All this time we’ve been happily solving other people’s design dilemmas while quietly stewing over our own. This corner of the master bedroom never made it into our before-and-after gallery — in fact, we often avoided photographing it. Here it is in all its cringeworthy glory: the opposite side of our bed that desperately needed attention.
When Sherry surprised me with that big, comfy leather chair we thought it would instantly transform the space. Instead, the dog crate and a mismatched dresser used as a side table kept the area feeling awkward and unbalanced.
To turn this neglected wall into a more cohesive, welcoming part of the room, we decided to shop our own home first. We knew the solution needed height to balance the floor-to-ceiling built-ins flanking the bed. So we brought in our only full-length mirror, which had been living in the third bedroom. The mirror, a surprise wedding gift I’d given Sherry, added the vertical presence the space required and reflected the coziest part of the room — the built-in bed and the window above it.
We also moved in a small side table we bought at Target a while back. But with the mirror and the chair commanding presence, the table’s tiny top looked out of scale.
Fortunately, resizing a table is an easy, budget-friendly DIY. We picked up a 24-inch tabletop from our local hardware store and attached it to the Target pedestal, which originally had a 16-inch top. The larger top fit nicely, and because the new tabletop only overhangs the old top by about four inches, the pedestal supports it securely without feeling wobbly.
After attaching the larger top, we primed and painted it white to echo the softer tones on the other side of the room and break up the dark wood and leather. Painting the new tabletop white helped the whole composition feel lighter and more intentional.
We also moved Burger’s crate out of the room (don’t worry, he didn’t mind) and added an oversized vase we found at Marshall’s paired with free greenery from our backyard for a natural touch. The total new purchases were the tabletop and the vase, which brought the out-of-pocket cost to about $33. Since we sold the old Ikea dresser for $30 after we no longer needed it, the net cost for the update was effectively minimal.
The result is a balanced, polished side of the bedroom that complements the rest of the space. The tall mirror provides vertical interest and reflects light, the resized table offers the right scale, and the simple white finish ties everything together. Small, inexpensive changes and a few minutes of DIY work gave the room a much-needed refresh without breaking the bank.
If you’re planning a bedroom makeover on a budget, consider shopping your home first for tall pieces that add height and symmetry, resizing or refinishing existing furniture to improve scale, and using inexpensive accents like vases and greenery to add personality. These small strategies can deliver big impact in any room.
What about you? Have you tackled a low-cost design update that transformed a space in your home? Share your ideas and inspiration.