new paint! If you don't have time to do the whole room I would paint an accent wall against the head of the bed.

Also, new linens, new lamps and if you have a bit of clutter, I would buy some boxes to organize everything.

Have everything pre-purchased and ready for delivery on the second day of your project - and plan on spending a long first day clearing the room, painting (again, make certain that you have all your paints and tools pre-purchased) and preparing for the arrival of the new furnishings.

A couple of friends who are willing to work with you on your project, keep accessories & new bedding items stashed in their garage and provide moral support & make food/missing pieces runs would be a bonus.

New paint, new piece of art (something big that's a showstopper) and new linens will make a big difference. One day to paint and about an hour to change the linens and hang the art.

Ditto to Pamela L's comment. I especially agree with the accent wall idea, if you'll pulling this whole thing off without the help of friends. Less moving of furniture and fewer squares inches to cover!

I did this once for my (then) husband. When he came back from his trip he just about went into cardiac arrest when he saw our new beautiful bedroom. It was then that I learned that many men HATE change, even if it's a good change, especially when it's done as a surprise.

If you can't paint, then try a new piece of art, like others say. You can use it to help set the colors of the room.

I recommend art, fresh new bedding, new curtains to coordinate, and new bedside lamps, if you can. If your nightstands allow it, repaint those away from boring beige.

i think i wouldn't be happy coming home to a changed bedroom because i want to have a say in it. So maybe just buy new bedding and a few other pieces, nothing to expensive, nothing to permanent.

If you're adverse to painting the walls, toss up a new piece of art. You could go for a big graphic piece, or, if you want to save money, go buy blank canvases and paints in bold colors and do a wall of color block canvases in different sizes, staying in the same color family and with a couple stark black ones thrown in to make it more modern and not childish. Match a couple of the canvases to a new, boldly printed bedspread and get a rug in a complementary pattern. Keep it bright and the beige walls will showcase your new colorful room rather than seem dingy :)

I was dismayed when my husband got so upset by this that he smashed some of our things. It turned out that there were personal issues I learned about only after we moved in together. Not doing anything irreversibly or carelessly helps, e.g., don't discard or destroy furnishings.

It's true. Many men do not like surprises. If you're going to paint, make sure it's a color he *really* likes. Same thing for linens. The bedroom is a sanctuary so you don't want him to be turned off or uncomfortable. When I put together our bedroom, I picked out things I knew my boyfriend would like, but still ran them past him before spending the money.

I used to surprise my husband this way until I found out he hated it. It wasn't that he didn't like what I did, it was the unexpected change. And he's normally the most flexible guy in the world.

So, make sure your boyfriend is OK with your changing things while he's gone.

That said, 2 days is plenty of time for a bedroom, even if you paint the whole room.

Have all the bedding, art, paint and window coverings ahead of time. Paint on day 1 - two coats one early and one late. Then, decorate on day 2.

One piece of advice is to overbuy, but save receipts, on the accent pieces. If you've overbought you have plenty to work with when you can see things in place. Then, you can return what you don't use.

Also, don't forget the fresh flowers on day 2.

I wouldn't be averse to painting if you have another weekend where you can re-paint if the color is SUPER off.

BUT if you think this is something he'll enjoy, then I say go for it! The above commenters' spouses clearly had other things going on, so if you're confident he might enjoy it, go for it!

You can absolutely paint a room in a day, buy new linens and new artwork. Make sure you have a plan before hand, and whatever you'll need to do it all. And maybe don't throw out all the old stuff before he gets a chance to veto.

Good luck!

I think everyone has a good point. The most important is to find out if this is something he'd truly appreciate. You don't want to spend all the time and energy only to find out that he hated the idea (or, even what you had done to the place),then you'd be pretty beaten up about it.

If you absolutely have your mind set on doing this, then go for decorative objects. I wouldn't tackle the wall paint w/o him. Start from wall prints, new beddings, lamps, etc. Or, maybe even repositioning furnitures if you two had previously talked about it.

=) good luck!

"I was dismayed when my husband got so upset by this that he smashed some of our things."

Did you leave him?
I sure would have as there's no excuse for such infantile behavior.

is it ok to say that I'm really tired of people who are using these forums to promote?

