Blog Demo Design by Britt Douglas. Powered by Blogger.

35+ DIY Before and After Home Renovations From The Past Decade

Did you have good holidays? I hope you feel rested and relaxed. We've still got a few more days off and I'll be enjoying a slower pace until the new year, but I couldn't say good bye to this decade without a look back at some of our achievements. Warning: there are A LOT of photos in this post!

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation


I've been blogging since 2007 and I thought it would be fun to pause, reflect, and revisit some of the DIYs, remodels, and renovations we've undertaken over the last 10+ years, working on our two houses and a cottage. From powder room makeovers to full basement renovations, we've done it all and documented it here on this blog. Everyone loves a good Before & After so here is a massive roundup of 35+ Before and After home renovation projects, plus some of our best lessons learned over the years! About 95% of the work done on these projects was a DIY so if Sean and I can do it, you can do it too. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

Just click on the numbered project title to be taken to the details about that project.

P.S. I'll apologize in advance for the quality of some of these photos. Our rooms are not the only thing that have improved over ten years ;)

LIVING ROOM REMODELS:


Let's start with the heart of our homes, the living room. These rooms are where we tend to gather, sit by the fire, and entertain guests. In the Spring of 2018, we undertook what still holds to be our most dramatic renovation yet and in just six weeks transformed this boring lilac room into a sophisticated space.

1. Preppy Traditional Living Room


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation


Built In Cabinet Details

Living Room Reveal

Wall Trim & Moulding Ideas

In the early 2010's, we also took the living room in our first house from bland and dated to comfortable and welcoming. This involved building and tiling our own fireplace, replacing the front window, and refinishing furniture.

2. Living Room Remodel and Living Room Refresh


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation


Painting A Hutch

Fireplace Tile Options

The Perfect Grey Paint

BATHROOM REMODEL BEFORE AND AFTERS:

The most challenging type of renovation? We'd have to say bathrooms! There is no other renovation project that involves more systems, more surfaces, and down to the studs dirty work - all in a very small confined space. From a small powder room makeover to a basement bathroom remodel and full bathroom renovations, these bathroom remodel before and afters show just how much you can transform a small space. Here's five of our bathroom renovations, each in a unique style. Click on the text to see the full reveals.

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation


home depot bathroom remodel, old bathroom renovation
french style bathroom, home depot bathroom remodel, light blue bathroom, french country bathroom, subway tile


Floor Tile Patterns

Bathroom Renovation Lessons Learned

Mixed Metals in the Bath

Bathroom Beadboard Panelling


BEDROOM REMODEL IDEAS:

Bedroom renovations tend to be amongst some of our easiest projects. More of a makeover or bedroom remodel than full renovation, these projects often involve simple changes like adding trimwork, paint or wallpaper, and revised layouts. Despite their ease, bedroom remodels can have a huge impact on daily life. Nothing beats climbing into your bed at the end of a long day and feeling calm and serene. I hope these bedroom before and after ideas inspire you to create your own relaxing space.

This panelled accent wall in our old master bedroom from 2010 was ahead of it's time. A little bit of moulding created a needed focal point for this bedroom (and this project landed us on The Nate Berkus show!). Creating that accent wall also resolved one of our big challenges in this room: hiding a bump out which had limited furniture placement.

8. Master Bedroom with Panelled Accent Wall


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bathroom renovation

Space planning was also a challenge in this blue and awkward master bedroom. With new paint, new furnishings, and a different layout, we ended up with a room that looked and functioned so much better.

9. Calm Cream Master Bedroom

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, living room remodel, small bedroom renovation
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, bedroom remodel, small bathroom renovation


Dealing with a lack of storage? We were too, until we took this lack-lustre bedroom and hacked IKEA Pax wardrobes to create a cozy room to welcome baby Chloe home, complete with a dreamy window seat. After it was done being used as a nursery, we turned this room into a bright and peaceful guest bedroom.

10. Yellow Nursery With Window Seat and Updated Big Girl Bedroom


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, bedroom renovation, bedroom remodel, small bathroom renovation
built in window seat, ikea pax wardrobe hack, guest bedroom


12. Country Cottage Bedroom


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, bedroom renovation, bedroom remodel, small bedroom renovation
modern country bedroom, chambray duvet cover, buffalo plaid lumbar pillow, universal furniture Summer Hill bed frame, spool night stand, spool side table, clear glass lamp set


But bedrooms don't have to stay as bedrooms. This one went from empty space to green home office for 2 and finally ended up as a big girl bedroom with a new window seat. You might have noticed we have a thing for built ins!

13. IKEA Hack Home Office for 2


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, bedroom renovation, bedroom remodel, small bathroom renovation

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, bedroom renovation, bedroom remodel, girls bedroom remodel

In our current home, this empty bedroom turned into a pretty blue home office. We installed wallpaper and added storage to create a room perfect for working at home.

15. Feminine Home Office


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, bedroom renovation, bedroom to home office
feminine home office, modern traditional office, Rambling Renovators, wallpaper and brass sconces

Sometimes, paint can bring about the biggest transformation. This tragic red bedroom became a calm and neutral guest bedroom. Installing a new closet system and bifold doors added style and function.

16. Small Guest Bedroom Renovation


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, bedroom renovation, bedroom remodel, small guest bedroom renovation
small guest bedroom ideas, cozy guest bedroom, guest bedroom closet, equestrian decor bedroom


How To Design a Room

How To Make A Panelled Wall

Closet Organization Tips

Paste The Wall Wallpaper Tips

Dining Room Makeovers:

Let's head into the dining room. These rooms tended to be small but that gave us an opportunity to take some design risks. Some paid off (hello gorgeous, oversized light fixture) while others dated really quickly.

