Apr 6, 2023
Updated: Apr 24
I am excited to reveal our bedroom makeover! One item is missing (the framing for the DIY whiteboard is on back order), but we can still get on with sharing how we made rental-friendly upgrades to our apartment that completely transformed the space.
Before the makeover, our bedroom was a blah, boring space with beige walls and mixed matched furniture and decor that had come with us from previous moves, Craigslist, Ikea, and our parents. Nothing was wrong with any of it! We simply needed to do some DIY magic on the furniture and add some new decor to bring the space together in a cohesive way. We also needed to add a pop of color to the walls. In all of the years we'd been renters, this was our first time painting walls. Similar to other renters, we always decided against making changes for fear of losing our deposit and/or facing additional charges. Well, fear no more! I'm here to show you easy, inexpensive upgrades you can do to transform your apartment that won't affect your security deposit.
Our goal was to create a cozy, calming space that was bright to boost our moods. Additionally, we needed the bedroom to serve as a multi-purpose space that included a dressing area.
Now, let's get into the apartment bedroom reveal!
We painted an accent wall in the bedroom and left the remaining walls the original beige color. The accent wall color is "Orange Taffy" by Valspar matched in Sherwin Williams paint (Satin). We learned that orange was great color for the bedroom. It's a dynamic color that will make interior spaces feel vibrant. In addition, the color orange evokes warmth and creativity.
Painting is an easy, affordable way to transform an apartment. Plus, it's rental friendly, as all you have to do is paint the wall(s) back before moving out.
Here are two (2) articles that detail why orange is a great color for a bedroom:
The color blue pairs well with orange. A general rule of thumb is colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel compliment each other the best - making for the perfect color scheme for a bedroom (and outfit). Having blue in a room can make you feel calm and help you get a good night's sleep. The color blue can also function as neutral and is a versatile color to decorate any space with.
Here are an article that details why blue is a great color for a bedroom:
20x 34 Down Alternative Pillow Set, King
If this comforter set is sold out, visit Target.com more options. They'll have sets in the colors blue and orange that are similar.
We placed our mattresses on top of bedrails and raised the height with bed risers. The raised height provides us with more storage. If you're in need of additional storage, this an affordable, super easy solution.
Here's a photo with the mattress and box spring removed so you can get a feel for the height of the bed with the risers in place. You can place bed rails directly on top of risers or add bed rollers like we did for additional height.
We used the bed skirt that came with the comforter set to hide the bed risers, bed rails, and the items being stored under the bed.
We upcycled as much of our furniture and decor as we could to keep costs down. So instead of buying a headboard, we purposed this metal wall decor that we already owned. We hung them horizontally to provide the illusion of a headboard. The wall decor pulled in more neural colors and copper metal tones, which helped tie the room together.
I purchased this set of metal wall decor from Kirland's many years ago. While this set may not be available, they always have great wall decor options. The link above will take you directly to the art & wall decor section of their website.
For the night stands, we repurposed side tables that we already owned. I bought them on Craigslist along with a matching coffee table when I first moved to New Jersey.
Night Stand Option 1 (Not Exact)
Night Stand Option 2 (Not Exact)
Night Stand Option 3 (Not Exact)
The original color of the side tables were black. I previously spray painted them silver. We chose to spray paint them again to pull in more copper notes, which pairs very well with orange and blue.
I definitely recommend checking out second hand sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, OfferUp, and/or your local thrift stores for furniture and decor. Especially if you don't mind a DIY project. I've been able to find decor with the tags still on them and furniture that can be used as is. You'll save so much money going this route.
The table lamps make the bedroom feel more elegant and softer. The white lamp shades, glass, and silver metal contrast the rustic, darker tones creating a more dynamic space. We kept decor very simple so the night stand was functional. The faux plants are the perfect addition. If you don't have a green thumb, it's a great way to bring in greenery without the maintenance. We already owned the table lamps. All we did was swap out the blue lamp shades with white ones. I couldn't find these lamps online (I bought them Kirland's many years ago), but I've linked several glass lamp options on my LTK shop.
The floor lamp table brought in more light into the bedroom. Since there's no ceiling lighting, we knew we need one more light source than the table lamps. The floor lamp table was originally gold and we spray painted it to bring in more of the copper colored metals.
The bench was a great way to introduce another texture while giving a nod to the copper tones throughout the space. Not only does it lend itself to the design, it provides us with additional seating and a place to put clothes and pillows.
I couldn't wait to get rid of the hand-me-down curtains for new ones. The curtains we had before the makeover weren't the proper length. We decided to install a double curtain rod (more on that below) to allow for layered effect: solid curtains paired with sheered curtains. One of the things I love about our bedroom is all of the natural sunlight. While I wanted a window treatment option that would block the sun at times, I didn't want that would any that would make the space feel dark all of the time. Layering the curtains allowed me to achieve my goal.
Since the window is so long it required a rod that was long enough, it needed to be the right thickness to support the weight of the curtains. At the time of this makeover the double rod options available on line were pricey. So we decided to DIY the rod for a fraction of the price. We purchase copper pipe from Home Depot. Was it perfect? Nope! We should have bought a wider pipe. The one we got wasn't strong enough to properly support the weight of the curtains causing it to dip towards the middle. We spray painted the copper pipe black because the color didn't complement the space and purchase a pack of brackets on Amazon.
The wall decor was a cheap addition the space. We kept it simple with some easy DIY art. I used a Canvas we already owned to create the floral wall art. I had had the existing canvas for years and the design wouldn't have matched the space. I purchased blue, textured peel and stick wallpaper and faux orchids. I placed the wallpaper on top of the canvas adding a little adhesive glue to the edges to ensure it would stick. I used the hot glue to attached the faux orchids to the wallpaper.
The second piece of wall decor is a DIY dry erase board with a frame. I love writing inspirational quotes and words of motivation to look at daily. I didn't have anymore wall space for a dry erase board. Even if I did, it wouldn't have went with the design. The adhesive white board along with the wallpaper border used for the frame was an easy, renter friendly solution. We needed another roll of wallpaper border to finish the project (we moved before it was delivered).
Our bedroom was a large space allowing me to use a section of it for my dressing space. It was essential to figure out how to maximize the square footage of the apartment by creating multi-functional spaces and incorporating effective storage solutions.
I got a desk from Ikea to use as a vanity. It has two drawers and a cabinet, which provided plenty of storage for my jewelry, skincare, and some of my hair care products. I purchased plastic and acrylic organizers to store my makeup and the remainder of my hair care products.
6-Pack Makeup Organizer Containers
I bought the Alex 9-drawer unit for additional storage. It was more than enough space to store clothing accessories and miscellaneous things that couldn't fit in my closet.
63 x 20 Full Length LED Mirror (Not Exact)
I hope my bedroom makeover show you that just because you live in an apartment doesn't mean you can't add personality and warmth to your home! These are just a few easy, affordable, rental-friendly upgrades that you can make to your space. Also, please remember that there is such a thing as "normal wear and tear" and no landlord can withhold your deposit for that.
If you would like a tour our bedroom, check out the YouTube video HERE.