Mid-Century Modern Coastal Bedroom Makeover | Before & After

Today I’m sharing the before & after of my recent(ish) mid-century modern coastal bedroom makeover.  I actually started this bedroom makeover last spring, but then ran into a few problems that ultimately proved demotivating – so I abandoned the project, lol.  Inspiration hit again, six months later, and then I slowly tackled DIY projects.  I inched my way toward a completed space over many months, sharing this makeover in stops and starts.  To be honest, it’s usually how I decorate, anyway!  Although I can make over a space in a finite amount of time (like when I did the turquoise powder room for the ORC), I’m all about slow design.  I waited to make sure I wasn’t going to tinker with this room anymore (I waffled about hanging art again, on either side of the bed), but now I think I can safely say that the bedroom is done.  If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the official “after”:

I’m not even sure what to use as the “before” photo, because the bedroom has changed so much over the years.  Let’s start with the ORIGINAL BEFORE:

But this is what the bedroom looked like most recently, so it’s more fair to call this the actual “BEDROOM BEFORE”:

Bedroom Makeover Round 1 Setbacks:

• the new linen duvet cover was too small (here’s my fix for that, but I ended up getting different bedding options anyway)
• the mural I chose and installed had a face, and when the company replaced only two panels, the colors didn’t match and the noticeable seam eventually really bothered me (although I loved the mural itself)
• the curtain rod I ordered (which wasn’t super cheap and took months to arrive), was so flimsy that it could not hold the weight of even sheers, so my heavy linen curtain plan was jettisoned

So I ended up stuck here.  I liked it, but…. it just didn’t feel exactly right.  It wasn’t what I had envisioned.  The vibe was wrong.

Bedroom Makeover Round 2:

Then I inherited a pair of vintage walnut dressers, when my grandmother passed away, and they changed the trajectory of the room.  I first stored them in the bunkie for a little while.  Although she was alive when she gave them to me, she passed away shortly after and looking at them made me too sad.  But I was really worried they would get damaged out there, so I brought them inside during the summer.  That meant that I finally displaced our big, espresso stained dressers (which I sold).  I loved the shape of those dressers, but not the dark finish, and I had waffled for YEARS on whether to sell them or paint them.  Mostly recently, I had decided to strip and bleach them.  But when the bedroom makeover stalled, I lost the motivation.

Once I moved the special pair of dressers into the bedroom, my enthusiasm for redecorating the bedroom returned because I wanted to create the perfect backdrop for them.  I know it sounds silly, but it felt wrong to have them in a room I wasn’t happy with…  So here’s what I did!

Bedroom Makeover Projects:

• removed the wall mural
• ordered and installed a more elegant, mid-century meets coastal wallpaper
• painted the green accent wall and trim back to white
• spent the $$$ and ordered a new custom curtain rod (the same kind we used in the bathroom)
• sewed beautiful tailored linen Euro pleat curtains with my Mom
• got a striped linen duvet cover that fit perfectly
• sewed new throw pillows and Euro shams
• accessorised with my favorite pottery pieces (stolen from the office)
• hacked our existing nightstands to add walnut drawers
• created knobs from scratch

Here’s a closer look at these DIY projects – click the links to find the detailed tutorials.

DIY Euro Pleat Drapes:

DIY Linen Euro Shams & DIY Icyed Dyed Lumbar Pillow:

DIY Nightstand with Drawers & DIY Upcycled Metal Knobs:

DIY Paste the Wall Wallpaper Installation:

Why I Love the End Result!

This time, the new bedroom design came together so easily!  Although a lot of the elements were already in place, like the glass closet doors, DIY bed and headboard, lighting and rug, the new additions to the space add a lot of coziness and interest.  I love, love, love how the bedroom looks now – it’s the perfect blend of airy coastal meets mid-century vibes that has come to define my personal style.  It has a softness to it, with a lot of neutrals (white walls, white drapes, all white lighting, grey and white bedding) and natural textures (linen, wool, walnut, glass closet doors, pottery).  But there’s also a healthy heaping of layered colors: sometimes vibrant, like the overdyed teal rug, sometimes muted, like the wallpaper.

I’ll be honest: seeing the dressers still makes me sad sometimes.  A year later, they still smell like my Grandmother’s house, although it’s fading a bit, every day.  But I’m happy I’ve created such a beautiful space for them.  I feel very at peace in the bedroom now, and having designed this soothing room feels like the proper homage.  I just wish that my Grandmother was still here with us, so she could come for a visit and see.

Mid-Century Modern Coastal Bedroom Makeover Sources:

• Wallpaper: Sanderson Larina in Sky
• Headboard: DIY (similar-ish)
• Walnut Bed: DIY (similar | similar)
• Nightstands: DIY (similar)
• White Table Lamps: Robert Abbey
• Bedding: Brooklinen (similar | similar)
• Linen Throw Pillows: DIY (similar)
• Ice Dyed Lumbar Pillow: DIY (similar)
• Pottery (on Nightstand and Dresser): Shane Norrie
• Paintings Above Dresser: Hubby’s Grandpa (similar)
• Framed Embroidery: DIY (not similar, but I like the vibe | ditto)
• Curtain Rod: Budget Blinds
• Euro Pleat Curtains: DIY (similar)
• Rug: Revival (similar)
• White Clock: Wayfair
• Vintage Look Fan: similar
• Ceiling Light: Thrifted (similar)

P.S. Don’t Forget to Pin for Later!