One Room Challenge Reveal: Artistic Bedroom Makeover

Reveal day is here! The One Room Challenge has been in full swing for 8 weeks, and it’s time to show off the final version of the Artistic Bedroom Makeover I completed for Broderick.

The Inspiration

Even at 7 years old, our Brocky is an artist. He’s creative and seems to have a way with art. I knew that creating a space with unique characteristics would fit his personality. Earlier this spring, he came home with this piece he had completed in Art Class, and I was blown away by the colors and details.

Going through his artwork, I found pieces with color and style that coordinated–the ideal way to style this DIY art ledge.

The art ledge was one of the last DIY projects I did for this space, using junky wood from the garage that I patched, sanded and stained before installing. One day after installation, I decided it would look better painted black, and I have no regrets!

The Feature Wall

I always love walking into a space to see a feature wall facing me. I knew I wanted something that felt artistic, added color and created a soothing vibe. I set out to create an ombré wall. See my recent blog post on how the Stormy Skies Wall came to be. (Scroll to the bottom for the final reveal!)

The Slat Wall

Once the bed was moved into its new spot, there was definitely “dead space,” or as I like to think…a new space, full of potential!

I wanted to use the corner to create a reading area with a cozy chair. After seeing a photo online of a slat wall that someone created–including the adjustable shelves–I knew I had to bring in a fun feature. It’s creative & interesting, allowing me to bring some plants into the design. See this blog post about the process.

I updated the navy curtains for gray velvet ones that provide a more dramatic look–reaching the ceiling and puddling at the floor. The curtain rod was brushed nickel, and I spray painted it black to fit the style of the space.

The Dresser Rehab

This piece was finished just before the challenge started, but ending up in this space, it’s being included in the reveal. As a Marketplace find, it deserved to be refinished.

Take a look at the recent blog post I did on the “One Day” process I went through.

The Lighting

What is a bedroom makeover without layers of lighting? Ok, ok…we may have gone a tiny bit overboard, but in the end, we’ve got lots of options! All of the bedrooms in our home have outlet-activated light switches. For this space, I wanted to add a plug-in, hanging basket pendant to turn off and on with the switch. 

Then, there’s the issue of the fan. You can catch a glimpse of the old one in the above “before” photo. It was time for an updated one. He has a small/medium sized room so, I went with a retractable fan. The blades stay tucked away unless you turn them on, which we don’t need to do very often. It’s perfect for space-saving design.

I added plug-in sconces to the feature wall–ideal for bedtime reading. These are a great layer of lighting when you don’t want over-head lights, but nightstand space is limited. I installed them myself, but if you want them hardwired, they are capable of that, as well.

*On a side note, the very last change I made to the room was to paint these salvaged wooden stools black. One for the nightstand, one to hold a plant. Adds a contemporary look, right?

The Boring Details

The walls were all repainted in a fresh color. The ceiling got a new coat of paint. The window had been replaced a couple of years ago, but the nail holes on the new trim needed to be patched. I then put a fresh coat of paint on the window trim and the baseboards.

One of the projects we have been continually working on since buying this foreclosure home 9 years ago is painting the doors. For this challenge, I had his wooden bedroom door and 4 wooden panels for his bi-fold closet doors to paint.

But, I ended up doing all of that, plus the linen closet door in the upstairs landing and the bathroom door. I owe it all to my No Cry Gear Paint Sprayer that allowed me to do all of it in about a week. The last element was the dark hardware added to the closet doors and the entry door. Those rectangular pulls are fab, right?!?

Wall Decor

The space above the bed needed some decor. Years ago, I bought these industrial-style letters. I hung them, and it wasn’t easy. Two days later, I walked into his room to find them all removed. They rattled against the wall all night long, and he had had enough. My mission with this challenge was to find a way to display them without them interrupting his sleep.

I used an old piece of wood from the garage–patched, sanded and stained it. Then, I connected the letter by bending the hooks perpendicular to the letters, using them to rest atop the piece of wood. The issue I had to solve was in making the letters centered (top to bottom) on the wood, with the height of the hooks being a variable.

I ended up creating custom-sized shims on top of the board, invisible to the front. I hot glued everything in place, running a thread of hot glue along each edge of the letter to prevent any movement that would cause rattling.

Another aspect of the design was this decorative basket ladder that I turned into a hanging bookshelf by cutting off the unstable bottom and attaching to the wall next to the bed. The more book storage, the better!

One of the most empowering DIY projects I did for this room makeover was the Burrow Index Shelf dupe. These shelves start at $400 for a 32″ square, and they only go up from there! I’ve been thinking about making one of these for months, but I needed it to be intentional. The spot it would go would inspire the size, spacing and stain. 

In this case, I did not duplicate the original shelf. I only elevated the bottom shelf a couple inches, and then made sure to have enough spacing in between for the decor. The shelves sit on small wooden supports instead of being threaded through grooves in the uprights. For design, I used a black stain to coordinate, but not match, the other elements in the room. 

The Bedding

Last, but certainly not least, the bedding! This is the Beddy’s Ashton set. I just thought the gray/blue color went perfectly with the stormy feature wall and the eclectic charm of the space.

Let me tell you how simple it is to keep his room nice and orderly. Broderick’s personality needs things to feel “just right,” whether it’s bedding, tags in his clothes, or the way his shoes are tied. So, this makes bedtime that much easier. The accent pillows in front were found at Ikea and Homegoods. His weighted blanket and accent blanket shown here are from Amazon. 

What About Sonic?

I mentioned in my first post that I was going to try to incorporate some “Sonic” elements into the room, since he has been obsessed with the Blue Blur since he was about 15 months old. The ceramic bag that sits on the wall shelf was filled with little golden rings and a set of the Chaos Emeralds. I also added some gold elements to the dresser decor that were “Sonic Inspired.”

And finally, I found one of his drawings from Sonic a couple of years ago that was too cute not to frame. He also has a Sonic throw blanket that he loves to use when cozied up in his chair reading a book.

The Artistic Bedroom Makeover: Officially Done?

For the time being, I am done. One thing I didn’t mention was the inside of his closet. We installed a closet system a few years back, and it’s created such efficiency. But it needs to be cleaned out and reorganized. I also have a couple of cute ideas that I want to try. But, for now? I’m done. What do you think? Head over to Instagram for stories, highlights and future posts about this–and other–spaces I’m working on in my home. If you try out any of my DIYs I’d love to hear about them!