23 Before-and-After Home Remodeling Ideas (2024)

Home Improvement

Interior Remodel

• 01 of 23

  Before: Half-Sized Closet

  

  Most of us want to have a larger bedroom closet.One problem is that apparently, closets are boxed in on all three sides with walls. Walls cannot be moved. Or can they?

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• 02 of 23

  After: Double-Sized Closet

  

  This homeowner studied her closet and realized that it, like many closets in bedrooms that share a wall with another bedroom, is essentially one closet.

  A single non-load-bearing divider wallcuts the large closet in half and turns it into two smaller closets, half serving one bedroom and the other half for the bedroom on the other side of the wall. By taking down that middle wall, she instantly doubled her closet space.

  Double-the-Size Closet MakeoverfromRamshackle Glam

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• 03 of 23

  Before: Neglected Kitchen Island

  

  If no one is interested in using your home's kitchen island, it might be because the island isnot interesting.

  Except for being a place to drop the mail and set down groceries, this kitchen island had no redeeming qualities, nothing to draw people to it. On top of it all, the dark kitchen cabinets and pendant lights made this outdated kitchen feel gloomy. San Diego builder and designer Murray Lampert was tasked with turning this kitchen around and making it a showpiece.

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• 04 of 23

  After: Lively Sit-Down Breakfast Bar

  

  With the kitchen island converted to a sitting/eating breakfast bar, guests have a reason to congregate in the kitchen. An added countertop overhang allows guests to sit closer to the bar.

  The cook's needs, too, are addressed with a sink installed in the kitchen island. Dated pendant lights have been stripped away in favor of unobtrusive recessed lights. And clean lines are preserved with the counter-depthside-by-side refrigerator.

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• 05 of 23

  Before: Energy-Wasting Thermostat

  

  Old-school dial thermostats such as the classicHoneywell Round do have a certain vintage appeal. They're also simple to use and to understand.

  But looks count for nothing when it comes to saving money. Manual thermostats are notorious energy- and money-wasters because they rely on you to physically adjust the temperature. If you've ever forgotten to turn down the thermostat before heading out to work or for a long day trip, you'll know what it's like to have your HVAC system expensively pump heated air into an unused home.

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• 06 of 23

  After: Smart Programmable Thermostat

  

  If you're looking for a quick remodel idea that you can accomplish in less than an hour, install a programmable thermostat.

  These digital smart thermostats can be programmed to turn your heating or cooling system on or off at specific times throughout the day and night. Most have a holiday mode, which allows you to reduce the need for the HVAC system during long periods of absence.

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• 07 of 23

  Before: Unappealing Accent Wall

  

  This living room had so many issues that design blogger Kris barely knew where to start. The lurid red felt imposing and the ceiling seemed too low. Everything was disorganized and in need of a serious update. Nothing about the living room felt special or unique. It was just blah, but a lurid blah that had to go.

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• 08 of 23

  Before: Storage Opportunities Wasted

  

  That lonesome refrigerator is good for keeping food cold, and that's about it. But it sucks up a lot of floor space, plus there is plenty of room above and to the side that could be used for storage.

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• 09 of 23

  After: Fridge With Integrated Pantry

  

  The brilliant solution for space-wasting refrigerators is to install pantry units to the side and above the fridge. This expanded storage wraps around the fridge and produces a clean, integrated look. Slide-out pantry shelves aid in reaching food items since refrigerator pantries tend to be very deep.

  By wrapping cabinets and pantries around the fridge, the appliance melts away—far less noticeable than if it were a freestanding unit.

  Fridge Wrapped in Pantry From Eating Bird Food

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• 10 of 23

  Before: Kitchen Wall Cabinets

  

  It's a familiar look in so many kitchens: wall cabinets hanging over the work surface.

  Wall cabinets definitely have great utility. Items are right there, within arm's reach. And wall cabinets' doors hide items that are less than attractive.

  Yet wall cabinets can loom over your work area, casting a shadow and generally creating a ponderous look.

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• 11 of 23

  After: Open Shelving

  

  Open shelving replaces the former wall cabinets in this kitchen. Open shelves clear the kitchen of that dark, heavy look and make everything feel lighter and brighter.

  The owner cautions that it's a move to be made with great thought, though. Be sure that you already have storage in place for items that will lose their home. Whatever ends up on the open shelves will be in full display to anyone who walks by.

  Another idea is simply to thin out much of the unused, unloved junk from the wall cabinets, reducing the need for alternate storage.

