50 Abandoned Houses That Are Begging to Be Restored
Updated: Mar. 29, 2021If we could wave a wand, we'd want to restore these gorgeous abandoned houses right now.
A castle fit for a noble
This property likely held someone of noble class at some time. It’d be a real wonder if it got restored to what it used to be. Maybe they didn’t know these exterior paint colors that can boost your home’s value.
Prairie land
This house looks like a scene from Little House on the Prairie! Imagine watching a storm roll in from the front porch if this home got fixed up. We would advise a trip to America’s favorite home improvement store.
Eastern seaboard
An abandoned beach house on the Gloucester shore in Massachusetts could be the perfect piece of property for a rehab project. Just make sure you’re cleaning windows like the pros if you’ve got a view of the water.
Victorian renaissance
It would be great to breathe some new life into this old beauty. Make sure you’re not wasting time on these 12 home renovations you’re likely to regret later.
Seaside retreat
With such a view of the water, it’s a shame that this abandoned house hasn’t gotten fixed up. These home improvements can double the value of your home.
Farmhouse charm
This old farmhouse needs some TLC, but with a quick turn on the ride-on mower and a fresh coat of paint, it’d be really eye-catching.
Greek revitalization
This old Greek revival style home could look spectacular with some upgrades. A lot of brickwork would have to take place as well as new windows. Don’t miss these 11 home improvement projects you can do yourself.
Queen Anne restoration
A Queen Anne-style home complete with a turret would be a great renovation project! We dream of these 9 things every healthy home should have.
Treehouse Resort
This home looks like it’s in great shape and with a second-story porch it’ll feel like hanging out in a treehouse a little. If you want the real deal, check out this treehouse that’s the most popular rental on Airbnb.
Royal treatment
This place looks big enough to be part of a castle. Though the exterior is weathered it would surely stun if it were cleaned up a little. Keep these 12 DIY projects you should never do yourself in mind, though.
Colonial keeper
This Colonial-style house has seen some better days but it’s an architectural masterpiece if fixed up the right way. Did you know a gabled dormer is a great way to add square footage to a house?
Haunted house
A place like this one looks pretty creepy on the outside and it’s probably not much better inside. These 13 home improvement fails will make you cringe.
Regal residence
If this residence got the attention it deserves, it’d be quite the estate. Wondering if adding a pool will add value to your home?
Beautiful landscape
A little landscape work would improve the view of this property in Langoelan, Brittany in France.
Latvian fixer-upper
This little project place in Latvia is set in Dobele, a town of about 10,000 in central Latvia. It could be a cool European getaway.
Lots to fix
Busted out windows all around, siding missing in spots, as much as this house would look cool restored, it’d be a ton of work. Be sure you have this home renovation cheat sheet handy.
Tudor style
This place looks like it draws some style from the Tudor period and could make for a great haunted house. Instead, it might be best to restore it and be able to host more than one event a year there.
Just add a roof
These palatial ruins would be great to restore, but they’re missing a roof and several other important features (windows and doors, anyone?) It’s still an outstanding spot. A lack of roof obviously does it, but do you know these other things that decrease your property value?
Wowza walls
The walls of this abandoned house make it worth saving. The intricate design and the wainscoting make this place a treasure. These home decor ideas will give you an expensive looking home.
Minsk, Belarus
This house looks like something more than a hospital from a century ago. Located in Minsk, Belarus, it could be a stunning residence.
Stately rehab
Over in Belarus again, this manor seems like a nice house to renovate. Up on a little hill in the countryside sounds kind of nice. Don’t miss these 15 home improvement myths busted.
Russian countryside
The Novgorod region in northwest Russia has a rich history as a trade route, and this older home would shine if it were restored to its former look. The intricate woodwork makes it an interesting place.
Russian village
Also set in the Russian countryside, this little place could be a vacation getaway if you lived in Russia. We love a weekend cabin!
Horror movie set?
This old house seems like a perfect setting for a horror movie but it might make for a better renovation project. A couple of balconies and porches with lots of windows make this a unique place to revamp. Find out the secrets to finding a home renovation contractor you can trust.
