A Dreamy Bedroom Makeover for Markella
I love a good before picture—it’s where every great bedroom makeover transformation story begins. When I first stepped into Markella’s bedroom, it was a space full of potential but lacking the personal touch that makes a teen’s room truly feel like home. I get so much joy out of seeing where a project starts and imagining what it could become. Even more so when I get to design a bedroom makeover for a special kid.
The original room was functional, but didn’t quite capture her spirit. This room features a charming nook that is perfect for a little girl and her friends. Unique spaces like this are both fun to design and require a lot of planning and creativity.
Together with Markella and her family, we devised a plan to introduce color, warmth, and a touch of magic. But, before we dive into the bedroom makeover, take a look at these before pictures.
The Mood Board
Before diving into any bedroom makeover project, I always start with a mood board. It’s my favorite way to create a visual roadmap for the design and make sure my client and I are on the same page. For Markella’s room, the mood board included soft blush tones, natural wood textures, and a few whimsical accents that would make the space feel both youthful and timeless.
Seeing all the colors, fabrics, and furniture pieces come together on one board helps bring the vision to life—it’s like a sneak peek at the “after” before we even begin. It also gives my clients the chance to get excited about the process and feel confident about the direction we’re heading.
An Incredible Bedroom Transformation
As I mentioned, this room had fantastic bones. I mean, what little girl doesn’t want her own living space with giant pillars and gorgeous windows?
Markella had great furniture pieces in her room, so we kept what she had and brought new life with linens, accent furniture, and decor. I had purchased a quilts and sheets for the bed, but when I got there was pleasantly surpised that what Markella had in her room already fit the design perfectly. In this first image, you can see how adorable blush pink and white bed linens.
Like her brother’s room, Markella’s room features high-quality carpeting, on top of which I added a sweet area rug to bring the colors of the room down into the floor.
The Nook You’ve All Been Waiting For
Ok, now on to what I’m sure everyone wants a closer look at! This nook is so adorable and exactly what I would have wanted when I was a little girl. I knew these hanging chairs would be a hit because I’ve installed them in two other girls’ bedrooms in the last few years (including my daughter’s room). They’re easy to hang and add fun and whimsy to Markella’s room. Can you imagine the conversations she and her friends will have in this space?
Extra Space for Guests
In front of the center bay window, I added this pull-out loveseat that converts into a bed. This room will absolutely be sleepover central. As you can tell, Lila the dog is already a big fan!
I kept everything in the same neutral and blush color palette, which is so soothing to the eye and the perfect place to decompress after school. These long, graceful curtains soften the space even further. Markellas windows have shades on them, so the curtains aren’t needed to keep light out, but instead, when drawn, add a beautiful glow to the room.
Making the Room Her Own
In addition to the hanging chairs and love seat, Markella had a huge bean bag chair that she wanted to keep, along with plenty of blankets and throws to get comfy, no matter where you sat. It can be easy, when designing a space, to get caught up in making it look beautiful. But a pretty room isn’t worth much if it doesn’t work well for the person living in it. Comfort is so important when designing kids’ spaces.
And no kids room would be complete without a space to house all of their collections. The bookshelf on the far wall and the desk in the foreground of the photo below are great spots for Markella to display her personality.
A Dreamy Room to Grow Into
When you start with classic furniture and timeless design pieces in neutral patterns and colors, a child’s room becomes a space that grows right alongside them. Rather than redecorating from scratch every few years, you can easily refresh the space by swapping out artwork, bedding, and small accessories to reflect their changing interests and personality.
A well-chosen dresser or bed frame in natural wood or white, for example, can look just as charming in a toddler’s whimsical room as it does in a teenager’s more refined space. This approach not only saves time and money but also creates a cohesive foundation that adapts as your child grows.
If you’d like to learn more about my design services or discuss your next project, contact me today—I’d love to help you create a space that grows beautifully with you.
