Our home is our sanctuary—the place where we spend much of our time and unwind from the outside world. It’s only natural to want to love what we’re surrounded by and to create the kind of atmosphere that feels right.
Bringing those ideas to life can be expensive, but some determined people choose to take it into their own hands. In the DIYUK community on Reddit, British DIYers proudly share their most impressive before-and-after projects. Scroll down to see their transformations and maybe find some inspiration for your own home.
#1 My Dad Went With A Creative Approach To Covering A Gap In His Skirting Board Where A Radiator Was Removed
Image credits: diycozigotta
#2 Freshened Up The Stairs In My Ex Council Hose. :) First Time Home Owner
Image credits: JlouM
#3 4 Day Weekend So Finally Got Around To Improving The Wc
Image credits: Shaka04
Hats off to all the Brits who put in the time and effort to create these amazing DIY projects. Personally, I can manage a few things—assembling IKEA furniture, maybe painting a couple of walls—but there’s definitely a limit to how far my skills go. Doing something poorly? Absolutely possible. But I’d rather not ruin my home in the process.
#4 I Made A Built In Bed For My Daughter
Image credits: Pete1989
#5 Pebbledash Removal
Image credits: meadowsandcrofts
#6 Before And After
Image credits: southwardyeti1
That’s not to say I’d never try something more advanced. I’d love to take it on as a challenge one day, I just don’t have the skills yet. Still, it seems I’m not alone in that. According to a YouGov poll, most people in the UK (54%) feel they’re generally capable when it comes to DIY, though only 9% would describe themselves as “very” capable.
#7 Budget Bathroom Renovation Complete
Image credits: MyTeaSpatula
#8 Hallway And Living Room Glow Up!
Image credits: Stretch_Careless
#9 Bought A New Gaff And Thought I’d Spruce Up The Floors A Bit
Image credits: Ru5k0
Unsurprisingly, the most common “do it yourself” task is assembling flat-pack furniture—two-thirds of Britons (65%) say they’d tackle that on their own. Painting and decorating, bleeding a radiator, and wiring a plug also rank high, with about half of the public (50–52%) willing to handle those tasks personally. Nice work, everyone.
#10 I Made A Gate!
Image credits: Kristen242
#11 The Dreaded Hall/Stairs/Landing Project That's Been On The Cards For 5 Years
Image credits: Rude-Leader-5665
#12 Self Build Garden Room/Office
Image credits: BlackLionFilm
Of course, more complex projects take more determination. The best way to get there is to start small, and experts have plenty of advice on how to improve your DIY skills.
The first step is learning the basics. Trying to figure everything out alone might sound bold, but it can easily lead to a few failed attempts or even minor injuries. So it’s worth taking time to learn before you dive in.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of resources online to help with that. YouTube tutorials, step-by-step blogs, and free courses can teach proper techniques or spark new ideas. And who knows, with enough practice, it might even turn into a side gig one day.
#13 I Was Thinking Of Replacing My Front Door But Ended Up Painting It For Just £30 Instead
Image credits: muffingg
#14 Ruined Potting Shed To Garden Hideaway
Image credits: pumblechook17
#15 Before And After
Image credits: reddit.com
Next comes the gear. As The Family Handyman magazine puts it, “Just as a chef keeps a pantry full of flour, sugar, and spices, so too the DIYer keeps a stash of commonly used items.”
Having a few go-to essentials makes every project easier and helps you get started right away whenever inspiration strikes. The exact tools will depend on what you enjoy most. Woodworking will require one set, upholstery another. The good news is you can build your collection gradually as you go.
#16 Found These Victorian Tiles Under Our Carpet!
Image credits: Bi5hBa5hBo5h
#17 Budget IKEA Fitted Wardrobes
Image credits: jacoblb_
#18 Under Stairs Storage
Image credits: WolfShapedBomb97
With the right tools ready and a few tutorial videos under your belt, it’s time to start doing some real DIY. Try something simple, like hanging a shelf or repainting a door—projects that help you build confidence and skill. Just don’t forget about safety: make sure you’ve got good lighting, wear goggles when needed, and don’t rush.
To keep your motivation going, connect with a DIY community. Online spaces like DIYUK are perfect for sharing progress and finding new ideas. And if you can find a local group, even better! Meeting people who enjoy creating and fixing things can make the whole experience more fun.
