As we promised earlier, the wait is finally over! We’re absolutely thrilled to share the highly anticipated before and after pictures of our very first apartment. This journey has been an exciting whirlwind, marked by countless hours of hard work, a few spirited debates over tricky Ikea assembly instructions, and numerous trips crisscrossing Washington D.C. in search of the perfect pieces. Despite the challenges, we’ve successfully transformed what was once just an empty space into a warm, inviting home that truly reflects our personalities and style.

While there’s always a little more to do—like adding a few more personal photographs and striking pieces of art to our walls—we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and can’t wait for you to see the results. Our approach focused on a blend of budget-friendly solutions, clever repurposing, and incorporating sentimental items that tell our story.

To make your viewing experience as seamless as possible, we’ve included both the “before” and “after” photos right here in this single post, eliminating the need to toggle between different pages. As you scroll through the transformations, be sure to check out the captions below each “after” image. These captions offer insights into where we sourced some of our favorite items, including beloved hand-me-downs, savvy Craigslist finds, versatile pieces from popular stores, and even some of our own artistic creations. We hope you enjoy this comprehensive tour of our new home and perhaps find some inspiration for your own space!

Living Room Transformation: From Blank Canvas to Cozy Hub

The living room is often considered the heart of any home, and ours was no exception. When we first moved in, it was a completely blank slate, offering immense potential but lacking the warmth and character we envisioned. Our primary goal was to create a space that felt both comfortable for everyday relaxation and elegant enough for entertaining guests, all while adhering to a conscious budget.

Living Room: BEFORE

Living Room: AFTER

Our “after” living room is a testament to thoughtful design and resourceful shopping, blending comfort with style. The spacious Ikea Kivik sofa in a versatile natural grey, a generous and much-appreciated gift from Connor’s grandfather, immediately grounds the room. Its deep cushions and modern lines offer ample seating and a contemporary aesthetic. Complementing it beautifully is a classic Ikea Poang lounge chair, a fantastic find discovered on Craigslist, which adds an extra layer of comfort and a touch of iconic Scandinavian design without breaking the bank. For practicality and clean lines, we opted for an Ikea LACK coffee table and a matching media console, which was also a lucky Craigslist score. These pieces are renowned for their minimalist design and versatility, fitting seamlessly into various decor styles. Adding a rich layer of history and texture is an authentic oriental rug, the very first one owned by Connor’s grandparents, which brings profound warmth and a timeless feel to the space, tying all the elements together. Functional accessories like a contemporary lamp from BB&B provide essential illumination, while a set of discounted nesting side tables, also from BB&B, offer convenient surfaces for drinks or books. A deeply personal touch comes from a painting, an original piece created during my high school art class, proving that art doesn’t have to be expensive to be impactful and can add significant character. The combination of new, secondhand, and inherited items creates a layered and inviting space that feels truly lived-in and loved.

Functional Hallway Console: Repurposing for Practicality

Even small, often overlooked spaces like hallways deserve careful consideration in apartment design. We discovered a clever way to enhance the functionality of our entryway by transforming a simple Target “desk,” which was graciously left behind by the previous tenants, into a chic and highly functional hallway console table. This act of repurposing perfectly demonstrates how existing items can find new life with a little creativity, adding valuable surface space for everyday essentials like keys, mail, or decorative accents right by the entrance. It instantly created a welcoming and organized first impression for anyone entering our home, maximizing every square foot.

Dining Area Transformation: Blending Heritage with Modernity

Our dining area needed to be more than just a place to eat; it needed to be a welcoming space for shared meals, engaging conversations, and creating lasting memories. The “before” state was, once again, quite generic and lacked the personal warmth and defined personality we envisioned for our new home. We aimed to infuse it with character through pieces that carried special meaning.

