30 Times People Outdid Themselves With Incredible Interior Design Solutions
Interview With ExpertOur environment greatly affects our emotional state, whether we consciously notice it or not. A peaceful, tidy, and visually appealing home can create a sense of peace and reduce stress, while a cluttered and chaotic interior may feel overwhelming and decrease motivation.
Aware of this fact, people in this online community (though no interior designers) have taken it upon themselves to transform their dwellings into beautiful and relaxing spaces, all with their own two hands. From cozy closet offices to stunning kitchen transformations, these amazing interior design solutions prove that anyone can create a happy environment if they put their mind to it.
While you’re busy admiring these amazing homes, don’t forget to check out our conversation with interior designer Katie Cardew, who kindly agreed to give us some advice on how to create a space that leaves a positive impact on our mental health.
This post may include affiliate links.
Conservatory Used As A Library Opening Up To The Garden
If it makes you feel any better, this is a super efficient way to gradually destroy a good book collection. So you’re smarter for keeping your books under a roof.
Load More Replies...I'd be a bit worried about the books covers/spines fading in too much sunlight, but otherwise... yes please
I could die very, very happy in a house like this! (I know it’s probably a bugger to heat and the temps would be terrible in winter… but life needs a little whimsy and who doesn’t mind an excuse for wearing multiple jumpers with a blanket and a hot drink?)
whenever I see a pic like this my first thought is always - who cleans all that glass?
Turned Our Den Into A Lounge
That went from a very kid centric space to an adult space. I hope there is a new play area elsewhere in the house.
Yeah, I like the new look, but what happened to all the stuff? It's not easy to get rid of that much stuff.
Load More Replies...I think it’s a huge mixture of the angle changing ever so slightly, the shutters on the left being open, rearrangement of furniture ‘hiding’ the border between the floor and the furthest wall, lighting and blinds around the windows. Either way, very tasteful design!
Load More Replies...A Side Table I Made To Look Like A Sitting Guy. Solid Walnut
It’s estimated that urban populations spend 90% of their time indoors. Therefore, some professionals use this knowledge to improve the emotional impact of our spaces. Bored Panda reached out to interior designer Katie Cardew, who kindly agreed to give us some advice on how to create an environment that leaves a positive effect on our mental health.
She told us that the most important thing we can do to create a room that makes us feel good is to decorate it with things we love.
“While a neutral, minimalist room might make one person feel zen and happy, to another person it could make them feel like they can’t put their feet up and relax, always worried about making a mess. Decorating your living space is very personal, and whenever I work with clients, I spend a long time picking over their day-to-day routine and working through magazine photos, trying to pinpoint how they need a room to function and then how best to decorate to make them feel most at home.”
My Mom Completely Rebuilt Her Home After A Wildfire Burned A Large Portion Of It. She Did Everything Herself Without A General Contractor
My Alteration Of The Old Balcony - "Before" And "After". A Bit Of Comfort, Belarus
A Friend's Dorm Room Every Piece Of Furniture Was Under 20€, Everything Was Thrifted Or Acquired From Friends/Family
I love the clock on the mantelpiece and the sun mirror on the left wall. The space vaguely reminds me of somewhere you’d see Sherlock Holmes reading a paper (in that brown chair with the orange cushion!).
Has to be Europe from the look of the beautiful windows
Load More Replies...My favorite part is the art nouveau period details they gave the windows; it really brings the room together with the architecture
This doesn't look like a dorm room. This looks like a fancy parlor for reading big, fat books and playing chess.
Something else she sees as majorly significant in a room is color and texture. “One thing I see over and over again is clients coming to me because they have somehow managed to always pick grey paint and grey furniture, and that’s ultimately making them feel drab and down.
Greys and beiges can be colors people default to because they feel comfortable using them, but they don't always work to create rooms that lift people’s spirits. Color doesn’t have to be scary - pick two or three colors from a paint chart and base your walls, furniture, and accessories around them.”
