Beach Cottage Bedroom Before & After Makeover Reveal
Get inspiration and ideas for a cottage bedroom that can make a small space feel perfectly cozy and restful all at the same time with this dramatic small bedroom makeover reveal.
**Update: I wrote this blog post when we were living in our previous house – almost 10 years ago to the day! (May 25, 2012).
Although decor trends and styles change, I think this beach cottage bedroom is quite timeless but ironically fits in with the now trendy “cottagecore bedroom” and Coastal Grandmother style.
I think you’re going to like it. Just wait til you see the before picture!
I know, I know. I should keep the suspense of the beach house bedroom building… But, I just can’t stand it!
Our cozy cottage bedroom is all done, and I don’t want to wait one more minute to I show you. So, this time, rather than give you snippets and peaks, I’m going to show the REVEAL first. How’s that for switching things up?
Beach Cottage Bedroom Ideas on a Budget
Before I get to the details of what our master bedroom looks like now, I thought it would be helpful to show where this converted attic room started out like.
Here it was soon after we moved in. {You can see more pictures here}:
Light painted wood planked walls can help create a comfortable cottage style bedroom.
A little over a year ago, we had this dark and dreary room painted with Benjamin Moore’s White Down paint. I loved its brightness, but the room still felt like it was lacking a lot.
Using creativity and supplies we already had on hand, we were able to turn it into this bright and cheerful Beach Cottage Bedroom:
Neutral colors are mixed with florals and watery blues to create a peaceful setting.
We love it!
Use layers of bedding in different patterns, prints, and textures for a beach cottage bedroom look.
My goal was to use things that I already had. I shopped my house and repurposed, rearranged and reimagined what I already had. The first big change was the white bedspread. It’s actually the underside of a handmade quilt. It’s so beautiful, even though it was meant to lay the other way around.
Extra bed pillows that were taking up precious storage space were recycled into throw pillow forms. Scraps from my fabric stash became a new set of decor pillows that give a pop of color. To get the details on each of the DIY home decor throw pillows, check out the following links:
- Simple Linen Pillow Tutorial
- How to sew an envelope pillow
- Turn a grommet curtain panel into a DIY pillow
Beach cottage bedrooms have a cozy mix of floral patterns and prints in art and decor
The DIY Pottery Barn headboard and painted nightstand were given some fresh paint. The DIY wall art is actual ferns from the yard turned into botanical prints. (I have a lot of free botanical prints available in my Printables Library!)
Mix furniture and decor that have history and whimsy for a collected-over-time cottagecore bedroom look.
The chippy white chair was moved to make a more stylish bedside table. {And I finally got my white lampshade repaired!}
Rustic elements mixed with restful images and fresh flowers come together to create a space that is restful and relaxing.
White dishware, clear glass, shells, {accessories hiding in my cupboards} and fresh flowers from the yard line the shelves.
This beach house bedroom makeover didn’t cost much money!
My goals in this makeover were three-fold:
- a fresh, new look
- as quick as possible {I thought I could do this in a day… It took a little longer than that!}
- for little to no money {I ended up spending $6.00 on 6 picture frames for the ferns. I just couldn’t figure out how to make them with what I already had…}
Thanks for stopping by and letting me give you a mini-tour. It’s not every day I show guests our bedroom… {Perhaps it doesn’t look like this all the time??!}
To see more budget friendly room makeovers, check out these posts:
- Small Budget Kitchen Remodel Before and After
- Boho Master Bedroom Before & After Revealed
- Small Bathroom Makeover Reveal
Want to do your own room makeover but don’t know where to start?
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I love the botanical prints! $6 well spent 🙂
Just had to leave you a comment!!
this is such a beautiful (AMAZING!) transformation!
i love the changes!..
everything is just so LIGHT! BRIGHT! and AIRY!
This easily transports one to the coast!
I LOVE it!
I know you are too !!
thanks for sharing..
now I can’t wait to discover what was used for the bedskirt!!
hugs and smiles..
Loui♥
Wow … that room is just getting better and better! Amazing transformation once again … beautiful colour combos and I love that bed skirt … I have an idea of what it was!!!
Cheryl 🙂
Oh! I am so jealous that you get to live in the Canadian San Juans. How fun – glad to have stumbled upon your blog!
Caron
I LOVE it! Makes me want to tear into my bedroom and fix it. But I’m knee deep in my studio makeover so it will have to wait. You did a beautiful job and I love that you’re a girl after my own heart; use what you’ve got in a new and happy way!
~Wren
WOW!!! It is absolutely lovely! I love the change from red to aqua. It is amazing what a color change and some rearranging can do, and to do it so frugally. I love it. Enjoy.
Wow! I love this transformation. You have that beachy cottage look down. Beautiful.
Oooooh this is so pretty!!!! I love everything, the pillows, the bedskirt, it’s beautiful 🙂
Tanya
so soft and inviting…very lovely indeed
Beautiful! The perfect beach cottage bedroom… just in time for summer. 🙂
Found you via How to Nest for Less linky party. I love the “beach cottage” look and you did an amazing job with this room. I can’t wait to hear the story behind the dust ruffle!
I LOVE THIS!!! I can’t believe what a transformation you created. Great job Rita Joy!
It looks fabulous! I love that tray on the bed…amazing how paint can turn a dark wood room into a light and bright space!
What a beautiful room! I really like a blog. I do hope you’ll visit me at My Dream Canvas!
Stunningly beautiful! What a difference from the original room!! What makes people install such dark wood surfaces??!!
Lovely room! Enjoy!!
GASP!!! Your bedroom is simply stunning, Rita Joy!! Great makeover!
Erin
(visiting from Freckled Laundry)
So fresh and beautiful, Rita! Old chairs make the best night stands and I love the finish you gave the other one. xo Jami
Love it all!! This was a fantastic job and using what yo had really paid off. I love beachy/cottagey so this is right up my alley.
I’m featuring this gorgeous bedroom on my blog tomorrow for Spotlight Saturday top 20!
thanks so much for linking up!
What a fabulous makeover! Looks fantastic, and it must be heavenly to sink into all that beachy goodness at the end of the day. Really good work, and impressive use of what you already had… thanks for sharing!
Dropping by again! Just thought I’d let you know that I’m featuring you tonight 🙂
Wow, you did an amazing job in this room! I love everything about it! The White Dawn walls with the splashes of color look perfect!
What a fabulous room – so light and bright. Love the high ceiling and the fern prints and the chair side table. Now I need to know about that bed skirt!
Kelly
This is so beautiful. I love everything about it. I see that you listed my party that you joined, but I didn’t see it there. Maybe I overlooked it. I would certainly remember this. Great job.
Rita, I saw your bedroom featured over Erin’s blog. I love your bedroom, it’s beautiful and you did such an amazing job!
Stopping by from Design, Dining, and Diapers Happy Hour. This bedroom makeover is stunning! A really amazing transformation. I love it!
Oh YES, you KNOW this is my favorite project of yours from 2012 too!!! I just adore this room, the before and after photos are crazy amazing! 🙂 I hope you are having a wonderful holiday sweet blogging friend!
Jaime
I love it too! Good job! So beautiful!
Wow!!! Amazing. Just amazing!!!!!
Amazing transformation! Fresh, fun, and almost free! Really quite amazing!!
Wow! You’re right. If you hadn’t said it was 10 years ago I would have said recent. I love Cottage Core. I also like Coastal Grandma because I am a coastal Grandma. I’m not sure my house exactly reflects that style. I think I need to add a little more coastal.
I love this transformation! The room is so bright and inviting now!