Before and After: A Master Bedroom Gets Some Major Calming Vibes

First-time homeowners Nick and Sarah Wissinger bought their home in 2016 and, after having only rented apartments before, were grateful to finally be able to decorate in a way that felt like them. Their plain-Jane master bedroom gave them the perfect opportunity. The project took about a year—they did it all while simultaneously planning their wedding!—but in the end, they were able to make a homey sleep space reflective of their personal style and that felt “calm, yet happy.”

First step in giving the blank-slate room a new look: skim coating all the walls (part of a whole-house project), plus replacing the old wood-toned baseboards with new white ones and adding new trim around the windows.

After that, Sarah and Nick moved on to the ceiling fan, switching it out for a more modern brass fixture. They hired an electrician to install new outlets on either side of the bed, which include super handy USB ports for charging phones and other gadgets. Plug-in sconces from Target screw give both Sarah and Nick plenty of reading light without taking up precious nightstand space—so smart! Their cushy bed is from Amazon.

Across from the bed, Sarah and Nick worked magic on the formerly doorless, one-shelf closet. Inside, they added more shelves for more effective organization; then, Sarah and Nick trimmed out the opening before installing bifold doors they finished with paint, molding, and knobs for a cool custom look. (Yes, really! Those are bifold doors!)

Once the biggest part of the renovation was out of the way, Nick and Sarah could focus on decor. They used a fab mix of new, vintage, and DIY, but packed the biggest punch with the blue marble-y wallpaper from Milton & King. Sarah and Nick won the paper in a giveaway (lucky!!!) and decided to tackle the install themselves rather than hiring it out for extra savings. Since the paper didn’t have a pattern repeat, it ended up being fairly straightforward for the couple to install—but even so, says Sarah, “having a third (or fourth!) person to help would have made it much easier.”

Sarah and Nick’s bedroom is on the small side ( 9’5” x 12’5”), so to keep an airy, open feel they decided not to try to cram a dresser in; instead, clothes are stored in their guest room. A small desk serves as a workspace and vanity for Sarah, and a salvaged ladder stows extra blankets. Above, Sarah and Nick decorated with an artful mix of textile hangings, prints, and other pieces. Overall, Sarah estimates they spent around $1,000- $1,500 total on the room, and every cent was worth it: “We love everything about the “after”—it’s bright, clean, happy, and very us,” says Sarah. “We feel very grateful to be able to go to sleep in a beautiful space every night.” The dream!