Giving your home a makeover is quite the challenge. Even if it's just a trip to IKEA, there are plenty of decisions you need to make. Luckily, the subreddit 'Design My Room' is ready to help.
The idea is simple: a person submits a picture (or pictures) of their room to the online community, including a layout with measurements, and they share ideas on how to redesign it. To get a more personalized plan you can add other details, such as your location, budget, and the kind of style you want (e.g. minimalist, etc.).
Oftentimes, people do follow at least some of the advice and are so pleased with the results that they even make a new post on the subreddit to show how their place looked before and after the redecoration.
So to commemorate these folks for their service, we put together a collection of some of their best projects.
This post may include affiliate links.
Adding Built Ins To Our Big Bare Living Room Made A Huge Difference
Before And After Of Our Baby Girls Nursery! We Do Not Miss The Yellow
I reckon just redoing the floor and adding furniture would have made the room look fine even without changing the yellow paint. The pale colours make it look more like a grandmas room than a babies.
Load More Replies...It's much better - but I do prefer a bit of colour to the current bland fashion of "white with beige/grey and pastel highlights"
With that yellow, you could have either redone it or pay for therapy for your daughter later
We got in touch with Reddit user u/UniversallySecluded, who is one of the moderators of 'Design My Room', and they were kind enough to answer a few questions for us.
They said that compared to other big communities on the platform, this one doesn't require that much "policing" to keep it clean.
"We mostly review links that get caught up in the mod queue and remove the occasional off-topic post but that pretty much covers it. We rarely come across problem users," u/UniversallySecluded told Bored Panda.
Before And After Of My College Apartment. Thanks For All Of The Advice!
All he did was swap the ends... Oh , a new rug and a curtain.
According to Feng shui the placement of the bed wouldn't be ideal, as the energy is flowing from the door out of the window and the bed is right in the way.
I don't believe in Feng Shui, but I'd be concerned about the bed getting direct sunlight. Depends which direction that wall faces and how hot the room would get in summer.
Load More Replies...What A Difference A Color Makes
Why all the "bad" photos are taken in shi##y night lighting and all the "good ones" in pretty day light?
I love deep colors on walls. I'm so sick of apartment house beige and prison wall gray.
anything is better than white/grey/beige walls imo, i mean, maybe your bathroom can be white but that's about it, its just too "clinical" feeling imo (maybe I feel that way since I have spent time in and out of hospitals in my life)
Before And After
This is awesome but it's a complete gut and rebuild. I'm sure it was costly!
I agreed with Maria Hermida. If the person just went with the colored runner rug, and stuck with the "under-light", and put the space in use(lived there with their utensils,pots, pans, plants (or whatever their 'trappings'), would a similar effect be achieved? A simple window film to cut the UV glare / heat( and add privacy) would be nice.
"We previously used the QualityVote bot which allowed users to vote down posts they think may not be suitable, such as low-effort posts, posts with inadequate information and/or overly cluttered rooms," the moderator added.
"Ultimately, our users are the ones helping with design and decor requests so we believe the decision should rightfully fall with them."
I Posted A Few Months Back Asking For Advice On Paint Colors, I Just Wanted To Share The Results And Say Thanks For Everyone's Suggestions! I Don't Miss The Grey At All
I was thinking a bit the same "Oh no the 60s are back with their burnt orange and olive green colour schemes!"
Load More Replies...I think a lot of folks are really tired of the all-gray everything. I think this is a very good example of what a difference adding color to the walls can make.
i have the exact same yellow chair. Sitting in it right now. though its my favorite piece of furniture ever, i wonder how they manage to keep it so bright yellow. Do they never use it? Mine has blue and grey spots from sitting in it (blue from jeans) I now have it covered in a very big blanket.
Why Would Anyone Paint These Is Beyond Me
Drives me crazy when people paint hinges regardless of type/style. Remove the dang hardware when you paint.
They probably thought the painting over would give a more cohesive look - the dark of the hardware would of stood out...
Before And After (Blue). Thanks To Your Input We Painted, Moved The Rug Out, And Moved The Round Chair To A Less Prominent Location
finally, real comparison photos : same shooting angle, same brightness (not day and night), there I find that we see better the improvement
Although first one is in spring or summer and second in the autumn/winter! But yes, I agree!
Load More Replies...I was never good at these things - how did they get the end piece of the couch turned around? If they just took it from under the map and put it on the other end, the arm would be against the middle section or the end piece would be facing the big window.
