Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Transforms a “Plain” Bedroom into a Colorful Retreat
A guest bedroom doesn’t need to be anything more than a spare room with a bed for your visitors to sleep in. However, there’s something satisfying about knowing your friends and family can enjoy stylish comfort that ties into your home’s aesthetics. DIYer Nate Klass (@natedotklass) created that feeling when he decided to give his guest room a makeover, tying it into the “’80s postmodern” style he channeled in other rooms in his home.
“It was simple and plain but fit a queen-size bed well enough,” says Klass of the guest bedroom. But “simple and plain” doesn’t cut it for Klass in his Washington, DC, townhome, so he made two significant changes to transform his drab guest bedroom into a chic abode.
Adding Americana Stripes
“It was painted, likely for sale, a pale yellow,” Klass says. He got inspiration from a room he saw online decorated with blue-and-white vertical stripe wallpaper. Klass “really liked the look” and tried something similar to add a bit of visual flair to the space. “It ended up being kind of washed-out Americana in style,” he says. “Painting the trim in a faded red color added to this feel.” Klass used Benjamin Moore’s All-a-Blaze as the finishing touch.
Even though Klass describes the colors as “washed-out” and “faded,” they all work together to create a sunny vibe. “It’s a bright room — sunlight [plus] the color scheme — but it also feels cozy and welcoming,” he says. He even learned a new skill as he upgraded the bedroom. “The wallpaper was a peel-and-stick,” Klass says. “It ended up being relatively easy to do, and now I want to do more of it!”
Telling Stories with Furniture
Being intentional about furniture was vital to making everything work in the space available. Klass already owned several pieces he needed for the room, many holding special meaning. The nightstand had been passed down from his grandfather, and he had bought the rug while visiting a town called Arraiolos in Portugal. “I carried it in a suitcase home from a trip I took in 2016,” he says. “My parents bought a rug in [Arraiolos] in the ’80s and told me I had to go see the town and find a rug,” Klass says. “I love that it’s something we did across the generations!”
Klass bought the bed frame from West Elm, the headboard from Wayfair, and a side chair from Four Hands to finish the room. “It’s a nice mix, and because it’s a small room, it feels nice and cozy,” he says.
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