Hey, reader! Does this wallpaper look familiar? Do you remember this moto photo (below) from my last makeover show? The one where I plastered the smaller of my two bedrooms with DIY fabric wallpaper, put a queen bed there, and called it mine? Or maybe you’re up-to-date and instead remember a recent post where I showed you my scary second bedroom, aptly named “The Doom Room,” and considered swapping the two?
The TLDR version is something like this- loved I intended to keep my initial bedroom design and still have the furniture (and fabric wallpaper) forever, but I made the mistake of choosing the smaller room for my private bedroom, and made the larger room my “office.” Instead, this big space turned into a dumping ground for estate sales, slick nonsense, and miscellaneous junk that I wanted to lock behind a door and forget about. I was fed up with my extra stuff, wanted more space in my bedroom, and hoped that by swapping two rooms, I could finally free up the smaller room for guests. So I went for it, moving my bed and dresser into the larger room (which I love anyway), to free up the wallpapered room for a new project – a (barely) blank canvas.
During the switch, a definite opportunity to work with most modern Fell straight from the sky into my lap. They were looking to create a story specifically about hosting visitors for the holidays. How?! This was my chance! A timeless partnership paired with an insatiable desire to curate and design a thoughtful guest space? This kicked my spare room dreams into overdrive, and I can’t wait to show you how it all turned out.
When I first wrote the post about room swaps, when considering how each area would look and function, I thought I’d want this second bedroom to also function as an office space. Before the partnership, I even chose a allmodern desk (A piece I was eyeing because of its clever, double-sided, dual-purpose design). But the truth is, I prefer to do my daily computer work from my dining table and mostly use my old desk chair for seating in the spare living room, so it didn’t make sense to move my “office” into this small room. It needed storage (and sadly this fabulous desk was too big anyway).
Most of all, I wanted a second sleeping area that felt comfortable and spacious. A hidden oasis for any friend, parent, or first-date-errant to spend the night at. A room that, despite its modest footprint, seemed… spacious. A private hang-out space that can transform for guests but will still inspire me creatively whenever I need to dig in the closet for art supplies. This old “wallfabric” isn’t going away any time soon, but with a heavy dose of some AllModern magic, I think we’ve given this familiar space a whole new feel…
Please, feast your eyes on my new and improved guest bedroom! A luxurious lounge space by day, an artful bedroom by night, and with ample storage to keep my stuff Garbage The treasure disappeared from sight. Let’s dig in, shall we?
One element I wanted from the jump was a big hit of red. I knew this would help guide the design in a new direction. I envisioned a simple but interesting colorful rug, and it wasn’t hard to find a winner—I just felt so good about it This one Immediately! I like how its subtle, indented pattern references a similar repeat on the wallpaper, and I think the deep red color holds the space together strongly, don’t you?
Initially, I envisioned a green sofa bed here. it Was Becoming a sofa bed to save space and maximize room functionality. but it will have to be Excellent Goldilocks green for working with green on walls, and I didn’t want to chance it. I thought something more neutral, beige, gray or cream would be better overall. I was in between the sleeper sofas. I liked it at first 84″ Cleo Sleeper Sofa For its compact size and long list of customizable colors. But finally I chose this one, Sevel 88” Upholstered Sleeper Sofa (in Mink Chenille) Because it shipped a little faster, it got great reviews and it still looks just as good. Plus, I expected that a fold-down sofa bed over a pull-out mattress would better maximize the space, even if the sofa is a little longer.
I’m so glad I went with this option. The oatmeal color looks great here and helps dial back the rustic wall factor, making the rug stand out a little more. Plus, this kind of neutral would work well wherever I go in the future—I think highly of a piece like this. I want this to last!
But I also want it to be easy. So far, switching between tasks has been very easy! From sofa to bed, you start by removing the two back cushions, pull the bench seat forward (it’s on wheels and work like a trundle bed), then flip the solid back cushions down to reveal a brand new, full-size sleeping surface – just add the bed! Flip it over and upside down Missy Elliot style, and you’ll have the sofa again in no time.
ivory sheet set , waffle duvet cover , duvet insert , striped yellow shams , pillow inserts , waffle throw blanket , yellow throw blanket
The cushions are firm, but not at all like a cheap futon. They feel like a dense mattress, yet with plenty of bounce. Two cordial friends or one Emily Henderson should have no problem laying down comfortably here! Look? Actually, I’ve had several guests stay in this room already (no, not my boss), and they all gave great reviews about the comfort. I mean, I asked each of them how well they sleep, and it Is It’s possible they lied to me… but I recently had the accidental pleasure of sleeping on it, and I can attest, it was a very solid sleep!