I too am wondering about the couch 🤔 must be some kind of sectional
Load More Replies...I am not opposed to the blue, as my bedroom is done in navy, but for the living room, I would've gone lighter and imposed it with lots of blue accessories.
They need to center the couch on that high wall, though. Why cram it into the corner like that?
Just Want To Thank This Sub For Helping Me Find Some Direction For My Now Dark And Moody Dining Room!
true, but the dark one has one "je ne sais quoi" :)
Load More Replies...Not my cuppa tea. Especially when you're going from the light and airy kitchen to the dark dining room. It would be like eating in a cave for me.
I love both frankly. One is open and airy and the other is sophisticated.
I'd put a rug with just a subtle hint of pattern & color under the table.
Interior designers say that in 2023, some choices are more popular than others. For example, earth tones, which, thanks to their calming effects and associations with nature, increased in popularity during the pandemic, are still in.
According to industry experts, shades of brown continue their dominance, while romantic mauve is the color of the year to come. However, some people opt for silver accents over gold or bronze. It's shining, it's captivating, and it can lend an everyday sophistication to any space.
I’m The Guy That Asked About A Wall, Then Painted The Wall. Now I’ve Taken Your Advice. Here’s The (Mostly) Final Form
My parents have that kind of ceiling (it's a type of decorative plasterwork), you know how you get spider webs in the corners of the ceiling? Yeah, imagine those everywhere, lol. A textured ceiling means a lot more sticks to it.
Load More Replies...Great paint choise! I am a huge fan of accent walls. You should switch the candles and the piramid thing on the seccond shelf. I know that would be a small change, but thats how it is in the first picture and it looks better that way.
I like it. Better than the popular sage (dusty? grayish?) green everybody keeps hyping.
Not liking the tv sort of floating over the non centered entertainment unit.
Nice simple change. I like dark walls for TV. Back light for the TV to reduce the contrast and eye strain.
Before And After. I Think It’s Been A Fairly Simple Solution But It Works So Wonderfully Well
Fairly simple - I don't see it that way. This is big renovation, everything is completely different.
so true, just breaking the ceiling requires a lot of work
Load More Replies...Simple? It's either 2 different kitchens or they had to tear down the ceiling, change all tiles and all furnitures. Wouldn't call it simple solution...
Simple?! Great job : oven and washing machine changes, feature ceiling beams, boiler boxed in, beautiful coloured doors and floor tiles!!! Simple? No! Amazing? YES! 😍
Gutting entire kitchen = Fairly Simple Solution... *STARES IN MEME* Don't y'all just love it when rich people? They getting down voted for the AUDACITY!
Fairly simple? Lolololol .....wonder what they qualify as intricate.
Thanks For The Help!
I'm honestly not sure which picture is supposed to be the good version and which is the bad. I like the top photo because it's less cluttered and the chairs look comfier.
Load More Replies...Nice, but there are a few too many plants. Please get rid of the plastic vine on the light fixture. There are better and more modern ways to address the problem of those unsightly chains, such as covering them with fabric. Or if possible, replacing the existing fixture with a more modern and simple one would have been better. As it is now, adding a plastic vine to the outdated and oversized light fixture transports the space back to 1972. And the textured sheers don’t help, either. The gallery wall was a good idea, but it’s a little too cluttered for my taste.
This Is What I Have So Far. It’s Definitely Still A Work In Progress But I Wouldn‘T Have Been Able To Do It Without This Subs Help
I upvote this one. Simple changes, like paint and paintings, but it looks so much better!
I'm not sure the paint was changed, I think it's just a different lightning - left one looks like it has a lamp with warm light bulb on, right one natural sunlight
Load More Replies...A good addition would be plants if you are looking for suggestions, still.
Love the kitchen table and chairs? Where did you find it? And is it a set ? Great style
Certain hallmarks from the past are also making a return. After the widespread popularity of the laid-back mid-century modern, for instance, more formal accents are now coming back.
Some designers think that it's because we're craving a little more sophistication after spending all that COVID-era in sweatpants. A bit more controversially, perhaps, brutalism is back too. So...concrete floors, anyone?
Update: Asked A Couple Months Ago About What To Do With A Huge Wall In My Loft Apartment. Ended Up Going With A Gallery Wall, Plus Random Barrel
still there, look the plant on the right, you can see the line and one beam
Load More Replies...Final Sunroom Update
Is that a rug (2nd pic) or did you pain the patterns? Either way that's amazing.
