Can you believe that this dramatic guest room makeover was completed in just one weekend? Discover how to achieve a remarkable transformation in a remarkably short amount of time, drawing inspiration from our recent project.
The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us, don’t they? With family visiting this year, we found ourselves in a whirlwind of preparations, determined to have our home guest-ready. Our primary focus became the guest room, a space we meticulously transformed from uninspired to inviting in a single weekend blitz. While we still dream of replacing those rather unappealing rust-colored cement floors, our immediate goal was clear: to imbue the room with purpose, freshness, and cleanliness, all on a tight schedule.
This meant foregoing any major structural overhauls, such as flooring replacement or complex wired lighting installations. Instead, our approach was a strategic refresh, focusing on elements that could deliver maximum impact with minimal time and effort. We are fortunate to have two guest rooms. Our first guest room is quite compact, which is why it features a charming daybed. The second guest room, the star of this particular makeover story, had unfortunately become a repository for miscellaneous furniture over time, lacking any cohesive design or dedicated purpose.
The Weekend Guest Room Makeover: Before and After
Before its recent transformation, our guest room wasn’t inherently unpleasant, but it certainly lacked warmth and character. It felt rather stark and unwelcoming, still sporting the mismatched white paint left by previous renters from when we first moved in over three years ago. We’ve been admiring the current trends featuring bold navy, sophisticated grey, and vibrant emerald-toned walls. However, given that this particular room receives limited natural light through its single small window for most of the day, we decided against painting all four walls a dark hue. Instead, we opted to maintain the crisp white on three walls and introduce a single, impactful accent wall to truly elevate the space.
This strategic decision allowed us to infuse personality without sacrificing the room’s brightness or making it feel claustrophobic. The white walls provide a clean canvas, while the accent wall adds depth and a focal point that instantly draws the eye. The contrast creates a dynamic yet harmonious environment, proving that sometimes, less is indeed more when working with challenging lighting conditions. The “before” state was a blank slate, offering tremendous potential for a creative and quick transformation into a more inviting and thoughtfully designed space.
Designing an Eye-Catching Accent Wall
For our accent wall, we envisioned a design that would truly pop and make a memorable statement. We decided to go with a bold wallpaper design, specifically choosing a fun jungle print. This choice reflects a similar approach we took in our home office bedroom makeover, where a patterned accent wall proved incredibly effective in transforming the room’s character. A vibrant, patterned accent wall is an incredibly powerful tool in interior design, capable of creating an immediate “wow” factor without requiring an overhaul of the entire room.
The selection of a jungle print brought a lively, organic, and somewhat whimsical feel to the guest room, transforming a formerly bland wall into a captivating feature. When choosing an accent wall, consider the room’s overall light, existing furniture, and the mood you wish to evoke. A bold print works best when balanced with simpler, more neutral elements elsewhere in the room to prevent it from feeling overwhelming.
We were incredibly fortunate to have the assistance of our incredibly handy family members. Between our parents and aunts, we essentially have access to a full-fledged construction crew! Their willingness to lend their skills has been an absolute lifesaver countless times when it comes to our DIY projects. There’s undeniable strength and efficiency in numbers, especially when tackling a project like wallpaper installation, which can be tricky for a single person. Their expertise and teamwork were instrumental in bringing our accent wall vision to life flawlessly and within our tight weekend deadline.
Why We Chose Sherwin-Williams Paint Shield® for Our Guest Room
Our guest room makeover wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was also about creating a truly fresh and clean environment, both visually and hygienically. Beyond simply providing a literal clean slate from the previous renters, we made a conscious decision to use Sherwin-Williams Paint Shield®. This revolutionary microbicidal paint offers the incredible capability to kill certain bacteria on painted surfaces. For our inner germaphobe, this feature was incredibly exciting!
Everyone appreciates the pristine, refreshed feeling that a new coat of paint brings. What makes Paint Shield exceptional is its scientifically proven ability to kill more than 99.9% of Staph, MRSA, E.coli, VRE, and Enterobacter aerogenes within just two hours of exposure on painted surfaces. This protective quality lasts for an impressive period of up to four years, provided the integrity of the painted surface is maintained. It’s important to understand that this isn’t a substitute for regular cleaning; it’s an advanced layer of defense that actively works in well-maintained spaces to reduce bacterial presence.
We specifically chose to apply Paint Shield in the guest room because it experiences a high volume of visitors, particularly during the holiday season. The added hygienic benefit provides peace of mind, ensuring our guests stay in the cleanest possible environment. Looking ahead, as we are currently in the exciting process of buying a new home (shhh, it’s still a secret!), we absolutely plan to use Paint Shield microbicidal paint in high-traffic, moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and the kitchen for its powerful bacteria-killing properties. This is a game-changer for maintaining a healthier home environment.
It’s also worth noting that while our favorite Sherwin-Williams white is typically “Extra White (SW 7006),” the microbicidal paint is exclusively available in an egg-shell sheen. This is a crucial detail to consider when planning your space and coordinating paint finishes. We applied Paint Shield to all the wall surfaces in the guest room, deliberately excluding the baseboards and door/doorframe. For these areas, we prefer a semi-gloss finish, as we’ve found it significantly easier to wipe clean and maintain, especially with pet fur often floating around the house. For those familiar with using Sherwin-Williams paints for home projects, you’ll be pleased to know that Paint Shield® microbicidal paint applies with the same rich thickness and ease as their standard paints. There’s no need to overcompensate with extra gallons or additional coats to benefit from its bacteria-fighting capabilities; a standard application is all it takes.
