Learning to set up a home can be difficult. Unless you have a degree in design, you probably don’t know a whole lot about light vs. dark, organizing rooms into sections, or playing with patterns, colors, and decorations to add visual interest. If you’re like most of us, you’re just going with your gut about what looks and feels good.
Sometimes, that can lead to design disasters, including cramped and dark rooms or those set up so awkwardly that you can barely move around. Let’s face it: not everyone’s a natural designer.
The issues come up slowly as trends become, well, un-trendy. Take a moment now to visualize your grandmother’s house. Is there carpet over the hardwood floor? Is there a lot of wood paneling? Are there floral or sheer curtains? All of those things were fashionable at one time, but now, they make houses uncomfortable.
With the right design tools, however, you can make a room look completely new. In fact, if you don’t know much about design, you’ll be amazed to see just how much the right choices can change a place. If you doubt it, check out these 35 rooms that went from outdated to modern.
1. Before: From farmhouse to sleek and chic
This room looked like a dusty attic before it was fixed up. It looks like it should be for storage, not for actual living. So, they decided to turn it around.
The old attic feel is totally gone. Now, this is definitely a place to unwind. Every detail is absolutely gorgeous. But the crown jewel of this bathroom is that beautiful freestanding tub.
This kitchen was average before its redesign — not to mention incredibly cramped! It needed some serious TLC to make it into a comfortable and beautiful place to prepare meals.
It’s hard to believe this is even the same room. It’s got some lovely shelving that keeps all the dishes visible and within reach. There are even some sleek new appliances.
At first, this deck was just that: a wooden deck with a wooden fence — nothing special to look at. But the owners decided to turn it into a private oasis for outdoor relaxation.
They played with a lovely pallet of mint green and brown with pops of pink and floral patterns throughout. That hanging swing takes it to the next level of luxury!
When this person asked their friend to redesign a bedroom, they weren’t feeling too happy with the dark, cramped space. They needed some recoloring and more light to create a new look.
This beautiful transformation tackled everything, from the paint to the curtains to the furniture. Small touches like a charming table and a bench by the foot of the bed help organize the room visually.
Before these designers decided to revamp a gutted RV, it wasn’t fit for a family of raccoons to live in, much less a family of humans! The only thing it was fit for was a landfill — or a really good redesign.
This redesign proves that you don’t need a ton of space to have a home that’s comfortable and beautiful. The addition of the plants gives it the feeling of a private indoor greenhouse that’s an escape from the world.
After: Now it’s gorgeous in shades of green and blue
The revamp improved on the color scheme, light, mirror, and storage space. The soft palette of green and gray with the pop of blue in the painting on the wall is perfection.
This RV looks like every other one you’ve ever seen — pretty bland and boring, not to mention monochrome! With more people choosing to live in an RV full-time, it needed to be a comfortable and beautiful space.
Now it’s the total opposite of the dark monochrome RV interior that we’re all used to. Instead, it’s bright and full of light, with pops of color in green, gold, and brown.
8. Before: From painfully retro to sleek and modern
This kitchen was in desperate need of an update after decades of looking exactly the same. It also needed to improve its use of space, since it was dark and cramped.
The designers chose to remove some of the overhead cabinets, which was a great idea for this small space. Those updated appliances are sleek, beautiful, and undeniably modern.
We’re not going to lie — this gutted room looks like it belongs in a horror movie. It’s dark, dirty, and dilapidated, probably after years of barely being touched.
It’s incredible how the creepy scene changed into a comfy reading nook with a gorgeous new floor. It just goes to show what the right choices and some hard work can do.
This attic had the potential to be an amazing living space. But as it was, it wasn’t good for anything except storage, which was just wasted potential!
After: Now it’s the perfect place for kicking back with a good book
Can you imagine spending a rainy afternoon here with a book or five, relaxing in front of the fire? It’s basically everyone’s dream to have a room like this one!
11. Before: There’s nothing special about this laundry room
When it comes to laundry rooms, this one is pretty average: a washer, a dryer, and a shelf above them. There’s nothing wrong with it, per se, but it is pretty lackluster.
The upgrade is actually beautiful, which is not a word usually used when describing laundry rooms. Along with improving the storage space, they played with a striking palette of greens and blues to add some interest.
