Sometimes you have to let things “shake out.” John rolled his eyes as I ran back and forth from the guest room trying “one more thing” all day, but I love that final tweaking—adding this, subtracting that, and seeing how small changes transform a space. Those last-minute swaps are often my favorite part of a project. They don’t always change everything dramatically, but they make a noticeable difference and often lead to that satisfying moment of “There. Done. For now.”
I’m sure I’ll be back in the room soon—hanging art above the chairs, replacing the bookcase with a proper dresser when we find the right one, and eventually adding crown molding and a handful of other updates. But those are future projects. Right now my mom and stepdad arrive in under four hours, so we focused on quick, effective updates using three new purchases from Target and a few things we already had.
Here’s what we added:
- A large faux leather tray ($24)
- A round oil-rubbed bronze mirror ($49)
- A green table lamp ($19)
Those purchases addressed yesterday’s to-do list: we needed something above the bed to balance the big window to the left (hence the round mirror), and a nightstand with a lamp (hence the lamp and the tray that became a tabletop for a luggage rack we thrifted recently).
First I repaired the luggage rack’s straps using thick brown ribbon and a staple gun. Then John had the idea to use Command removable adhesive strips to secure the faux leather tray to the luggage rack. The strips hold the tray in place while still being removable, so the luggage rack can be returned to its original use later.
With the new luggage-rack-turned-side-table in place next to the bed and the cute green lamp on top, we hung the oil-rubbed bronze mirror above the bed. The mirror helps center the bed visually and balances the window on the opposite wall.
We also brought a leather storage bench from the playroom to the foot of the bed. It replaced a patterned brown blanket we had folded there; the bench offers a cleaner, more classic look while providing seating, storage for linens, and a spot to set bags or magazines for guests. Function wins—especially when it also tidies the visual clutter.
To give our guests a convenient place to charge phones, I moved a ceramic stool from the sunroom and positioned it between two chairs, placing it so the wall outlet is easily accessible behind the stool. I initially styled it with a small blue vase, but removed the vase to leave room for cellphones—practicality over pretty when guests arrive.
I also adjusted the seating: I separated the two slipper chairs, removed the faux sheepskin, and swapped in two happy yellow pinwheel pillows for balance and a touch of color. We still need to hang artwork above the chairs, but that’s an easy follow-up.
Since our mom probably won’t notice curtains or wall treatments if she’s busy doting on our daughter, I didn’t stress over perfection. That said, the room now feels welcoming, organized, and much more functional for visitors.
For those who like numbers, here’s the budget breakdown for the guest bedroom and the connecting guest bathroom makeover:
- Olympic Premium No-VOC primer: $12
- Olympic Premium No-VOC paint (color matched to Martha Stewart’s Plumage): $22
- Target bedskirt: $10
- Ikea curtains: $76 (around $19 a panel)
- Target curtain rods: $18
- Hobby Lobby closet knob: $1.25 (sale price)
- Target oil-rubbed bronze mirror: $49
- Target tray for luggage rack: $24
- Target table lamp: $19
- Target shower curtain: $20
- Target bathmat: $20
- Target Waterpik showerhead: $14
- Home Depot toilet seat: $12
- Total: $297.25
Because we used many items we already owned—the DIY headboard, existing linens, two slipper chairs, a ceramic drum stool, a yellow rug, and an old bookcase—we stayed well below a thousand-dollar makeover. Even adding a recent bed purchase brings the grand total to a modest sum, especially considering the room felt refreshed and guest-ready.
Last tasks: a quick vacuum and some dusting before my mom swoops in and inevitably spends more time with our daughter than with the room itself. Guests often care less about perfect decor than they do about comfort and convenience, and this setup delivers both: an attractive, functional guest room that was finished on a budget and in a hurry.
