Our bedroom began life as a living room, so turning it into a cozy, functional, and beautiful sleeping space took time and thoughtful choices. It’s now one of our favorite rooms, and below we share the six most impactful improvements we made, along with updated photos that show the transformation.
Our Bedroom, Before
When we first moved in the room was essentially a blank canvas. Aside from a fireplace and a wall of French doors, it had crumbling drywall, crooked blinds, and several wide openings into adjacent rooms that needed to be addressed. We immediately saw the potential in the fireplace and the glass doors and knew this space could become a wonderful bedroom.
After closing one of the openings and adding lots of storage, the room now feels complete and much more intentional. This fireplace shot shows how far the space has come in three and a half years.
It was a hectic start—boxes and clutter ruled the first days—but gradually the architecture and storage choices revealed the room’s full potential.
A Video Tour Of Our Finished Bedroom
Before listing the six main changes, we filmed a short tour showing the finished room. The video highlights the closets, built-in cabinetry, custom mantel, floating shelves, and other details that make the space feel complete. (A recorded tour is available to view online.)
1. Adding A Wall Of Built-In Closets
The single most functional upgrade was installing a wall of wardrobes to create proper closet space. Moving from a large walk-in in our previous home to essentially no closet space here required a creative solution. Installing modular wardrobes allowed us to recreate ample, highly organized storage that rivals what we had before.
To make the closets work, we closed off one of the openings to the kitchen and another doorway where the bed now sits. Although it meant eliminating one French door, the room still retains plenty of natural light from multiple doors and windows.
We configured the interiors for maximum usefulness—shelving, drawers, and dedicated spots for seasonal items mean everything has a home. These closets are easily the best decision we made for this room; they transformed a cramped situation into an organized oasis.
2. Making Room For A King-Size Bed
Another surprising improvement was making space for a king-size bed. With careful planning and simple custom nightstands, we upgraded after many years of sleeping on a queen. The larger bed not only provides more comfort—it visually anchors the room and actually makes the space feel larger.
Large, simple pieces can reduce visual clutter, and the king bed simplifies the palette while serving multiple functions: sleeping, lounging with the kids, and creating a focal point for the room.
3. Fixing Up A Non-Working Fireplace
The fireplace was a non-working remnant of the room’s previous life. We turned it into a refined focal point with a modern mantel surround and decorative, beachy logs that complement the room’s coastal style. Over several updates we added texture, lighting, and a large sculptural mirror that reflects light and elevates the mantel’s presence.
The fireplace now reads as an intentional design element you can enjoy from the bed and the adjacent sitting area.
4. Adding Even More Built-In Storage
Beyond the wardrobes, we added a full wall of lower cabinets around the fireplace. These built-ins turned awkward nooks into useful concealed storage, giving us room for games, books, and everyday items that previously cluttered other areas of the house.
We installed modular cabinets and topped them with butcher block counters for a clean, durable surface. The result is functional, handsome storage that keeps the room calm and organized.
5. Hanging Smart Window Coverings
We replaced the old blinds with a nearly wall-to-wall curtain rod and blackout curtains to create a softer, more elegant look and improved light control. On the smaller windows we installed low-profile roller shades that maximize daytime views. We also upgraded to voice-controllable blackout shades on key windows so we can close and open them with a smart assistant for convenience and privacy.
This combination of blackout curtains and smart shades keeps the room bright and airy by day while making it restful and private at night.
6. Carving Out A Spot For Pretty Stuff
Wall space is limited in this room because of doors and windows, so we claimed a small corner for decorative display. Installing three long floating shelves created a place to showcase plants, books, art, vases, and small personal objects. That little display corner now reads like a curated vignette and is visible from multiple rooms, improving the view into the bedroom from the house.
Having a dedicated display area might sound decorative for its own sake, but seeing items you love every day is a meaningful way to make a house feel like your home. The shelves also improve the sightlines from the downstairs living area into the bedroom, creating a cohesive sense of style throughout the home.
Below is a final before photo showing the view from the kitchen when we bought the house; it’s gratifying to compare it to how the space looks today.
It’s taken nearly four years of steady work—repairing, building, painting, and refining—but the thoughtful improvements have added up to a serene, functional bedroom that truly feels like ours. This room is now the favorite bedroom we’ve ever had.
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