BEFORE: Boxed In
Cold, monochromatic walls, an unloved love seat, a general lack of storage, and a dearth of decor made this room a bust for the blogger at Hi Sugarplum.
AFTER: Artful and Open
Ceiling-to-floor turquoise shelving and a mahogany secretary add warmth and storage, while a tie-dye-bright floor rug and gold pendant light strike a playful contrast. Guests seated on the vivid blue chaise have a prime view of the room’s focal point: a stunning abstract painting.
Related: Living Room Paint Colors—9 Top Picks from the Pros
BEFORE: Shabby Shed
The blogger at Polished Habitat had a garage that was beginning to look like a hoarder’s paradise—complete with cluttered rolling shelves and a barely visible cement floor.
Related: 7 Steps to Make Your Garage More Livable
AFTER: Utilitarian Chic
A clearly defined storage area and workshop maximizes space and cures the clutter. The rolling shelves stand perpendicular to the wall, with tools and supplies neatly grouped and stored, while an inspiring decal above the slick, epoxy-coated floor guarantees style on every surface.
Related: 7 Things Every Great Garage Needs
BEFORE: Vintage Vice
This living room and entryway from Vintage Revivals took the shabby-chic mantra far too literally—its barren walls, industrial fan, worn sofas, and homely floral portrait practically cry out with gloom.
Related: Beyond Recognition—10 Rooms Totally Transformed
AFTER: Loft-Style Luxury
A luxe leather three-seater, geometric prints, and a statuesque cactus that stands tall against wall-to-wall brick lend an earthy, lived-in feeling to the room. The dark floor and brick veneer are attractively balanced by the ivory-toned rug and a positively luminous pendant light.
BEFORE: Kitschy Diner
The yellowing cabinets and chintzy tile backsplash in this kitchen left the blogger at And Christina with a bitter taste.
Related: 10 Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets
AFTER: Light and Airy
The walls, ceilings, trim, and cabinets are rejuvenated with crisp milk white paint and a new subway tile backsplash to match. A whitewashed maple floor brings an additional lightness to the space, while a vintage rug adds lived-in style.
Related: I'm Dreaming of a White... Kitchen—10 Bright Beauties to Behold
BEFORE: Retro Regrets
This living room from Old Brand New had its roots in shotgun-style homes of the 1800s, but its dreary walls, nailed-shut window, and lack of color and texture were uninspired and depressing—in any century.
AFTER: In Living Color
Wide-open windows and pendant lighting illuminate the airy white walls. An energizing orange entrance, lush greenery, and a rustic coffee table bring jazzed-up New Orleans style to a once colorless room. Photographs and other artwork liven the walls and nestle in the spaces of the shelving unit, while a wool shag carpets the room in comfort.
Related: 9 Color Mistakes Everyone Makes
BEFORE: Creativity Fizzled
The blogger at Craving Some Creativity was weary of her cluttered craft room with its jam-packed filing cabinets, overstuffed boxes, and cramped work surfaces.
Related: Get to Work! 15 DIY Workbenches, Craft Counters, and Potting Tables
AFTER: Fun-Filled Workshop
In this crafty makeover, a children’s art station with a gallery wall offers shelter for unruly materials, while a nearby grown-up wall organizer puts art and ideas on colorful display. The pegboard above the computer is both hardworking and playful.
Related: 9 Home Organization Secret Weapons
BEFORE: Dining Drudgery
The blogger at In Honor of Design hungered for a makeover in her dining room. With its bland white walls, unappetizing ceiling fixture, and lack of seating options, it was ripe for a change.
AFTER: Sumptuous Sensation
Whimsical embroidered wallpaper, a modern chandelier, and a regal, peacock blue rug create a feast for the eyes in this remade dining room. A table-side bench doubles as a lounge for post-meal relaxation.
Related: 10 Alternatives to a Formal Dining Room
BEFORE: Case of the Blues
Snooze-worthy teal wallpaper, a cramped dining table, and an uninspired plate-glass focal point made the blogger at Bigger Than the Three of Us want to dine out rather than contend with her eat-in kitchen.
Related: Your Eat-In Kitchen—10 Space-Smart Design Ideas
AFTER: Let There Be White
Freshly installed plank walls and a wide banquette lengthen the space, allowing diners to stretch out in modern sophistication. The brightened space expresses a whimsical country personality through the Highland cow painting and faux cowhide rug.
Related: 5 Room Makeovers That Only Took Paint
BEFORE: Ramshackle Retro
The peeling paint, haphazardly strewn furniture, and '80s-style floral couch in this living room turned guest room weren’t fit for the homeowner and blogger at Home Made By Carmona—let alone guests!
Related: 10 Ways to Welcome a House Guest
AFTER: Modern and Multipurpose
By day, this living room is wrapped in harmony and order. By night, a linen futon strewn with throw pillows and comforters lets the living room become a dreamy pop-up bedroom with soothing, custom-tinted walls.
Related: 9 Inventive Ways to Build an Extra Bed
BEFORE: Dowdy and Dated
With its dark wood cabinets, rusty pendant lighting, and closed-off breakfast bar, this kitchen was just a savorless blast from the past for the determined blogger at Dear Lillie.
AFTER: Industrial-Strength Style
Freshly painted cabinets paired with industrial-style lighting, a new stainless steel stove, and updated cabinet hardware add light, space, and modern function to the kitchen. Plush stools give diners the best seat in the house at the breakfast bar, which is now open to the rest of the space.
BEFORE: A Cold Bath
Plain-Jane white walls in this bathroom from Home Polish offer all the warmth and personality of a lackluster hotel room.
Related: Before and After—7 Stunning Bathroom Makeovers
AFTER: Tropical Paradise
Refreshing palm-tree wallpaper transports these homeowners to a lush island getaway. The vanity is revitalized with tropical foliage and outfitted with bath essentials that soak the senses in relaxation.
BEFORE: Behind Bars
Worn floor tiles and a shower stall equipped with a clunky, wraparound metal curtain rod did little to optimize style or function in this diminutive bath from Sweeten.
Related: Bathroom Floor Tile—14 Top Options
AFTER: A Place in the Sun
A new wooden vanity, oversize black floor tiles, and a tile tub surround wrap the bath head-to-toe in style. A climbing vine accentuates the height of the space and injects a touch of nature into the decor.
Related: 17 Bathrooms We Love
BEFORE: Lonely Artist
Between the worn linoleum floor, the empty walls, and the quirky pendant, you could almost feel the desolation and hear the swirling tumbleweed in this abandoned art studio from The Jungalow.
AFTER: Elegant and Eclectic
Texture and color dominate in this transformation, evident in both the faux fur- and fabric-draped vintage-style furnishings and the imposing pastel hutch. The studio throbs with vitality, thanks in part to hanging plants arrayed at varying levels for dynamic flair.
Related: 11 Reasons to Reconsider Pastels
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