Dining Area: BEFORE

Dining Area: AFTER

The “after” dining area beautifully exemplifies our design philosophy of blending cherished family heirlooms with modern, budget-friendly finds. The undeniable centerpiece is my parents’ first dining table, a piece rich with personal history and profound sentimental value, around which countless family memories have been made. This timeless piece now continues its legacy in our home. The accompanying chairs, also thoughtful hand-me-downs from my parents, perfectly complement the table, creating a cohesive and inviting set that feels both traditional and comfortable. Above the table, a stylish lamp, a hand-me-down from my older sister (and believed to be originally from BB&B), casts a warm, ambient glow, effectively defining the dining space and creating an intimate atmosphere. To anchor the area and add a touch of contemporary design, we chose the Ikea GISLED rug, an incredibly affordable find at just $19.99. Its pattern and texture introduce visual interest and help delineate the dining zone from the rest of the open-concept living space. This thoughtful combination of vintage pieces and new, accessible additions creates a dining space that feels both deeply personal and effortlessly stylish, perfect for everything from casual breakfasts to celebratory dinners.

Office/Guest Bedroom: A Multifunctional Retreat Designed for Productivity and Comfort

Designing a multi-purpose room can often be one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of home decor, especially in an apartment setting where space is a premium. Our office and guest bedroom successfully combines functionality with comfort, ensuring it serves both purposes effectively. This room needed to operate as a productive workspace during the week and seamlessly transform into a welcoming haven for overnight guests on weekends. The “before” photos clearly show a room that was simply empty and nondescript, eagerly waiting for its dual identity to be defined and brought to life.

Office/Guest Bedroom: BEFORE

Office/Guest Bedroom: AFTER

The “after” transformation reveals a thoughtfully arranged space that excels in both form and function. An enduring old Ikea table, a piece my parents originally bought and which remarkably is still sold today due to its timeless design, serves as a sturdy and practical desk. Its longevity speaks volumes about Ikea’s consistent appeal and our family’s tradition of investing in practical, durable furniture. Above the desk, one of my own vibrant paintings from college adds a beautiful splash of color and a deeply personal touch, making the workspace more inspiring and less utilitarian. A classic lamp, inherited from my grandfather, provides warm, focused lighting, adding another layer of cherished history and character to the room. Adjacent to this productive area, we introduced a comfortable Ikea Poang lounge chair, a well-loved piece belonging to Connor, perfect for reading, relaxing, or providing extra seating for guests. A soft, textured rug from BB&B, a fantastic and affordable find at just $25, defines the seating area and adds a much-needed layer of coziness underfoot. A versatile hand-me-down bookshelf offers essential storage for books, files, and decorative items, keeping the space organized and visually appealing. This carefully curated room truly embodies the spirit of combining functional necessities with personal comfort and style, creating a versatile and welcoming environment that is equally suitable for focused work and restful guest stays.

Master Bedroom: A Serene Personal Sanctuary for Rest and Relaxation

Our master bedroom was always envisioned as a tranquil retreat, a personal sanctuary where we could truly unwind and recharge at the end of a busy day. The “before” condition was utterly bare and impersonal, presenting a pristine blank canvas that offered endless possibilities for creating a calming and cohesive design. We aimed for a harmonious blend of comfort, subtle elegance, and practical functionality to ensure this space felt like a true escape.

Master Bedroom: BEFORE

Master Bedroom: AFTER

The transformation of our master bedroom centered around creating a peaceful and sophisticated ambiance. The walls were painted with Benjamin Moore “Repose Gray,” lightened by 50% to achieve a soft, airy feel that maximizes natural light and promotes profound relaxation. This subtle shade provides a serene backdrop for the rest of the decor. The luxurious Vanessa floral bedding from Pottery Barn, a thoughtful and much-appreciated move-in gift from my parents, became the undisputed focal point of the room, introducing beautiful texture and a delicate pattern that elevates the entire aesthetic. We flanked the bed with stylish glass lamps and shades from Ikea, offering both functional reading light and a modern, understated touch to the bedside. The bedside tables themselves are a creative repurposing of Connor’s existing bookshelves, demonstrating how existing pieces can be given new life and purpose, offering practical storage without needing new purchases. Above the bed, an attractive minimalist print and frame, also from Ikea, adds a contemporary art element that ties into the room’s calm vibe. Across the room, Connor’s existing dresser and a practical laundry hamper, possibly originally from Pier 1 Imports, maintain order and functionality while blending seamlessly with the serene decor. Every element, from the paint color to the accessories, was carefully chosen to contribute to a restful, aesthetically pleasing, and highly personal sleeping environment.

