25 Before-and-After Bedroom Makeovers

Looking for ways to dream big in your next bedroom refresh? We’ve got a slew of serene, stylish designer transformations to get you started.

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By: Maria Conti and Lauren Oster

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Photo By: Michelle Gage

Photo By: Kyle Born

Photo By: Kelly Rogers Interiors

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Photo By: Rennai Hoefer

Photo By: Jeff Herr ©Rustic White Photography

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Photo By: Paige Rumore Photography

Photo By: Jeff Herr ©Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Rennai Hoefer

Photo By: Michael Hunter

Photo By: Claire Paquin

Photo By: Regan Wood Photography

Photo By: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

Photo By: Nat Rea

Photo By: Alyssa Rosenheck

Photo By: Mali Azima

Photo By: Phoebe Chuason

Photo By: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

Photo By: Aubrie Pick

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Plan a Wake-Up Call for Your Bedroom

Real talk: It’s easy to slip into yawn-worthy “before” territory in the bedroom. Visitors often don’t see it, and other spaces need more attention; it’s a convenient place to stash stuff that doesn’t go anywhere else; you’re really only there first thing in the morning and at bedtime — and so on.

Consider these once-woeful, now-wonderful sleeping retreats, both cautionary tales and proof that it gets better. And make liberal use of their makeover pros’ best moves to rise and shine at your place. Following our tips, consider today as day one of your bedroom's “after.”

From: Liz Caan & Co.

Before: Bare Bones

Demo day left this bedroom looking bare and lacking. An angular ceiling adds potential for a unique, character-rich design while a single, corner window welcomes sunlight into the space.

From: Michelle Gage

After: Bold Hues

Dark and dreamy indigo wallpaper makes a statement behind the bed and enhances the distinct angles of the ceiling. Pale aqua paint coats the surrounding walls while the window trim and baseboards balance the space with crisp, white paint. A fiery-pink Oushak rug adds vibrancy underfoot and a pair of pretty, brass sconces flank the bed to offer a warm glow in the otherwise cool-toned bedroom design.

From: Michelle Gage

Before: Plentiful Potential

This Massachusetts bedroom has great bones but is dressed in dreadful, dated finishes. The orange-stained hardwoods, boring light fixture and clunky corner wardrobes aren’t doing this space, or those gorgeous windows, any favors.

From: Kelly Rogers Interiors

After: Sun-Drenched + Sophisticated

Designer Kelly Rogers breathes new life into the space with airy taupe paint on the walls, a neutral stain on the hardwood floors and a whimsical flush-mount fixture above the bed. The airy and expansive bed is positioned at the center of the windows and flanked by gorgeous, graphic drapes and twin table lamps. Abstract artwork lines the entry hallway walls and brings a subtle touch of color to the design.

See More Photos: 50 Inviting Main Bedroom Color Schemes

From: Kelly Rogers Interiors

Before: Shiver Me Timbers

There’s a time and place for extreme, literal commitment to a bedroom in the woods, but it’s not now and it’s not here.

From: The TomKat Studio

After: Rustic Done Right

A black shiplap feature wall offers a contemporary version of the drama the previously kitschy, wood-on-wood-on-wood bedroom set was trying so valiantly to serve. Reclaimed planks texturize the headboard and nightstands; and hardwood and a distressed area rug replace beige carpeting.

See More Photos: 30 Black-and-White Bedrooms

From: The TomKat Studio

Before: Adolescent Angst

To say this bare, beige bedroom leaves a lot to be desired is a vast understatement. The space is plagued with a wonky layout, an awkward smattering of accessories and an ill-fitting four-poster bed piled with drab and dated bedding.

From: Terracotta Design Build

After: Trendy Teenage Dream

TerraCotta Design Build takes this space from dreary to dreamy. The designers reimagine the layout and energize walls with bright and airy aqua paint. A tropical palm triptych serves as a stylish statement piece above the white spindle bed. The Bohemian theme in the space continues with textured bedding, pom-pom trimmed curtains and a woven jute tote-turned-planter.

From: Terracotta Design Build

Before: Awkward + Endless

The homeowners have more space than they know what to do with in this bedroom. The king-size bed and accent furniture are positively lost in a vast sea of cream carpet and beige walls.

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

After: Intimate + Elegant

Designer Marie Flanigan transforms the suite with cozy, intimate and fresh design that layers texture and timeless finishes. The cream carpet has given way to neutral hardwood floors paired with a large, traditional area rug to bring pattern and movement underfoot. A grand canopy bed takes up more visual space and can hold its own in the room. A sophisticated ivory loveseat with a silhouette that echoes the canopy, in turn, provides a spot to relax.

