What makes a best home renovation before and after? That is a good question! From rescuing a derelict building, giving an unloved and unused room into a warm, welcoming, liveable space, or turning a vacant nook into a spot with purpose, the vision and inspiration for any metamorphosis is the vital first step. Whether a budget home renovation or a full home makeover, our talented uFurnish.com Home Awards entrants proved they provided the crème de la crème of UK home renovation ideas.
Explore the Entrants' Transformations
Last year’s entrants in the Best Before and After category really showed their mettle with a range of inventive renovations to turn unloved spaces into welcoming, purposeful places.
Our category winner, Kirstie Waterston (@renovating.rose.lane), turned this small, cold and unwelcoming space into a wonderful children’s playroom that is future-proofed to adapt and grow with them. Whilst some fairly significant building works were needed to insulate the room and make it warm, cosy and usable, the clever use of panelling, bright colours in the paintwork and soft furnishings, along with the lovely tented den, resulted in a superb transformation.
Another of our finalists, Leekim Stewart (@thehouseof_willow), really created something out of nothing with this superb transformation of a blank wall into a cosy and practical focal point for the room. The lovely inviting window seat now provides somewhere to read or simply gaze out of the window, whilst the abundant shelving and drawer storage allow for both organisation and display of favourite items. The bold use of colour throughout the room really makes the difference here and the leaner mirror helps create the illusion of more space.
Many of the Home Awards entries were “period appropriate” and another finalist, Daniel Bland (@bland_design), has taken a rather tired and drab room that really wasn’t living up to its Victorian heritage, well and truly back to its roots, adding charm and character. The panelling, use of dark colours and multitude of antiques make you feel like you are comfortably stepping back in time, while providing the room once again with purpose.
On a far more ambitious scale, another finalist, Sarah Ellis (@thelocationhouse), undertook this respectful and spectacular restoration, taking an amazing period property from derelict to dreamy. The existing period features, including the huge windows and plasterwork, have been preserved and augmented with amazing ornate radiators and ceiling frescos. However, the old has been cleverly blended with the new in the kitchen to provide sympathetic practicality, whilst the house overall makes the most of the natural light using bold colour as well.
Our last finalist, Nicki Castle (@polly_the_lorry_glamping), really thought outside the (horse)box with this lovely conversion into an amazing, inviting glamping space! Much of the interior was upcycled with super use of wood and plenty of shelving and storage neatly incorporated. The soft green and neutral paint décor is complimented by accent colours from the cushions and curtains and there is even a wood burner to keep you cosy - what a place to stay!
Transformations seen across Entrants' Homes
It’s hard to pick out one particular style across all of the entries, as there was such a huge range of before and after transformations – from very small to very large and modern to period. The real commonality was taking something that really wasn’t working and turning it into a welcoming and useful space.
What we love at uFurnish.com
We loved the enthusiasm and creativity that our entrants had clearly demonstrated in transforming their spaces. This was so evident, regardless of budget, in the thought that had gone into the makeover. Whether it was creating something out of nothing, updating the room for the same use or changing a room’s purpose, it was clear that from coming up with the original idea to its execution, our entrants pulled out all the stops and we love that!
How to apply these ideas
Your before and after transformation could be driven by several factors, including moving into a new home, updating existing décor, changes in the family or lifestyle adjustments. All of these would need some work and budget to accomplish, but how do you start? Here are some aspects to consider:
1. Purpose - What will this room or space’s use be?
- Updating – Is this a makeover of an existing space?
- Changing – Is the room’s purpose changing?
- Creating – Are you altering the layout or adding an extension?
2. Planning – the size of the project will dictate how much of this you need to do, but think about:
- Scheduling – work out what you need to do first, as there is no point buying a lovely new bed, sofa or chair if you then have to do dusty work!
- Function and future-proofing – does the space need to fulfil more than one purpose and will it stand the test of time?
- Layout – this is important in all cases, even if “just” decorating an existing space, as the updated space should be fit for purpose, so think about beds in a bedroom, sofas in a sitting room and comfy chairs in a nook
3. Décor & colour scheme
- Period – Whether you have a modern or older property, generally the décor should align with the home’s age, but there is nothing stopping you from mixing old and new!
- Style – Do you love eclectic rooms or sleek style? Home accessories can make all the difference.
- Colours – Have you always longed for a bright colourful palette or neutral tones? Do you have an existing item such as a cushion, piece of artwork or sofa that could be the inspiration for your colour scheme?
4. Storage – Make sure you factor in the storage you will need whether drawers, shelving, wardrobes or chests – you want your new space to not only look great but be practical!
5. Lighting – This can make all the difference in your new space… is there natural lighting? Do you need bright overhead lights, accent lights or reading lamps? Can you use window treatments to your advantage?
As we saw from the entrants for this category, “before and after” means different things to different people, from whole house renovation to creating a comfortable reading nook. To get the most out of your transformation, before you get started, think carefully about what it needs to do for you and how it will flow with your existing space, then let uFurnish.com provide inspiration and help find the items you need.
The spaces featured in the uFurnish.com Home Awards 2025 celebrate creativity, individuality and the many ways people shape their homes to reflect who they are. Each entrant offers inspiration that can be adapted to any style or budget, showing how thoughtful choices and clever details can transform everyday rooms. We hope these ideas inspire you to reimagine your own space and create a home you love spending time in.
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