Coastal Bedroom Makeover
I always dreamed of having a beautiful and comfortable space for guests. Pre-COVID, my family and friends would visit from Norway a few times per year, and depending on which rental we were in at the time, they would either stay on a sofa bed in Ben’s office or get a hotel nearby. So, when we were house hunting last summer, finding a home with enough room for visitors was a definite priority!
The home we purchased had a great starting-point with three bedrooms: our spacious master with an en-suite bathroom, a small room for my home office, and another bedroom with a bathroom directly across the hall. That room is about 11.5x9 ft, which isn’t huge, but provides enough space to bring in key elements to create a cozy guest retreat.
A Weekend Transformation
We decided to paint the room the same color as our living and dining area: Simply White by Benjamin Moore. It has slightly warm undertones and brightens a room without making it feel cold or stark. It also ranks high on the light reflecting value scale and instantly brightens a space.
We completed the prep work Friday night, removing the old blinds and patching holes, un-installing the dated ceiling fan, and applying tape and plastic.
On Saturday morning, we started the makeover by giving the ceiling a fresh coat of flat, white paint. Then we moved on to the walls with a coat of Kilz primer, which I highly recommend if you are painting darker walls lighter. After the primer, we applied two coats of Simply White in eggshell.
On Sunday, I gave Ben a break and turned to the baseboards, which were in need of some TLC.
Caulking and Painting for a Seamless Look
I filled in all the nail holes and other gouges in the wood with this wood filler, then I sanded and wiped everything down. Now, the fun part: caulking! Caulking is so easy and gives you a clean, seamless look. It’s seriously one of my favorite tasks and I’ve slowly been going over all the trim in our house using this caulk and a caulking gun. After applying a thin bead, the trick is dipping your finger in water and running it along the seam in a smooth motion. It’s like magic! You may need to do a couple of passes with your finger – keep the bead as thin as possible, using just enough caulk to fill in, and have a rag nearby to wipe off any excess.
In addition to painting the room, we also replaced the old, wobbly ceiling fan with a more modern, matte black version. But, perhaps the biggest impact came from removing the faux wood blinds and installing sleek, black double curtain rods. You can read all about how to make ready-made curtains look custom here.
Styling a Welcoming and Functional Space for Guests
I make a conscious effort not to over-style a guest bedroom because visitors usually come with a lot of stuff. A wall sconce instead of a lamp leaves more space for personal items, and a bench beneath the window is the perfect landing spot for luggage. I keep a few decorative and functional items, like a small ceramic dish for jewelry and rattan tray on the nightstand.
Now I’m ready for this pandemic to be over so we can host some guests!