White Oak Arched Pantry. Detroit, Mi. Highly Functional But Mostly Gorgeous. Favorite Build Yet
Micro Office I Created Out Of A Really Junky Hall Closet
Love the little light-up sign. Can you write something like this off for taxes as a home office?
That chair is so low. This is probably designed as a stand-up desk/working area.
Bottle Green Tiles With A Hint Of Gold Chrome Plated Accessories - Love The Contrast In This Bathroom
All looks fine, but the carpet. UGH! Carpet does not belong in a bathroom!
She also suggests mixing two to three patterns with the already chosen colors. "When using patterns, a really easy, fail-safe tip is to pick one stripe, one large-scale pattern, and one smaller-scale pattern. Pair these with one or two plain fabrics, and you have just created a scheme! Work out where you want to use each fabric (curtains/headboard/cushions/armchair) and if you love the colors and patterns, you will invariably love the room you are creating.”
Low Budget Seating Area I Made Myself, It’s Not Much But I’m Proud Of It
I think that is a lovely seating arrangement nicely dressed up with cushions. Looks cozy.
Before And After Painting The Kitchen Green
I know green and green kitchens is/was supposed to be ‘trendy’… but I think green is just a good colour for decor overall! Though, I do prefer the old tiles.
I agree with green a being a good color for decor. Three rooms in my house are painted green. I like both looks. But if you have limited walls to paint in your kitchen, the painted cabinets are a great way to bring in some color.
Load More Replies...It somehow looks bigger in green, despite the darker colour! I much prefer the “after” tiles, the “before “ ones look a bit busy
Once had a white kitchen with wainscotting. Painted the bottom half leaf green and top cream. Was a joy to go into that room every time.
It's a good green for a kitchen. I say this as a person who grew up in the '70's.
Finally Finished My Son’s Nursery 🍃
If you find painting walls too daunting, another great tip is to play around with more interesting shades on the skirting boards, architrave, and window woodwork instead. It will still add a pop of joy to the room, but it’s much easier to paint over if the person is temporarily renting.
My Brother Built These Two Chairs. Do They Fit?
why? they work fine. This is a well known design called "tensegrity"
Load More Replies...It is called a tensegrity structure. The ones shown in the photo will easily collapse if the top part is pushed to the side. Interesting to look at, but don't sit on them unless you want a quick trip to the floor.
Installed This Refurbished Ski Lift In A Lounge With A View
Our Open Plan Barn Conversion
I'll be honest, if there's enough room, I really don't want to look into the kitchen when on the couch. I want to be able to close a door if needed, for smell and yes, also for random mess.
I actually welcome cooking aromas, they make a home more cozy :-)
Load More Replies...Something that might interfere with the attempt to create a relaxing environment is following aesthetics and purchasing things that are popular at that moment.
Katie warns against buying items or choosing colors just because they are trendy. “Ultimately, you could end up with a space that does not make you happy because you followed a trend rather than thinking about what it is in a room that makes you feel happy and relaxed. You may love florals, you may love stripes, or you may love whites, but whatever it is that makes you feel most at home, lean into that and base your room around it.”
Little Bathroom Before & After
I mean, the other new stuff is nice, but you can never go wrong with a cat.
My Home - Chicago
Love it, especially the art! Can I give you a piece of advice? Make one little alteration and change the places of date palm and monstera (at least during winter). Monstera can deal with lesser light whereas your palm tree would thrive near the window.
My Husband Agreed To The Fixer Upper I Wanted If I Let Him Build A Library. 3 Years Later And It’s Finally Done!
My dream too; to have a home library. 😱 right now a couple of bookshelves would do a lot to make me happy
And warmer light. It´s a classical design, but a bit cold for a cozy room where you want to read in for hours. More a representational vibe. With that picture it gives me some south-korean CEO office vibe. I would have put armchairs, side tables and -lamps there to break the formality of the design.
Load More Replies...That said, a feature that can help infuse tranquility into your home is lighting. “I personally have never walked into a room with one main light hanging from the ceiling and felt relaxed. My home is filled with wall lights, lamps, and candles, and using low-level ambient lighting works wonders to create a calm environment. If you are putting in new lighting, remember to make sure you can dim it. This way, you can turn the lights up for activities and down for relaxing!”
