Surprise Bedroom Makeover for my Grandma

Recently my grandma moved in with my parents and I wanted to make a space that felt calm and cozy for her. She’s taking over my little brother Jordan’s old room so it had to be a full transformation, in only 3 days. It was so very worth it for this special lady who has taught me so much about creativity and art. So if you’re in need of a quick bedroom makeover with a really tight timeline, this might just be the project for you!

3 Days to Moving Day

This was a true family project with some help from my dad and my brother Rob, but we pulled it together and made Nan the oasis I wanted her to have. I really miss doing projects at my parents house, and this was the perfect project to come back for.

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Want to see this build in action? You can watch my build video here (+ make sure to subscribe to my channel)!

Materials + Decor + Tools

Materials

Decor

Tools

1. Clean out the space

Like any good project this one started with a major clean out. We needed a clean slate before we could give Nan her room.

Not sure if you knew this, but you get bonus points if you find a surprise kitty under the bed.

Fun tip; for removing screws that are anchored into the wall back the screw out a bit, but not all the way.

Then grab it by the anchor and wiggle it out of the wall. (I used vice grips)

After removing it from the wall you can scrape away any high spots.

Then use a filler to fill in the hole left behind.

I ended this demo day by patching the walls so everything could dry overnight and we’d be ready for paint in the morning.

2. Apply a fresh coat of paint

First, I put up a sign to make sure my grandma didn’t accidentally peek at the progress. I really wanted her to have a big reveal at the end of the renovations.

I chose this sort of army greenish color for an accent wall. It’s really serene and also a nod to Jordan who’s in the Air Force.

I used a brush to to cut in around the edges of the wall and then rolled the paint on the rest of the accent wall.

The rest of the room got a griege color. The combination of the calming green accent wall and the griege is just perfect.

3. Make Art!

I wanted Nan to feel creative in this space, so we set up an outdoor art station and I taught her how to make what I call spillies, or acrylic fluid painting.

4. Finish the Accent Wall

Next I cut pieces to bump out the trim and make the other accent pieces I’m using look more purposeful.

Then I used my nail gun to secure these pieces to the top and bottom of the wall, inside of the existing trim.

I used 1×4 arauco prime trim boards for the actual accent pieces.

I again used my miter saw to cut the pieces down to size.

Then I nailed these pieces to the wall vertically, using a spacer to make sure they were evenly placed.

Next I caulked along each piece of trim to seal the seams before painting and used my finger to smooth it out.

After that the trim pieces were ready for paint. Because I used pre-primed lumber they didn’t require as much paint which made this a much quicker part of the project than it could have been.

Here’s a sneak peek at the finished accent wall. I’m obsessed with the color.

5. Remove existing fixtures and window treatment

First I took down the existing ceiling fan and replaced it with a new fixture.

Then I removed the existing blinds. (In this photo you can see the new window treatments to the right!)

6. Install new window treatments

It was time to install the new blinds and long sheer curtains.

7. Assemble Furniture

Remember when I said this was a family project? This is the point where I called in the help of my brother Rob to assemble the bed frame.

8. Final Touches

It was time to get everything settled. First I put the art that Nan and I made together on an easel.

Then some other homey touches like pillows, candles, a rug and plants to make it feel more like a hotel room.

I especially love this moody lighting these sconces give off, it really sets the energy in this space.

It was so worth it to see Nan’s reaction! I think she’s going to like it here.

The floating shelves give her some extra space to store more art too.

She’s also got lots of storage with this dresser, and I think it gives great contrast to the wall color behind it.

This room for Nan really came together. She deserved a space that would make her feel welcome, calm and cozy and I think we really acheived that. From the accent wall to the art corner, this room is so her. I’m so grateful for the creativity Nan has passed down to me and I’m really glad to have her close so we can have many more art days!