See More Photos: The Makings of a Modern Traditional Home

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Before: Clash of Kings

From the faux-Rococo bed and nightstands, sponged mid-tone wall treatment and torrent of tapestry prints to the teeny-tiny brushed-nickel bedside lamps, pile of remote controls and high-tech table fan, there’s a real power struggle taking place in this bedroom.

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

After: A Harmonious Whole

This stylish contemporary cottage-style bedroom has plenty of character, thanks to a thoughtful combination of textile patterns, a serene landscape painting and well-styled nightstands — but its villains are gone, and that makes all the difference. Creamy ceramic table lamps and wall-mounted reading lights add detail that layers the space instead of disjointing it.

See More Photos: Bedroom Color Ideas: Which Paint to Pick

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Before: Growing Pains

There are some lovely details here: the Marimekko-patterned armchair paired with a white coverlet and more bright pillows on the bed work well, and the art feels kid-appropriate. That said, those elements feel utterly incongruous beside mismatched, too-mature furniture and sisal carpet.

From: Lauren Clement

After: The Bright Side

White nightstands, glam lamps and a playfully-printed chair counterbalance the bed and chest; this mix now feels intentionally eclectic rather than jarring. New accessories and artwork will suit this room’s sleeper now and for years to come while gorgeous new flooring and a soft area rug look and feel far better than all that sisal. Plus, a visiting pup matches the pillow shams. Perfection.

See More Photos: 20 Dreamy Ideas for a Not-Boring White Bedroom

From: Lauren Clement

Before: Ballroom Blahs

Squat furniture, discordant tones, harsh angles and out-of-scale arrangements make this bedroom suite feel empty and overdecorated at the same time.

From: Vernich Interiors

After: A Breath of Fresh Air

A soaring four-poster bed creates connection between the bedroom’s furniture and its spectacular ceiling. An updated chandelier gives the space a contemporary atmosphere, while slipcovered armchairs replace the odd leather bench that had once crouched in the foreground. Soft charcoal, in turn, stands in for all that look-at-me crimson fabric. Phew.

From: Vernich Interiors

Before: Drab + Dark Boy's Room

Flat red walls are swallowing this room whole — and its lack of storage, smothered surfaces and ill-chosen patterns deepen its claustrophobic atmosphere.

From: Terracotta Design Build

After: Fiery + Fresh Contemporary Design

Dove gray walls welcome natural sunlight in this transformed bedroom. A custom shelving unit runs the length of the room, offering stylish storage for books and providing a punch of color above the bed. A bright red pillow accents the center of the bed and brings a youthful energy to the classic blue, gray and white bedding.

See More Photos: 50+ Amazing Rooms That Make Us Wish We Were Kids Again

From: Terracotta Design Build

Before: Patchwork of Nightmares

Since the window valance and the bedding and the runner on the chest at the foot of the bed are all quilted, that fantastic handiwork feels spooky rather than special. The beige carpet and yellow pine ceiling, in turn, are dated rather than cozy.

From: The TomKat Studio

After: A Whole New Hue

This bedroom still celebrates handiwork and natural materials, but it does so in a contemporary way. An angular, walnut-stained bed replaces its twiggy predecessor, and industrial nightstands feel properly substantial beside it; polished planks now adorn the ceiling. Geometric textiles on the bed and floor complement but don’t match each other, and a darker, higher-pile carpet is both cozier and more functional.

From: The TomKat Studio

Before: Not-So-Grand Opening

An architectural detail like the arch in this 1925 Tudor Revival’s bedroom should feel regal — but its reign has come to an end. Along with that too-ornate, peachy carpet, it’s facing exile.

From: Laura U Design Collective

After: Rewriting History

The previously elevated sleeping area now flows smoothly into the rest of the spacious bedroom suite, and a handsome cased opening replaces the outdated arches. There’s still richness here in the swooping velvet bench, gleaming pillows and intricate ceramics, but this midcentury Asian aesthetic is restrained rather than kitschy.

From: Laura U Design Collective

Before: Basic + Boring

This forgotten-and-forgettable bedroom is a mix of muddy beige and ivory tones. Ill-fitting window treatments draw the eye to a pair of cluttered dressers, and the ceiling and walls’ unlovely yellow paint both ages the room and looks dingy against white bedding.

From: Claire Paquin

After: Blissful + Bright

Talk about a transformation, right? Designer Claire Paquin keeps the design neutral but executes her vision with updated hues. The walls are coated with an airy, cool gray color and the ceilings and trim are refreshed with bright white paint. A light lavender, velvet bed is dressed in classic white bedding and framed by two white chests. A luxe, silver rug adds softness to the space and coordinates with the metallic pillows and custom Roman shades.