I Made These Jewel Thief Lamps
For Some Reason, I Was Inspired By Those Houses In The Middle Of The City
I love all the sunlight. This would definitely help some with my depression days.
New Bathroom. What Do You Think?
@Michael: I think sharing your thoughts, discussing topics and (freely) asking for an opinion, has helped me shaping the person I am today, with all my self-confidence and my own style and habits. I need no confirmation, I just like to get in contact with people, to hear what they have to say, maybe learn something new, broaden my horizon. I don´t want to vote you down, because you offended no one, in MY opinion. But I can not help myself to feel sorry for the lonely and unsecure aura that seeps through your words. And just for short notice: Sometimes it matters to other people if you do/don´t like something. If they love you, or you have an influence on them through what you think is right to do, maybe. I hope you know what that feels like, to be cared for from another person. If not, I hope you will in the future.
However, planning your own space requires a lot of creativity, which doesn’t always flow as freely as we would hope. When asked what a person should do when they feel stuck in their process, Katie’s first recommendation was to reach out to an interior designer. “It doesn't have to cost the earth, and actually, they can save you money - they can help you avoid mistakes and create a room that you will love for years,” she added.
My Amateur Attempt At Interior Design. Would Love To Go To School To Do This Professionally
Guest Bathroom Remodel
I love to have a bath that has whimsy and charm. A guest bath is perfect for that: a charming space that they won't forget.
Georgian Revival Lobby/Entrance Hall
Georgian as in the eras of the Kings George, c. 1714-1837.
Load More Replies...In cases where that isn’t possible, she advises breaking it down into small chunks. Begin by finding a piece of art that’s dear to your heart and finding a paint color that goes with it. She further suggests heading to the local fabric shop with the already-purchased items and finding textiles that go together.
The Living Room Is Finally Finished
Designed A Living Room Inspired From Piet Mondrian's Work, Composition 3 With Blue, Yellow And White (1936)
I hate it, but it's very well done. Perfect execution.
Isn´t hate a very strong feeling? Language seems to grow more violent these days, even on BP. Heard it quite a lot in trivial context.
Load More Replies...This isn't real, it's an image made on interior design software. I fail to see how it fits the title, "outdone themselves with interior design solutions." Unless the problem was a home that didn't look enough like a Botox waiting room
I love this. But it's too sterile for living in, it would drive me nuts.
Everybody Said Don't Make The Toilet Room Dark/Black So That's What I Did. Do You Like It ?
LOVE this!! That sink is so cool, and you just KNOW that's a really fancy toilet with all the bidet bells and whistles!
I have a dark toilet room. I noticed it was difficult to see if it's clean. I was thinking how visitors experience this.
Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of storage. “The small details, like accessories, can wait. Make sure you include enough storage (the basic rule is that 80% of your stuff should be away and 20% on display). My go-to for storage is antique shops or Vinterior/eBay - it's amazing to me that you can pick up an item with a history for less than something new. Plus, if a piece of furniture has already lasted 100 years, it will likely last a lot longer than something cheaply made from Ikea!”
Updates To My In-Law’s Master Bath! Not Done Just Yet But Thought I’d Show You The Progress
Takes massive balls and a lot of skill to do a project like that for your own in-laws. Bravo.
My Bathroom Reno Was Finished Yesterday!
I know they were very expensive, but those wall tiles are not for me. They never align and I'm not good with coping with that.
They can be made to align but it’s way more expensive, as you end up with a lot of offcuts — same idea for pattern-matching at the seams in clothing with a plaid or floral fabric or something, you end up wasting more fabric so it costs more. It’s called pattern matching or book matching.
Load More Replies...Kitchen Remodel With Painted Cabinets
That's very nice, but I though a frig needs air circulation around it. I don't understand putting it in a box.
What Do You Think Of My New Bedroom?
