30 Home Organizing Before and Afters That Are Almost Too Satisfying to Look At
Extreme home makeover, type-A edition.
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The only thing more satisfying than an ultra-tidy closet, pantry, or laundry room is seeing what it looked like before it was super organized. And it does't need to be spring for us to get overly excited about a good clean-up and organization project. If you need a little inspiration to start your own, these transformations are the perfect motivation to tidy up. (The before and after shots will make your day.)
Before: Empty Wall
In a tiny bedroom with a tiny closet, clutter tends to accumulate very quickly. Bulky dressers were used to keep clothing hidden and to provide a surface for other items, like makeup, lamps, and accessories.
After: Floating Shelf Storage
In order to keep those surfaces clean—and to free up that precious floor space—IKEA designers decided to take advantage of the walls by installing floating shelves. With bins on the shelves to keep knick knacks hidden, there was more space on the ground for useable furniture instead of another clunky dresser. And a well-organized shelf is better than staring at a blank wall.
What you'll need: Floating shelf, $29, IKEA.com
Before: Shelves With Loose Papers
Having built-in shelves and cabinets is a blessing. There's so much more storage space to work with, whether you need it for essentials or as a way to display decor. The loose papers and random artwork in this sitting area aren't helping the bookshelves live up to their full potential.
After: Formal Home Library
Wow. Now this is how you decorate open shelves. Covered in a fresh coat of paint to blend in with the surrounding walls, the whole room feels more open and spacious. Interior designer Shaun Smith put some antique books on display and also created visual intrigue by hanging artwork over the wall between the shelves.
What you'll need: White paint, $26, Amazon.com
Before: Empty Garage
Spaces like garages, basements, and attics hold so much potential. Seriously, having that much extra room for storage is going to come in handy. But since they're also not always high-traffic parts of the home (especially for guests), they can easily become rundown and messy.
After: Bright and Well-Organized Garage
Now here's a garage that knows how to clean up nicely. Interior designer Annie Selke worked with Gladiator Garage to add work stations, wall storage, shelves, and lockers.
What you'll need: bike hook, $22, Gladiatiorgarageworks.com
Before: A Gross Garage Unit
Because of brutal Michigan winters, this blogger used her garage shelves as a catchall so she didn't have to spend more time in the cold than necessary. As a result, it became piled with odds and ends quickly.
After: A Pretty Solution
Decorative baskets, galvanized buckets that match her nearby trash cans, and spray-painted containers created a cohesive vibe that wasn't too formal (or precious) for this working space.
What you'll need: wicker baskets, $25 for a 2-pack, wayfair.com
Before: Perfectly Nice Living Room
Nothing about this living room screams disorganized, but should the homeowners accumulate more items throughout the years, there isn't really anywhere here to store them.
After: Living Room With Clever Furniture
Interior designer Erik Kirk swapped out the old coffee table with one that includes a bottom shelf for more space to display decor and store collected items. Then, he added two shelving units against the back wall, which makes the room feel more complete while also giving them a place to stack all their books and keepsakes.
What you'll need: Wall shelving unit, $143, Wayfair.com
Before: Rustic Kitchen Corner
While this kitchen is already pretty clean and tidy, there are a few ways it can improve to look more up to date and elevated. The best news is that it only takes a few small updates to make a big difference.
After: Spruced Up Kitchen Corner
Designer Kevin Isbell completely revamped this antique fishing shack to make it feel fresh and clean while still keeping it approachable and grounded. For a similar feel in your kitchen, swap out a paper towel wall dispenser with a wall hook for a prettier hand towel. Then tuck your trashcan under the sink instead of keeping in plain sight.
What you'll need: Wall hook, $10, CB2.com
Before: Disorganized Bedroom
The design enthusiast behind Old Brand New wanted to give his mom, sister, and a niece a bedroom makeover. Because they all share one room, it can quickly become crowded and disorganized. Since it accumulates three times as much stuff, it could also use more clever, hidden storage solutions.
After: Colorful and Clean Bedroom
This after shot is truly unrecognizable. The new layout optimizes the space so much more. The two twin beds are separated by a desk, which provides more surface space for books, and nighttime essentials (the sconces fastened to the wall also free up more surface room) while the dressers against the wall keep everything tucked away and out of plain sight.
Before: Packed Kitchen
With too much stuff and not enough cabinets for storage, this kitchen was stuck with an eyesore of a shelf smack dab in the middle of it.
After: Clutter-Free Cooking
The biggest challenge for this homeowner was getting rid of all the non-essentials in her kitchen, then she took advantage of wasted surface space — like the side of her cabinets — to store bulky pots and pans.
See more at Good Housekeeping »
What you'll need: Command hooks, $7, amazon.com
Before: Nothing Special
When this blogger moved into hew new home, she knew her laundry room needed a serious storage solution and a flooring fix (because, yuck).
After: Cute as a Button
To stay within her $100 budget, she opted for yard sale cabinets with built-in open shelving on the sides. She then used wicker baskets and glass containers to pretty-up the items that couldn't stay concealed.
See more at View Along the Way »
What you'll need: wallpaper, $2 per square foot, wayfair.com
Before: A Boring Pantry
Even though this kitchen closet offered plenty of space, it was a place that the homeowner avoided at all costs due to its sheer blandness.
After: A Bold Transformation
Mint-colored wall decals gave this room a fresh and clean look instantly. This blogger also added clear food containers to make it easier for her to eyeball items she's running low on before heading out to the store.
What you'll need: wallpaper, $6 per square foot, wayfair.com
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