We recently shared our project plans for 2013 with you (you can read more about them here). One of the main projects we’d like to tackle this year is a complete overhaul of our second bedroom. This is what it looked like before filling it with junk on the day of the move.
As it was the only room that didn’t have a carpet that was soaked full of dog pee, it was the room we first slept in after moving in.
While most of the work required is cosmetic, a few things will have to be done by the professionals. The electrics need an overhaul and the radiator needs replacing. We’d also like to strip all of the wallpaper and assume that the walls and ceiling will then have to be replastered.
If you think we’re mad taking on another project, you’d probably be right! For once though, we have a reason as my sister and family will be coming to visit us over Easter. It would be lovely to have a guest bedroom that’s welcoming.
Except for hanging some curtains an adding a bit more furniture we haven’t had time to do anything to the room. In an ideal world, this is what we’d like to do in order to get the room ready for our guests.
- Paint the bed
- Restore Door
- Strip and Paint Skirting
- Replace Fireplace
- Sort wardrobe
- Paint the chest of drawers
- Find a chair
- Strip walls and ceiling
- Replaster walls and ceiling
- Replace window
- Remove laminate flooring
- Refinish original floorboards
- Find bedside tables
- Sort electrics
- Replace plumbing
- Find lampshade
Of course a complete guest bedroom makeover isn’t going to happen before March, not least because our budget won’t stretch that far, but it would be nice to finish as much as possible.
Is there anything you do to make your guests feel welcome? Do you have any tips for us? We’re not sure about a colour scheme at the moment, do you have any suggestions?
Well, I am glad to see “paint the walls” on that list. That pink is awestruckingly awesome… (yeah, I make up my own words when required LOL)
I suggest a pretty shade of green like sage with some grey. What color is the fireplace? Black?
I know. The pink is something else! I’d been thinking about a green-grey colour, too! I love Theresa’s Green by Farrow and Ball, but it’s a north facing room and I remember reading somewhere that you’re not meant to paint rooms facing north in green. Not sure why, or where I read it. The fireplace that we’ll be refitting, is actually the one that’s currently in our dining room. We bought is specifically for the bedroom as, after a bit of research, managed to find out that that’s the exact one that would have been there originally!
“I remember reading somewhere that you’re not meant to paint rooms facing north in green. ”
Really? You’re going to let someone else dictate which color to paint your room? Go with your guts. “They” are not going to sleep there! LOL
Yep, your right! I don’t usually do things “the proper way”, so why start now! ;-) And I do love green!
Cx
Just found the article about light affecting paint colours. http://www.farrow-ball.com/how-light-affects-colour/content/fcp-content It doesn’t actually say why to not use green paint in north facing rooms, though.
Cx
Okay you got me thinking and researching… so here is one good reason not to paint the North wall green.
If the windows of your room face North, the natural light will add blue to the wall paint colors.
Both Northern and Eastern light will turn all pale warm hues into sickly shades. To combat this un-flattering bluish or greenish light, choose deep warm tones like yellow, orange or red. For the best results, you will need to go for a more vivid shade than you normally would.
http://www.housepaintingtutorials.com/interior-wall-paint-colors.html
Wow, I had no idea. Will definitely take it into consideration, thanks!
Cx
All you have to do now is turn your house around so it doesn’t face north….
Good idea! Or I could just paint another room green ;-)
Cx
What is it with guest bedrooms and pink? Mine is pink as well. It hasn’t changed since I moved in and my guest don’t complain… But to make up for it, I cook them the best breakfast every morning! In an ideal world, I would paint it white or off-white so anybody can feel at home (who doesn’t love white?) and add touches of blue as my guests expect to come to a seaside cottage… We’re slowly getting there!
Also a good matress is the key to happy guests! This is the only new thing I bought for the room!!!
Pink isn’t my favourite colour and there is just so much of it! I checked out your blue inspiration recently and have to say, it’s very tempting (even if the area around here is nowhere near as nice as near your house – so jealous!)
The mattress in the room is okay, but not great – looks like I’ll have to be making some amazing breakfast to make up for everything! ;-)
Cx
You might want to consider if there is a house or a roof next to your guest bedroom window that could possibly reflect :o) We painted our guest bedroom (LOOOOOOVE having a dedicated bedroom for our guests!) a sweet grey and thanks to the red roof next door it turns lavender in the last afternoon *LOL* Can’t wait to see how how your room will be progressing!
Isn’t it amazing how much influences room colours? I just checked out your guest bedroom – it looks amazing! I love the shade of grey!
Cx
We’re about to start tackling our guest bedroom also. For us, a big challenge is providing guests with enough space to put a suitcase! The queen bed takes up most of the room, so we’re thinking of building a bench in the closet where a suitcase could sit.
We’re lucky to have a really good sized room now, but when we still lived in our rented apartment we had the same problems. You can never have enough storage and the bench sounds like a great idea!
Cx