Before and After: 5 Easy Bedroom Makeovers That Make a Big Impact
See how new paint, window treatments, lighting and other decor refreshed these bedrooms
Sometimes a simple refresh can make a world of difference. The designers of the following bedroom makeovers didn’t have to move any walls to transform these boudoirs (though one did add a window). Fresh paint, wallpaper, stylish window treatments, chic lighting and new furniture and decor were key to making these bedroom makeovers a success.
Check out the before-and-after photos, then let us know which bedroom makeover made the biggest impression on you.
Check out the before-and-after photos, then let us know which bedroom makeover made the biggest impression on you.
After: Freeman used a serene neutral palette for the walls, draperies and bedding. She kept the couple’s dresser and nightstands but replaced the bed, bedding and window treatments. The new bed’s upholstery is a light oatmeal color.
Freeman also helped the couple find some artwork that was meaningful to them. She determined that they liked sketches and talked to them about their love of New York City, where they had met. The couple hired an artist to create two pieces — one of the restaurant where they met and one of the Empire State Building, where they got engaged. The original works flank their bed.
Wall color: Hardwick White, Farrow & Ball
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Freeman also helped the couple find some artwork that was meaningful to them. She determined that they liked sketches and talked to them about their love of New York City, where they had met. The couple hired an artist to create two pieces — one of the restaurant where they met and one of the Empire State Building, where they got engaged. The original works flank their bed.
Wall color: Hardwick White, Farrow & Ball
Read more about this makeover
2. Maximizing the View
Before: These Seattle homeowners wanted to create a kind of urban treehouse to take advantage of the majestic views. They enlisted the help of designer Kristine Tyler of Treefrog Design after finding her on Houzz. “The idea was they wanted to bring the outside in, really kind of accentuate the idea of being surrounded by trees and nature in the middle of downtown,” Tyler says.
The primary bedroom had commanding views of the Seattle skyline through sliding glass doors, but the mismatched wall colors, heavy window coverings, dull carpet and tired decor were in need of updating.
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Before: These Seattle homeowners wanted to create a kind of urban treehouse to take advantage of the majestic views. They enlisted the help of designer Kristine Tyler of Treefrog Design after finding her on Houzz. “The idea was they wanted to bring the outside in, really kind of accentuate the idea of being surrounded by trees and nature in the middle of downtown,” Tyler says.
The primary bedroom had commanding views of the Seattle skyline through sliding glass doors, but the mismatched wall colors, heavy window coverings, dull carpet and tired decor were in need of updating.
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After: The new bedroom takes full advantage of treetop and city views through the new and existing windows and the French doors that replaced the former slider. All of the walls were painted a crisp white, allowing the views to be the star of the room. The room also includes new light gray carpeting and all new furniture, including a chair and a bench that provide spots to sit down and take in the commanding skyline.
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3. Happy Compromise
Before: While the original architecture of this Vancouver, British Columbia, home is clean and modern, a previous interior renovation had brought in traditional decor and wall colors that muddied its style and darkened the interior.
The owners hired designer Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating to make the interiors match the architecture and to brighten up the rooms, including the primary bedroom with its taupe walls, heavy wood dresser and traditional wall sconces.
Before: While the original architecture of this Vancouver, British Columbia, home is clean and modern, a previous interior renovation had brought in traditional decor and wall colors that muddied its style and darkened the interior.
The owners hired designer Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating to make the interiors match the architecture and to brighten up the rooms, including the primary bedroom with its taupe walls, heavy wood dresser and traditional wall sconces.
After: Steeves pulled off a careful compromise between her clients’ individual styles. For the wife, it was the floral throw pillow and the white-cork-and-foil wallcovering on the headboard wall. For him, it was a tailored look, concrete pendant shades and geometric-pattern throw pillows. The nightstands suit them both — he likes the clean lines and she likes the mirrored finish and the surprise of pink-velvet-lined drawers. Simple white drapes soften the windows.
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4. From Peachy to Beachy
Before: The owners of this vacation house on Figure Eight Island, North Carolina, reached out to designer Lindsey Cheek of Gathered to transform their guest bedroom into a light, breezy space with a casual beach vibe. The former bedroom included natural wood trim around the windows, a pair of twin beds (which the former homeowners took with them to their new home) and peach-colored walls.
Before: The owners of this vacation house on Figure Eight Island, North Carolina, reached out to designer Lindsey Cheek of Gathered to transform their guest bedroom into a light, breezy space with a casual beach vibe. The former bedroom included natural wood trim around the windows, a pair of twin beds (which the former homeowners took with them to their new home) and peach-colored walls.
After: To create the breezy feel the homeowners wanted, Cheek covered the walls in a light and airy shade of blue. A new queen bed with an upholstered headboard now sits beneath an aqua glass chandelier that references the color of the nearby ocean.
Battery-powered louvered blinds on the room’s large windows provide privacy without blocking out the natural daylight that brightens the room. To complete the casual beach vibe, the designer added a pair of banana leaf chairs in front of the windows. “It’s a nice gesture to your guests to have a separate seating area in the room that’s not the bed,” Cheek says.
Wall paint: Ocean Air, Benjamin Moore
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Battery-powered louvered blinds on the room’s large windows provide privacy without blocking out the natural daylight that brightens the room. To complete the casual beach vibe, the designer added a pair of banana leaf chairs in front of the windows. “It’s a nice gesture to your guests to have a separate seating area in the room that’s not the bed,” Cheek says.
Wall paint: Ocean Air, Benjamin Moore
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5. Blue and Bling
Before: These Southern California homeowners enlisted interior designer Rachel Chulew of DesignHaus 24 to add texture, color and some pizzaz to their family home.
This formerly bland guest room is also used as an overflow office space. “Even though a large office space for multiple people was part of this project, sometimes one of them just needs to get away to their own space to work alone,” Chulew says.
Before: These Southern California homeowners enlisted interior designer Rachel Chulew of DesignHaus 24 to add texture, color and some pizzaz to their family home.
This formerly bland guest room is also used as an overflow office space. “Even though a large office space for multiple people was part of this project, sometimes one of them just needs to get away to their own space to work alone,” Chulew says.
After: The designer added touches of blue throughout the house. “In this guest room, we wanted to go totally bold,” Chulew says. “This blue floral wallpaper makes the room.” To bring in some bling, the designer added a chandelier composed of white beads and gold. A new gold curtain rod and cream pleated curtains add a refined touch.
“We worked in a desk so it also can serve as an ‘escape room’ when one of the homeowners wants to work alone,” Chulew says. The piece is wrapped in a gold woven textile. An ottoman that tucks underneath for seating helps camouflage the desk as a pretty dressing table for guests.
Six-light chandelier: Dr. Livingstone
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“We worked in a desk so it also can serve as an ‘escape room’ when one of the homeowners wants to work alone,” Chulew says. The piece is wrapped in a gold woven textile. An ottoman that tucks underneath for seating helps camouflage the desk as a pretty dressing table for guests.
Six-light chandelier: Dr. Livingstone
Read more about this makeover
More on Houzz
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Before: This Atlanta couple plan to move out of their house in about five years, but before then they wanted to give it a light makeover. They hired interior designer Laura Freeman of Merits Design Group to refresh the entire home, including their primary bedroom. The former space had a drab paint color on the walls and the furniture and window treatments were dark and heavy.
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