My Depressing Bathroom Is Less Depressing!
As a big gal, this room is still depressing to me. Ouch! I'd be burning my leg on that radiator every bloody day.
We had radiators at my college and I can't tell you how many times I accidentally burned my foot on the one that was behind my desk. Plus they always decided to have a full on rock concert at 3 am with lots of crazy banging. :) I was never a fan.
Load More Replies...And less, am I about to get murdered at a campground by the unsettled soul of a past camper? 😖
Before/After I Moved In My Husband’s Apartment
Feminine touches? The difference a coffee table, voiles, feature chair, rug and pictures make, lol 😉 Edit, cushions too 😜
Rug is nice and you've done a good job brightening and softening it a little without making it auntie like,
However, u/UniversallySecluded hasn't noticed a particularly popular trend or pattern among the posts on 'Design My Room.' At least not yet.
"People tend to look for advice on how to make their own unique styles work and the community does their best to accommodate that," the moderator of the sub said. "Although, I can see it being a possibility in the future as the subreddit evolves."
Update On Transforming Our Bedroom While Boyfriend Was Away! Before/After Pictures
For those, wondering like I was for a while. They changed the position of the bed, that is why the door disappeared.
The bed was moved, so the door is likely behind them now
Load More Replies...Final Update! I Used Your Advice To Re-Decorate My Dining Room! More Pictures Linked In The Comments
I prefer the "before" photo. IMO, that shade of blue just doesn't go well with the rest, the rug is too big and the painting on the wall looks like something that comes with the frame.
From a design perspective, the rug is the right size for the chairs on the side, the issue is the extra chair placement at the sides versus at the ends make the scale look off. You should be able to pull the chairs out to get seated and not come off the rug for dining tables.
Load More Replies...I could never have a rug under my dining table. It is definitely going to get spilled on, and the chairs will be much harder to move. Rugs make any room prettier, but it's just not practical for every space.
They make washable rugs now if you have children with spills and want an anchor under your table.
Load More Replies...Hmmm ... I do like the blue wall, but the rug is quite old and worn (possibly a family heirloom), so it sucks some of the life out of the room. And that second table runner is way too short. Probably bought for the colour alone.
A lot of rugs are sold looking that way. Lots of people like them.
Load More Replies...I... kinda prefer the before. The dark color shrinks an already small space with a large table. Large rug, large table, teeny tiny runner... with one vase? The painting isn't bad, but getting rid of the plants in exchange? Bad move IMHO, the space is already cramped and drab and then you've taken out the last piece of life there was.
Not a fan of the riug, sorry but that cross hatch thing you replaced with the painting is good.
Or, the color the "cross hatch thing" could of been redone in a much lighter color, or even with a richer appearing wood color (redwood); the reflection in the mirror would of changed the color of the entire room....Possible change to a more colorful (what are the OPs favorite color(s) runner, similar length to go the entire length of the table, since seating is placed all the way to both ends. The blue on the walls is "jarring" with the white (as opposed to the eggshell color you have the end wall) of the mirrors.
Load More Replies...The room all ties together now. I really like the rug - it looks vintage, and the table runner is fine not hanging over the ends of the table. It looks more "homey." Great job.
should paint whole room blue and paint the mirror frames black or gold/copper
Before/After. Thank You For The Rug Suggestion
having such a big TV and not having a comfortable place to watch it? the armchairs are beautiful but too close
Right on. I mean, the TV would only be able to be seen at night anyway. Way too much light right on the screen. Great room for relaxing, but not with a TV. It would be more of a reading/music room for me.
Load More Replies...Why buy such a big A$$ TV for such a small space? There is a mathematical formula for computing the right TV size based on the distance to the viewer. This is clearly out of proportion and absurd to be modest in words.
I Decided Not To Paint This Bookshelf, Just Sanded And Re-Varnished. Then Turned It Into A Bar!
Love this! Reveals the wood to perfection. Strongly dislike the current fad of 'up-cycling'.
I preferred the look of the before to the "yellow" of the pine. But I love the bar idea.
Load More Replies...I would have liked to see a different varnish, that particular one reminds me of really cheap hotel furniture. That's just me though.
Posts like the ones you see in this collection, where users come back after receiving advice to show how the transformation turned out, aren't that common. But they are treasured.
