Hello, Darlings! Today’s topic is Updating My Guest Bedroom. I have been slowly updating rooms in my house. Making them lighter and brighter, less fussy, and more functional for my empty nest lifestyle. After my son and daughter-in-law stayed in my guest bedroom, I realized it was time for an update. So I turned to my favorite online, e-designer, Homzie Designs to create my updated guest bedroom.
Working With Online Interior Designer
I have had some bad interior designer experiences. Expense, overpriced items that I did not like but felt pressured into buying. But at the same time, decorating is not my “thing” and I do not enjoy shopping for decor and furnishings. I want someone to do it for me, come up with a plan, and all I have to do is buy it.
So I turned to Homzie Designs, an online interior decorating service that will help you create a functional, cohesive space that you will be proud to have your friends and family over. It helped that my daughter Anna Davidson was the owner and lead designer. But even then, I had to wait about a month for my design call. Yes, she treated me just like any other client.
I had a Zoom Design Call where we talked about the space and how I needed it to function. We discussed what pieces in my space needed to stay, and what could go. But most importantly, we talked about how I wanted the space to feel. My keywords were Light, Airy, and Cozy. I wanted hotel functionality but with a more homey feel.
Step One In Updating My Guest Bedroom- Look At Function
Add Workspace
Covid has changed everything, the need to have work-from-home office space is crucial. Even though Covid restrictions have gone, many people still work from home. My son and daughter-in-law both need spaces to work while they visit. So adding a desk was a crucial need in my new updated guest bedroom
King Bed Is A Must
Once you sleep in a king bed, it is almost impossible to go back to a queen. My guest bedroom is long and narrow with plenty of room for a king bed. So updating the bed from queen to king was high on my priority list. At the same time, I needed to update the bedding and pillows. Nothing is worse than going to a hotel and the pillows are uncomfortable. I also went for washable bedding instead of custom (that had to be drycleaned).
Sitting Area
The room needed a designated sitting area where you could read. I currently had several chairs in the room, cast-offs from other updating projects. We discussed using those chairs but decided to sell them instead. They were heavy and made the room look outdated.
What To Keep, And What Must Go
Here is where the “Sandwich Generation” can cause an issue. My home has too much furniture. Furniture from my kids’ apartments, furniture from my deceased in-law’s home, furniture from bad buying decisions. I need to sell, and donate many of the pieces and have not gotten around to it. The guest bedroom has been a holding place for many of those items. Creating a cluttered, uninviting space.
What To Keep
I did not think it was financially responsible to start from scratch. So I was excited to hear that Homzie Designs could work with many of my furniture pieces and still create the feel I wanted in the space. After our initial discussion, I decided to keep the following pieces in the guest bedroom
- Nightstands
- Dresser
What Must Go
Changing out the items that really dated the space was key. The bedding was stained and the prints on the pillows dated the space and made it feel “heavy”. Light, Airy, and Cozy are my keywords. The first thing to go was my drapes. When I took them down, they had years of dust (and dead bugs). The room was immediately lighter and brighter, just removing the heavy, no function, outdated drapery. This first change made me excited. The other items on the Must Go List are:
- Lamps (too small and very dated)
- Random Art (not even mine)
- Extra Chairs- (will sell on Facebook Marketplace)
- Queen Bedding- including all the throw pillows
- Queen Headboard (will sell on Facebook Marketplace)
After removing the “to go” items, I did a deep cleaning of the room. It had been years since I really gave this space some attention. Afterward, the clean smell make me even more excited to begin the project.
Step 2 Making A Budget
This is an important step that I had not taken into consideration. You can spend a lot of money decorating your home. My goal was not to overspend, to be responsible. One lesson that years of experience have taught me, designs and trends change quickly. So I don’t want to spend a lot of money just to have the space outdated quickly.
Knowing what things cost was important. Homzie Designs gave me their Budget Calculator to help me know what items cost. This is key to creating a design budget. Certain items you will want to go higher quality and pay more for, other items you will not. Because of supply chain issues, some items will cost more just because they are hard to get.