From: Claire Paquin

Before: Cluttered Character

This small bedroom is made even smaller by the cluttered built-in shelves delineating the space. The deep red shelving unit is an eyesore with its disheveled mix of plastic binders, board games and booze.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

After: Crisp Cottage Style

The red shelves are removed and the cottage bedroom is brought to life with a pitched ceiling, charming white trim and cheerful aqua paint. The cozy bed sports classic white bedding and a custom, turquoise-and-yellow lumbar pillow. A small armchair wears the same turquoise-and-yellow upholstery and offers a sweet spot to enjoy a cup of coffee each morning.

From: DiMauro Architects, Inc.

Before: Tacky Tech

This sweet city cottage could be a charmer, but its rustic vibe is at odds with, um, VCRs? Battered old briefcases? We're not sure what's going on with the built-in shelving (or the tiger-striped chair beside it), but it's no longer welcome.

From: Vernich Interiors

After: Eclectic Appeal

Nashville designer Connie Vernich layers this master suite with soft textures and neutral patterns that enhance one another. Crisp black trim on the floor mirror, window hardware and wall art provide purposeful contrast, while subtle gold notes give this southern stunner a bit of glamour.

See More Photos: Take a Seat: Main Bedroom Sitting Area Ideas

From: Vernich Interiors

Before: Uninviting Elements

A matchy-matchy sleigh bed and vanity feel heavy and generic in this mustard-slathered guest bedroom, and the simple shutters are too contemporary for the room’s traditional feel. Burgundy brocade bedding clashes with the walls and creates a darkened, dated look.

From: Minhnuyet Hardy

After: Reimagined + Refined

The homeowner's existing bed gets a new lease on life in this ethereal bedroom makeover. Designer Minhnuyet Hardy repositions the bed between the two windows at the center of the room. She swaps the dark finishes for a fresh palette of icy blue, snowy white and metallic silver. The results are equal parts classic and inviting.

See More Photos: Bedroom Color Ideas: Which Paint to Pick

From: Minhnuyet Hardy

Before: Outdated Furnishings

This traditional bedroom sports an unsightly mix of unfashionable finishes and disproportionate furnishings. Scrawny nightstands flank the overly-elaborate four-poster bed dressed with a too-dark burgundy patchwork quilt. The cumulative effect is exhausting.

From: Minhnuyet Hardy

After: Transitional Transformation

Designer Minhnuyet Hardy takes this suite from gaudy to gorgeous with soft gray and cream tones enhanced with cool, contrasting furnishings. The inky two-poster bed skims the white crown molding and draws the eye up to the room's showstopping ceiling. Sizable nightstands and matching table lamps frame the bed while a flashy Sputnik-style chandelier adds illumination and modern style cred.

From: Minhnuyet Hardy

Before: Dingy + Dated Main Bedroom

This suite sports an unsightly mix of stained wall-to-wall carpeting, a dusty grass cloth accent wall and dingy vertical blinds. Dated furnishings draped in mismatched patterns and out-of-place hues make a bad scene even more tragic.

From: Natalie Myers

After: Midcentury Makeover

Designer Natalie Meyers swaps the dusty and dated details of the original space for a clean, minimally inspired main bedroom design. Bright white vertical paneling lines the wall behind the bed to create subtle dimension. Blonde hardwood floors and a vintage bohemian area rug replace the stained carpeting while gauzy, ivory sheers dress the bedroom window.

learn more: Midcentury Modern Style 101

From: Natalie Myers

Before: Mismatched Mess

A mirrored closet wall and haphazard furniture add up to an unsightly and uninspiring bedroom — who wants to see it twice? This cramped space is begging for a floor-to-ceiling makeover.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

After: Cohesive Contemporary

Designer Caitlin Jones Ghajar gives the once-cramped bedroom a contemporary makeover with crisp and clean finishes. Geometric patterns add panache to the floor and the statement wall behind the bed. The remaining accents are a combination of crisp white, timeless navy and heathered gray for a streamlined design.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

Before: Heavy Cream

One could forgive a guest for struggling to get comfortable in this room, since it has the frozen-in-time feel of a historic home that's been converted into a local museum: Look, but don't touch!

From: Traci Connell Interiors

After: Lap of Luxury

Traci Connell Holmes introduces both texture and contrast with a feature wall swathed in navy blue grasscloth, then updated the bed with a bold Art Deco-inspired headboard. Abstract artwork above each hammered metallic nightstand marries her chosen tones and adds a splash of painterly detail.

From: Traci Connell Interiors

Before: To Grandmother's House We Go

This bedroom set is old (as opposed to antique) and paired with frilly curtains and a busy brass chandelier (with mismatched bulbs!). It seems positively musty.

