We finally gave Ed a little haircut. For over a year and a half we tried to make the tall posts on our bed work, but without a lofted ceiling or a floor plan that embraced that dramatic vertical element, the posts always felt out of place. We realized that Ed wasn’t sentenced to having long posts forever—trimming them would make far more sense for the room. So here he is before…
… during…
… and after…
The whole project was free, took about an hour, and we love the more open look. The tall posts were competing with the floor-length curtains and the nearby window, so trimming them opened everything up visually. Ed now feels more balanced in the room, and we’re already planning a few follow-ups: a large fabric headboard to raise the mirror above the bed a foot or two, darker-staining the floors and possibly the dresser down the line, and other subtle tweaks to make the space feel finished.
We had a lot of fun experimenting with photoshopped headboard ideas while we imagined the final look. But when it came time to act, we stuck with what we had and devised a reversible plan so the posts could be restored later if we ever move into a home with higher ceilings.
Because the posts are solid wood, we can always reattach longer posts by adding a long metal screw through the center and into the bed frame—similar to how many IKEA pieces are assembled. We don’t plan on putting the tall posts back on, but it felt good to know the change is reversible in case our future house calls for dramatic height again.
Here’s how we did it: we marked the base of each post, used a Dremel with a wood-cutting attachment, and carefully sawed around the base. To protect the mattress, we slipped a piece of cardboard between the mattress and the post so we wouldn’t nick the mattress while cutting. Moving our organic mattress is a workout, so protecting it was a priority.
Each post took roughly five minutes of careful cutting. We started with the lower posts, which are usually covered by the comforter, and worked our way to the top posts that are more visible. As we progressed, our cuts got cleaner and more confident.
We were pleasantly surprised by how polished the top posts looked after cutting. A circular detail on the cut ends created a decorative finish that made the posts look intentional rather than hacked off—an unplanned but welcome result. After cutting, we sanded each post smooth and painted them with a white that matched the rest of the bed, using leftover paint from a previous project.
Once the paint dried and the bed was remade, it looked like Ed had been born this way. The new proportions feel right, and the room seems more cohesive already. We even caught a funny moment of John mid-celebration that reads like a ghosted karate kick in a photo—small moments like that make the makeover feel playful and lived-in.
From another angle, the space is starting to come together. We plan to replace the small botanical prints on the right wall with a larger piece of art, rehang the botanicals over a chair in a different corner, and build an upholstered headboard that will allow us to raise the mirror and better tie in the chandelier. The hand-me-down dresser in the nook fits perfectly and adds character, even though it doesn’t match the other wood tones—paired with the white nightstand, the mismatched pieces feel intentional and charming.
Overall the room feels more homey and complete than before when the bed sat closer to the door. The new view when you walk in is more welcoming; instead of hitting the bed three steps inside the door, you get to take in a more balanced vignette. We still have a dozen small projects left—building the headboard, moving the mirror, addressing the bare wall opposite the bed—but Ed’s haircut was a big, inexpensive change that made a big difference.
A fun little quirk: every morning around 10 a.m. sunlight streams through the window above the sink and casts an elongated reflection that lands perfectly on the rug. When we first bought the rug from a local outlet we didn’t realize its shape echoed the mirror above the sink, so the matching silhouette was a happy accident.
What about you? Have you altered a bed to better fit your room, built one from scratch, or planned a headboard project soon? We’re excited to go fabric shopping and start the next phase—we’ll share updates as we tackle each new tweak.