Basement Bedroom Reveal
Last month I shared my design ideas and plans for our basement bedroom. Click here for the before images (if you missed them) and my initial thoughts on giving this room a quick, budget-friendly makeover. I’m excited to give you the full tour of the finished space today! Click through to check it out- I’ve also linked all of the sources for you. For being a fast makeover, I’m really happy with how this room came together…
First, a quick reminder of where this room started. Those corner shelves and closet doors had to go! Aside from that and a fresh coat of paint, the only other big change I made in here was replacing the window treatments. Otherwise, this room mostly required thoughtful design & layering, adding some light fixtures, and installing art. Easy!
Rather than replacing our closet doors- a costly and labor intensive endeavor we’ve tackled time and time again, I decided to install a wall-to-wall ceiling track with heavy drapery panels. Why? Being a basement bedroom, I knew this space could seriously benefit from soft texture and visual warmth. It’s a cold space, so panels made the most sense while remaining cost effective.
As I previously mentioned, the furniture stayed. I thrifted the bed right after moving in and the nightstands shortly after. Since this is a smaller bedroom (and we have multiple guest rooms), a longer twin size bed totally works in here.
Usually, I’m all about furniture projects and updating stain colors- but for some reason, I’ve never minded this cherry combo… I never intended to refinish these pieces. I thrifted the bed and nightstands separately, but they feel like they were meant to be paired together. They add the right amount of warmth to an otherwise cold basement bedroom. I do think cherry is making a comeback, by the way.
Since the bed is on the smaller side and this room runs cooler (in terms of physical temperature), I layered luxe bedding to keep our future guests extra warm & cozy. I will say- this is one of our most comfortable beds in the house. My brother always requests this room when he visits because he prefers dark, cold, and private- he stays up later than the rest of us and worries about waking us. This secluded room is actually ideal for that. It has also made a great space for napping kids in the past.
I think the biggest difference is making this room feel apart of our home was honestly taking the time to style it. I had previously thrown mismatched pieces into this room, creating a quick and makeshift space for visitors in a pinch. This time around, I wanted to put thought, intention, and effort into it. Little touches like books, trays, bowls, and florals helped to make it feel more interesting & inviting.
I also wanted to add additional storage for guests. This five drawer dresser was very affordable- assembly was a bit of a pain, but I managed. I swapped the hardware for a designer look (and added a tassel), but this empty dresser will be great for visitors.
I’m the type of traveler who appreciates unpacking and getting organized once reaching my destination. I know our friends & family who stay here will put this empty dresser to good use. It also helps to fill negative space and makes the bedroom feel more balanced. Of course, it was fun to have another surface to style as well…
Illuminating this dark corner was a must, so adding a crystal lamp felt like the right move. Warm, ambient light sources are crucial- especially when designing spaces within a basement. Next to some leaning artwork from the shop, a couple of good books, and a vintage mirror (anyone remember it from our old laundry room?)– this corner shaped up to be one of my favorites.
One of the most impactful moments in this space ended up being the artwork. I just added this oversized Central Station pair to the Tuesday Made shop (I’ve received lots of questions about them)! The frames are absolutely stunning, as are the charcoal works. Their large scale is exactly what this bedroom needed. For a space that doesn’t have much millwork, has lower ceilings, and isn’t overly interesting (architecturally)– artwork provided the best opportunity to make a beautiful impact.
The next thing I wanted to chat about or give you a closer look at is the drapery panels. I just used an Ikea ceiling mount track and ordered some heavy (custom sized) panels from Amazon. For being a budget drapery find, I’m really impressed! These perfectly conceal the closet wall, while adding warmth & texture… mission accomplished. They are double pinch pleat panels which add an elevated or designerly look. I did have to hem and steam them, but for the price- I’d definitely recommend these.
The sconce was another intentional design decision… this room is already very symmetrical, so a sculptural (asymmetric) touch was a welcomed addition. The modern shape is the perfect juxtaposition to the classical artwork and traditional furniture. I love that it breaks the grid.
Being a plug-in fixture, it made for easy and quick installation. I used my tried & true cord hiding hack, as well! The wall switch provides easy access for house guests. You can barely even see the cord or the plug-in behind the nightstand, pictured above!
The third light fixture in the room is a floor lamp I had previously purchased and painted for my home office- but never used. I’ve been waiting for the perfect place for this lamp and it finally found a home in the basement bedroom. All corners of this bedroom have a warm glow and illumination during the evening hours. I’ll have to share some nighttime images because it’s quite cozy!
Luckily, I had room for a small swivel chair for a seating moment in this space… it’s actually pretty comfortable and doubles as another spot to drop a bag or belongings. If you missed my reeded glass window tutorial, the egress window in this room got a mini makeover that drastically improved the overall aesthetic.
Shop the sources by clicking the numbered links below the collage… not all are clickable.
01: drapery panels // 02: paint color: richmond gray by benjamin moore // 03: central station studies // 04: lorne sconce // 05: pillow top ottoman // 06: area rug // 07: roman shade // 08: floor lamp (painted bronze) // 09: palm frond art // 10: alice lane candle // 11: penny lamp // 12: marble bowl // 13: pistachio striped pillow // 14: swivel chair // 15: queen anne’s lace bud vase // 16: marble coasters // 17: ribbed lidded candle // 18: hand forged martini table (similar) // 19: portraits of home book // 20: 5-drawer dresser
Please let me know if you have any sources questions- I’m happy to share! I tried to use existing items to renovate this space on a tight budget- and many things are vintage. I think for being a lower budget space, it still has a designer look. What do you think? I’m all about mixing high, low, and vintage!
Eventually, we’ll replace the carpet throughout the entire basement, so this bedroom will end up with LVP flooring… but we’ll do it all at once at a later date. For now, the carpet is in good shape (though not my aesthetic preference) and the super soft area rug seems to help.
I’ve really been enjoying these faster paced projects, and with Emmett’s surgery coming up next week- I think it’s safe to say you can expect more of these from me since I’ll be solo renovating for the next six months. Sure, they’re not as fun for me as large scale renovations (like a kitchen, bath, or laundry room), but I do think there is something to be said about attainable spaces that bring instant gratification and feelings of accomplishment. What’s on your home to-do list this year? I’m already brainstorming what I could tackle next.
I hope you enjoyed this bedroom! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. For being an afterthought basement bedroom, I’m really glad I took the time to improve this space. It feels a million times better and now I won’t be tempted to use it for storage. Overall, I’m pleased with how things came together and I hope our friends & family will visit and put it to good use soon!