17. A Classic and Colourful Dining Room Transformation


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, dining room renovation, dining room remodel, small dining room renovation
mark d sikes lighting for hudson valley lighting, Sphere No 2 pendant, new traditional chandelier, Borastapeter wallpaper


The dining room in our first home was dark and striped when we moved in. We first updated it with wainscotting and a bold yellow floral scheme then shifted to a more neutral and bright tropical dining room.

18. Bold Yellow Floral Dining Room


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, dining room renovation, dining room remodel, small dining room renovation
Ramblingrenovators.ca | tropical dining room, round dining table, gold chandelier, bamboo blind, naga blue curtain

Our dining room at the cottage didn't need much updating. With curtains and handmade furniture, it became a pretty spot for casual dining.

20. Floral Cottage Dining Room


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, dining room renovation, dining room remodel, small dining room renovation
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, dining room renovation, dining room remodel, small dining room renovation

BASEMENT RENOVATIONS, LAUNDRY ROOM REMODELS, AND CREATIVE SPACES:

Some of the spaces we've renovated involved more dramatic transformations. From demolishing and moving walls, to reconfiguring spaces, and adding elements like cabinetry, flooring, and lighting, we created these rooms from the bottom up.

This bare bones laundry room was oversized and inefficient. By dividing the room into two, we were able to create a sleek and efficient laundry room and hidden storage space:

21. Galley Laundry Room With IKEA Cabinetry


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, laundry room renovation, laundry room remodel, small laundry room renovation
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, laundry room renovation, laundry room remodel, small laundry room renovation

22. Hidden Storage Room




We took down walls and opened up the rest of our dated and dingy basement to create one large and bright open area. In this space, we incorporated a craft area, a play area with ample toy storage, a basement home office, and entertainment zone.

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, basement renovation, basement remodel, full basement renovation

Creative spaces are a must in our home. In our current home, we transformed this empty and barren room in 2018 into The Crafts Dept., headquarters for all sorts of crafting, gift wrapping, art, and mess making. We infused it with coastal style and an abundance of organized cabinetry.

27. Coastal Style Craft Room

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, basement renovation, basement remodel, craft room renovation

modern coastal craft room | Home Depot Canada cabinetry | Ramblingrenovators.ca | shiplap, nautical decor
modern coastal craft room | Home Depot Canada cabinetry | Ramblingrenovators.ca #ProjectCraftsDept | shiplap walls, coastal decor



Laundry Room Renovation Tips

Craft Room Organization

Ikea Hack Home Office for 2

How To Install Laminate Flooring

KITCHEN RENOVATION BEFORE AND AFTER:

Kitchen renovations are difficult, expensive, time consuming, and always extremely satisfying. We've only renovated one kitchen in our homes but the change was dramatic. We took this awkward and dysfunctional 1960's kitchen and created a small but mighty bright, white galley kitchen. This project taught us a great deal about efficient layouts, cabinetry selection, and small space design - lessons that we used in future renovations.

28. Small Galley Kitchen Renovation



galley kitchen renovation, small kitchen before and after, small white kitchen renovation
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, galley kitchen remodel, small kitchen renovation

galley kitchen renovation, small kitchen before and after, small white kitchen renovation

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, kitchen renovation, galley kitchen remodel, small kitchen renovation

Kitchen Renovation Lessons Learned

How To Organize A Small Pantry

Under Cabinet Lighting Tips

TRANSITION SPACES:

Sometimes, the Before and After involves a very small space. From hallways to closets, these mini remodels were an opportunity to add interest and function.


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, mudroom
Rambling Renovators | white mudroom breadboard


small entryway makeover, front hall makeover, easy entryway makeover, small entryway ideas
schlage sense smart lock, smart door lock, remote login lock, keypad door lock, smart lock iphone

EXTERIOR REMODELS:

There have been plenty of changes to our outdoor spaces too. We've replaced walkways and built gardens and increased our curb appeal with exterior upgrades. For some of these outdoor spaces, decorating made the difference and all we needed was outdoor furniture or a bit of organization to get things in order.
before and after exterior refresh of a colonial style house, front porch decorating ideas for summer


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, exterior renovation, paver walkway diy
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, exterior renovation, paver walkway diy
before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, exterior renovation, paver walkway diy

34. A Back Porch Makeover with New Stairs and Railing


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, exterior renovation, porch makeover
back porch outdoor bench

garage organization diy

36. Building, Customizing, and Organizing a Shed

storage shed organization ideas, outdoor storage shed, diy shed organization, home depot storage shed kit

37. Decorating A Cottage Porch

before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, exterior renovation, porch makeover
RamblingRenovators.ca | porch decor | outdoor caned wingback chair, plaid outdoor rug, palm leaves, cottage tropical decor

38. Deck Decor


before and after home renovations, home remodel ideas, exterior renovation, deck makeover
blue and white outdoor decor, striped patio umbrella, geometric outdoor rug

And that's it! Phew! I think that covers every major renovation we've done. Just reading this post, I suddenly feel very very tired, ha! I'm even surprised myself at how much work we were able to accomplish over the last decade.

If you've been reading along for all or part of these projects over the last ten years, THANK YOU!!! I wouldn't have continued blogging for so long if it wasn't for the wonderful community I've found here. It's been one of my life's greatest joys to share our life with you.

Cheers to the 2010's. All the best to you for the 2020's!

You May Also Like

0 comments