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In the past couple years, we all spent an unprecedented amount of time in our homes. So no wonder so many people rolled up their sleeves and decided to either fix things that had been bugging them for too long to remember, or just go into full DIY renovation mode. And truth to be told, not everyone seems to have succeeded, as this previous article we published recently suggests.

But this time, we are taking a look at the incredible examples of renovation projects that completely transformed people’s homes. Whether it’s brightening up a blank room by repainting walls, redecorating an entire apartment, remodeling a living room, or creating something entirely new from scratch, like a bookcase that perfectly blends into the wall, there’s no limit to people’s persistence and creativity.

And thanks to this great online group on Reddit that’s devoted to sharing original content of “real people and their real rooms,” we have a lot of wonderful inspiration to scroll through. Upvote your favorite home renewal projects and ideas, and if you’re also working on something like this, be sure to share it in the comment section!

#1

The After And Before Of My Teeny Tiny Studio Apartment In NYC

The After And Before Of My Teeny Tiny Studio Apartment In NYC

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Very comfy looking.

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#2

The Before And The After

The Before And The After

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

GREAT desk. I had a giant L shaped desk, but I gave it away because it was so huge and heavy... now I wish I still had it.

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#3

Small Bathroom Remodel. Before&after

Small Bathroom Remodel. Before&after

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saved the 'after' photo to show my designer... it's definitely my style.

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In order to find out more about common home improvement and renovation mistakes to avoid, Bored Panda reached out to Philippa Mainthe professional realtor from Tampa Bay who went viral for her brilliant and insanely funny listing description about “the worst house on the street” a while back. Philippa happily shared some very useful advice with our readers, so if you have a project on your mind, be sure to see what she had to say.

The realtor explained that there are so many errors people make when doing home renovations, but they can be summed up by the idea that it is more expensive to try to do something cheaply. “Because it will inevitably cost you more in the long run when it has to be redone in order to make it right,” she added.

#4

Before And After Renovation Of My Tiny Scottish Apartment Bathroom

Before And After Renovation Of My Tiny Scottish Apartment Bathroom

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#5

Bathroom DIY Upgrade. Before And After

Bathroom DIY Upgrade. Before And After

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#6

Before And After Of My Small Apartment Kitchen. I Don't Miss The Orange! (Louth, Ireland)

Before And After Of My Small Apartment Kitchen. I Don't Miss The Orange! (Louth, Ireland)

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My theory why apartments are often brown, beige, yellow-ish orange is to hide the nicotine so when a smoker moves out the landlord won't feel they have to clean and paint everything. I had to wash all my walls and every fixture was splattered in orange nicotine in my suite.

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Another common mistake to avoid when renovating a home is hiring unlicensed professionals to do the work, and that’s very common practice among people. “I had a client go under contract on a home recently that was in the process of having a covered patio installed,” Philippa recounted.

“During inspections (before the covered roof was even complete) the home inspector discovered none of it was up to code and it could have potentially been a hazard in high wind situations. In order for it to pass county inspections and for the buyer to feel comfortable moving forward with buying the home, the sellers had to replace the entire structure. So they paid once for it to be done poorly, then paid to have the materials removed, and then paid for new materials and for a professional to properly install it.”

Philippa continued: “On top of that, the unqualified person they first hired to do the job actually ruined the main roof of the home during the installation, so they had to hire a roofer to repair their roof as well.” The realtor assured that all that could have been avoided if they had hired a professional who was licensed and insured to do that kind of job from the start.

#7

Living Room After/Before, Nova Scotia

Living Room After/Before, Nova Scotia

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love it. You might think about putting UV blocker tint on the windows, that sunshine is going to fade everything super fast.

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#8

Before And After Of My Patio

Before And After Of My Patio

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#9

I Remodeled My Parent’s Upstate NY Kitchen During Covid. I Did A Lot Of This By Hand, Myself And This Is My First Time Ever Doing Anything Like It. I Had A Blast. Would Love To Hear Your Thoughts! Before And After(S) Below!

I Remodeled My Parent’s Upstate NY Kitchen During Covid. I Did A Lot Of This By Hand, Myself And This Is My First Time Ever Doing Anything Like It. I Had A Blast. Would Love To Hear Your Thoughts! Before And After(S) Below!

