These Are the Most Viral Home Makeovers of 2024
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
If there was one TikTok trend that gave Korean skin care a run for its money in 2024, it was DIY home renovations. Homeowners armed with little more than passion and a desire to make their own design mark have taken social media by storm, sharing their progress with the world with varying levels of success. While one person's DIY accent wall might go viral for its design aesthetic and originality, another person's kitchen reno might get a whole different kind of attention. The "what were you thinking?" kind.
The most viral home renovations on social media in 2024 ran the gamut from fabulous to fail, inspired to reviled. But the ones that really took off seemed to follow a few themes, whether they inspired outrage because of soulless "updates" that changed a home's entire vibe, or sympathy due to an honest portrayal of the heartbreak DIY can bring.
Regardless of what sort of reaction these viral home renovations triggered, it took courage to share. And we appreciate it. Here they are: The good, the bad, the wow-that-is-ugly. Behold, the most viral DIY makeovers of 2024—and the overarching themes that made them so watchable.
Stripping Away Character for a "McMansion"
People tend to have strong reactions to home renovations, particularly when they aren't fond of the results. Just ask the couple behind the TikTok account Florida Flipsters, who bought a 70's era home and put four months of work into renovations. Once they shared the results online, the reel quickly went viral, amassing more than 1.3 million views. And not everyone was a fan. "The chandelier mounted on the STYROFOAM beam still gets me," sniped one critic. Another critiqued "the way you removed the charm and then complained when it was lacking??" This user was concerned that the renovations, which tended towards a lot of white walls and modern updates, "turned a home into a house" and expressed a wish that they had bought the house before the couple got to it, "so it wouldn't be ruined."
Turning charm-filled homes into McMansions seems to be a real sticking point with a lot of social media users. TikTok user @tellyourdogiloveher plaintively asked, "Are we at the point where we can all agree that renovators are destroying homes now?" Another home renovation that went viral was shared by TikTok user @_smithhome, who shared a mid-century renovation that leaned too heavily on neutral palates in some people's opinions. "That flooring was iconic. Should've kept that, adds more value," one of the 1.9 million viewers wrote. Another bemoaned the fact that the house had been turned into "another grey and white box."
Uncovering a Home's Real Beauty
Unique spaces still fascinate home lovers, and TikTok users @acharminglife really drew fans in with the refresh of this light-filled home, complete with peaked roof lines and plenty of warm teak. One viewer marveled at "the power of architectural finishes." oAnother felt the house looked "so clean, so peaceful."
TikTok user Liz Pacini kept followers fascinating by embracing the 90s-vibes of her home, bringing in black trim and accent walls to keep the home from becoming too cookie cutter. Viewers were especially inspired by her decision to update old return covers, a simple fix that made all the difference.
Getting Honest About Regrets
Not every home renovation went viral because people loved to hate the results. Jenna Phipps' YouTube channel has more than 1 million subscribers who are there to cheer her on as she continues to be refreshingly honest about her home renovations. Phipps bought a century-old home on the west coast of Canada with her partner, and has admitted that she "never wants to do this again" as she finds problem after problem. But it's her earnest efforts to restore these homes that have kept followers riveted.
TikTok user @ultimatebykomi has become popular for the same reasons. When she regrets some of her renovation decisions, like painting her bathroom sink green or attempting a complicated pattern for her tile floors, she admits her misgivings. She is trying her best, and viewers are clearly attached to following along with her.
Fostering a Human Connection
Home renovations don't always go viral simply for the way the home turns out. For some people, it's all about that human connection. TikTok user Bridget McGaing went viral around six months into her Chicago-area home renovation after her father Bill found out he had brain cancer. Bridget’s dad was an electrician who had been teaching his daughter how to work on her home, and the two were charming together. When Bill McGaing died, Bridget's heartfelt TikTok about her dad went viral, as so many viewers could relate.
Few things are as personal as someone's house, and following along on a person's home renovation is a window into their life. There are plenty of reasons to follow along as someone else renovates their home. You might want to be inspired, feel connection, or just feel better about your own DIY struggles. Or, like most of us, any—and all—of the above.
You Might Also Like