Before And After
What is that blue color called…cerulean or possibly a dark periwinkle?? Whatever it’s called, it’s gorgeous. My 2nd fave is the deep green cabinets in pic # 30
Well Since I Am In Self Quarantine, Might As Well Do Some House Projects I Have Been Thinking Of Doing. Here Is The Finished Wall Of My Formal Living Room. It Was Bland Before And I Wanted Something Unique And An Attention Getter. Here It Is...my Official Formal Living Room
Furniture I Made For My Tiny House
Bought My First Home Last Year And Have Spent The Last 10 Months Bringing Her Back To Life 🤍
Just Finished The DIY Quarantine Bathroom Remodel. My Wife Has The Eye For Design, I’m Just The Moonlight Contractor
My Newest Mid Century Modern Birdhouse I Made For A Client!
Still My Favourite Room In The House
Nice colour palette, but that shelf right above the head looks easy to hit with head
Our Tiny Little 1920's Apartment
A Mural I Recently Completed For A Restaurant In Boston
Guys.. A Staircase, Wine Rack And Bar I Designed And Built. The Customer Then Asked Me To Remove The Wall And Build Oak Bifold Doors So That They Could Look At It... Also Fitted The Kitchen
What Do People Think Of This Narrow Bathroom Solution?
Tiny Kitchen Before-And-After
I was trying to work out why there was a picture of a wee old man with furry eyebrows to the left of the sink
I thought it was a cat, but just a bunch of ladles/implements.
Load More Replies...My Sister Loves To Design In 3D, What Do You Think?
Why is one of the seat cushions different from the others? I like the room overall, but that would drive me crazy.
Great to look at and not use, as a foyer in a business, public space, etc, but it's putting aesthetics first, and comfort/usability way to far down the list to work in a home. Look at the seating critically: it's too low to sit down and stand up again comfortably, the seats are too deep to sit on with any back support, and what back support there is is too low. There's not enough room for people to stretch their legs out without hitting the table, so they'll have their knees up uncomfortably. The most comfortable way to sit is going to be crisscross applesauce, so feet, and shoes, on the pale cushions. Use the back cushion and lean back, and it's heads on the artwork, and hairproducts and greasy hair leaving marks on it. That table is going to show every mark and speck of dust on the gloss portion, plus it's an ankle biter.
Are people supposed to use this room? Looks like a business lobby where they don't want anyone loitering. If so, good job!
What Do You All Reckon To My Lounge?! It’s My Favourite Room In The House
A Simple Room Transformation! Out With That Rug And Different Blinds! The Before And After Of Our Room! It’s Very Simple And I’m Happy With How It Turned Out
In cold countries, it's almost essential.Insulation and warmth - lower heating bills.
Load More Replies...This Former Rental Of 40+ Years Needed A Refresh
Paid $10 For 2 Old Windows, Frosted The Glass, Painted Frames Gray. Ran LED String Lights Behind Them. Now It’s Always 2pm At The Basement Bar
Bright Side: Finally Getting To Settle Into Our New(Ish) House
The comment about the TV is right, it’s too high. But that is easily fixed. The room is wonderful.
Channeling My Inner Patricia Urquiola. This Is My First Time Using Pink As A Theme/Palette
Going For A Bohemian Mid Century Vibe, Thoughts? Note: I'm A Big Thrifter So Thank You Fb Marketplace
Too many pillows for my taste but hey, whatever makes you happy. Also I see the cat :D
Geez, finding the cat was like playing Where's Waldo! If you hadn't said anything, I never would've known - took me forever to find it!
Load More Replies...Your floor is too cluttered. Hang the pictures and tapestries in a symmetrical arrangement or your autistic friends will leave the party ASAP.
Feels a tad bit crowded, like you could get up from the couch and immediately hit your knees or faceplant into the TV, but that might just be the angle and the lack of natural lighting; but seriously, I do adore the bohemian vibes, though!