Harmonizing Decor with Accent Wall Colors
To create a cohesive and harmonious design, we deliberately extended the vibrant jungle green from our wallpaper accent wall into other elements of the room’s decor. A key component of this strategy was painting our accent shelf in a matching green hue. This seemingly small detail significantly ties the room together, ensuring the bold wallpaper doesn’t feel isolated but rather integrated into the overall design narrative. For this shelf, we again utilized Sherwin-Williams Paint Shield paint in “Reclining Green (SW 6744).” This was a practical choice, as the shelf is home to items like TV remotes and other frequently handled objects, benefiting from the paint’s microbicidal properties.
Beyond the shelf, we thoughtfully incorporated softer hints of these accent colors through textiles and smaller decorative items. Introducing touches of the accent color in various textures and forms – such as throw pillows, a decorative blanket, or even a piece of artwork – helps to distribute the color throughout the room, creating a sense of balance and completeness. This approach prevents the accent wall from dominating the space entirely, instead allowing it to be the striking foundation upon which the rest of the decor is built. The result is a room that feels both vibrant and thoughtfully curated, with every element playing a role in the cohesive design.
Thoughtful Guest Room Decor & Furniture Choices
When it came to furnishing our guest room, our aim was to strike a balance between comfort, style, and functionality, all while working within our tight timeframe. We decided to retain the existing Ikea bed frame and its accompanying bedding, which provided a clean, modern base. To instantly refresh the look and tie into our color scheme, we simply added plush velvet pink pillows, introducing a soft, inviting pop of color that complements the jungle print without clashing.
To optimize the layout and create better flow, we strategically repositioned the white desk to another corner of the room. This adjustment freed up space for us to incorporate elegant white campaign style nightstands on either side of the bed. These nightstands not only offer practical surface space for guests but also enhance the room’s symmetrical design.
Given the busyness of the wallpaper print, we opted for decor elements that were clean and understated to maintain visual balance. We selected simple, modern wall sconces for ambient lighting. These provide a sleek, functional light source without drawing too much attention away from the accent wall. Above the bed, a single neutral print acts as a calm focal point, grounding the space and preventing the room from feeling over-accessorized. The combination of a bold wall and minimalist decor creates a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere.
One piece we absolutely adored and simply had to find a place for was this stunning gold accent chair. Its unique design and luxurious finish immediately captivated us, and we knew it would add a touch of glamour and a comfortable spot for reading or relaxing in the guest room. We’re so smitten with it that you’ll likely see this chair making appearances in many more of our styled corners and DIY projects in the future.
On the other hand, our rug choice proved to be a bit of a misstep. We ordered a rug online in a rush, hoping it would perfectly complement the refreshed space. However, upon arrival, it turned out to be too much of a warm white, which is quite discernible in the photo above. While functional, it didn’t quite achieve the crisp, clean look we were aiming for. For this reason, we plan to replace it with a more suitable option in the future once we discover the perfect rug to tie the room together seamlessly. This experience served as a good reminder that sometimes, even with careful planning, some elements require a second look.
To further enhance the subtle pink accents throughout the room, we created a bespoke pink version of our popular DIY watercolor throw blanket. This handmade touch adds a layer of personalized comfort and reinforces the delicate color palette, demonstrating how small, thoughtful details can significantly elevate a room’s aesthetic. This blanket adds texture and a cozy feel, making the room even more inviting for our guests.
Creating a Versatile Vanity and Desk Setup for Guests
One of my personal pet peeves when staying as a guest elsewhere is the absence of a designated space for either working or getting ready, especially during multi-day visits. Understanding this common guest need, we prioritized creating a highly functional and versatile area within our guest room. The desk area was specifically designed to serve a dual purpose: a comfortable and efficient workspace for guests who might need to catch up on emails or projects, and a convenient vanity area for those looking to get ready for the day or evening. This flexibility ensures that the room caters to a variety of guest needs and preferences.
To elegantly integrate these two functions, we installed a stylish round gold mirror directly above the desk. The mirror not only serves as a practical vanity component but also adds a touch of sophistication and reflects light, making the space feel larger and brighter. The gold frame of the mirror beautifully complements the other gold accents throughout the room, creating a cohesive and polished look. This thoughtful combination transforms a simple desk into a multi-functional hub, significantly enhancing the guest experience. It reflects our commitment to making our guests feel truly at home and well-cared for, providing them with all the conveniences they might need during their stay.
While there are always minor details that can be fine-tuned in any home project, we are absolutely thrilled with how this guest room makeover came together so quickly. It’s truly rewarding to see such a dramatic transformation achieved within a single weekend, just in time for our friends and family to visit for the holidays! The room now feels vibrant, intentional, and incredibly inviting, ready to welcome our loved ones.
What are your thoughts on our quick guest room refresh? And on your end, are any of you currently prepping rooms in your home for the upcoming holiday season? We’d love to hear about your projects and ideas!
Guest Room Makeover: Product Sources
Palm Jungle Forest Green Wallpaper
Gold Peacock Accent Chair
Round Gold Mirror
White Micke Desk
White Bed Frame
Else Wall Sconces
White Campaign Style Nightstands
Velvet Pink Pillows
Gold Shelf Brackets
Framed Animal Prints
Retro Lynwood White Desk Lamp
Pink DIY Watercolor Throw Blanket
This post was sponsored by Sherwin-Williams, helping us create a beautiful and hygienically advanced space for our guests.