Kitchen Hallway & Kitchen: Maximizing Style and Functionality in a Compact Space

The kitchen, often considered the functional heart of a home, presented an exciting opportunity for a comprehensive transformation. We aimed to create a highly functional yet aesthetically pleasing space, especially given the compact nature of apartment living. The kitchen hallway, which serves as the approach to the main cooking area, also received a significant upgrade to improve organization, storage, and visual flow, making every inch count.

Kitchen Hallway/Kitchen: BEFORE

Kitchen Hallway/Kitchen: AFTER

Our focus in the kitchen hallway was primarily on maximizing vertical storage and efficient organization. We thoughtfully installed sleek stainless steel open shelves, practical hooks, and dedicated spice storage units, all part of the highly versatile Ikea Grundtal series. This intelligent system not only boasts a modern and clean aesthetic but also keeps frequently used items easily accessible, transforming a previously overlooked transitional space into a practical pantry extension. Etched glass containers, also sourced from Ikea, house various dry goods, adding to the organized aesthetic while offering a clear view of contents. A microwave, acquired for a mere $10 from the previous tenants, fits perfectly into the setup, proving that smart budgeting and second-hand finds can lead to great utility and value. This renovation demonstrates how a small, seemingly insignificant area can be optimized to greatly enhance the overall functionality and design of the kitchen.

Kitchen: BEFORE

Kitchen: AFTER

In the main kitchen area, we made a strategic and bold design decision to remove an upper cabinet door, storing it safely away for future use. This simple but impactful change instantly opened up the space, making the kitchen feel significantly larger and more inviting, perfectly aligning with a modern open-shelving concept that promotes a sense of airiness. A magnetic knife rack from Ikea keeps our knives safely, hygienically, and stylishly stored on the wall, freeing up valuable drawer and counter space. Essential kitchen tools are kept handy and organized in a practical utensil holder from BB&B, while our everyday tableware, also sourced from BB&B, is neatly stacked and easily accessible within the open shelving. A truly unique and treasured porcelain round mirror, a precious hand-me-down from my grandfather, adds an unexpected touch of elegance and reflects light, further brightening the room and adding visual interest. These strategic choices collectively enhance both the utility and the visual appeal of our kitchen, transforming it into a highly efficient and stylish culinary space.

Kitchen: Another Perspective & Smart Storage Solutions

Continuing our kitchen optimization journey, we wanted to ensure every corner was thoughtfully arranged and utilized for both form and function. This section provides another glimpse into the kitchen’s comprehensive transformation, particularly focusing on how we tackled storage challenges and created additional versatile workspace, which is paramount in smaller living areas.

Kitchen: BEFORE

Kitchen: AFTER

This view further highlights our commitment to practical elegance and maximized efficiency within a compact space. The transformation includes newly organized cabinetry and thoughtfully arranged counter space, meticulously designed to streamline workflow and enhance ease of use. The clean lines of the appliances and the uncluttered surfaces contribute to a modern, minimalist aesthetic that is both inviting and remarkably easy to maintain. Small appliances are carefully positioned for optimal accessibility, and decorative elements are kept to a minimum to preserve a sleek, highly functional environment. This meticulous planning ensures that every single inch of the kitchen serves a clear purpose, making cooking and entertaining a joy rather than a chore. The overall effect is a bright, airy space that feels significantly larger than its actual footprint, proving definitively that even a compact kitchen can be incredibly stylish, highly functional, and a pleasure to use with the right design choices and strategic organization.