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KT
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should have kept the wood floors those tiles are dated already

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Another useful tip from the realtor is knowing what to save on and what not to. “People may try to save $200 by not pulling a permit, but when a buyer discovers that when the owner goes to sell, it could cost the seller a lost sale or thousands of dollars to get it properly permitted after the fact,” she said.

“One of my biggest pet peeves is when people replace flooring but only some of it, especially when the areas are adjoining (like replacing the carpet in the living room with wood plank, but leaving the kitchen that connects to it with original 1980s ceramic tile). It makes it difficult for the new owner to properly match it (even if you leave them materials) because of the way the floor is installed, so they either have to live with the ugly tile, or pay to replace the whole floor,” Philippa explained.

#10

A Before And After Ft. A Poor Man's Backsplash - Done While Being Stuck At Home. Detroit, Mi

A Before And After Ft. A Poor Man's Backsplash - Done While Being Stuck At Home. Detroit, Mi

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#11

Living Room Before & After

Living Room Before & After

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#12

Above Pic Is Before We Moved Into Our New House In Ohio.... Bottom Pic Is After A Solid Paint Job!! Feels So Much More Open And Airy Now And I Love It

Above Pic Is Before We Moved Into Our New House In Ohio.... Bottom Pic Is After A Solid Paint Job!! Feels So Much More Open And Airy Now And I Love It

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It does brighten the place up. I am always torn about painting wood trim. I've spent a lot of time stripping bad paint jobs off beautiful old millwork, but as you've shown so well, it really changes the feel of the room.

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#13

Bedroom Makeover For My 9 Year Old Son. Denver, Co. After vs. Before

Bedroom Makeover For My 9 Year Old Son. Denver, Co. After vs. Before

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Samantha Lomb
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't really look like a child's bedroom. More like a 30 year olds.

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Ritchat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, the room looked really depressing before. The poor kid didn't even have a real bed. But while the "after" looks stylish I think it's a strange choice for a nine-year-old. A dead animal head above the bed? Really?

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This will look stylish and hip for years to come. I love to see kids rooms that are timeless enough to grow with a kid right up thru high school.

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can i just say that i hate open closets? Who thought that this should become a trend?

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Sawyer Kidder
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is not an open closet, I'm from Colorado too. The closet doors are open.

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Nancy Munoz
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

feels like the kid still in school and hasn't seen the room.....

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Satan Laughs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok now although it looks good— I wish they would specify how much money they spent. Nothing here looks DIY.

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Honu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of the change is furniture and decor items. Looks like they changed the light fixture, painted, and have new carpet, though. A lot of folks can do the first two themselves. Very few people lay their own wall-to-wall carpet, though.

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Cindy Martin
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful! Just because it isn't plastered in Marvel-branded superheroes doesn't mean they aren't considering his interests and personality. I see lots of storage in the closet, a desk and a night stand we don't know the contents of. Learning to put things away when we're finished enjoying them is a valuable thing! Especially when it creates a space that children AND their parents can feel good about. WIN!

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Veronica Sjöberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's great. My 9yo would have liked it even though it's a more of a "this will last him a while"-style. They grow out of "kids style"-room pretty quick. At 9yo they are mostly into friends, sports/activities and electronics anyway, they don't need a playroom.

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Klaatu Verrata (Cough)
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many of us know, from experience, they grow out of the bright, more themed rooms seemingly overnight. A child's whims are less predictable than the weather. (Between three kids, I've probably done 12 redeco jobs over the years. They've been adults a bit and I'm STILL exhausted from it all.) So his is really smart. Accessories are all easy to change out. The bones of the design have serious longevity.

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Anet Marc
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At that age, my oldest son would have loved it. He was a "Stand by Me", "Life of Pi" kind of kid. At that age, my youngest son would not like it at all. He'd have "Home Alone", "Star Wars" and E. T. Covering the walls and ceiling. Totally different people. (Guess which one has the Masters Degree in Applied Math and which one has the comedy improv troupe. 😁)

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Klaatu Verrata (Cough)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah...I don't feel great about that feature at all. Hope it's not real. You can get very similar designs in resin, wood, etc.

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13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This kid is going to be so chuffed! "Grown-up" bedroom. And bonus points for the skull.

