Are your kiddos back to school? What about grown kids who are off to college? I can’t even imagine all the emotions involved when your baby goes off to college. I’m about five years away from that experience and I’m in no hurry.

However, I have several friends who are sending their babes off. Last month, a friend asked for some ideas to redesign her first-born’s bedroom because he’s headed off for his first year of college! One of the challenges is having a space for your child when they return home on breaks, but using the space for something useful during the time they’re not home is important too.

My friend decided to redesign her son’s bedroom into an office/guest bedroom. She will use it as her in-home work office as well as a place for guests to stay over. It’s the perfect combination room!

The original deep red walls were painted Crushed Ice grey by Sherwin Williams. The paint alone instantly made the room feel larger and lighter. This daybed from IKEA was selected because it pulls out into a queen size and it’s beautiful. They can also store bedding in the huge storage drawers underneath. The wall behind the bed is the perfect focal point with the shiplap they installed. It looks amazing and makes the room look bigger. The throw pillows on the daybed are so fun, they add color and texture, and create a coziness to the entire room. Pillows are from Target.

The existing nightstand and dresser will eventually get a little makeover with some white paint to match the bed, but it still looks great and functions perfectly.

I added a few decorative touches above the dresser, but we kept things at a minimal because she wanted a simple and clean look for this combination room. The woven basket on the dresser is a perfect place to catch-all random things (like mail, keys, phone, jewelry, etc.)

The desk was a great find at Costco. I added a long IKEA shelf above it to create a desk unit and to organize some artwork and doo dads. This corner feels clean, organized, and refreshing.

The closet doors have a nice flat texture, so we considered wallpapering them, but ultimately went with a more cost effective technique and I will stencil a modern geometrical design. A one-color design adds interest and the pattern coordinates with the quilted design on the bedding. Details on this easy DIY stencil are coming soon.

All the elements put together in this guest bedroom/home office create a modern farmhouse vibe. I love how this room came together – it’s functional and beautiful. I love creating rooms that people enjoy spending time in – isn’t that the point after all?!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the bedroom makeover! Let me know if you want some ideas for your next project – I’d love to help.