Rusty farmhouse
The corrugated steel roof has quite the patina on this old farmhouse, but imagine what it might look like fixed up a little bit. Perhaps we could add a little screened-in porch?
Borgo Schiro, Italy
On the island of Sicily near Palermo sits the abandoned village of Borgo Schiro, which was built during the agricultural reforms of Mussolini. It’d be a great spot to retool, and some home improvement projects pay for themselves.
Victorian restore
The large porch area of this Victorian house would be especially fun to restore. The witch’s tower also makes this home standout and could be a really lively house if fixed up. A perfect home to decorate for spring!
Vlasina Lake, Serbia
A little lake cottage in Serbia could turn into a really lovely retreat space. Set on Vlasina Lake, which was created by the crossing of the Vlasina and Vrla rivers, it’s known for its floating islands, formed by peat bogs. These are the things you should know about your home by age 40.
Beachfront possibility
The possibilities are intriguing for an abandoned house sitting on a lake. A large porch would be great for sunsets, though there might be some tree removal necessary to open up the view. Make sure you avoid these 32 home upgrades that are a huge waste of money.
Backwoods setting
You wouldn’t have to go far to pick out a Christmas tree at a winter cabin setting like this.
Chalet retreat
This big beauty in the Carpathian Mountains looks like the perfect retreat for a ski trip since it already looks like a chalet of sorts. Just don’t make these decorating mistakes that make your home look messy.
Pretty as a picture
You couldn’t paint a prettier mountain scene than this view from an abandoned house at the foot of a mountain range. It’d be something special to wake up to every day.
Farmhouse fixer-upper
This big farmhouse has some character to it, and it’d be nice to see it again after a coat of paint and other repairs. Do you know what not to buy at home improvement stores?
Decrepit dream
This boarded up beast needs some serious work but once it was fixed up, it could become a masterpiece. These beautiful abandoned places were overrun by nature.
Zakopane, Poland
It’s hard to believe that building sits empty in Poland but apparently, it’s waiting for renovation. It looks pretty good now but it’s a wonder to see what it will look like renovated.
Detroit
Detroit has had its woes economically the past decade, and many abandoned homes are simply getting knocked down. The city had 70,000 vacant buildings in 2012, according to the New York Times. As Detroit continues to rethink its city, it’d be nice to see some of the houses remodeled if possible. These budget-friendly decorating tricks will make any house look better.
Ohio farmhouse
Out in the rural Ohio landscape rises an old farmhouse near the Kentucky border. It features pillars of Greek revival and looks like it’s standing tall.
Renovation revolution
An old farmhouse in need of some serious attention. It needs new windows in several spots as well as replacement parts for the porch railing. It would, however, look really pretty fixed up. Of course, you’d want to know these signs your house is haunted.
Porto, Portugal
Porto, much like Detroit, experienced tough economic times and approximately 20 percent of the buildings in the town’s center sit vacant. Now tourists can tour buildings like this one in the town, which dates back to 300 BC, though it’d be nice to imagine what it’s like fully restored. Even now it looks a lot better than these ridiculous real estate listing photos.
Osorno, Chile
An architectural sight in Osorno, Chile, this place might look even more magnificent. As it stands now it looks like a fine mansion, almost out of the movie The Birds.
Russian manor
This former Russian manor would look regal again with a massive overhaul. The old pillars restored and the fine brickwork would make it a jewel once more. Just be sure to avoid these home decor horrors.
Russian revamp
This grand-looking manor could look great with some careful attention paid to it. Wonder if that rug comes free?
Greek revisited
This old Greek place has a utilitarian charm to it, though stay away from any geometry debates in Greece. We’re not Eucliding. You should never keep these unlucky things in your home.
Muromtsevo, Russia
This Gothic castle in Russia has slowly started to fade away through the past four decades and sits between Vladimir and Moscow, next the Golden Ring. The manor dates back to 1884 and belonged to Count Vladimir Semenovich Khrapovitsky. After Khrapovitsky left for Germany in 1921, the estate started to fall into ruin. Next, check out these amazing abandoned castles around the world.