"These type of posts often get a positive response from the community, and it's something we welcome as mods too. It's always nice to see how our users have helped shape someone's home," u/UniversallySecluded said.
Before/After Of Our Master Bathroom. Thanks For All The Advice!
How much did this run, I wonder? We wanted a simple bathroom update. We have 3 bathrooms. Only one is big, and it's not huge. No restructuring. Just new cabinets, counters, and fixtures, and new showers. Company quoted us over $100,000. My husband said that was ridiculous. We could use that as a down-payment on a whole new house. They kept adjusting how much they'd do to get the price down. Their final offer was one shower, just the shower for 30k. It made no sense. How can one shower cost 30k?
It shouldn't. We had an old tub taken out, walk-in shower installed with all tile walls, and new flooring for the whole bathroom. Only very high quality fixtures and lots of grab bars. $13,000.
Load More Replies...This was definitely needed! I wouldn't feel clean showering in that first version. :)
Aarrrgggh, the order of the features is wrong here! Starting near the door, it's sink, toilet, shower/bath tub! (I realise that it's not the op's fault. But that contractor who did it in the first place!! It's like a health care worker who does not know basic hygene procedures!)
Room Makeover! Thank You So Much For The Advice!
I suspect it's on/at the opposite wall. The second picture shows only two of the three windows, so I guess a significant part of the room is not shown.
Load More Replies...Personally, I'd have been happy with the addition of the rug (and the lick of paint) and would have left everything where it was.
Yeah, that rug is bananas! Love the colors and room looks so so cozy
How I Love Before And After Photos
Okay, that one came as a surprise. I mistook No.1 for a bathroom...did not expect this conversion.
That tiny part of me left wondering... but what if... what if it still IS a bathroom? Because you just NEVER freaking know with people anymore... 🤣
Load More Replies...*gasp* I should paint my pony wall!!! Moved in last year and I've been trying to figure out what would make the room look better. This is it!
I'd love to take out that little 6 inch part wall to the left. Feels like it adds no value and would simply serve as something to consume space and bump into.
Before And After
Lovely room! 💖 I'd have more plants to offset the cold tiled floor x
Update: A Persian Rug!
I agree. The simpler, lighter colored rug works better.
Load More Replies...Better! At first I thought you had changed a lot, but it was just the rug!
Indeed! It does look like the paint has been updated as well, but that's all I could see. Looks comfy to me!
Load More Replies...I think it is the color that warmed the room, and not the thickness / texture that made the improvement. Drape the throw on the sofa, as opposed to folding, to show off the red in the throws colors.
Just Wanted To Say Thanks For All That Helped Me With My Room, Very Happy With It Now!
Totally agree! And you cannot place plants where you think they look best. Plants only survive & thrive were it's best for them.
Load More Replies...I’ve now seen the word “cosey” several times today; it’s unfamiliar (and autocorrect objects to that spelling). Is it by any chance the British spelling of “cozy,” or do a whooole lotta people not know that the word is “cozy”? I’d be grateful if someone’d cue me in. Thanks!
Load More Replies...Before And After Thanks To You Guys. Still Working On It Though
I do not like! Having a door open onto the back of a sofa. Nope. It doesn't feel cosy. It feels very exposed. It would be so much better if the sofa was turned through 90 degrees, and a small room divider added to house the television.
Seems like a gimped layout either way. Either you're carrying your dinner through the lounge to get to the dining table or you're sitting in the sun to watch a TV with glare on it.
Load More Replies...Sorry, but couch placement seems awkward. It partly block the door behing it . And they put TV in place with a lot of daylight, that will reflect on Tv screen.
to much light near the TV set, during the day, they will see shadows more than the screen :D
The first picture just needed some help with the dining area and maybe a rug. You don't want your TV in direct sunlight. And have you never seen a mafia movie? You can never relax with your back to the door, sheesh.
only issue is you need blinds to watch TV daytime due to the light/reflections from window
I like how the blinds reflected in the corner mirror looks like a piano 🎹🙂
Appreciate The Advice! Our Bedroom Wall Is Now Complete!
This appears to be in the basement, so you've added a bunch of extra dust-collecting corners to the wall above your head. Okay. I mean, a picture or two would have done the trick.
Frankly the wall design looks ugly and it adds no value. Why not add books shelves or a couple paintings?
next paint te stairs all one color and see if you can trade out that railing
This Is A Space You All Helped Me With. Beyond Happy With The Aesthetic!