Gumdrop Throw Pillows , wool pillow , yellow throw blanket , side table , paper trees
You may recognize some of the styling elements (like the throw pillows, side table, chrome lamp, upholstered chair, or paper tree) from our recent Christmas in The Carly Decoration Transformation. And well, that’s because I stole them for myself after the shoot. In fact, M asked me to do a portion of the shopping for that first holiday photoshoot, and instinctively, I grabbed a few pieces from AllModern that I thought might also work in my space, in hopes of cutting down on the amount of money we’d need to style both. I chose colors and textures that I liked and could use here too, so it made sense for me to end up keeping most of them. Just some light, premeditated “theft”. Like, I’m sorry, but I really wanted some of those jewel colored paper trees for myself. This means that a Holiday Finally a guest story!
Although I keep most of my useless stuff in the closet, I also wanted to include some cute storage pieces to complete the space. i found This exquisite wall shelf To display some of my favorite things, which ultimately gave purpose to this impossibly small wall next to my closet. It was very easy to put together and equally easy to hang.
then i came forward it Beautiful thing. a storage piece In wooden tones I just lovedWith beautiful lines…and a secret! To me, it echoes similar vibes to the double-sided desk I loved before. At first glance, you think you know what it is: a dresser with nine drawers. Now go ahead and move that little slider to the left for ultimate satisfaction. They’re actually cabinet doors! Boy, do I love a hidden piece of furniture.
Its size is also very small, but there is a lot of space inside. In my mind, having doors instead of drawers allows for easier access to the stuff inside, but maybe that’s just me? For now, this cabinet stores the guest bed, but I’m sure eventually I’ll find a way to put a hammock or some old objects in there too.
mirror , chrome lamp , vase , pink catchall
is over the sideboard This funky, amorphous mirrorI love it. It’s a shapely nut that draws a little more red (exactly what I expected when I first saw it online). It complements the rug and accent pillows perfectly and pairs well with the storage piece below (but not too closely). that lamp There was also a Carly swipe. Its shape and material are absolutely smooth and reminiscent of the last lamp I had here (which sadly broke).
small metal side table The corner was something that was added at the last minute (after all, a tall, pointed plant or narrow bookshelf could live here in its place), but I love what these balanced pops of chrome add to this space. Plate Sitting on the cabinet works great as a catchall, and the pink color matches the flowers on the wall, but when visitors come to stop by, I’ll probably clean the surface so they can use it to spread out and unpack stuff. However, someone’s got to get out A design-forward vase Flower garlands to give a proper welcome to your guests upon arrival!
We filled the opposite wall with some of my favorite artwork. That large painting is a piece that my mom’s college classmate painted for her that I, yes, stole and refused to give back. The bamboo-framed dancer print is one I bought at a local Latvian rummage sale several years ago for just $10. And the newest addition is a piece that one of our favorite local artists commissioned for all of us, fringeAt our last team retreat, she surprised us all by creating a custom artwork for our birthdays. My title is “shopkeeper”. This was the final piece needed for this little gallery wall, which I think hangs very nicely over both the bed and the sofa. I didn’t even have to move the old swing arm sconce from my last makeover!
Well, friends, I guess that sums it up! Within a few weeks, I was able to create my little dream space for all future guests with their help most modernThe loud impact of colors and wild wallpapers may be a little much for some of you, and that’s okay! But I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s fun And Functional, but the best part is that there is now so much more space for activities. More than ever, even when the sofa is in “bed mode”. I no longer feel like I’m tripping over overstuffed furniture or a homeless pile of my “stuff.” Everything and everyone has a place now. So what are you waiting for? Come meet me!!! I will write you the address.
Sincerely, Grech
*design by Gretchen Raguse
*by photos Caitlin Green
