Good morning!
Although we completely gutted our home, the fact is that it is still over 100 years old. Therefore, there’s always some kind of project going on. Plus, when you move it seems like it takes years to settle in. I’ve also found that your style (mine does, at least) seems to evolve over time so I struggle to makeover a room all at once!
Hopefully, you’re NOT like me and you always decorate your master bedroom first when you move, renovate, whatever. Unfortunately, our master bedroom ALWAYS gets the last of everything.
For me, other areas of the house that are SEEN daily seem to be way more important than our bedroom BUT now that ours is slightly more aesthetically pleasing, it’s like I feel so much more relaxed.
Lesson learned: do the space you wake up to in the morning first!
Russ and I desperately needed storage in this room because I wasn’t exactly in love with the wicker dress from my high school bedroom.
I knew though that typical nightstands would not work beside our bed but that smaller dressers would fit and provide storage!
As luck would have it, a couple of months apart, I found almost matching dressers that were perfect for either side!
You also already know from my affection for painting furniture that I couldn’t leave it dark. Plus, we have a piece in our bedroom that was my grandfather’s grandmother’s so I can’t exactly paint it or my mom would kill me.
SO I grabbed sample of Heather Gray by Valspar (I saw this color on The Lettered Cottage’s island) and I was smitten.
However, because I don’t like to work that hard on furniture, I used a chalk paint mixture so I would not have to sand.
I took a tablespoon of unsanded grout and poured it directly into the sample. (same formula as our buffet!)
I even painted directly over the handles after two would not come off much debate.
Now, as so many other projects around the house, our bedroom is slowly coming together.
AND the best part?? It’s almost ENTIRELY thrifted like our dining room!
Headboard-old door
Lamps-Goodwill (Target!)
Nightstands-Haven of Rest
Duvet-GOODWILL FOR $6! I even PUT IT BACK and a lady talked me into it that I didn’t even know! Oh, how I love those adventures (And don’t worry, Mom, I had it dry cleaned.)
Chairs-Haven of Rest years ago that I had recovered
Little stand-Haven of Rest
And finally, a before from before we renovated and today!
Are you sensing a theme? I cannot even explain how much I love going to thrift stores. I always, always, always loved finding a bargain but now it’s gotten so bad that I cannot even justify 75% off at a retail store if I THINK I can get it at a thrift store! ESPECIALLY with my boys’ clothes! They go through them so quickly and as much as Kuy loves jerseys, I come out way cheaper!
It’s really all Shannan’s fault for putting out the Secondhand Challenge. Oh, man, how she has changed my life!
So what do you think? Are you a thrifter or a no-sand kind of DIYer?

I really like how your bedroom looks and love the color of the nightstands. Your room has a beachy-cottage look to it!
Glad to have found your blog! Love this! My master is the last one too, need to get to work and this is some lovely inspiration! Thanks!
I like what you have created in your home. I also preferr thrifting to shopping retail. It feels good to get something I want or need at a great price AND help some one else (I go to hospice shop, Goodwill and Salvation Army.) A win- win solution. And re-cycling is a plus too.
Your bedroom looks lovely. That is a great dresser makeover and I really like the door as a headboard. I am always working on more than one room at a time, piece by piece and bit by bit, as I find things and define my style. In just the past two weeks I have painted three dressers for our room, two to use as nightstands and one long dresser. Now I have to decide if I will tackle making a wood headboard or slipcovering the leather one we have. I love a good thrift bargain but have had more luck here with garage sales and curb side finds for furniture. From Spring through to Fall every few weeks there is a big items day with garbage/recycling. Neighbours put unwanted pieces at the curb a day or two ahead and so much gets picked up and avoids the landfills. I have gotten quite a few solid wood pieces in great condition that way. I am super inspired by your piece with the heart painted on the wood planks. Oh, and I paint my furniture with both ready made paints and a diy chalk paint recipe.
Seems like the perfect time of year for projects, Elizabeth! Thanks for your kind words!
Love it! Great job! On the paint recipe, do you add dry caulk or from a tube?
Thank you, Erin! It’s actually unsanded grout found with the tile in a home improvement store. I just took a tablespoon of it and mixed it directly with the paint!
Love the dresser and also love that you painted the handles! Thanks for the chalk paint recipe, can’t wait to try it.
Thank you, Mandy! I would love to see pictures if you try it!