12. Before: This loft apartment bedroom was super cramped
Loft apartments by definition don’t offer a lot of space, so you have to learn how to organize and design with what you have. In the original layout, this wasn’t done successfully.
They got rid of the shelf that decreased the space and repositioned the bed, as well as improved the color palette and lighting. Now, this bedroom feels light and airy instead of cramped and awkward.
Who said a room built for one purpose can’t be transformed into something different? The decorator decided they didn’t want a sunroom, so they revamped it into this gorgeous place to wash clothes.
14. Before: This living room was cluttered and boring
It can be difficult to organize a room and make it comfortable when you’re also trying to accommodate the needs of children. These residents didn’t have it quite down, so their living room was crowded and awkward.
It’s hard to compare these two photos since they’re at different angles, but this room now looks like it came out of a magazine spread! It’s so much brighter and more accommodating.
15. Before: This kitchen was straight from the 1980s
This kitchen hadn’t been updated in 30 years and it was painfully obvious. Everything about it was wood, wood, and more wood, which made it monochrome and dull.
They tossed out all the wood in favor of simple white cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. The result is a room that looks fantastic in neutral shades yet it still has a lot of variation.
16. Before: This was your basic suburban family kitchen
This kitchen’s best point was the brick wall around the oven, but it didn’t do much to elevate the basic suburban look of the rest of the room. There’s not enough variation in the colors to make its good points stand out.
The designers kept the brick but gave it a new, updated look that’s undeniably sleeker. They also alternated textures and patterns while filling empty spaces on the walls.
17. Before: This guest bedroom was pretty lackluster
Let’s face it — before its redesign, this guest bedroom was kind of depressing. It was a place for guests to sleep, but not to relax or feel like they had their own space.
After the makeover, the bedroom feels like an upscale hotel room, complete with beautiful wooden floors and a patterned rug. They did an amazing job adding accents of yellow to tie everything in the room together.
It’s important to have plenty of light in a kitchen to make focusing on cooking easier. This kitchen’s awkward design lost both light and space, which made it uncomfortable.
After: They swapped it out for a totally new palette
These designers decided to go in the totally opposite direction. Before, everything was dark, and now it’s light and bright, making it visually pleasing as well as functional.
19. Before: It started out looking dated and quaint
Sure, this room had some nice points, including plenty of light, but it looked like your grandma’s house. The ruffled curtains and overuse of florals was reminiscent of a Golden Girls special.
These designers went for something totally different, choosing a beautiful dark teal and combining it with rich wood tones and accents of white and gold. It’s no longer retro — now it’s cutting-edge.
20. Before: At 70 years old, this kitchen showed its age
Older houses show the styles of yesteryear, and sometimes, that means designs that are impractical for modern living. This kitchen, which dated back to the mid-20th century, was decidedly dull.
After: Now, it looks beautiful in shades of blue and white
The room was updated with a new color palette. However, it was also given more counter space, reimagined cabinets, and a gorgeous backsplash. It’s hard to believe the room is old enough to be your grandmother’s.
21. Before: This office was too cramped and cluttered for work
Home offices need to be designed as places where people can focus. So, it’s imperative they’re clean, comfortable, and organized. This room looked like it wasn’t just an office, but also a gym, workshop, and storage space all in one.
They got rid of all the extra clutter, improved the lighting, and made it far more comfortable. This office is now a place designed for work — not storage or anything else.
22. Before: Despite the windows, this room was dark and a little gloomy
This room had a beautiful window seat, but it wasn’t being used to its full potential. What’s more, those big windows weren’t letting in enough light, leaving the room dark.
Color is the name of the game in this redesign. This room is now a place that’s bright and cheery, making use of all its best features. As for that window seat, it went from being an afterthought to the main attraction.
23. Before: This mobile home was functional, but not beautiful
Mobile homes and RVs aren’t exactly known for their beautiful interior designs. After all, their main purpose is to serve as living space and a method of transport. Unfortunately, that’s a pretty ugly way to live.
They got rid of all that monochrome and added a varying palette in bright colors like white, yellow, and red. It’s a perfect way to add the illusion of space.
24. Before: The resident of this apartment spent three years teaching themselves about design
What a testament to the things you can achieve if you put in the time and effort! This person wasn’t sure how to turn their tiny apartment into a comfortable and gorgeous home. So, they spent three years watching design shows and reading information online.