  Kitchen Open Shelving From The DIY Playbook

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• 12 of 23

  Before: Dated Brickwork

  

  Should you paint brick or not? What makes this such a lively debate is that once you paint brick, it is largely irreversible. Removing paint from brick and restoring it to its original condition is nearly impossible.

  But what about when you have brick so dated and unattractive that you can't even stand looking at it? For this homeowner, that was the case. Plus, the sheer size of the fireplace only made things worse.

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• 13 of 23

  After: Fresh Brick Paint Job

  

  Painting brick does not have to be difficult. This owner admits that she barely did any prep work, and she confined her painting to anything that could be rolled out. The result is a fresh-looking fireplacethat is easy on the eyes. By choosing a light color, she was able to diminish the massive look of the fireplace.

  Painted White FireplaceFromHouse of the Hepworths

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• 14 of 23

  Before: Tired Bathroom Nook

  

  For small bathrooms and powder rooms, a bathroom nook arrangement is inevitable. Tight walls and limited floor space dictate that thebathroom vanity and mirror should be wedged into this space, if only because this is the only space available.

  In this bathroom, the yellow wall was garish and dirty, and the cabinets were chipped. Due to the size of the bathroom, this nook could never be enlarged. Still, it needed some decorative help.

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• 15 of 23

  After: Inspired Bathroom Nook

  

  It doesn't cost a bundle or take much time to refurbish your bathroom nook. For less than you mightspend for a nice evening out, you can paint the bathroom cabinets, install new hardware, paint the walls, replace the vanity light, and put in a new rug, along with other pretty decor.

  Bathroom Nook Remodel From Bigger Than the Three of Us

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• 16 of 23

  Before: Neglected Patio

  

  If you ever gaze longingly at your shabby patio and wish that it were different, you are not alone.

  Patios are central gathering points. They bring friends and family together in the great outdoors for barbecues, drinks, dog dates, or whatever your heart desires. But when the patio is far from beautiful and overrun with neglected plants, no one wants to be there.

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• 17 of 23

  After: Remodeled Patio

  

  Lay down new concrete pavers to define a sharp, new patio area and add a portable firepit as a focal point. Above all, pruning back overgrown foliage is the lowest cost method of sprucing up your patio.

  Patio Remodel From Pretty Prudent

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• 18 of 23

  Before: Random Dining Room

  

  It's always best when your dining room has a cohesive design plan. But for this owner, the dining room felt random, with lots of mismatched furniture that reminded her of college dorm rooms.

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• 19 of 23

  After: Dining Room Makeover

  

  With this stunning dining room makeover, the color scheme ties together so that everything now works in harmony. Pieces have been specially chosen for the new space, from the inexpensive molded plastic chairs to the mid-century modern sideboard.

  Just one item from before remains: the bar cart.

  What really makes this refurbished dining room work, though, is the introduction of a focal point: the statement chandelier.

  Dining Room Makeover From Sugar and Cloth

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• 20 of 23

  Before: Cramped Bathing Area

  

  What worked in the past doesn't necessarily work today. The bathtubplanted within a truly cramped alcove, plus the lack of a shower, made using this bathroom a dreary affair. The vintage tile only further dragged down this look of this bathroom.

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• 21 of 23

  After: Drop-In Tub and Frameless Shower

  

  The owner opened up this bathroom, making it airier and more open, by removing the alcove bathtub and ripping out the claustrophobic alcove. Then she installed a drop-in bathtub.

  To cater to today's needs, she also added a frameless glass shower. Frameless glass enclosures make bathrooms feel larger and less imposing.

  Vintage Bathroom Remodel From Homebody in Motion

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• 22 of 23

  Before: Old Kitchen Cabinets

  

  Shaker-style cabinets are a classic staple of so many kitchens. Maybe it was a little too classic and ordinary. This owner loved them for many years until she felt it was time for a change.

  Given the high cost of kitchen cabinets, removal and replacement were out of the question. Even two low-cost solutions, ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets and cabinet refacing, can be out of reach for many homeowners' budgets. But there is one solution that is very inexpensive.

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• 23 of 23

  After: Painted Kitchen Cabinets

  

  When you need a rapid style change and money is an issue, painting your kitchen cabinets is nearly always the best way to go.

  Painting leaves structurally sound cabinets in place and is considered eco-friendly since it reduces items sent to the landfill to zero. Avoid using the type of standard interior acrylic-latex paint that you might use on walls. Instead, pick a cabinet paint that gives you long-lasting durability.

  Painted Kitchen CabinetsFromPlace of My Taste