Before and After: A Tiny 1990s Bedroom Becomes a Hotel-Worthy Escape

Small spaces need design love, too—and arguably, they might even need more help than big spaces.

For Susanne Hamilton, of The Sweet Bungalow, the space in need was the guest room in her 1990s builder-grade home. The 10-foot-by-10-foot space wasn’t just small—it also had deep green carpet and tan walls, neither of which created the cozy environment Susanne was seeking. “Despite the lack of space and character that builder grade homes come with, I wanted to create a cozy haven for our guests,” she says.

Susanne was able to give the room a new look in just about two days. She covered the green carpet with a boho-style rug, layered with sheepskins for an extra cozy feel.

Behind the bed, Susanne created faux board-and-batten wainscoting by nailing MDF boards to the wall; she painted the whole assembly a warm pinky beige (Behr’s Loft Light). Susanne painted the rest of the walls crisp white. “The calming color scheme was such a big difference from the before,” she says.

Across from the bed, Susanne installed a space-saving floating wood desk. It’s outfitted with a desk lamp and a modern arched mirror so it can effectively serve as either a desk or a vanity. “The shelf holds amenities such as fresh water, pens, Q-tips, matches and a candle,” Susanne says. “Plus, it’s the perfect spot for fresh linens and a welcome note.”

Outfitted with new lighting and plenty of art, the guest bedroom now looks worthy of a boutique hotel. “It checked off most of the ‘must-haves’ for a guest room in my opinion—a personal space to get ready and set things,” Susanne says. “I’m so happy with how it came together!”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.