Transforming my Guest Bedroom from Dark & Dingy to Full of Light

I bought my first home this year and have a guest room for the very first time. This space had a loooonnnnggg way to go, but we got there. It’s received rave reviews from friends and family that have stayed the night.

The Guest Bedroom Renovation

I had a vision of how I wanted the room to look and feel before I started and I’d already pieced together the decor. I HIGHLY recommend having a clear plan before you get started, because winging it just doesn’t work. Buying paint and then grabbing a few cushions on the fly is highly unlikely to result in a beautifully designed space that you truly love! Good design needs to be cultivated.

Guest Bedroom Mood Board

I always love starting with a mood board, whether it’s for a space of my own or for my virtual decorating clients. I even take things up a level by making my mood boards interactive so you can easily shop for the specific items needed to transform your space.

In this guest bedroom makeover, I knew paint was going to play a big factor along with updating the floors. Then I pulled in some fun decorative elements like you see in the mood board, and my dream guest bedroom was underway!

Guest Bedroom Paint Refresh

I used a coat of fresh white paint on all the walls. I actually love to use white paint straight off the shelf. It has zero tint to the color, so it’s a “pure” white. You’ll find that most whites have undertones and might pull a certain color in a specific light, but a white with no tint won’t have any undertones. It’s kind of incredible what just a coat of paint can do, right?!

I created the accent wall in my guest bedroom with a bold yet modern green paint. The color is Rural Green by Sherwin Williams. The color was inspired by my friend Racheal with Banyan Bridges, she has an incredible eye for color. I honestly had planned on just painting the walls white and living with it for a while, but I got too excited and had to throw some color up. My favorite part about this green accent is you can see it from the entry and living room. It’s a sneaky pop of fun.

Guest Bedroom Hardwood Floors

The floors were solid wood, which was a major selling point for the house. The wood was however covered in cat urine weighted (yes, weighted) carpet. I pulled back all the carpet and the urine had soaked through the carpet and into the wood floor.

My kind mom and I spent hours scrubbing the floors with every. internet. recommendation. ever. to remove pet stains from wood floors. We eventually threw in the (literal) towel and hired professionals to redo the wood floors throughout the house. It cost $3,000 for 1400 square feet of flooring and it was worth every single penny. We went with a clear coat finish and no stain.

The After: A Welcoming Guest Bedroom

While I was waining on energy mid-renovation, my oldest brother Jeremy hung the new modern white fan. I planned on adding canned lights to the room, but alas budget. I ended up adding lots of lamps, so it was fine, but cans would have been the move. The fans came in a pack of two from Amazon and were great at $100/piece.

My little brother Matt fortunately was in town and happened to need a bed to sleep in while he was visting from New York, so he assembled his own bed to earn his keep.

I added a full-length mirror and wall hooks for guests to use. I personally hate not knowing if someone has used my bath towel in a shared guest bathroom so having a space to hook your towel within your guest room is a plus.

I had this blush velvet bedding from my previous home. I originally purchased the bedding from West Elm for my own bed, but in the new house, I upgraded to a king bed and opted for this set to move to the guest room. I love that it’s a simple comforter. I personally hate washing a duvet cover for guests every time they stay, with a comforter you can just throw it in the wash and not have to reassemble the entire thing and break a sweat while you lose your religion. I also love an oversized lumbar pillow instead of 65 throw pillows.

My grandmother’s bar cabinet has traveled with me for ten years and made the perfect nightstand addition to this space. I added coffee book tables for a guest to peruse as well as a lamp light for nighttime reading.

I’m not going to lie, my guests have raved about the space and how it feels like a respite. The blackout shades and cozy silky sheets add to the comfort factor. Find all the links below and a few of my go-to’s to creating a welcoming space that your guest might not ever leave.

Guest Bedroom Makeover: The Items I Used

Here are all the links to the specific items I used in the guest bedroom. Some are affiliate links:

• Bed – Home Depot

• Rug – Anthropologie

• Wall Color Rural Green – Sherwin Williams

• Pillow Shams – West Elm

• Lumbar Pillow – West Elm

• Sheets – Target

• Hook – H&M

• Diffuser – Young Living

• Bedding – West Elm

Must-Have Items For Any Guest Bedroom

If you’re thinking about making a guest room transformation of your own, here are the items I’ve found invaluable to include. They’re a mix of practical and aesthetically pleasing pieces, and they make the difference between having a stark, plain guest room and having a welcoming space your guests will love to visit.

• Cozy Bedding

• Mirror

• Towel Hooks

• Mood Lighting

• Live Plants

• Black Out Window Coverings

• Phone Charger

• Diffuser