First, every guy is different, and do NOT be discouraged by everyone saying that their significant others reacted poorly to surprises. Often, my wife will randomly change furniture around or other things like that while I'm at work, and I personally love coming home to a surprise like that... I'm often amazed and what she was able to do while I was gone by herself.

My suggestion is, if you're doing anything "big," such as painting the whole room, ask for help! My mother in law once had her entire 2 story, 2 bedroom (with a loft ceiling in the living area) house painted in 5 days because she asked around at church, and a bunch of teens came to help.

I agree wholeheartedly with pier723.

Personally, I wouldn't care to come home to a surprise like this. Bedrooms are such a personal, intimate space --- the two of you should be making decisions like this together. While your intentions may be loving and good, you may discover to your dismay his reaction may not be.

remember cleaning and uncluttering will make a huge difference and make even small changes/additions stand out even more.

All I keep thinking while reading the above comments is that I'd be lucky if my husband even noticed the change. ;-)

What everyone above said, and...

...a rug! I find in so many Before & After rooms that a nice rug makes a pretty big statement.

Did you see the cool DIY block print rug tutorial from yesterday? Didn't look terribly time intensive, and is certainly cheap...

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/how-to-make-a-block-print-rug-using-a-rubber-mat-138526

Good luck!

Don't do anything drastic, like a new wall color, repositioning of furniture, or a new big-ticket decor like a lamp or a rug, because these are things best to consult your husband with -- even if he's the type to just say yes to your decorating ideas. I personally would not be too appreciative if I come home from a short trip to any of these things. Stick with the simpler ones: new beddings, plenty of fresh flowers, and as has been mentioned, removal of clutter. (But don't reorganize and put his things where he won't find them.) In short, surprise him with a clean room ready for romance :-)

I, too, don't want to discourage you. However, the man who sold us our house because he was getting a divorce somberly told us that in hindsight, he should have known the marriage was over when he came home from a business trip and found that the bedroom was painted a new color and she'd never even asked him about his preferences, first. My husband likes to remind me of this story whenever I start moving the furniture around in our house, unexpectedly. So, yeah, some men don't like decorating surprises and it's awfully hard to guess which ones are like that. So, unless you're *sure* that he's cool... I'd hold off on painting.

1) Purchase everything in advance. Do not wait until that day to have things delivered
2) De-clutter and clean completely
2) Paint - make it neutral unless it's a color you KNOW he will like. A light or medium grey is modern and clean and won't be so jarring
3) Hang floor to ceiling curtains
4) New lamps
5) New bedding, sheets, throw pillows, dust ruffle
6) Re-evaluate the room layout - maybe you want the bed placed in a more symmetrical way (for instance)
6) Do not: buy major pieces of furniture (yet)

I did this once for my (then) husband. When he came back from his trip he just about went into cardiac arrest when he saw our new beautiful bedroom. It was then that I learned that many men HATE change, even if it's a good change, especially when it's done as a surprise.

Amen, sister. It's important the remember the Mars/Venus thing. You'll be saying, "Isn't the new look lovely?" and he'll be saying, "HOW much did you spend on this!?"

This is not to claim that most men are cheap; merely that they don't prioritise interior decorating - the men here on AT are the exception rather than the rule.

That said, paint is cheap. If you have any doubts about his preferences, go with a sexy modern neutral. Little things like lampshades and light fittings can also give you a big bang for your buck.

And as others have mentioned, rearranging your furniture and art collection is free.

One last thing: go for clever solutions to the room's problems (eg paint that makes it appear bigger, window treatments that keep the sun out, a little tray for cufflinks and cell phone etc) rather than pretty but pointless frou-frou.

Not all men hate surprises - generalizations get you no where.

I changed three rooms drastically while my hubby and son were on vacation and he loved them!!

Am a woman, but must say I would be pretty annoyed if a partner, male or female, did this. You say "our" bold/modern taste, so presumably he does have a discernable taste, in which case isn't it at all weird you are consulting a bunch of internet strangers rather than him on what to do with your shared refuge? I think you could take suggestions from ppl here on what you an conceivably do in two days, then bring it up with him, like "oh, maybe we should do something about the bedroom", run paint chips by him, "window shop" together, then as you get a clear idea of what you both will like you'll be able to sneakily implement it while he is away. (Or is that actually what you're doing here?)

