Main Bedroom Makeover Reveal! One Room Challenge Week Eight

Holy cow, this bedroom is done (enough). When I read that the One Room Challenge would be eight weeks long this round, I was so happy. It seemed obvious that more time would equal less stress and an opportunity to do a more thorough job. Don’t get me wrong. The extra two weeks were a gift. However, I am the kind of person who uses every second of the time given. My projects shrink or grow depending on the allotted time. So, that’s what happened this round too. Was I ready sooner? No, I was not. Did I make it easier on myself by pacing properly? No, I did not. Will I do the One Room Challenge the same way again? Of course, I will.

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To bring you up to speed, here are the links to the previous weeks: Week One || Week Two || Week Three || Week Four || Week Five || Week Six || Week Seven

Now, let’s get down to business. The main bedroom before was not at all offensive. In fact, it was fine if rosebud wallpaper was your jam. Like most rooms in BHH, the main bedroom already had many charming details, such as the fireplace, a door to the sleeping porch, and three gorgeous original wood windows in my favorite pattern here at BHH.

What the main bedroom did need was a properly-sized rug, fresh paint, and bedding that fit. We’d been making do with mostly twin-sized blankets and comforters for years. I don’t know why. I think it’s the same reason that moms eat so many bread loaf heels. It’s what’s leftover, and we don’t like things to go to waste.

For this makeover, Andy wanted bright colors plus total darkness for nighttime. I wanted a bedroom that felt cozy and light-filled. I was on board with colors, but I was unsure whether or not I could pull that off without making it look like circa 1990 Gymboree. (My young friends might need to Google that–think primary colors and a clown.)

Deeply inspired by GP Shafer and Beata Heuman, here’s where we landed:

Pillow Shams | Quilt | Off-white Coverlet | Throw Pillows (handmade)

I chose cozy layered bedding from The Company Store. The shams are a linen blend, which is my favorite fiber for bedding. Although the shams are ironed perfectly today, the rumpled look of linen suits us. We make the bed every day, but not quite this neatly!

Two extra notes: I added a bedskirt (not pictured) and we took the decorative metal piece off the bed.

Next, I added soft velvet black-out curtains that pull back far enough to see my beloved windows. Before this bedroom makeover, I was not a fan of curtains. Now, I am a convert.

Curtains | Curtain Rods

Since the 96″ length curtain panels were sold out, I purchased 108″ and hemmed them. However, both lengths are in stock now and under $70. What a steal! There are plenty of different colors available too.

Another new addition is the large plush natural fiber rug. I love the subtle texture, and it vacuums like a dream. Millie has been leaving hair plugs all over it (shedding season!), and it looks new every time I vacuum.

Rug (Available in Charcoal/Cream) | Off-white Coverlet

I purchased the 9’X12′, and Millie has plenty of room to lay beside us on the floor. Unfortunately, the blue/cream combo is sold out in that size, but the charcoal/cream is in stock, and I came very close to buying that one instead. (The blue is available in a few smaller sizes.)

We talked about lighting a lot, but after some thought, I chose to do nothing with the sconces except swap out the globes. We’ll address them when we update the electricity sometime down the road. Instead, I purchased inexpensive accent lamps and covered the shades with a textured blue fabric. 

Lamps | Side Table (vintage)

I actually purchased the lamps as an open box set of two for less than $50. The fabric was on sale for $4. Not bad!

The MVP is truly the antique cabinet with the wavy glass door and the original key that I picked up off Facebook Marketplace for $30!

Three of the quilts inside are probably around 100 years old. My grandmother and her mother made them. They are all in shockingly great condition, hand-quilted with cotton thread. The other bedding is extra for the wintertime.

The fireplace area remains a work in progress.

First, I removed the old fireplace screen, but I could not find a suitable replacement. The fireplace is functional, although we’ve never used it. I dream of fitting it with a gas log. Wouldn’t that be so cozy on cold, winter nights?

Although Andy and I searched for a key piece of art to hang above the fireplace, we haven’t found the one yet. So, I hung a placeholder piece for now. I planned to build a frame, but when I went to buy wood, I could not bring myself to pay the stupid-high price for it. I’m protesting with my wallet.

One of my favorite parts of the room is the seating area. Long-time readers will remember that I bought the chair at Goodwill for $15 or $20. I can’t remember. While the color is not my favorite, I decided to embrace it. Unfortunately, reupholstery was not in the budget this time around. Monday, I picked up the little footstool off Facebook Marketplace for another $20.

Chair (Goodwill) | Footstool (Facebook Marketplace) | Pharmacy Lamp (vintage – estate sale) | Curtains

Let me tell you about those pillows. Originally, I bought a set of Cavallini & Co cloth napkins with the intent of making some kind of wall hanging out of them. Instead, I couldn’t stop seeing them as throw pillows, so I sewed up two! I added red piping to make them look high-end.

I’ll post a pillow sewing tutorial on the blog next week.

My mother made the small pillow. That fabric is a scrap of a coverlet that belonged to my grandpa when he was young. Like the quilts, that scrap must be over 100 years old. The full coverlet was pretty tattered, so she took some of it to make a pillow for herself and one for my sister and me.

Initially, I assumed I would make a cushion for the window seat, but long-time reader SH mentioned using it as a plant shelf instead, and I thought that was a brilliant idea. It is good to have a little bit of nature in every room, and plants make it easier to get through the long winter here. Now, I admit that some of the plants in this room need a little TLC, so if you’re a plant person, look the other way. If you’re not, you’re going to think I have the greenest thumb around.

While I considered sponsors this round, I decided to go solo and take my time choosing exactly what I wanted as the weeks progressed. I spent more money than I hoped (naturally), but I feel like we got an awful lot of quality for our buck, and I stretched the money where it mattered. I would still like to add two small colorful vintage rugs, one in the seating area and another in front of the door to the sleeping porch. Andy and I will continue the hunt for some original art for the area above the fireplace and the bed. Until we find something we love, the placeholders will work fine.

Bedside tables (vintage – yard sales) | Art print (vintage – yard sale) | Lamps | Triangle pillows – (designed by me, pieced by my mom.)

Oh my gosh. I took so many photos. Here are a few more of my favorites. (Be sure to click on any image that you would like to see high-res.)

Curtains | Mirror (Goodwill)

Maps | Pharmacy lamp (vintage) | Wall Paint Color – Accessible Beige Sherwin-Williams

Boat (yard sale) | Painting (Goodwill) | Rocks (Lake Superior) | The Furniture Bible | Every Room Should Sing

Another One Room Challenge is behind us, and I’m feeling so good about this bedroom makeover. Andy’s happy. I’m happy. The plants are mostly happy.

I am also so grateful to Linda, the One Room Challenge team, and media partner Better Homes and Gardens for the twice-yearly kick in the pants. The featured designers revealed their projects yesterday. (Don’t miss the basement kitchen completed by Racheal of Banyon Bridges. It’s a must-see.) The other guest participants like me will begin posting their projects today, continuing through the weekend. I am so excited to be deadline-free because now I have time to read reveal posts.

Special thanks to my mom for all of the sewing help. Andy was the wallpaper removal hero, and I am eternally grateful to him for taking that heinous project off my hands. And of course, thank you to all of you who read here and follow along on Instagram too. Your support means so much.

It’s your turn. Let me know what you think in the comments. I’d love to know! Also, if you have any favorite One Room Challenge projects, please link them so I can take a look.