Guest Bedroom Makeover Mood Board Plan
A vintage chic guest bedroom mood board with secondhand elements and budget-friendly home decor finds.
We’ve been over here wrapping up the breakfast nook’s new look (and I think it’s finally here to stay for quite a while… more on that soon). Meanwhile, the guest bedroom is upstairs in its little corner waving frantically at us like, “Hey! Remember me? The saddest room in the house?”
Bless it. So neglected.

After lots of furniture layout input from y’all the last time I shared its shabby before state, Robert and I have sorted out all of the details, gotten our game plan together, and we’re rollin’ on the paint this week!
An overwhelming majority of you voted for our layout option #3, which involved jazzing up our off-center window with dramatic full-wall curtains and choosing a queen bed. Ooh la la. (Honestly, this was the layout we were leaning toward too.)

Source
So ta da! Here’s our brain on guest bedroom decorating madness. It’s a super fun, weird world involving a million invisible tabs open in our heads. (You can see past budget-y bedroom plans we thought about here too.)

Here’s the skinny about “The Plan”:
- Curtains – I found these plushy velvet deep green curtains on Amazon and instantly fell in love with how luxurious they’ll make the space feel (without actually being luxury label).
- Fan – And all of the hot-natured people said “amen”. Totally crushing on this modern, aged brass look!
- Art – I saw this painting at Walmart and instantly HAD TO HAVE IT! It’s huuuuuuge! And stunning in all its vintage chic glory!
- Headboard – I scored the used headboard of the century on eBay of all places. I hardly ever think to look there, but after coming up empty in my search for “cane headboard” at my usual local secondhand places, I’m so glad this one popped up.
- Bedding – It’s so elegant and romantic I wanna die.
- Nightstands – These small round tables will fit juuuuust perfectly in the tight fitting spaces on either side of the bed. I’m hoping their openness and the white will make it feel not too cramped.
- Table lamp – I found these aged brass lamps that will be great for reading light without being too visually clunky.
- Rug – I discovered this total bargain at Home Depot, and it works beautifully for a vintage look while still remaining neutral to let the deep green curtains steal the show.
- Desk – I think I’ll be able to fit a very small writing desk like this one underneath the second window for my mother-in-law to have space when she works from our house. Zeroing in on one I found on Craigslist for $25 this week, I hope.
- Rattan barrel chair – I scored one just like this for $17 at the thrift store the other week. YES!!! More about that later.
How’s that for a whole lotta thrift finds and budget deals?
One day, we do plan on ripping up the old carpet to refinish the original hardwoods underneath, but we’re not quite there yet, given our current budget.
I’m so ready to see how this one turns out. And also I’ll be glad to have a place for our guests other than an air mattress. So yeah…
What do you think of the plan so far? Any changes we should make? Any amenities we should consider to help guests feel right at home? Having the Wi-Fi password in plain view is already one on my list.



the paint color and openness of the furniture really make this smallish room feel not too cramped! beautiful!
I love your inspiration boards! This will be a beautiful room. I recently bought a couple of vintage oak dining room chairs that had cane seats that I thought were in good shape. However, after sitting in one the caning stretched, sagged, and ripped and now needs replacing. Iโm thinking of trying to come up with a different solution other than the caning. All that to say, I would reconsider the wicker chair. May not hold up well or be all that comfortable, and the shape looks like it wouldnโt be able to be pushed under the desk when not in use. Maybe a better option would be a dining chair with a padded fabric seat that could be recovered if needed to coordinate with the curtains (French provincial would be so romantic!). I do like the desk style a lot, but it does limit work space as someone else mentioned. That artwork is amazing, and those curtains scream โGone with the Windโ, as Iโm imagining Scarlet making herself a dress…..?
I’m just seeing this a week later. I’m in love. It’s so vintagey and romantic! The green curtains and that gorgeous painting will steal the show and totally make the room. Love your color and style choices! Thanks for the shopping links. Good luck.
the wall art is outstanding, just what i would want for my bedroom but it is a bit too large for my over the bed space. wonder if it comes in a smaller size??
Hi, Mary. This particular print does not. However, you can search the selection through the link. Walmart has so many options in many different sizes.
I was shocked at the great price on the bedspread. I hate dust ruffles. This bedspread is already in my WalMart cart. I just need to measure from side to side of my king bed to make sure it will touch the floor (or come really close). Only other comment is that I thought the rug might tie the green drapes in but when I looked at it, I didn’t see any green. Maybe throw pillows will tie them in. I know your guests will enjoy the room.