A Few Months Ago I Asked What Colour I Should Stain My Coffee Table That My Boyfriend Made Me. Lots Of The People In This Sub Said It Was Too Big. After Me Kindly Asking For A Different Style Of Coffee Table, He Produced! It’s Awesome! (New One On The Right)
Kitchen In Lovely House!
New Throw Who Dis
Not Happy With My Living Room. What Is It Missing (Besides A Rug - I Haven’t Found One Yet)?
Absolutely lovely. I'd add some little red(or other contrasting color) accents. Some poping contrasting pillows, art, curtains, plants...
you've created a lovely space. I might suggest replacing the mirror over the mantel with a piece of artwork. The mirror acts to create a blank space. Art would bring in bits of a colour and something to focus the eye on
The furniture is so plush that there is no need to cover the beautiful floor with a rug. I would add delicate pink or lilac sofa cushions or a blanket to the green. Warm translucent curtains that turn reddish or peach, maybe.
Art and a COUPLE of pillows. Get the rug first and pull colors out of it for pillows and art. Much easier than trying to find a rug to compliment the others.
Personally, I think the colours are fine; gold accents, green furniture/plants, cream walls, white mantle/blinds and black fireplace. I think the space around the tv looks a little empty because we typically expect to see a stand, so the wall behind it looks a bit empty; some photos or a bookshelf/more shelves could fill the spaces either side of the fireplace nicely, while opening all of the blinds could help make the space look a bit bigger.
Windows are just bland. Some sort of color that isn't curtains. And yes, a cat.
At Least I'm Holed Up Here - Loft Studio
Nervous To Post Here Because I’m A Total Amateur. We Added The Blue Paint Accents. Still Lots To Do, But Initial Impressions?
What a badass space! Jealous of dogs and sarcophagus, where the hell do you even get one of those? Edit: if I lived there, I would wear roller skates all the time.
My New Interior Design "Kids Bedroom"
My Wife Rearranged
Kitchen Design And Render Done By Me. Would You Say This Style Is Timeless?
Timeless is not the be-all end-all in design. This is beautiful and very European. That makes it better than “timeless” imho
I thought it is very beautiful and very Japanese/East Asian (as a European). Funny...
Load More Replies...It's not timeless, it's useless, where place for fridge or dishes? Cupboards are to thin for function
One Of My First Designs (As Hobby). Earthy Mid-Century Modern Living Room
Wife And I Are Finally Getting Our Shit Together
First House, Fresh Paint, Thrifted Dining Set
My Grandma Is An Interior Designer So I’ve Been On A Mission To Make Her Proud With My New Home
I'm Truly Mesmerized By Big Chill Appliances And These Kitchen Counters Are Just A Dream
Wanted To Give A Bit Of Life In The Kitchen Of The Flat We Are Renting In London. Really Like What This Vinyl Wallpaper Did For It!
We Like Our Place Messy, But We Cleaned It For You :) Thanks For All The Inspiration. X
Modern-Vintage Plant Filled Living Room 🌿
That light fixture does NOT work with this room. It will be perfect as is if they change it. I'd go with something bigger and metallic.
My Teeny Tiny Kitchen - Should I Paint The Walls Light Pink?
My First Time Living Alone And I’m Having Way Too Much Fun Decorating
Narrow Patio To Office Conversion
I'd repeatedly make a hole in the wall getting out of my chair if I was that close to it. This feels claustrophobic.
Obsessed With My Bro & Sis-In-Law’s Tub Area
First Project For My Interior Design Classes In College. What Do You Think?
I love this so much. The natural light would be the focus, it's muted but not drab. It facilitates relaxation and sleep with dark tones, but with the small accents of soothing colors, it's not too monochromatic. It's a really relaxing, well thought out space. I think you did a spectacular job.
A Different Perspective - My Living Room From The Loft (Bedroom) Level Of My Apt
Finished Our Japandi Style Home Remodel!
Redesigned And Opened Up Our Master Bath. Really Happy With How It Turned Out
Finally Finished Up My New Stair Railings And Newels!
My Friend's Fabulous Flat In Stockholm, With A Few Lamps That I Made
El Departamento De Me Primo
Finally Finished My Living Room With A New Couch And Coffee Table!
