Before and After: The 10 Dreamiest Bedroom Makeovers We Saw in 2020

Written by

Erin JohnsonContributor
Erin JohnsonContributor
Erin Johnson is a writer covering all things home, plant, and design-related. She loves Dolly Parton, comedy, and being outdoors (in that order). She is originally from Tennessee but currently lives in Brooklyn with her 11-year-old dog named Pup.
published Dec 27, 2020
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Did you use 2020 to finally make your bedroom into the peaceful oasis you always wanted? Or did other, smaller projects creep up on your priority list instead? Sometimes the place we spend the most of our time gets the least amount of love, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from seeing some fantastic bedroom makeovers throughout the years, it’s that small changes can make a big impact.

Whether they had $5 DIY accent walls, repurposed old items, or involved the whole family’s help, the bedroom makeovers we saw this year prove that accomplishing your dream bedroom might be closer than you think.

Here are 10 of the best bedroom makeovers we saw in 2020.

1. See This 1990s Bedroom Transform into a Much-Needed Retreat

Melissa Braedley’s bedroom was not only stuck in the ’90s, but the overall vibe was dark and dreary—the opposite of the calm, relaxing, spa-like space they wanted. New flooring, lighting, and a DIYed faux board and batten wall transformed this space into a breath of fresh air.

2. A Chic French-Inspired Redo for this Boring Beige Bedroom

Valerie Darden took her blank-slate bedroom and transformed it into a French-inspired palatial retreat. This redo proves that you can bring vintage character into any space.

Credit: Meaghan Shanley
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3. A $1,500 Redo Peps Up This 250-Square-Foot Studio

Meaghan Shanley was growing tired of the whitewashed walls in her 250-square-foot-studio, and her budget-minded redo shows the power of color. She combined a bold navy wall color with a beautiful peel-and-stick wallpaper (even adding wallpaper to the inset of her closet doors), and the final product is inviting, cozy, and chic.

4. An Old Childhood Bedroom Gets All Grown-Up for Just $450

When Amilia James heard her sister was moving back in with her parents instead of chasing her dreams in NYC due to the pandemic, she wanted to turn her childhood bedroom into a space that reflected her sister’s current self. By incorporating a mix of new and refurbished items, as well as creating a cohesive aesthetic, James was able keep the costs to $450 in this inspiring redo.

5. A Stylish $800 Bedroom Redo Done Over a Weekend

Caitlin Erickson and her sister Shane decided to gift their brother and his wife a master bedroom makeover while they were away one weekend. They reused most of the furniture and DIYed their own accent wall to add some character. 

The final product shows that neutrals and whites can have personality, too.

6. This $500 Bedroom Redo Has The Easiest-Ever Gallery Wall Trick

Sandy Jandu turned her family’s spare room into a multi-functional office and guest room space in this redo. She completed the project in 30 days with a $500 budget, and the end result is a smart, personality-packed (and also functional) space.

7. A Chic $200 Refresh of a “Handyman Special” Bedroom

Kellie Brown and her family had a pretty standard unfinished loft space on their hands, but with a challenge of one week and a $300 budget cap, Brown created a master bedroom full of DIY magic—even though it was her first time using a nail gun and a drill! The total transformation only cost $197.

8. A Grown-Up Bedroom Chock Full of Stylish DIYs

When Meg Lowery’s daughter left for college, Lowery realized she could finally have a guest room in her house. This redo is packed with IKEA hacks, stylish DIYs, and smart repurposing.

9. A $5 Afternoon Project Makes a Plain White Bedroom Feel Cozy

Laura Skellet loved the look of wallpapered bedrooms, and was looking for a change in her space. With a little encouragement from the The Apartment Therapy Facebook Group, and only $5 spent on black paint (which she mixed with white that she already owned), she shows what a huge impact a wallpapered look can have on a space in this $5 redo.

10. A Rental Bedroom with Luxe, Hotel-Worthy Flair

Autumn Hachey and her boyfriend knew they were going to be in their rental long-term, so they wanted to make their basic bedroom into something seriously dreamy. They took their time searching for the perfect vintage finds and teaching themselves DIY skills via YouTube, and the result is seriously impressive.