30 Times People’s Renovations Made Their Homes Much Cozier, Shared In This Online Group
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!
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The After And Before Of My Teeny Tiny Studio Apartment In NYC
A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Very comfy looking.
The Before And The After
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.
Small Bathroom Remodel. Before&after
I saved the 'after' photo to show my designer... it's definitely my style.
In order to find out more about common home improvement and renovation mistakes to avoid, Bored Panda reached out to Philippa Main, the 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.
Before And After Renovation Of My Tiny Scottish Apartment Bathroom
Bathroom DIY Upgrade. Before And After
Before And After Of My Small Apartment Kitchen. I Don't Miss The Orange! (Louth, Ireland)
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.
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.
Living Room After/Before, Nova Scotia
Before And After Of My Patio
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!
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.
A Before And After Ft. A Poor Man's Backsplash - Done While Being Stuck At Home. Detroit, Mi
Living Room Before & After
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
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.
Bedroom Makeover For My 9 Year Old Son. Denver, Co. After vs. Before
This doesn't really look like a child's bedroom. More like a 30 year olds.
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?
Most 9 yo boys I know would be ecstatic to have a "dead animal" skull in their room.
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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.
Can i just say that i hate open closets? Who thought that this should become a trend?
It is not an open closet, I'm from Colorado too. The closet doors are open.
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Ok now although it looks good— I wish they would specify how much money they spent. Nothing here looks DIY.
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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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!
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.
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.
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. 😁)
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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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
DOESNT LOOK TOO DOFFERENT THEN WHEN THE FORST PIC WAS TAKEN.
Can the child reach those clothes hanging in the closet? Other than that, I like this a lot! It fits all agesI think.
Is that new carpet with a rug on top of it or is it new wood or tile flooring?
I think it's the same carpet with a throw rug on top.
Load More Replies...Dull Stairway, Before And After. Scotland, UK
That really brightened things up, didn't it? Going upstairs looks like a good thing now!
Tiny Bathroom Update (Virginia)
Under $100 Bathroom Overhaul In My Jellybean Rowhouse; St. John’s, Newfoundland
Jellybean row houses are row homes with adorable exterior paint jobs. Had to look it up.
Before And After Of Lake Side Cottage In Ontario, Canada.
Really captured that coastal vibe with the white and blue. Perfect for lakeside living!
Hexagons Are The Bestagons. Bathroom Remodel In San José, Ca.
Before And After Of My Renovated Bathroom - Nj
Before & After, Rennovated Hallway. 1890's Victorian Terraced, UK
My Parents’ Family Home They Bought In 2007 And Renovated Themselves! So Proud Of Their Vision And Work
Our Kitchen Renovation In Bath, England, Before & After
Our Bathroom Is Complete. Total Gut, New Subfloor, Added Window, Moved Plumbing From The Floor Into The Wall
Our Living Room, Brooklyn, NY (After / Before)
You are so lucky to have such high ceilings, and the new couch makes the place look bigger.
Our Bathroom Remodel In Austin, Tx. Before And After
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
Living Room Before-And-After. Had To Work With The Existing Dining Table And Chairs, And Media Cabinet. Feels More Home-Y Now!
Redid My Bathroom During Quarantine (Aurora, Co)
Before & After Of Bedroom Office Space (Atlanta,ga)
Ensuite Redesign Incl Before & After Pics, Norwich, UK
Seattle Retro-Renovation! I Turned My Ugly Powder Room Into An Atomic Half Bath
Pretty Proud Of This Project That I Completed By Myself Here In New Jersey!
Dining Room - Edmonton, Ab
Covid Delayed Our Couch Delivery By Almost 12 Weeks But It Was Absolutely Worth The Wait! [lakeville, Mn]
![Covid Delayed Our Couch Delivery By Almost 12 Weeks But It Was Absolutely Worth The Wait! [lakeville, Mn]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/clipimage-61f13c145aba9__700.jpg "Covid Delayed Our Couch Delivery By Almost 12 Weeks But It Was Absolutely Worth The Wait! [lakeville, Mn]")
Kitchen Update - Bristol, UK
Before And After Of My Kitchen Update
Finally Finishing Out Our 4 Month Kitchen Reno [reston, Va]
![Finally Finishing Out Our 4 Month Kitchen Reno [reston, Va]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/61f123ff30e65_7gqd0j5u19g61__700.jpg "Finally Finishing Out Our 4 Month Kitchen Reno [reston, Va]")
We Bought A Fixer Upper. Here’s The Before And After Of Our Living Room! Tulsa, Ok
My Bedroom Two Days Apart, Did Everything Myself
Bright Bathroom Update In Nashville, Tn!
