Emily Henderson Pulled Off a Stunning Surprise Makeover

Interior designer Emily Henderson knows her way around a home makeover. While she's used to filming for HGTV shows or having months to pull off entire home renovations, Henderson recently undertook a special surprise home makeover for a deserving family—a single mother named Liz and her four children. While there was some planning in advance, Henderson and her team pulled off the actual design process in seven hours flat, and the results are absolutely stunning.

Before Henderson and her team got to work, the home featured dated curtains, dirty carpet, and clutter that left the space feeling dark and drab. "When I first saw the photos, I remember thinking that Liz had done a decent job. … But there is always room for extra love, styling, and organization, and that’s really what we intended on doing," Henderson writes on her blog.

Aside from the large gray sectional couch, the wooden dining table, the white bookshelves, and a family heirloom painting of a sailor, Henderson completely transformed the family's living room, home office, and dining room with new furnishings and décor. The final results display the power of simple, affordable upgrades like a clean carpet, Roman shades, and subtle storage solutions. Keep scrolling for a look at all of the shocking before-and-after images.

Before

The living room appeared cluttered and dark before Henderson and her team got to work, but with a few small alterations, the space would look completely different.

After

According to Henderson, the carpet made the biggest difference in this room. It's bright but neutral and can easily be covered up with a rug for easy maintenance.

The frames above the original sofa are actually from IKEA. They make for a beautiful, personalized gallery wall that's well within any budget.

Before

Here, sheer curtains keep out the natural light that could easily spill into the room.

After

With the use of Roman shades, the living room can let in plenty of light from outside. 

Along with upgrading the windows, Henderson restyled the bookshelves to clear some of the clutter. There's also a new bench beneath the window, as well as an upgraded coffee table and modern light fixtures.

Before

While the TV originally sat on a console table, there was room to improve the organization of the space.

After

Henderson added bins to the bottom shelves of the bookshelves to hide away more clutter while colorful textured throw pillows also make the room feel warmer and more inviting.

As for the TV console, it's been upgraded to this chic midcentury-modern piece with cabinets to keep items out of sight. Stylish baskets also provide more subtle storage space.

Before

The home office located in the corner of the living room appeared disorganized before Henderson made some minor adjustments.

After

With the addition of a white desk with built-in drawers and a tall cabinet for additional storage, this workspace looks fresh and primed for productivity.

The floating shelves above the desktop are also new, adding more room for storage and décor, including family photos and the children's artwork.

Before

Before Henderson got to the dining room, the space felt dated with a rectangular wall mirror, long dark curtains, and an outmoded ceiling fan.

After

After Henderson and her team worked their magic, the dining room looks ready to host friends and family dinners. The designer updated the ceiling fan, ditched the curtains, and swapped the rectangular mirror for a modern round one.

You can also spot the sailor painting, now free of its outdated, heavy frame, above a chic potted plant. There's also a bold patterned rug to add a bit of personality and color to the space.

Head to Style by Emily Henderson for the full story.