Mid-Century Modern
OMG, I have a dresser with those exact handles! Not the same layout, but cool!
My New Master Bathroom Almost Complete. Just Needs Art, Some Cedar Accents, And LED Backlighting
My First Apartment - 20 Years Old
Designed My Stepdaughter’s Room! First Time I’ve Ever Decorated And Put Together An Entire Room From Nothing. (:
Nice room, but I personally find gray depressing and would choose something brighter and cheerier.
Restaurant Bathroom From Tonight
Our First Home! Really Proud On How It Turned Out!
A Bathroom For My 5 Grandchildren
My In-Law’s Living Room So Far 🙌🏼 View From The Kitchen!
Funky Flue And Reclaimed Wood
Power Room Before/After
Maybe intentional because the powerful wallpaper 🤔
Load More Replies...I Made A Hedge Wall In My Bedroom, Thoughts? I Am Digging It
Some Fun Tropical Wallpaper Being Installed In My Study
The Living Room Of Our Los Feliz Apartment. Feel Free To Critique, Cheer Or Jeer It
This Sink Has A Very Cool Design
My Room Is Just About Complete! Too Bad I’ll Be Leaving It For School In A Few Days 💔
Decided To Change My Boring White Walls Into Something A Little More Unique. Took 2 Days To Do The Panels After Painting
Dining Room Update 😍
It's beautiful, but for me, this would be a sitting space so that I could admire the scenery and watch the birds feeding.
Finishing Up Our Cozy And Bright Apartment In Boston
Sherpa fabric on any type of furniture is a terrible idea! It already looks messy.
Living Room That I Designed 😊
Home Staging - By My Families Company
Recent Kitchen Renovation
The House I Grew Up In, Circa 1997. Modern Yet Warm At The Same Time
Newly Renovated Tiny Powder Room. What Am I Missing?
You need some art or something along the wall the toilet sits. Maybe a great piece of wallpaper?
When Designing My Home Office I Really Wanted To Eliminate Clutter! This Small Desk From IKEA Really Helps Me From Over Crowding It! I Also Work A Very Creative Job So I Love Creating A Neutral Space
I fear chair wheels on that rug is not going to end well.
My Apartment In Atlanta, Ga
My First Apartment :) There’s Still A Bunch To Do, But I’m Happy So Far
New Bathroom (Thanks To This Community For Helping With Choices)
Finished Main Renders For My Project "Man's Loft"
My Attempt At Making A Moody Interior. What Do You Think?
Kitchen Makeover I Did Over The Holidays
I would have a hard time cooking in there. I prefer my kitchen bright! It looks great though
Clashes with flooring, to dark, everything looks spiled with te same colour
These annoyed me. They were beautiful but many of them were rooms in already beautiful buildings would have looked good anyway.
I love this. Please give us more posts like this instead of TikTok, AITA, or selling posts.
Merci pour ces avant/après déco inspirants ! 🛋️ C’est toujours fascinant de voir comment un intérieur peut être transformé avec des idées simples et des meubles bien choisis. Bravo pour ces belles réalisations ! Chez Meublito, nous aimons cette créativité et nous croyons que chaque meuble mérite une seconde vie. C’est pourquoi nous avons créé une marketplace dédiée aux meubles d’occasion avec livraison incluse. https://meublito.lu/
These annoyed me. They were beautiful but many of them were rooms in already beautiful buildings would have looked good anyway.
I love this. Please give us more posts like this instead of TikTok, AITA, or selling posts.
Merci pour ces avant/après déco inspirants ! 🛋️ C’est toujours fascinant de voir comment un intérieur peut être transformé avec des idées simples et des meubles bien choisis. Bravo pour ces belles réalisations ! Chez Meublito, nous aimons cette créativité et nous croyons que chaque meuble mérite une seconde vie. C’est pourquoi nous avons créé une marketplace dédiée aux meubles d’occasion avec livraison incluse. https://meublito.lu/