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - I Just Finished My Bathroom Reno!!! It Took A Month And I Had To Shower In My Backyard Through The Whole Thing
Guest Bedroom Before And After | Austin, Tx
Before And After Of Our Kitchen Upgrade / Sydney, Australia
After 5 Years, We Finally Updated Our Ugly Master Bathroom!
Just Wanted To Share My (Mostly) DIY Bathroom Reno. I'm Proud Of Myself And I Hope You Guys Dig It! :)
Makeover Of Our Tiny Kitchen. Still Small But Now Cleaner And More Functional - Manila, Phl
Master Bath Remodel - Colorado Springs, Co (Before/After)
Completed The Guest Room Just In Time For Our Guests Tomorrow! [guest Room In Small Town South Carolina]
![Completed The Guest Room Just In Time For Our Guests Tomorrow! [guest Room In Small Town South Carolina]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/clipimage-61f168d1c0bea__700.jpg "Completed The Guest Room Just In Time For Our Guests Tomorrow! [guest Room In Small Town South Carolina]")
Before & After! We Renovated An 1800s Cabin In Upstate New York
Five Years Ago I Used The First Time Home Buyer's Credit To Install New Cabinets. Thanks, Obama. (Before And After)
Before And After If Our Dining Room
Our Kitchen Remodel Is Finally Done!
Before And After Of My Renovated Kitchen - Nj
The enclosure for the fridge is a great idea. Very streamlined, and much better lighting!
A Before & After Transformation Of My (Now) Favorite Room In The House! Dallas, Tx.
Before/After Kitchen Remodel (Bay Area, Ca)
Wow... that was a lot of work. I am cottagecore, so I thought the before was cute, but the new one looks great with the glass front cabinets.
Kitchen Remodel In Our 1920s California Bungalow (After/Before)
I'm trying to figure out the angles of the pics with the windows, stove hood, etc and I can't get it straight in my noggin. Is it just me or was this a major, major overhaul?
It’s Crazy What A Little Elbow Grease And Paint Can Do. My Kitchen Before/After (Kansas City, Mo)
Home Bar
Before And After - East Machias, Maine
So Proud - I Did This All By Myself! Kcmo
New Kitchen Before And After. UK.
(After/Before) Our Living Room, Beaverton
I want to bring the dog to my house for a play date with my two girl Bostons.
My Bedroom Before (From The Listing) And After I Got My Hands On It. Portland, Or
Before And After Of My New Wfh Space! Northern California
Before And After Of My First Interior Decorating Project As A Sole Proprietor! Downingtown, Pa
Needs a nice dark or medium warm toned color on at least one wall to give it a more cozy feel. I feel the old white-ish color is a little cold.
Philly Suburbs Living Room: Before (Previous Homeowners) & After
1 Year Transformation Of My Small Bedroom!
Finally Done With Our Bright Living Room In Our New Home In Orange County, Ca! Before Photo Included
Before And After Of My Son's Room. I Didn't Have Any Real Before Pics.
This is giving me some much needed inspiration. I bought my first house in Feb of 2020 just before Covid got really crazy. I worked through lockdown and now I'm really ready to really make it my own!
bedroom now...the full orientalist Monty !! image3-61f...6-jpeg.jpg 
Loved the before and the after! This is by FAR more interesting and creative than ANYTHING posted above. All that was largely a snooze fest.
Load More Replies... bedroom before....wallpaper seemed like a good idea 6 years ago... fotografia...4d820c.jpg 
Same. There were a few where I didn't know which was before and which was after lol.
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these are cool! (im just commenting bcs i found this right when they posted it-)
Also those make-overs are great to fabulous. But it gave me some thinking... in the 90s blue was the color to go and now... it's obsolete. I'm excited to see what of those styles simply remain timeless and which won't. However, personally, I always favored the "dark" libery still or (how it's called in my country) the colonial style. Those colors and massive dark wooden furniture needs to fit your place though.
This is giving me some much needed inspiration. I bought my first house in Feb of 2020 just before Covid got really crazy. I worked through lockdown and now I'm really ready to really make it my own!
bedroom now...the full orientalist Monty !! image3-61f...6-jpeg.jpg
Loved the before and the after! This is by FAR more interesting and creative than ANYTHING posted above. All that was largely a snooze fest.
Load More Replies... bedroom before....wallpaper seemed like a good idea 6 years ago... fotografia...4d820c.jpg
Same. There were a few where I didn't know which was before and which was after lol.
Load More Replies... these are cool! (im just commenting bcs i found this right when they posted it-)
Also those make-overs are great to fabulous. But it gave me some thinking... in the 90s blue was the color to go and now... it's obsolete. I'm excited to see what of those styles simply remain timeless and which won't. However, personally, I always favored the "dark" libery still or (how it's called in my country) the colonial style. Those colors and massive dark wooden furniture needs to fit your place though.
