87 Cool And Inspiring Before-And-Afters That Prove Any Space Can Be Saved With The Right Vision

Looking at these before-and-afters really shows the power of a good renovation. The rooms look completely different, almost unrecognizable from what they used to be. A dated kitchen becomes bright and welcoming, a cluttered bedroom turns into a calm, restful retreat.

In some cases, entire layouts are reworked, walls come down, and the whole place starts to breathe again. These kinds of transformations can totally change how a home feels.

Turns out, a lot of us want exactly that kind of change for our own places. A survey of 2,000 households in the UK found that one in three homeowners don’t like their own interior decor.

Another survey revealed that 69% of American homeowners are embarrassed to have people visit their home because of their aesthetic choices. It’s kind of sad when you think about it, because we all deserve to have a cozy home we love to be in.

Unfortunately, makeovers are notoriously expensive and complicated. In the US, the median spend on home renovations was around $20,000 in 2024, with high-end projects running $140,000 or more.

On top of that, a Clever Real Estate study found that 78% of homeowners went over budget on their last renovation. It’s no wonder the whole process feels overwhelming.

But as experts say, we don’t actually have to do a grand remodel to make things look nicer. According to Casey Finn, creator of The DIY Playbook, some of the most impactful changes can come from simple tweaks.

Things like updating lighting, swapping out hardware, or adding a few coats of fresh paint can transform how a room feels without requiring thousands of dollars or months of construction.

You can even upgrade your home without spending any money at all. Finn suggests decluttering and giving everything a deep clean before you do anything else, and chances are you'll already feel much better.

“In our old kitchen with orange oak cabinets, clearing off the countertops made the whole room feel brighter and more intentional, even though nothing else had changed,” she wrote on her blog.

Melinda Kelson O’Connor, the principal of Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture and Interiors in Philadelphia, told U.S. News & World Report that refreshing your home can start with simply rethinking what you already have. Take a look around and remove pieces that don’t excite you anymore or no longer fit your style.

Got a chair or sofa with good bones but tired upholstery? Give it new life with fresh fabric in a pattern or color that brings some energy back into the room. If you have hardwood floors, refinishing them can also make a noticeable difference.

Lighting can really elevate how a room feels too. Kelson O’Connor says that swapping out outdated or oversized ceiling lights for a more thoughtful setup will dramatically soften the atmosphere.

She recommends layering different types of dimmable lighting, from overhead fixtures to task lights and indirect sources. The simple addition of well-placed table and floor lamps can make any room feel cozier and more like home, she notes.

If you’re dealing with a smaller room, you can still make it feel more open without any major construction. Mirrors are your friend here. Brad Thornton, founder and lead designer of Thornton Projects, told Apartment Therapy that they’re one of the simplest tricks for creating a sense of spaciousness. They bounce light around, brighten up dark corners, and add visual depth.

Even a single well-placed mirror can open up a room in a surprisingly noticeable way. If you want to take it further, consider creating a gallery wall with several smaller thrifted mirrors for extra light and a bit of personality.

The transformations you saw earlier are beautiful, and if a full renovation is what you’re after, that’s great. But if the budget or timeline feels too intense right now, remember that smaller changes can still make your home feel completely different.

Hopefully this has left you feeling inspired to look at things with fresh eyes and see what’s possible with just a few thoughtful updates.