My new guest room

I've been at work updating our guest bedroom, and it's time for a little tour. Join me!

First, a snapshot of how the room used to look:

I liked many things about my guest room, but I'd been itching to make some changes. As you can see, this room used to be all reds and golds. I'd added a bit of green earlier this year, when I updated the upholstered headboards, but I found myself wanting a bit of blue to go with the green. I still needed to work with some red and gold, though, because I didn't want to change the upholstered chair in the room or the decor in the adjoining bathroom, and to tell the truth I didn't really feel like painting the walls. I also didn't want to spend much money. I'm not picky, am I? So what have I done for little money but big impact?

Well, here's the view as you step in the door of the room:

This is a long, narrow room, so I'll show you both ends. One end:

(Note: I like having twin beds in the guest room. Married couples who visit don't seem to mind sleeping in separate beds for a night or two, and having separate beds allows us to accommodate our sons' friends when they visit. It seems we often have college students occupying this room, and they're more comfortable if they each have their own beds. And while I know it's very fashionable to replace a ceiling fan with a chandelier, I chose to keep the fan. It's hot here in North Carolina!)

And here's the other end of the room:

A few details:

The plates and prints I showed you last week. I like the way they fill up this side wall.

I liked my bedside table and lamps, so I kept them. I added a mirror that I had on hand just above the table and filled a Goodwill-vase-painted-blue with some gorgeous dried hydrangeas. I'll swap the hydrangeas out for fresh flowers whenever we have guests.

I made new window valances

and throw pillows out of this pretty brown print. I also added new cording to the headboards, but it doesn't show up too well in the photos.

I had some reproduction travel posters, so I hung them above the chest holding the TV. I also found a lamp on clearance at Target and painted it blue. I like having a little television for guests to use, and I always keep some kind of chocolate on hand for guests.

Like my shutter project, the lamp involved spray-painting a blue base coat and then wiping on stain until I had a color I liked.

I still love these hatboxes that double as a chairside table, so I kept them.

I hung my shutters for another pop of blue. I love the way they look with postcards and photos tucked into them! I'll add more French postcards as I come across them.

Cost of updates:

Fabric for valances and pillows: $23.97

Cording for headboards: $24.50

Lamp: $9.08

Shutters: $3.00

Plates: $4.08

Total: $64.63

Having a special place to welcome friends and family: priceless.

How many blogging buddies could sleep comfortably here?

I'm joining these fun parties:

Before and After at The CSI Project

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Show Us Your Life at Kelly's Korner

Favorite Re-Do's at The Lettered Cottage