DIY Before & Afters | Do It Yourself Projects & Hacks

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.

Mixing up your signature cocktail just got way more stylish.

“There really was nothing I liked about this room,” the homeowner says of the “before.”

The pops of gold are great!

It was so much easier than I thought it would be.

It hadn't been updated since the 1940s!

“It feels calm and inviting,” the DIYer says.

For about $30, you’ll have a textured piece that looks far more expensive.

“I find myself staring at this corner from time to time,” the DIYer says of the “after.” (In a good way!)

The hand-built vanity is so cool.

This white nightstand’s makeover required 7(!) layers of green paint.

“I learned a lot about colors and textures [and] how to make smaller areas feel bigger,” the homeowner says.

“It was extra important to me to make it a place I loved,” this renter says of her apartment.

This bathroom makeover is an antique-lover’s dream with wallet-friendly finds!

“The whole kitchen is now a statement piece that is also fun and very functional,” the apartment owner says.

And it was budget-friendly!

The “dated and boring” kitchen gets an airy and beachy vibe.

“The fireplace wall was very empty” before, the homeowner says.

Reinvent a go-to classic.

A big life change called for a color change — and a cozy spot to land each night.

The wallpaper is so whimsical — and in a clever, cost-effective spot.

“I loved the concrete floors, 13-foot-high ceilings … and that it was a pretty neutral canvas to work with,” the renter says. “I did not love all the gray and the super-white walls.”

See how much the 80-square-foot space changes.

Goodbye, peeling floors.

“The bathroom really needed some updating and more personality,” the homeowner says.

See how I gave my 35-square-foot studio kitchen a makeover.

“We wanted it to feel happy and inviting, without feeling overwhelming,” the DIYer says.

This maximalist DIYer never thought she'd use white paint, but she made it work with her style.

You have to see where she put wallpaper!

The vintage fixtures actually resell for a lot of money on eBay right now.

The staircase is now a talking point.

The vision was deVOL on a budget.

The wood cabinets stayed the same, but they look meant-to-be in this kitchen now.

The “after” fits a desk and built-in bookcases, and it sleeps two.

It helps hide an eyesore.

“We love that our kitchen is bright, happy, spacious, and effective when it comes to storage,” the homeowner says.

Three IKEA BILLYs came to the rescue.

“I'm all about using the darkest, moodiest, and boldest paint colors in my apartment because it's fun!” the DIYer says.

And there’s a cool artwork idea, too.

For under $1,000!

This home office makeover uses color-drenching — with a twist.

“The overall vibe was beige,” the DIYer says of the “before.”

This DIY project was a labor of love.

The new kitchen is a classic neutral with brass accents.

“The new space just brings me so much joy, and I actually love being in my bathroom now,” the DIYer says.

It didn't fit my family before — but I made it work for us by using materials I already had.

“I love that I didn't have to do a gut renovation in order to create something completely different,” the renter says.

It’s way more functional now.

“I’m on a journey to cook more and use Uber Eats a little less,” this renter says — and now she has a kitchen where that can happen.

They even removed the upper cabinets!

“All the sudden, it felt like a proper kitchen and not just a rental with a hodgepodge of random cabinets and appliances,” the homeowner says.

“It’s a much warmer and cozier space now,” the DIYer says.

“My design style has evolved, and I have grown to love timeless, vintage vibes with moody colors,” the DIYer says.

The renter decided to lean in to the features her apartment came with.

The homeowners wanted a designated spot to sit down and eat.

An IKEA PAX hack adds floor-to-ceiling storage in this bedroom.

The “before” smelled like Nicotine and sat in my garage for a year before I finally knew what to do with it.

“If a full demo isn’t in the cards, focus on smaller, impactful changes like paint, molding, or upgraded hardware,” this DIYer says.

The DIYer and her family spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so they needed ample seating.

The homeowner could see the potential as soon as she walked in.

Although the homeowner had to compromise on carpet, she was able to completely disguise it with maximalist style.

It's strikingly striped, and it has a brilliant use for secondhand shutters.

It’s unrecognizable!

The picture frame molding is everything.

These hacks will save you money, but you won’t have to sacrifice on style.

A pop of color can work wonders.