From: Michael Abraham

After: Artfully Organic

Designer Michael Abraham let natural grandeur guide his hand as he reimagined this master suite: A raw quartz chandelier draws the eye up to exposed beams while a sandy-toned linen headboard anchors painted-desert bedding. Details like the agate-striped glass artwork on the occasional table and the turned wood vase on the nightstand add to the space's earthy serenity.

From: Michael Abraham

Before: Thrown-Together Guest Room

This guest room has a sad and scattered dormitory vibe. With a tattered duvet cover, dated mirrored closet doors and wire storage shelves, it’s in dire need of expert instruction.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

After: Upbeat + Inviting Guest Suite

The once disheartening guest room graduates to this gorgeous and inviting space with vibrant wall art, bright white bedding, symmetrical nightstands and table lamps.

From: Caitlin Jones Ghajar

Before: Tragic History

Neither the fussy, formal furnishings nor oppressive stained trim are doing this bedroom any favors. In the absence of modern touches, these traditional pieces contribute to a decidedly "spooky bed-and-breakfast" vibe.

From: Bailey Austin Design

After: Berth of the Cool

Warm gray paint highlights artful angles at the ceiling and complements a deliciously plush new headboard. A pair of casually chic new chairs create a relaxed new sitting area, and a stunning pendant establishes decidedly 21st-century design cred.

From: Bailey Austin Design

Before: Off Season

While this master suite was the height of beachy chic a few decades ago, details like view-obscuring shutters and too-rustic paneling are now anchoring it in the past. It's also high time to let the overstuffed white love seat relax into its retirement.

From: Blackband Design

After: Height of Summer

Less is much, much more, thanks to Blackband Design's minimalistic makeunder. Removing ceiling panels and giving the space a fresh coat of dazzling white paint lets the panoramic ocean view spill in uninterrupted, while a fire pit and bistro table turn the terrace into an outdoor room.

From: Blackband Design

Before: Blank Space

The overwhelmed parents who shared this third-floor main bedroom with one of their three young children barely had time to sleep. It comes as no surprise, then, that they never got around to making it their own.

After: Silver Lining

Designer Candice Olson didn't have to remove much to begin her transformation. What she added, on the other hand, makes all the difference A built-in window seat and entertainment cabinet offer countless opportunities to personalize their suite, and luxurious gray fabrics on the bed, windows and chairs are both charismatic and calming.

Before: Lost at Sea

Someone needs to chart a course across (and establish a floor plan for) this massive bedroom — and pull up the space-swallowing teal carpet — ASAP. There's buried treasure here, but it's buried deep.

After: Vaulted Masterpiece

Design diva Candice Olson steered this suite in an unabashedly sumptuous direction. Decorative trim now highlights the spectacular ceiling, and an intricate chandelier welcomes the homeowner to her polished new space. A study area solves the bay windows' identity crisis, and both creamy new carpeting and an elegant area rug create continuity between new sitting areas.

25 Before-and-After Bedroom Makeovers

Related To:

Shop This Look

Plan a Wake-Up Call for Your Bedroom

Before: Bare Bones

After: Bold Hues

Before: Plentiful Potential

After: Sun-Drenched + Sophisticated

Before: Shiver Me Timbers

After: Rustic Done Right

Before: Adolescent Angst

After: Trendy Teenage Dream

Before: Awkward + Endless

After: Intimate + Elegant

Before: Clash of Kings

After: A Harmonious Whole

Before: Growing Pains

After: The Bright Side

Before: Ballroom Blahs

After: A Breath of Fresh Air

Before: Drab + Dark Boy's Room

After: Fiery + Fresh Contemporary Design

Before: Patchwork of Nightmares

After: A Whole New Hue

Before: Not-So-Grand Opening

After: Rewriting History

Before: Basic + Boring

After: Blissful + Bright

Before: Cluttered Character

After: Crisp Cottage Style

Before: Tacky Tech

After: Eclectic Appeal

Before: Uninviting Elements

After: Reimagined + Refined

Before: Outdated Furnishings

After: Transitional Transformation

Before: Dingy + Dated Main Bedroom

After: Midcentury Makeover

Before: Mismatched Mess

After: Cohesive Contemporary

Before: Heavy Cream

After: Lap of Luxury

Before: To Grandmother's House We Go

After: Artfully Organic

Before: Thrown-Together Guest Room

After: Upbeat + Inviting Guest Suite

Before: Tragic History

After: Berth of the Cool

Before: Off Season

After: Height of Summer

Before: Blank Space

After: Silver Lining

Before: Lost at Sea

After: Vaulted Masterpiece

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