Home Renovations Before And After With Real Cost

Home Renovation Cost: Understanding the Basics

Home renovation costs can often seem like a mystery, especially for first-time homeowners. When I embarked on my journey as a homeowner, I was in the same boat, unsure of what to expect in terms of expenses. 

In this post, I’ll shed some light on the approximate costs for various rooms accompanying the before and after so you see how much we’ve updated in each renovation. Additionally, I’ve dabbled in DIY projects, so I’ll also share some insights into the cost comparison between doing it yourself and hiring a contractor.

Home Renovation Before and After: Real Case Studies

Let’s dive into some real-life examples of my home renovation projects. I’ve tackled a range of rooms, including bathrooms, bedrooms, and even a home office. 

While I haven’t ventured into major living room renovations just yet (stay tuned for next year!), most rooms that are not kitchen and bathroom will share a similar cost ballpark. Keep in mind that larger rooms tend to come with higher price tags due to the need for more finishing materials and furnishings.

Another thing to keep in mind is I live in North California, so the labor and material cost tend to be more on the expensive side. 

Kitchen

Before: 

The kitchen was very dated and we hired a contractor and did a gut renovation. You can read more details on my blog post of IKEA kitchen review.

After: 

We basically replaced everything: new cabinets, countertops, backsplash, backsplash, flooring and windows. The space is now both functional and visually appealing.

Renovation Cost Breakdown: 

(Renovation was done in 2018)

Cabinets & hardware: $3900

Countertops material & install: $3500

Kitchen appliances:$2650 for fridge, range, dishwasher and over-the-range microwave w/vent

Backsplash: $1000 labor + tiles $450

Floor tile: $600

Kitchen renovation labor $7000

Total: $16,450

More details: 

IKEA kitchen tour & review | Kitchen furniture & decor source | Custom roman shade hack

Bathroom

Before: 

The bathroom was in dire need of an update as it hasn’t been renovated in many decades. The fixtures were outdated, and the tiles had seen better days.

After: 

A complete overhaul! We also changed the layout so we can fit a double vanity which is something super important to us. We replaced fixtures, installed new tiles, and added a fresh coat of paint plus wallpaper. 

We did keep the original bathtub since it is still in good condition and turned that into a shower, so we could use the original shower niche for the toilet, and have space for 2 sinks.

Renovation Cost Breakdown: 

Contractor labor & raw materials: $13,000 (a lot of plumbing work)

Vanity, fixtures, finishes: ~$6,000 (include a $1400 fancy toilet lol)

Total: $20,000

More details: 

Bathroom renovation reveal and detailed cost breakdown | Bathroom furniture & decor source

Bedroom

Before: 

The bedroom was a blank canvas with dated wallpaper.

After:

Luckily the bedroom renovation is updating the finishes, which make the whole renovation a lot cheaper compared to kitchen and bathroom. 

We did reframe the door opening to the closet to make it a double sliding door, but this is pretty rare in bedroom renovations.

We DIYed picture frame molding to the entire space, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. We also added a DIY window seat to add more storage space. Then it is just furniture costs.

Renovation Cost Breakdown: 

Bed frame, box spring and mattress: $1100

molding $200

small furniture, decor & fixtures $1000; 

DIY window seat $400. 

Total $2700

More details: 

Bedroom furniture & decor source | DIY window seat with IKEA hack

Home Office

Before: 

The home office was a spare bedroom in the house. It had dated vinyl wallpaper applied throughout the room. It also had a small door with access to the attic.

After: 

We decided to convert the space to be a home office and craft room combo, plus it will serve as a guest room when we have people sleeping over. We tackled this room through several DIY projects.

We removed the vinyl wallpaper, applied vertical shiplap to the entire room, and added crown molding and baseboard to set a great foundation. 

To make the home office and guest room combo come to live, we DIY’ed a wall-to-wall desk built-in with an IKEA hack, and bought a sleeper sofa to make it multifunctional when guests come over.

Renovation Cost Breakdown: 

Room finishings(shiplap, paint, moldings) $500

DIY Desk built-in $500

Sleeper sofa $1400

Other furniture, decor and fixtures: $800

Total: $3200

More details: 

Home office furniture & decor source | DIY vertical shiplap wall | DIY desk built-in with IKEA hack | Home office tour

Summary

Embarking on a home renovation journey can be both exciting and challenging, but it is always worth it. If you are looking for more guides on home renovation, check out my post on Home renovation step by step and Home renovation checklist by room. I drizzled a ton of learning after renovating my house room by room into those posts.

If you are looking for tracking your home renovation effortlessly and stress-free, make sure to check out my home renovation planner & tracker.

I hope this post helps you understand the potential costs of home renovation, large or small, and those  case studies above show that it’s possible to achieve stunning transformations without breaking the bank. 

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