I'd say it IS easier to not hang your prints in sunlight like that, but, you can actually get UV filtering frames etc , which protects photos/artwork from fading. But its expensive, and honestly it's just easier to do like i said, hang them somewhere else or be aware that they will fade eventually xP
Load More Replies...Can stll be improved. Those things on the floor will get knocked over by kids
Art is awesome. Just spray some archival/UV spray on the prints to protect
I was ready to be sad expecting the cool art and furniture to be gone... so happy that they just rearranged
I Got Tired Of The Dark And Cold Theme And Went For More Of A Warm And Inviting Feel! Always Open To Suggestions Too!
As inviting as a snowscape... Sorry, but I get hospital vibes from this much white. I like strong colours, at least for accents. Midnight blue, burgundy or purple on one of the walls, moss green or scarlet rug and vases, maybe sunflower yellow, lime green or bright orange for two of the sideboard doors... (not all of these, but at least one or two)
I hate to burst your bubble, but white isn't a warm colour. Perhaps a mid grey or burnt orange even on the wall by your pillows as a feature wall with navy blue and leave the rest of the room the white to really bring out the colour depth ?
🙋♀️Too White and Bright for me. I know, martin, white isn't a warm colour, it's too clinical.
Load More Replies...Too much white, but I do like the little orange kitty by the side of the bed ;)
Lovely but it's really bright! Maybe paint one wall a darker colour and all will be fixed:)
Tell me you're childless and pet-free without saying you're childless and pet-free.
except that there's a cat right next to the bed, so pretty sure they have a pet.
Load More Replies...Is This Better?
I've noticed that people seem to choose area rugs that are too small. Perhaps it is the cost involved that is the issue. I don't know. But this do over is another example where the rug really needs to extend another foot in every direction, so that all 4 legs of the chairs are always on the rug when someone is sitting at the table.
I hope you and your two skinny friends have many comfortable meals here. And why the reluctance to have an overhead light? At least tuck away the (hopefully not) live wire.
On A Whim I Painted Our Bedroom Trim
But that doesn't rhyme. Should have gone with a haiku. 😀
Load More Replies...Moved The Lamp, Moved Some Art, Got Dropped Plant Hangers. This Sub Helped Me Spend Only $13 To Help Balance Out This Room. Thanks Again Dmr !
Moving the lamp ,the art, and the change of plant hanger, Plus the rug rotate is a good look improvement to the room. I like that the plant is no longer 'overgrowing' the lamp.
Be kind to others. Your makeover results may not please everyone else, either. Thank you. Peace.
Where do I ask advise for simple makeovers that don't cost much like some of these? I have a HUGE open concept house that just looks so cluttered all the time...
with open concept homes, try creating designated "zones" for each activity. center cozy furniture over a big rug, away from walls if possible. use hanging screens (not expensive, really lovely, on-point for classic design) for space delineation. if you have storage space away from sight, pick 5-10 of your favorite knickknacks, and "curate" the collection by storing the others and rotating tbe displayed ones every so often. it gives the room fresh life and makes you appreciate the pieces more, instead of the whole collection being background noise. finally, go for bigger pieces of wall art, nstead of little ones that distract the eye. GOOD LUCK!
Load More Replies...I'll say it once and I'll say it again: a good rug makes all the difference
I personally love the use of the dark colors and the contrasts I think it makes things pop and if something that a lot of places aren't willing to do where people aren't willing to do
Be kind to others. Your makeover results may not please everyone else, either. Thank you. Peace.
Where do I ask advise for simple makeovers that don't cost much like some of these? I have a HUGE open concept house that just looks so cluttered all the time...
with open concept homes, try creating designated "zones" for each activity. center cozy furniture over a big rug, away from walls if possible. use hanging screens (not expensive, really lovely, on-point for classic design) for space delineation. if you have storage space away from sight, pick 5-10 of your favorite knickknacks, and "curate" the collection by storing the others and rotating tbe displayed ones every so often. it gives the room fresh life and makes you appreciate the pieces more, instead of the whole collection being background noise. finally, go for bigger pieces of wall art, nstead of little ones that distract the eye. GOOD LUCK!
Load More Replies...I'll say it once and I'll say it again: a good rug makes all the difference
I personally love the use of the dark colors and the contrasts I think it makes things pop and if something that a lot of places aren't willing to do where people aren't willing to do
