Before and After: $500 Worth of Clever Changes Make This Bedroom Feel Bigger and More Glam

Investing in a quality mattress can be a game changer for your mind and body, and in this homeowner’s case, it was also a game changer for the design of her bedroom.

Alyssa Carter says buying a king-sized bed for her bedroom was a great decision for her and her partner (and their two dogs and cat), but it did make the room feel a bit more cramped.

“I had recently gotten rid of our nightstands after we upgraded to a king bed, and our walls were bare white, so everything just felt really uninspiring and had no character,” she says. “We wanted our room to be inviting, feel bigger, and cozy.”

To bring her vision to life, Alyssa made simple and small (under-$500) changes. First, she painted the wall behind the headboard a deep green (Backdrop’s Kismet), a much more dramatic, moody statement than the bare white before.

She also added arched mirrors on both sides of the bed to mimic windows — a smart, space-saving (and rental-friendly!) way to add the feeling of brightness to a room.

Although Alyssa originally thought she wouldn’t have room for nightstands, she was able to find sleek and minimal ones from Wayfair for just $60 each.

She also added a new sage green-colored duvet cover, and it was a bit of a challenge to find exactly what she wanted. She started out thinking she wanted a terracotta colored one. “Once we painted green, we had to get rid of some of our older bedding because it didn’t go anymore,” she explains. “So just be ready to be more limited with your color choice with a bold accent wall!”

But she doesn’t regret her accent wall — in fact, it’s one of her favorite parts — and is pleased with how much larger the place feels. “I was ready to call contractors and start adding square footage to our room because it felt so cramped,” she says of the space prior to the refresh.

After a few smart swaps, though? No contractor necessary. And with the finishing touches of the geometric artwork above the headboard and some plants, Alyssa’s room now has the depth and texture it was lacking before.

Inspired? Submit your own project here.