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Sammie 19
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do NOT get why people insist on grey in a child's bedroom. My grandson aged 7 is watching a video on YouTube, the Swedish family, and they just decorated the children's bedrooms, mostly grey walls and he said, it looks so bad, like when it's grey outside you feel sad. He said bedrooms for children ought to be bright and cheerful. He wants a purple room and had picked out the paint colour and it's beautiful. Calm and happy. He said if he got surprised with a grey bedroom he would cry and refuse to sleep in it

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L Owen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He'll continue to like it as he grows into teens. Well done!

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Gayle Wren
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a lucky kid! This will easily transition into a teenagers room.

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Joan Zatorski
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can the child reach those clothes hanging in the closet? Other than that, I like this a lot! It fits all agesI think.

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#14

Dull Stairway, Before And After. Scotland, UK

Dull Stairway, Before And After. Scotland, UK

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That really brightened things up, didn't it? Going upstairs looks like a good thing now!

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#16

Under $100 Bathroom Overhaul In My Jellybean Rowhouse; St. John’s, Newfoundland

Under $100 Bathroom Overhaul In My Jellybean Rowhouse; St. John’s, Newfoundland

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ispeak catanese
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jellybean row houses are row homes with adorable exterior paint jobs. Had to look it up.

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#17

Before And After Of Lake Side Cottage In Ontario, Canada.

Before And After Of Lake Side Cottage In Ontario, Canada.

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Laura Jackson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really captured that coastal vibe with the white and blue. Perfect for lakeside living!

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#18

Hexagons Are The Bestagons. Bathroom Remodel In San José, Ca.

Hexagons Are The Bestagons. Bathroom Remodel In San José, Ca.

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Deja Katz
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As much as I like the monochrome bathroom style it’s become quite common. Which means it’s probably going to date quickly. It can be hard to choose styling that’s bang up to date but different enough to avoid cookie-cutter trends.

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#19

Before And After Of My Renovated Bathroom - Nj

Before And After Of My Renovated Bathroom - Nj

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#20

Before & After, Rennovated Hallway. 1890's Victorian Terraced, UK

Before & After, Rennovated Hallway. 1890's Victorian Terraced, UK

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Mazer
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The light, door and floor make such a big difference

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#21

My Parents’ Family Home They Bought In 2007 And Renovated Themselves! So Proud Of Their Vision And Work

My Parents’ Family Home They Bought In 2007 And Renovated Themselves! So Proud Of Their Vision And Work

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#22

Our Kitchen Renovation In Bath, England, Before & After

Our Kitchen Renovation In Bath, England, Before & After

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#23

Our Bathroom Is Complete. Total Gut, New Subfloor, Added Window, Moved Plumbing From The Floor Into The Wall

Our Bathroom Is Complete. Total Gut, New Subfloor, Added Window, Moved Plumbing From The Floor Into The Wall

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#24

Our Living Room, Brooklyn, NY (After / Before)

Our Living Room, Brooklyn, NY (After / Before)

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are so lucky to have such high ceilings, and the new couch makes the place look bigger.

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#25

Our Bathroom Remodel In Austin, Tx. Before And After

Our Bathroom Remodel In Austin, Tx. Before And After

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soooooo much better. I never would have considered that flooring but it pulls everything together

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#26

Feb 2020 To July 2020. I Wanted To Make My 650sq Ft Apartment A Place I Can Actually Feel Comfortable During The Quarantine! (Excuse The Laundry On The Floor) - Astoria, NY

Feb 2020 To July 2020. I Wanted To Make My 650sq Ft Apartment A Place I Can Actually Feel Comfortable During The Quarantine! (Excuse The Laundry On The Floor) - Astoria, NY

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#27

Living Room Before-And-After. Had To Work With The Existing Dining Table And Chairs, And Media Cabinet. Feels More Home-Y Now!

Living Room Before-And-After. Had To Work With The Existing Dining Table And Chairs, And Media Cabinet. Feels More Home-Y Now!

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#28

Redid My Bathroom During Quarantine (Aurora, Co)

Redid My Bathroom During Quarantine (Aurora, Co)

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#29

Before & After Of Bedroom Office Space (Atlanta,ga)

Before & After Of Bedroom Office Space (Atlanta,ga)

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very cool lighting, but I love the floor lamp in the 'before' photo

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#30

Ensuite Redesign Incl Before & After Pics, Norwich, UK

Ensuite Redesign Incl Before & After Pics, Norwich, UK

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Note: this post originally had 69 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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