DIY Furniture Before & Afters

Simple changes did a lot to make this RV more modern and more comfortable.

This old-school (literally) find looks cool and vintage in its new space.

This peeling, dingy cabinet just needed a little TLC.

One clever DIYer saw the hidden potential in this Craigslist find.

This DIYer was quoted nearly $2,500 for built-ins but was able to create something she loved for a fraction of that.

Need inspiration for your next Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace furniture flip? We've got you.

Here's proof that you can make furniture last even longer with some creativity.

The "After" regularly gets compliments from neighbors.

It's simple but stunning.

The transformation is stark.

Solid furniture can last for decades — but sometimes it needs a little spruce up.

From old-school to new school, with only a few easy changes.

There's a gem hiding under all those stickers.

It stayed the same size, but now it's so much more functional.

"I realized I was letting perfect get in the way of good," the DIYer says. "Once I let go of that it was freeing."

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

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

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

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

Beneath those scuffs and stains lie lots of potential.

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

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.

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

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

This mini makeover was transformative.

These redos let the original wood and metal shine.

They're unrecognizable now.

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

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

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

It looks totally unrecognizable now.

This project's proof that inspiration can strike anywhere.

Sometimes the best makeover is a make-under.

This refresh keeps the character but brings tons of modern style, too.

Some clever DIYs gave this boring brown cart real star power.

This home office looks like it could be in a fancy hotel.

This makeover is just as easy as it is cheap.

Yes, he really is called Mr. Christmas.

Some painstaking DIY transformed it from junk to jewel.

It's worth it to think outside the (cabinet) box.

This gorgeous update is a makeunder done right.

The "after" has a smart storage solution you'll want to steal.

This piece was destined for the dump before a savvy DIYer got her hands on it.

Think: finally getting your braces off the summer before 9th grade... but BETTER.

This project will inspire you to look at your old furniture in a different light.

Talk about bang for your buck.

With all the time spent inside your home—eating, sleeping, etc.—it can be easy to forget about the impact that the outside of your home has.

This dresser's dramatic glow-up will inspire you to go curb shopping.

The after looks like it was ripped from the pages of your favorite boho decor catalog.

Bold is beautiful, but so is something a little more subdued.

These DIYers impress with their skills and creativity.

Your work space should be inspiring, but that doesn't mean it has to be expensive.

Family hand-me-downs don't have to be stuck in the past.

Here's proof that furniture can look like a million bucks without costing it.

From book nooks to outdoor hangouts, these spaces are all about feeling cozy and comfortable.

"The cost was so little for the overall impact on our home," the homeowner says.

This is a smart way to update chairs you've gotten tired of.

They call it a “cozy, Scandinavian cottage.”

It's so much more inviting now.

This DIYer's first reupholstery project produced super charming results.

TOP ROW:1. Before & After: A Trashed Curbside Dresser2. Before & After: An Unexpected Upholstery Project3. Before & After: Faux Snakeskin Table4. Before & After: Dresser Makeover5. Before & After: From Trash to Silk Screened Style BOTTOM ROW:6. Before & After: Ottoman Transformation7. Before & After: Salvaging a DIY Dresser Gone Wrong8. Before & After: Trash to Treasure Table in Just an Hour9. Before & After: Restoring a Solid Wood Desk10.

TOP ROW:1. Before & After: Molly’s IKEA Rast Turned Campaign Chest2. Before & After: IKEA Changing Table into Home Office Desk3. Before & After: The DIY IKEA Office Organizer4. Before & After: Bet You Can’t Guess What This IKEA Malm was Converted Into5. Before & After: IKEA Malm Gets an Upholstered Ombre Makeover BOTTOM ROW:6. Before & After: Anna’s Take on the IKEA Rast7. Lizzie’s Wallpapered IKEA Lack Table8. Before & After: IKEA Granas Table Gets a Rustic Makeover9.

We’ve seen the topic of painting upholstery come up from time to time to time, but this Before & After made my jaw drop. While I may have been on the fence before — one look at the After photo and I’m a believer.the After!Given the option of spending hundreds of dollars to reupholster her Craigslist chair or experimenting with painting the fabric, Kristy Swain of Hyphen Interiors broke out the brushes.

We like to reserve for our very last Before & After roundup the projects that really wow you. As in, these ‘after’ photos will leave you shocked. Amazed. Inspired. Take a look at some of this year’s most dramatic transformations. Click on the slideshow to see the projects. To learn more about each project (and see more pictures), click the links in the captions.

Some of my favorite before & afters are the ones where some intrepid DIYer sees the potential in a piece that everyone else would’ve left on the curb. From a side table turned pet bed to a humble crate turned into a swing, this year’s projects featured plenty of impressive repurposings. Check out some of our favorites. To view the ‘after’ photos, click the links for each project.

When Tiffany over at Taste{full} Life found this antique dry sink, the wheels started turning and she realized she had the potential for a unique changing table for her imminent new baby. Although she was wary of a “country” aesthetic, a new coat of paint and a few other touches updated this piece into modern farmhouse chic.Tiffany learned some important lessons about painting antiques that she shares in her tutorial at Taste{full} Life.

I am quite envious of skilled thrifters; I’m unable to see the potential in a yard sale find or figure out what’s quality and just needs a little repair or TLC. That’s why I love seeing yard sale transformations. I have some hope that if I look at enough, the skills will magically transfer to me. So I’ve been staring at this beautiful kids’ table and chair makeover for a few days. Check out what Lolly Jane did with this well-loved table and chairs.Amazing, right?

You have to love a project that not only makes over a sad old chair but also reuses old coffee sacks. This creative re-use project not only features repurposed fabric but also looks great too! Check out the fantastic results after the jump.Many of you have seen similar chairs using grain sacks selling for a pretty penny, this step by step tutorial by Doesn’t Cost the Earth shows you how you can get the look for much less using organic coffee sacks.

Here at Apartment Therapy, we can’t get enough of Before & Afters… it’s always exciting to see something salvaged from the garbage become something lovely and shiny and useful. We salute all you DIYers out there, but we have to say we’re especially impressed with the people who are able to see special potential in a piece — and turn it into something totally different and totally useful.

Just because I’ve come to terms with my home’s imperfections doesn’t mean I don’t obsess over my inspiration boards. The latest addition is this incredible makeover of an Austin bungalow. The owners, Britt and Dan, waited five years to tackle their remodel, and the result is a beautifully modern and calm home awash in white. And yes, I’m jealous much.

Here at Apartment Therapy, we love a good IKEA hack as much as you do. It’s a comforting reminder that there are still places where ingenuity plus elbow grease with a side of using-what-you-got to #makeitwork equals a recipe for success over and over. Check out some of our favorite IKEA hacks and get inspired to find your own new possibilities… 1. Above, Before & After: Molly’s IKEA Rast Turned Campaign Chest 2. Before & After: IKEA Granas Table Gets a Rustic Makeover 3.