Small Guest Room "Grows" with New Paint, Bed

While our home was move-in ready, I still saw it as a project list: Add a deck, move the hot tub, build my husband a proper office, redo the kitchen. Repainting the freshly painted bedrooms, especially ones I rarely enter, fell low on the list. 

But with those big projects mostly behind us, it's time to tackle the smaller ones, starting with the guest room. First, I sold the day/trundle bed set that we'd split to serve as the bed for our youngest and the guest bed. We initially caved to his request for a bunk bed. But, After adding his pillow top mattress, it became apparent that it was a concussion waiting to happen. Rather than convert the bed into a loft, we opted to set up the bottom half and sell the top as a separate bed. (And yes, he loves the room's mustard color, so it stays for now. Sigh.)

Debating a full mattress, it occured to me that for the average guest, bed space outranked floor space. I used an air mattress to make sure the larger bed would work, and began a weeklong Craigslist and Ikea obsession before settling on the Fjellse frame. It's super cheap ($89-109 with slats) and the headboard is only about 31" tall--so it could slide under the window and not obstruct it. Important in our tiny guest room!

I eventually found the frame, spring mattress and 3" memory foam topper together for only $99 on Craigslist, and paid another $60 to have a mover pick it up. Bought new, the cheapest slat and mattress combo at Ikea is $218, and is not very comfortable. Buying used, I was able to upgrade AND save.Ok, so here's the peachy-keen before:

It's not awful. But the walls were MUCH more orange in real life and felt like they closed in on you. So step one was a coat of Behr "Light French Gray." And of course I had an Ikea duvet set lying around (#futurehoarder), as well as some other odds and ends, like a large mirror and petite dresser. 

I love how the lighter, calmer color allowed me to use a larger bed, but somehow still have the room feel more spacious. There's a few more tweaks to go (may center the bed under the window, get smaller night stand), and it will never be palatial, but it is welcoming and cozy. And not orange. Thank goodness. 

Cost Breakdown:

• Gallon Behr w/ Primer:                $27
• Roller Cover:                              $5
• Bed + Delivery:                           $160
• New Towels (Kohls clearance):     $12

                                                           $204 - $125 (sale of other beds) = $79