Kitchen Wall: Adding Mobility and Versatile Workspace

The previously unused wall in the kitchen offered an excellent, often-overlooked opportunity to introduce a mobile and flexible workspace, a crucial element for apartment living where maximizing every square inch is paramount. Our “before” photo shows a plain, unadorned wall that was simply waiting for a functional and aesthetic upgrade.

Kitchen Wall: BEFORE

Kitchen Wall: AFTER

Our “after” solution brilliantly involved incorporating an Ikea kitchen cart, a practical and incredibly versatile piece we were fortunate to acquire from the previous tenants. This adaptable cart now serves multiple essential purposes in our compact kitchen: it offers much-needed additional counter space for meal preparation, provides extra storage for kitchen essentials, and its inherent mobility means it can be effortlessly moved wherever it’s needed most – whether for baking, serving, or simply as an extra surface. This adaptable addition perfectly complements the kitchen’s overall design, significantly enhancing both its functionality and its contemporary appeal. By strategically adding this single, multi-purpose piece, we’ve successfully created a more dynamic and efficient cooking environment, proving that thoughtful, space-saving additions can make a monumental difference in optimizing small apartment kitchens. The kitchen now feels complete and highly efficient, with every area contributing harmoniously to a seamless workflow and a delightful culinary experience.

Apartment Balcony: Creating an Outdoor Oasis for Relaxation

Even in the context of apartment living, having access to an outdoor space like a balcony is a precious commodity. Our balcony, initially an unadorned concrete slab, possessed immense potential to become a delightful extension of our main living area. We set out to transform it into a cozy and inviting outdoor oasis, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee, reading a book in the afternoon, or relaxing with an evening drink, all without undertaking a major or costly overhaul.

Apartment Balcony: BEFORE

Apartment Balcony: AFTER

The “after” balcony is a charming and incredibly inviting space, demonstrating unequivocally that even a small outdoor area can be maximized for comfort and enjoyment. We added a personal, DIY touch by customizing simple terra cotta pots, purchased affordably from a local hardware store, by painting them with leftover chalkboard paint. This creative personalization adds character and allows for changeable labels or artistic designs. Inside, they now house vibrant, thriving plants, bringing essential life, color, and greenery to the space, creating a natural feel. Comfortable and classic plastic Adirondack chairs from BB&B, impressively affordable at just $19.99 each, provide relaxed and stylish seating, perfect for lounging. A compact black table, cleverly repurposed from the nesting table set seen in our living room (also from BB&B), offers a convenient and accessible surface for drinks, snacks, or a good book. Together, these thoughtfully chosen elements transform a plain, underutilized balcony into a delightful and functional spot for enjoying the outdoors, adding significant value and considerable charm to our overall apartment living experience. It serves as a perfect example of how budget-friendly choices, combined with a little creativity and effort, can yield truly impressive and enjoyable results in outdoor living spaces.

Whew! We genuinely hope you thoroughly enjoyed this detailed tour of our first apartment’s transformation. It’s been an incredible and immensely rewarding journey making this place truly feel like home, and we’re so pleased with the outcome. Our experience reinforces the belief that creating a beautiful, comfortable, and highly functional living space doesn’t necessarily require an unlimited budget. Instead, it flourishes with a blend of creativity, resourcefulness, a willingness to mix new finds with cherished family heirlooms, and a little bit of elbow grease. If you have any questions about specific items, our design choices, or our overall experience, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below! We’d love to hear from you.

Stay tuned! We’ll be back very soon with a brand new muffin recipe – this one is particularly special as it’s the very first tested baking success to emerge from our newly organized and functional kitchen. We’re excited to share it with you! In the meantime, have a fantastic rest of your weekend. Luckily, the scorching 100-degree Fahrenheit weather we’ve been experiencing here in D.C. is finally cooling down to a more manageable (though still warm!) 90+ degrees just in time for my 24th birthday tomorrow. Here’s hoping I don’t melt while celebrating in the bakery! Wish me luck!