Whether you’re watching Fixer Upper or What Not to Wear (hello reruns!), or scrolling through the internet’s gazillions of DIY websites, is there anything much more exciting than a good Before and After? The uglier the before, the better. The same holds true for trash to treasure makeovers.
There’s just something about a clever or unexpected transformation that inspires people to see the beautiful potential in otherwise ordinary things.
In case you’re new around here or may have forgotten some of these past projects, here are 12 of my trash to treasure makeovers in Before-and-After style. You can click any of the After photos or links to read the full tutorial and see more step by step photos. Enjoy!
1. Before: Kids alphabet blocks…
After: Grown-up home decor blocks to display any special message
2. Before: Plain old jars…
After: DIY apothecary jars, cute for displaying treats or tiny treasures
3. Before: Dirty old garage storage…
After: Glam French trinket organizer
4. Before: Random thrifted pieces…
After: DIY tiered display tower
5. Before: Rooster storage tower…
After: Weathered numbered storage
6. Before: Free dresser on its way to Goodwill (intercepted by me)…
After: Industrial Anthropologie-inspired dresser
7. Before: Broken curbside dresser…
After: Chic dresser in grey and black
8. Before: Thrifted dress with a hidden hole…
After: Stylish upcycled DIY infinity scarf
9. Before: Old neckties…
After: Unique necktie cuff bracelets
10. Before: Tacky thrifted bench…
After: Reupholstered bench with new legs
11. Before: Old framed art…
After: Super cute DIY memo boards
12. Before: Peeling leather Parsons dining chair…
After: Reupholstered chair in chic script fabric
What are your favorite trash to treasure makeovers that you’ve done? I’d love to know – leave me a comment below 🙂
Click here for my free printable resource list: 11 Items to Always Buy While Thrifting
– Jen –
And if you like this post, you’ll also love this one: 12 Yard Sale Furniture Makeovers
Cheryl says
It’s so hard to pick just one because they are all so fabulous!! Pinned!
Lois Stimax says
I love the French trinket organizer! So many small pieces and no where to put them! I turned an old screen door and a table picked up off the side of the road into a very cute hall tree! You inspire!!
Karen Marie Kedzuch says
Jen,
Your talent for mixing up items into treasures is amazing. Beautiful job!
penny gharst says
Toss up between trinket organizer and script chairs.
Jen says
Thanks so much, Cheryl! 🙂
Shannon says
I love everything you’ve done. I know that you asked us to show you what WE’VE made over so I was hoping other readers would have posted or talked about their projects as well. I’m still working on my first trash to treasure makeover. I’ve been following your blog for more than a few years and you were one of the first, if not the very first, to inspire me. Thank you! I love every step of it from finding the piece to completion (when I get it completed ?)!
Jen says
Shannon, that’s awesome (and thank you)! Trash to treasure makeovers are so much fun to do – they can be addicting. 😉
Andrea Iglesias says
I happened to find this site while reading your advice on renting a booth. I LOVE all the projects. I know I would have quite a time actually selling them/ I would want to keep them all!!!! Beautiful job!
Katie S says
I love your blog! I’m preparing to join the “flip the thrift” lifestyle, and your blog has been SO helpful and encouraging. It’s the main blog that has me convinced to jump on the bandwagon. KEEP BEING YOU!