79 Incredible Photos Of Home Renovations That People Did Themselves

As with almost anything in life, there are trends and cycles in home and interior design. Millennial gray may have dominated interior design magazines over the last 10 years or so, but the tide has shifted in favor of color since then. Kitchens and bathrooms are the rooms homeowners renovate and redecorate the most, so the trends are most apparent there.

Kitchen designers report that people want these spaces to have some color. The most popular color for kitchens is green, as 86% of respondents in a kitchen and bathroom association, NKBA, survey said they would prefer it over others. Blue tones (78%) and browns (67%) are the subsequent choice, but whites and greys still make it to the top five.

Kitchen backsplash is where many homeowners are advised to have fun. It doesn’t have to be just functional and practical — it can be the focal point of the room. Senior economist at Houzz, Marine Sargsyan, told Forbes that kitchen islands, larger kitchens, and extended backsplashes are all the rage now.

According to The Houzz 2025 Kitchen Trends report, 67% of homeowners are covering their walls with backsplash up to the ceiling. People don’t shy away from borrowing space from other rooms, like dining rooms and living rooms, to make their kitchens bigger. 18% even go so far as to build an addition to the home to make their kitchen bigger.

Regarding backsplash, traditional styles are making a comeback. Homeowners are choosing tried-and-tested tile shapes and patterns for their kitchen walls, with 68% opting for traditional rectangular tiles. Ceramic tiles remain the most popular, but kitchen designers invite people to try out other styles as well.

Although ceramic is the classic choice, these can breathe some life into your kitchen, too:

1. Subway tiles
2. Brick tiles
3. Natural stone
4. Marble
5. Colored grout
6. Metallic and pearlescent finish

Let’s say you get inspired by this list to transform one of your rooms: how long is it going to take? Experts say that the planning phase often lasts longer than the physical work. According to the 2026 Houzz & Home Study, homeowners spend an average of 9.5 months on their kitchen renovation and about 5.8 months doing actual construction. Many renovation projects get thwarted by unexpected finds. A whopping 51% of homeowners say they end up spending way more money than they expected before buying the house.

Due to financial and time constraints, some folks are opting for micro-renovations. For some, big, months-long projects are not possible, so folks decide to take 1 to 3 days to give their homes a makeover with cosmetic improvements, like paint jobs, re-grouting and finishing, replacing cabinet handles and hinges, or adding wall-mounted storage.

Research actually shows that micro-renovations result in higher house value in the long run. When doing large renovations, homeowners get back about 60% of the cost in resale value, while micro-renovations recoup an average of 83%. So, don’t hesitate to pick up that paint and brush and breathe new life into your kitchen or bathroom cabinets!

Which transformation from this list was your favorite, Pandas? Let us know which room you would gladly include in your dream home. If you’re in the process of planning a renovation, be sure to check out these red flags home professionals noticed in people’s homes, and home decorating ideas so good people just had to share!

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