When someone discusses a remodel, they are often talking about a kitchen or bathroom. But what about the bedroom? After all, you spend a third of your life in your bedroom, so shouldn’t you make sure it’s a comfortable environment that promotes relaxation and inspires sleep? Remodeling a bedroom is often more affordable and requires less major work than rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, and you can do most or all of it yourself. Here are some tips for making your DIY bedroom remodel a smooth process.
Clear it out.
The first thing you want to do for your remodel is to create a blank slate by getting everything out of the room. This means your mattress and bed frame, nightstands, dressers and any other furniture and fixtures that make up your bedroom. Purge the closet and drawers, and remove all your clothes, shoes and other items you have stored. Having a bare room will make it easier to visualize the changes you need to make and perform your tasks.
Store it.
When you clear out your bedroom, you need to make sure to prevent your furniture and other items from getting damaged and/or dirty. You could temporarily add the items to another room if you have the space in your home, but if you don’t want to cram your things into another room, a storage unit is a great investment.
Whether you move your items to another room in the home or to a storage unit, you will want to pack them well. Make sure you have enough boxes in various sizes, as well as other supplies like tape and packing paper. Also, it’s important to group similar items together and label them properly, especially fragile items. This will remind you to be extra careful with certain boxes and help you know where to place each box in the moving vehicle.
Fix your furniture.
 Before you toss all the bedroom furniture you know won’t make the cut in your updated space, think about working with what you have. A lot of the time, old furniture can be restored and made over. You can either refinish that dresser and nightstand to their original colors, or paint them completely different colors to go with the new bedroom.
In some cases, though, it’s best to buy new pieces. Your mattress, for example, may set you back a few extra bucks on top of what you’re already putting into your remodeling project, but it’s an investment in how well you sleep each night — and therefore, your overall health — so it’s an investment worth making. Just be sure you’re spending your money wisely. A few red flags that a mattress isn’t good quality include it being one extreme or the other — for example, it’s too soft or too firm, or too expensive or too underpriced. Remember, even though you want a great deal, spending even $100 on a cheap, unhygienic mattress is money wasted. Be sure to look for online reviews for any model you’re considering purchasing; a mattress with too few reviews (or a lot of poor reviews) usually indicates you should look elsewhere.
Paint to please.
Painting is probably the quickest way to improve a bedroom. With countless colors to choose from, it’s important to consider ambiance. Do you want it to be bright and exciting, or warm and cozy? Are you leaning toward earth tones, like beige and forest green, or a neutral, light gray? What you paint your bedroom can actually contribute to how you feel when you’re in the room, including how well you sleep. Don’t be afraid to pick up several samples to choose the right color. If you get the walls painted and decide you don’t like it, you can always go back over it before you move all your stuff back in.
Light the space.
Along with painting, lighting can also change how your room feels — and it doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are plenty of affordable, great-looking lighting options you can find at online lighting stores, some for as low as $39.95. You want to have just the right amount of light. For instance, if your room is too dim, place a few lamps around the room. If it’s too bright already, consider installing a dimmer switch.
Remodeling your bedroom doesn’t have to be a headache. Start by clearing the room out, carefully packing up the items, and storing them where they won’t get damaged or dirty. Have fun considering what colors to paint the walls, get a few supplies and give yourself time to get it right. Consider restoring durable furniture but replacing key pieces, like your mattress. Before you know it, you’ll have a bedroom that feels brand new.
Guest Post: Natalie Jones – homeownerbliss.infoÂ