This was the result: an organized, stunning room that divides the space into distinct areas. It’s beautiful and much more luxurious than your average apartment!
25. Before: All that wood was a little bit overwhelming
Past decades were a little too in love with wood and wood paneling. It can be a good thing, but this room was an example of what it looks like when it goes too far.
Goodbye, endless wood! Now it’s a bright and beautiful sanctuary in delicate blue and white hues. The ceiling light fixture improves the feel of the room while also adding a point of interest.
After: The bathroom now has a clean and comfortable European feel
The redesign included an eye-catching color palette, as well as a lot of light. They also opened up the space as much as possible. It now feels like a place where you can get clean and relax.
27. Before: This living room was a bit heavy and dark before its renovation
This living room had good things about it, but it also missed the mark in a lot of ways. The walls were dull, the furniture was awkwardly arranged, and there wasn’t enough interest around the windows.
After: It has a vibrant, light, and airy look and feel
With a totally new furniture arrangement, they used the natural brightness of the room to play up a colorful palette in blues, browns, and whites. It’s not only comfortable but also totally unique.
28. Before: This townhouse had good bones but wasn’t at its best
This townhouse bedroom had some good things going for it. Along with good lighting, it boasted that gorgeous brick in the wall. But none of its best points were being emphasized.
This is the best design strategy: find what works about the room and use it to your advantage while changing the rest. These designers made the room larger and lighter while keeping that beautiful brick.
This bedroom isn’t bad, but the darkness and the bare walls are kind of depressing. The room’s light color palette was just begging to be made a bit more interesting.
After: It works beautifully with whites, blues, and neutrals
The room was designed with a subtle beach theme that makes it super comfortable without being in-your-face. The combination of neutrals and blues is a great way to evoke the comfort of the seaside.
With that carpet and all the wooden panels, the room just screams 1970s, and not in a good way. Carpet is never a good idea for a kitchen or dining room!
This kitchen was — to be honest, kind of ugly before its renovation. It was all fake wood paneling, which meant it was way too much brown. Its setup also made it extremely cramped.
The redecoration took it from brown and drab to blue and sprightly. They used a gorgeous patterned backsplash to add lots of interest while improving the space and making the room more comfortable.
Here’s another victim of the retro wood trend that it made it dark, boring, and ugly. It was in desperate need of some light and interest to make it pop.
Talk about a total revamp! The ugly wooden cupboards are gone and replaced with these bright mint and white ones. They covered the floor in a beautiful pink patterned rug to make the room pop.
When it comes to laundry rooms, this one was pretty average. But, the real problem here was the clutter. There was no way to keep everything organized.
This just goes to show that you don’t need to totally overhaul a room to make it feel and function like new. The increased storage space changes the game entirely.
This dining room had a lot of potential with the large window, but it was going to waste. Most of the room was monochrome, meaning it desperately needed a new look.
The redesign kept a lot of the ideas of the original layout in terms of furniture. They even kept the potted plant in the corner. But the main difference is the improvement in lighting and color, giving the room a fresh aesthetic.
35. Before: This condo was a bit cramped and dark before its renovation
This living room offered plenty of opportunities for a gorgeous space, but they weren’t being taken. The walls were bare and the room was way too dark to feel comfortable.
Beyond improving the lighting, they made some significant changes. However, the best part is the shelving unit in the wall. It’s a perfect place to store books and knick-knacks while also providing visual interest.
Learning to set up a home can be difficult. Unless you have a degree in design, you probably don’t know a whole lot about light vs. dark, organizing rooms into sections, or playing with patterns, colors, and decorations to add visual interest. If you’re like most of us, you’re just going with your gut about what looks and feels good.
Sometimes, that can lead to design disasters, including cramped and dark rooms or those set up so awkwardly that you can barely move around. Let’s face it: not everyone’s a natural designer.
The issues come up slowly as trends become, well, un-trendy. Take a moment now to visualize your grandmother’s house. Is there carpet over the hardwood floor? Is there a lot of wood paneling? Are there floral or sheer curtains? All of those things were fashionable at one time, but now, they make houses uncomfortable.
With the right design tools, however, you can make a room look completely new. In fact, if you don’t know much about design, you’ll be amazed to see just how much the right choices can change a place. If you doubt it, check out these 35 rooms that went from outdated to modern.
