This Loft Cubby Became a Dreamy Bedroom Nook with One Bold Paint Move
Beds don’t have to go in the bedroom, right? For Kiron Thomas, fitting his bed in what was his NYC loft’s closet ended up solving a major layout problem. “[It] started as one large open space, and I used the cubby in the back as a makeshift walk-in closet,” Kiron explains. In the beginning, it felt “open and airy,” but as Kiron settled into his space, he realized the layout needed to fit his lifestyle.
As an interior, photo, video, and set curator, his loft has also become his office and art studio — where he throws pottery, works with wood, paints, and runs his design business. But after he got a second dog, everything shifted. “I realized I wanted more separation between the main living area and where I slept,” he says.
A Random DIY Becomes a Necessity
So he “randomly” decided to DIY a wall, separating the bedroom area from the rest of the space. “It became more of a necessity than a design choice,” Kiron says. As a renter, he prioritized making the wall easy to remove — with steel framing and drywall. When that was finished, and the living room side of the wall was complete, he focused on the bedroom.
The Bedroom Flip Made a Cocoon-Like Sleeping Nook
Kiron’s vision was clear from the beginning of the project, but the biggest challenge was making it come to life. “I loved the thought of turning it into a cocoon-like sleeping nook,” Kiron explains. “So I moved the bed back there and fully color-drenched the space to make it feel intimate and ideal for rest.”
Because the ceilings were quite high, it was a time-consuming workout for Kiron to paint everything Behr’s Midnight Blue. “But once it was finished, it was completely worth it,” he says. The deep blue-gray shade made the nook feel even more like he was sleeping in a cozy cocoon.
A large pendant from HAY over the bed makes the nook feel dramatic, and IKEA’s VARMBLIXT donut light adds a softer mood.
“My goal was to bring in that mid-century flair while adding warmth and character,” Kiron shares. He incorporated personal touches to truly create a separate, cocoon-like space for sleeping and winding down.
“Every change was about making the space feel layered and personal,” Kiron says.
Color-Drenched IKEA PAX Wardrobes Became a Workspace
After Kiron’s bed was moved to the back cubby, he started redoing the main bedroom space and upgraded its functionality to fit what he needed. He limewashed the walls for a lived-in feel and framed the window sills with oak plywood and trim — using the same wood to build a desk that maximized functionality when paired with a Jeanneret Armchair.
But investing in an IKEA PAX wardrobe was the biggest upgrade to the space. It created proper organization and not only expanded his closet, but also gave him storage for other areas of his life — allowing him to approach his space with more intention. Kiron painted the wardrobes using Behr’s Elkhound and installed Pamo Design’s Industrial Wardrobe Rod for exposed storage — making it feel custom.
“I customized [the wardrobe] with paint and minimal hardware, which really elevated the look and made them feel more intentional,” Kiron says.
DIYing Was the Biggest Game-Changer
“It’s not a traditional setup, but living in a loft pushes you to think in non-traditional ways. You have to create the structure yourself,” Kiron explains.
Kiron is naturally a budget-conscious spender and has learned to DIY items to fit his needs. “I handled all of it — the building, painting, installing light fixtures, resurfacing the window sills, even making my own desk. Cutting out labor costs is the biggest game-changer,” he shares.
When it was all said and done, the swap just made sense. “It feels layered, purposeful, and tailored to how I actually live day to day,” Kiron says. Now, it functions as a closet, creative space, and a place where he can practice yoga and cycling.
“It’s all about thoughtful detailing — that’s what makes something simple feel custom and more expensive than it actually is,” Kiron comments.
Read Kiron’s full House Tour to see the rest of his loft!
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