Our bedroom began life as a living room, so converting it into a comfortable, functional, and attractive sleeping space took time and care. It’s now one of our favorite rooms, and below we share the six most impactful changes we made, along with updated photos documenting the transformation.
Our Bedroom, Before
The room was essentially a blank canvas when we started, aside from damaged drywall, crooked blinds, and wide openings to the adjacent kitchen that we needed to address. We immediately loved the fireplace and the wall of French doors and recognized the potential for a bedroom—even though the house was originally listed with just one bedroom.
After closing one of the openings and adding significant storage, the room looks entirely different. This shot of the fireplace shows how much progress we’ve made in the last few years.
It was an even bigger change from the chaotic scene on move-in day—boxes obscured everything, and the fireplace was nearly lost in the mess.
A Video Tour Of Our Finished Bedroom
Before we walk through the six main improvements, here’s a short video tour of the finished room. The space still evolves, but after adding closets, built-in cabinetry, a custom mantel, and shelving, it feels as finished as it will likely get.
Note: You can also watch this video on YouTube.
1. Adding A Wall Of Built-In Closets
The most functional change was adding a wall of Ikea Pax wardrobes to create proper closet space. Moving from a large walk-in closet in our previous home to no closet at all in this room required patience, but the Pax system allowed us to regain just as much storage as we had before.
This required closing off one of the openings to the kitchen and a doorway on the wall where our bed now sits. Although we removed a door, the room still retains plenty of natural light with three other sets of French doors and three windows.
We love Pax wardrobes for their customizability and how seamlessly they can be made to look built-in—an approach we documented in a tutorial showing the process and interior configuration.
These closets are likely the single best decision for the room. They gave us storage we never expected to have in this house and made daily life much more organized.
2. Making Room For A King-Size Bed
We also made space for the largest bed we’ve ever owned. With careful planning and simple DIY nightstands, we upgraded to a king-size bed after years of sharing a queen. The larger bed provides more comfort and actually makes the room feel more spacious by providing fewer, larger visual elements rather than many small ones.
The bed also functions as a lounging spot for family mornings, and its placement on a wall that once felt uncertain now feels perfectly right.
3. Fixing Up A Non-Working Fireplace
The fireplace was a leftover feature from the living room days but no longer functioned. We focused on turning it into a visual centerpiece by building a modern DIY mantel surround and adding a beach-inspired take on fireplace logs. Over time we layered thoughtful updates—one recent addition is a large sculptural mirror that complements the plaster sconces and helps reflect light across the room.
These incremental aesthetic choices created a focal point that we now enjoy from the bed.
4. Adding Even More Built-In Storage
Beyond the closets, we added a wall of cabinets around the fireplace to make use of awkward nooks and to provide concealed storage for items like board games, books, and laundry baskets. We built Ikea Besta cabinets topped with butcher block counters, creating useful and attractive storage that keeps the room tidy.
The built-ins dramatically increased hidden storage compared to the original layout and improved the flow and appearance of the room.
5. Hanging Smart Window Coverings
We replaced the old blinds with nearly wall-to-wall curtain rods and blackout curtains to block light at night, while installing low-profile motorized roller shades on the three windows for daytime views. The blackout curtains keep the room dark for sleep, and the motorized shades are voice-controlled for convenience. Together they make this bright room cozy and private when needed.
6. Carving Out A Spot For Pretty Stuff
With limited wall space, I claimed a small corner near the door for purely decorative use and added three long floating shelves above the built-in cabinets. Filling those shelves with plants, books, art, and sentimental objects instantly made the room feel personal and warm. A dedicated display area may seem small, but seeing items you love every day can make a house truly feel like home.
These shelves improved views into the bedroom from the living area and provided a place to showcase personal pieces like handmade metallic birds and family artwork. Small display spaces can elevate the overall feel of a room and help integrate it with surrounding areas.
To close, here’s one more before-and-after perspective from the kitchen when we first bought the house—proof of how much this space has changed. After nearly four years, these gradual, thoughtful, and functional updates added up to a serene, organized, and beautiful bedroom—our favorite one yet.
These changes didn’t happen overnight, but incremental improvements over time turned a blank living room into a cozy, functional bedroom we truly love.