Carriage House Bedroom Refresh Plans

We’ve been in our home now for over a year and a half. If you were around then, you may remember the first spot in our home I decorated was our carriage house. We had guests arriving for three weeks only a few weeks after we moved in. And in between that window I was sick for nearly two weeks.

So, it was a quick process getting the carriage house decorated and using items I could have arrive quickly. Since we also had our main house to decorate, having sold most of our furniture to the family that bought our Omaha home, I was on a tight budget.

Yesterday I decided I wanted to spruce up the space a bit for our guests that arrive late next week and then more the following week. Nothing like planning ahead! 😉 It’s probably a stretch to have everything done by next Friday, but that’s my ambitious goal. Otherwise, I’ll wrap it all up once our niece and her friend leave the 19th before Kurtis’ sister and brother-in-law arrive the 22nd!

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Here is the space currently. It’s not a big room, and is longer than it is wide. It’s comfortable and serene but nothing fancy. But it also feels a bit stark and bare. Since it’s essentially only used when our close friends and family are on vacation visiting 30A, I have been itching to give it some personality. I feel like you can have more fun with the design when you don’t have to look at it 365 days a year 😉 The non-symmetrical window has also really bothered me in here too, but the stair access runs on the back side of this wall so it wasn’t really negotiable. Part of my plans will help disguise this!

CARRIAGE HOUSE BEDROOM SOURCES: Rattan Bed (similar here) | Nightstands | Herringbone Rug | Beach Art | Lamps | Linen Pillow Covers (mineral blue color) | Waffle Knit Duvet Cover | Lightweight Duvet | Sheet Set | Faux Palm Stems | Colorblock Vase | Dresser

Before we moved in, I surveyed all of our upcoming guests and asked if they’d prefer a king size bed but a tight walkway on either side, or a queen size bed but more space. They all unanimously agreed on the king size bed! Fun fact: my dad AND father-in-law both have made comments on how weird the art is. I actually love it still (it came with us from Omaha) and is such an affordable piece for the size! It doesn’t fill this wall, so they may get their wish on having it moved, but that’s the only reason why 😉

As I mentioned, the room is longer than it is wide. It has this nice little nook for a dresser next to the closet. I’ve always left the dresser empty so the guests have room for their stuff, but I’m tired of how boring it looks. There’s plenty of room still in here, the closet and the rest of the living quarters, so I want to add something little in the right corner for some interest. The TV is way too high (it got hung by the AV crew before I intervened) so I think a little distraction on the dresser will be nice.

The bathroom is great, just not that exciting so I may move the art on the wall by the bed in here just to add some color. I’d hate for my dad and father-in-law to never see it again 😉

That wraps up the tour of how the bedroom area currently looks. Let’s jump into my simple plans for a few quick tweaks.

Carriage House Bedroom Refresh Plans

Once I decided yesterday to do a little makeover, I got to work on some plans. It won’t be anything elaborate because I’m short on time and always short on attention span 😉 Here’s a preview of what I’m thinking.

DESIGN BOARD SOURCES: Rattan Bed (similar here) | Nightstands | Herringbone Rug | Lamps | Faux Palm Stems | Colorblock Vase | Gallery Frame Kit | Florida Pennant | Gulf Coast Pennant | 30A Pennant | Shells Botanical Print | Sparkling Water Print | Tulip Shell Print | Striped Wallpaper | Fan Palm Wallpaper | Striped Linen Duvet Cover | Gauze Throw Blanket | Scalloped Curtains | Paint Swatches: Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light or Sherwin Williams White Duck

The biggest change will be a gallery wall that wraps from above the bed around the wall over to the bathroom door. I had ordered this box of frames last year for one of our rentals, and by the time I decided not to use them, the return window had passed. So, I’ll plan to incorporate them into the mix!

I’d fill the frames with leftover wallpaper, fabric samples, some coastal art prints from Lindsay Letters, and some pennants from Anybody’s Backyard. I’ll likely also include some family photos in the mix, as well! I have a bunch of inspiration photos here if you’re looking for similar ideas!

I also wanted to up the bedding game, so I ordered this striped linen duvet cover in the mist color. On the board it looks gray-ish but it’s a pretty blue and neutral stripe that will be a fun pattern to add! I also added this airy gauze throw in the same color since it’s nice to have different layering options for our guests! I’ll also add some patterned throw pillows once I get a better feel for the shade of blue in the duvet cover. Side note: after going up in the space yesterday, I’m nixing the curtain idea because there isn’t space to accommodate.

Next, I’m contemplating painting the walls in the bedroom to make it feel less stark. The walls, trim and ceiling are all currently Sherwin Williams Snowbound like the rest of our house. I’m considering something light blue like Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light or a warm neutral like Sherwin Williams White Duck. I could also do something like Benjamin Moore Smoke that we have in our dining room, but I’m not sure I want to commit to something that dark. Any other fun colors you’re loving right now? Since I need to move quickly, ideally I’d have the space fully painted by the end of the weekend.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress!

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