkward, unusable spot in your own home? Let this project inspire you to make the most of it.

Cherished collections of milk glass and old photos add meaning and character to this revamped master bedroom.

You know the saying: One person's trash is another one's DIY project in the making.

Marissa Ashcraft, a home and DIY creator, found a way to hack a 3-foot by 5-foot giant mirror for just $150.

Some smart changes give the old piece a new lease on life.

This record cabinet got a second chance with a stylish new look.

This is an easy curb appeal project you can copy for your own home, too.

The DIY job cost literally a fraction of what they were quoted.

Turns out it pays to snoop on your neighbor's design decisions.

This impressive project could make #RoomSeparatorGoals a thing.

This playroom is like a mini studio apartment. "I am so proud that I built almost everything in here with my own two hands," the homeowner says.

More than a few small space ideas from Instagram's most famous kitchen designers ahead!

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

A big risk pays off in this living room.

Using IKEA cabinets!

"I wanted the space to look beautiful and be more functional," this DIYer says.

From top to bottom, this closet's packed with clever fixes.

From no counters and zero cabinets to a fun, functional cookspace for just $543!

This new closet puts the "fun" in "functional."

"It feels like we added an entire room," says the homeowner.

Now there's tons more room to relax.

"The only thing I would do differently is I should've done this project years ago," the homeowner says.

The before? "Tremendously ugly," says the homeowner—but she saw the potential.

I was warming up to make a bunch of wagon wheel coffee table jokes — most referencing When Harry Met Sally — when I realized this is actually a mill wheel. We’ll just have to appreciate this project for what it is: an approachable, unique upcycle of a neglected old piece of equipment. Here’s how this project came to be, according to Roxanne of The Honeycomb Home: While at a flea market, an old wooden wheel caught my eye. The seller said it may have been from a grist mill.

With the warm season starting, I’ve become obsessed with all things white. So I’ve returned to my rental white walls in the bathroom, which feels so fresh and clean for summer. Check out the results below. I used the same color on the baseboard and moldings so I didn’t need to worry about that clean line of paint as the color changes (the most frustrating part of a painting job to a self-proclaimed lazy perfectionist).

The after is more functional and more beautiful, too.

Not everyone has a whole room to turn into a home office, but this project shows you can do a lot with a little.

The after is a serious "wow."

The after is serious gallery wall goals.

Marble countertops have become part of the renovation/decor vernacular thanks to TV makeover shows (though a distant second to the ever-popular granite countertop). But despite marble’s beauty, it’s rarely mentioned as a material for DIY projects because of its weight and cost, which makes this custom made midcentury inspired home office project unique… Redditor yourpalthomps combined four materials into his very own handsome midcentury-inspired desk.

I’ve had this old quirky elephant lamp from Target for several years, and although I loved its silly charm, I felt like it was in need of an update. Using some fabric, and new shade, and some spray paint, I managed to change the look of my old friend.As for the shade, I used an old Urban Outfitters lampshade that I had from another lamp and covered it with sheets of brocade fabric. Read more about that process in this earlier post.