Last month I transformed an empty guest bedroom in our home into a relaxing retreat. I used a tiny budget and a minimalist mindset to design this modern farmhouse bedroom. Read along to see how it all came together.
Minimalism: Less Cleaning, Less Money, Less Headaches
Part of my inspiration for designing the new room came from my learning experiences in my first year of motherhood. Since becoming a mother, I’ve learned one of the easiest life changes you can make is living with less. There are less “no-no’s”, less cleaning and less clutter.
I love getting items up and off the floor (makes for easier vacuuming, too!) This cute, little hanging shelf from Target provides the perfect spot to rest a glass of water or a book.
My other nightstand is a minimalist, metal and wood table from Walmart that I scored for $15. I love that it allows you to slide it over the side of the bed if you want to have breakfast in bed.
Design Details
I love our new classic, black bed! There were a ton of options but I bought this bed on sale and couldn't be happier with it! Iron beds, metal or wrought iron beds have been around since the late 18th century and are a timeless piece. One of the reasons I chose a metal bed is that metal does not offgas. Offgassing is when a product gives off a chemical, especially a harmful one, in the form of a gas. It is usually odorless but harmful; silent but deadly.
Bedding
I’ve always enjoyed crisp, white linens on my bed. I never grow tired of basic white the way I do when I’ve added a bedspread with a bright color or design. I added a pre-washed, soft white quilt by Laura Ashley. It features a floral motif and lovely lace trim that I thought was uniquely fitting for the room.
I love the cozy, farmhouse feel of these classic pillow cases. I purchased these buffalo check ruffle pillow cases to add visual depth to an all-white bed.
I prefer the functional and decorative pillow cases to the traditional throw pillows that you have to discard each evening and remake the bed with come morning.
Money saving tip: My window treatments are some we already owned. When I bought these black-out linen curtains from Bed, Bath and Beyond last year I purposefully purchased them in a modest color that would match any room or home decor so that when we move or redecorate we could reuse the curtains in any house or room.
Wall Decor
I drew inspiration from Pinterest for the wood and metal decor above the bed. Pinterest is great for researching design and decor ideas beforehand to plan ahead. I bought the rustic metal wall hanging and green wreath from Hobby Lobby. I attached the wreath to the hanger with dental floss. Hobby Lobby can be an expensive place to shop if you aren't familiar with their sales. The trick to saving money at Hobby Lobby is to use their 40% off one item coupon from their website or wait until it goes on sale for 50% off.
Edited: Sadly Hobby Lobby doesn't offer this coupon anymore.
*A helpful tip to remember is their sales are usually on anything hanging on the walls one week and then anything sitting on the tables the next.
I plan to fill these frames with candid, black-and-white shots of my family.
Make It Personal
The final wall decor I have in the room is my husband‘s guitar. Remember, you don’t always have to go out and buy something to redecorate. Oftentimes the most useful and meaningful decor is already right in your own home.
In total, I payed $300 for my room renovation. I sold our old bed for $350 which was $100 more than what I originally paid for it! It really pays to find a good deal.
If you're feeling up to decorating but don't know where to start, let me encourage you to first, walk around and remove any item that doesn't serve a purpose or bring you joy. Then, go through the rest of your home and see how rearranging could benefit your new area. For us, the guitar was not being used and was visual clutter. Now, it is a piece of art and is played more often now that it's front and center.
~Crissy
Update: November 2023: This room is now our daughters room and has had a total makeover. You wouldn't even recognize it's the same room!
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