#19 One Of Our Lockdown 1 Projects. Convert The Useless Corner Under The Stairs Into A Shoe Drawer!
Image credits: charlie_boo
#20 Just Some Shelves, But Quite Proud Of The Result
Image credits: Sad-Vegetable-1332
#21 How It Started vs. How It's Going!
Image credits: Flying_Hurker
Once you’ve caught the DIY bug, there are plenty of ways to keep the momentum going. One great approach, and one that’s also kind to the planet, is to follow the “reduce, reuse, recycle” rule.
After finishing a project, you’ll often have leftover materials. Don’t rush to throw them away, many can be reused for something new. And it’s not just materials worth saving. Tools can get a second life too. A precision saw might lose its sharp edge over time, but instead of tossing it, you can repurpose it for rough framing or demolition work. In DIY, almost everything can find another use.
#22 DIY Home Office Garage Conversion
Image credits: Cautious_Success_927
#23 1 Year Of Ownership
Image credits: General_Squash7863
#24 Solar Log Store
Image credits: takoa64
Bottom line: DIY doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Once you get into it, it can be one of the most fulfilling things you do. And somewhere between fixing, painting, and building, you’ll notice that it’s not just your home that’s improving—it’s you. So take that first step. You’ve got this.
#25 Took Me 3 Months To Complete The Bathroom
Image credits: reddit.com
#26 4 Months Later, Its Almost Finished
Image credits: foamoirefresher
#27 First Attempt
Image credits: Tiggerkieron
#28 Not A Trades Person, But I Had A Go At Building A Faux Chimney, I Think It Looks Alright. First Real Project I've Taken On Like This
Image credits: Mcrln
#29 Bedroom Makeover. Don't Look Too Closely!
Image credits: Several-Anteater4597
#30 Success! My Wife Didn't Believe I Could, But I Did
Image credits: Quiet-Ad-4572
#31 So I Finally Finished My Project I Am So Bloody Happy. It's Not Perfect In A Few Places But I Did It Myself (Mostly) Thanks To This Sub. More Info In The Decription
Image credits: ajfromuk
#32 Update: I Know Some People Were Keen To See The Result Of My Tiler’s £400 Quote
Image credits: guzusan
#33 Finished Bathroom Renovation (Update From 4 Months Ago!)
Image credits: dicko87
#34 Built-In Wardrobes
Image credits: Several-Anteater4597
#35 I Began To Think I’d Never Get It Back To A Usable State!
Image credits: Blackdogglazed
#36 Stairwells And Stair Runners, You Say? Had My Protractor Out For This One
Image credits: CockConsumer
#37 Driveway
Image credits: Derbytillidie
#38 Guys. It’s Habitable!!! I Did It!!
Image credits: GladAd2948
#39 Gave The Kitchen A New Face-Lift. Only Took About £250 And A Weekend. Feeling Chuffed
Image credits: MrCard200
#40 Novice Bathroom Glow Up
Image credits: randomcheesecake555
#41 Can’t Afford A New Kitchen Yet So Painted The Cabinets
Image credits: hanni91
#42 Front Room Renovation
Image credits: fuku_visit
#43 Well I’m Pretty Happy With The Outcome! For A Bricky!
Image credits: CPRE28
#44 Before And After Of Fitting My Own Kitchen
Image credits: jackk190
#45 Victorian Door Repair
Image credits: reuben876
#46 Roof Terrace Refurb
Image credits: TheNarwhalTusk
#47 Budget Kitchen Refresh, £106 On Mdf And Paint
Image credits: farkinhell
#48 New Windows
Image credits: FerretBorn1980
#49 DIY Built In Wardrobe Project (In Photos)
Image credits: Brighty_0171
#50 Cupboard To Small Shower Room. DIY
Image credits: Working_Tennis2763
#51 Painted Kitchen Cupboards. What Should I Do With Tiles?
Image credits: Commercial-Brick-613
#52 I Built This
Image credits: fly4seasons
#53 My First Real Venture Into DIY, A Home Gym At The Bottom Of The Garden!
Image credits: cryordiy
#54 Easter Success; No Trip To Screwfix!
Image credits: Total_HD
#55 DIY Bathroom Glow Up £3000 With Underfloor Heating
Image credits: benhendrix
#56 Massive DIY Job
Image credits: Appropriate-Gap5484