Step 3 Updating My Guest Bedroom- Create A Plan
This is where I have gone wrong in all my self decorating projects. I just go and do and hope it will all come together, and most of the time it does not. So when working with Homzie Designs, Anna created a PLAN. She created a 3-D rendering of my space, showing me how my current items will look with the new items she had chosen. This really helped me “SEE” what the finished space will look like.
After seeing my project in 3-D, I was able to “tweak” some of the items to come up with a final plan. After I finalized my plan, Anna sent me the shopping links. Then all I had to do with click and pay. I ordered several items on Monday and many of those pieces will be here on Friday.
Step 4 Shopping Online For Home Decor
Covid taught us to embrace online shopping for all things. I have been shopping online for clothing for years so I am well aware of some of the important things you need to know before you buy. Those same things such as return policy, shipping cost, and reviews also apply to home decor. Even though I used Homzie Designs shopping links (she received a commission from those links at no extra cost to me) I was still able to use additional coupon codes for discounts. That really helps because many home decor and furniture companies do not have free shipping.
I did have the freedom to shop on my own for items, either online or in-store. After Homzie Designs gives me my plan, how I shop and execute is up to me.
Using Homzie Designs was key in my home decorating project because Anna knows what retailer to purchase online home decor from, the quality, and the shipping. She has relationships with several smaller online-only companies that deliver unique products you will not find in big-box retailers.
With supply chain issues, and low inventory. Anna told me what items I needed to purchase quickly, and others I could wait for. Initially, my pillows were out of stock. But Anna called the owner and they were able to get some fabric (just enough) to do my pillows.
Some items will take time to come in. My king headboard is 4-6 weeks out. Many items such as couches can take 6-8 months to get in. Patience and planning are key in making all come together.
Small Changes Can Make Huge Difference
Adjoining the guest bedroom is a full bathroom. I made some small changes in the bathroom to give it the same feel as the new guest bedroom. Buying all new white towels immediately made the space feel airy and clean. Changing out the rugs, and getting rid of all decor that made the space feel cluttered and outdated.
In this space, I thought like a guest in a hotel. What would I want or need? I created almost a “hotel” feel with extra shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and hairdryer. The only things I don’t have are an ice bucket and a coffee maker. I still want them to come down and spend time with us!
Create A Guest Room Your Family Will Want To Stay In
I saw this video before I started my Updating My Guest Bedroom project. It reminded me of when I would go visit my grandmother/parents and how uncomfortable the bedroom was and how weirdly personal the space felt. My goal is NOT to have this in my home. No scary dolls or knitted toilet roll holders!
Shop My Guest Bedroom Project
Need to do some updating in your home? Here are some of the shoppable links from my guest bedroom project.
- Headboard -comes in 9 colors, 4-5 weeks shipping
- Desk -great size, I also have this same desk at the beach
- Desk Chair-Quick shipping and easy to put together
- Rug– Great looking rug, not many sizes left
- Canvas Art-Quick ship, but shipping cost high (got discount code that covered it)
- Coverlet– Gorgeous high-quality coverlet
- Chair-Wait for it to go on sale
- Wooden Frames– be careful on ordering, order by size of the inserted picture
- Lumbar Pillow– LOVE all pillows from this Etsy Shop
- Printed Art– Had several prints printed on paper to insert into wooden frames.
What Is Next?
Currently, I am knee-deep in Spring cleaning. Not a lot of fashion photos as I am keeping my good clothes far away from bleach as possible. Spent the weekend pressure washing and cleaning cushions at the lake, and on the to-do list for this week is doing the same at my home. Looking to replace some of the worn cushions but having trouble (supply chain issues) with finding what I want or having it made in a timely manner.
Pollen has “all most” finished falling with the weather turning much warmer. I have completed my planters and my pool is clean and ready for summer weather (but still quite cold).
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