I really hope you aren't changing the room in the picture. Big mistake, big, big mistake.

@bepsf, That's an reasonable question, but no. Happily, we've matured considerably in the 30 years since then.

I agree with lepidoptery: implementing the change while he is gone is a better surprise than making all of the decisions yourself. Hopefully you know what his feelings on design and also on surprises are.

Personally, my sweet boyfriend bought new sheets and new pillows for the couch just before I moved in with him. I realize that he did it because he was trying to make things nicer for me when I moved in, but I was actually irritated that he didn't involve me in the decision. We both know that I care about design much more than he does, so it really wasn't a good choice not to consult me.

I would recommend getting some kind of buy-in from him up front.

I rearranged the furniture while my boyfriend was at work. He kinda freaked out, although a few days later he accepted it and admitted to liking it. Now I get his input for everything...I mean, I still decorate a room the same way I was planning, but he's at least put on notice.

It's not a male vs female thing. I too would appreciate being part of the decision for a big makeover because 1) shared space and 2) shared finances. I'd be pretty annoyed if it just happened without any input from me! That said, I'm sure some impermanent upgrades would be appreciated.. cheap curtains? throw pillows? bedspreads? Reorganize? Candles & other small decorative items? Or as another commenter says, it works too if it's already mostly planned out (including finances if it's a shared expense) and you're just doing the execution part of it as a nice surprise.

@Miami's Elaine--
And besides we're a passionate bunch in Miami ;-)

Wait- wasn't this room already featured this week? I recognize that amazing rug. I wouldn't really be in a hurry to change much...

PEOPLE. It is obviously not their actual bedroom. God. And it was "featured" ages ago, like last year or something. Mmm, sheepskin rug....

I suppose it is supposed to be some kind of cue for what they'd like, though srsly relevant photos are just as good as non-chiclet-sized photos.

You said your tastes were bold and modern. Black and white is timeless and yet has this chic modern appeal.
Maybe this picture will help lend you some inspiration for a rug...
http://www.casasugar.com/Ask-Casa-Elle-Decor-Black-White-Striped-Rug-3373093
this picture for pillows
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68647487/french-script-pillow-cover-blue-bunting?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_query=bird+pillows&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade
this chandelier .....http://www.vintagecrystalchandeliers.com/
and this bedding....http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=69300&catId=HOME-BEDDING&navCount=0&navAction=jump&isProduct=true&pushId=HOME-BEDDING&fromCategoryPage=true&color=010&templateType=hybrid&subCategoryId=HOME-BEDDING-DUVETS
just some ideas:)

Here's an idea. Start a casual discussion about how the TWO of you might re-design the bedroom when he gets back. Get his buy-in for colors, details, etc. If you are thinking of a specific duvet or something, say "I have been eying this, what do you think?"

Make IMPLEMENTING the design without his help the surprise, not the design itself. Guys (and gals) don't mind getting out of work even if they don't like their world changed without their input!

The one time I pulled a surprise "redesign" on my partner, all I did was make some new drapes and add a couple of lamps. It went over ok, but I think he'd have chosen different drapes, so now we consult on everything. (Except my random bargains, and those I implement with approval -- if he really hates them, and that almost never happens, I either use them in my own space or simple get rid of them.)

Hey everyone, this is my post. Thank you for your kind suggestions and very thoughtful comments!

To clear things up: my boyfriend and I are living in our first apartment together and are slowly fixing up the space to be as cozy and quirky as we like. We've been talking about a bedroom redesign for a while now, discussing what kind of furniture and practical items we want (shelves, a big mirror, those block things to raise our low futon bed) as well as picking out a paint color (a chic gray).

My idea was to surprise him by getting the hard work out of the way while he's gone -- he gets overwhelmed/distracted when we tackle big projects and I'm very good at organization.

We're the type of couple that loves to surprise each other, so I'm fairly certain he'll be thrilled. I'll be sure to send some photos once the project is complete.