25 Before-and-After Bedroom Makeovers

Real talk: It’s easy to slip into yawn-worthy “before” territory in the bedroom. Visitors often don’t see it, and other spaces need more attention; it’s a convenient place to stash stuff that doesn’t go anywhere else; you’re really only there first thing in the morning and at bedtime — and so on.

Consider these once-woeful, now-wonderful sleeping retreats, both cautionary tales and proof that it gets better. And make liberal use of their makeover pros’ best moves to rise and shine at your place. Following our tips, consider today as day one of your bedroom's “after.”

Demo day left this bedroom looking bare and lacking. An angular ceiling adds potential for a unique, character-rich design while a single, corner window welcomes sunlight into the space.

Dark and dreamy indigo wallpaper makes a statement behind the bed and enhances the distinct angles of the ceiling. Pale aqua paint coats the surrounding walls while the window trim and baseboards balance the space with crisp, white paint. A fiery-pink Oushak rug adds vibrancy underfoot and a pair of pretty, brass sconces flank the bed to offer a warm glow in the otherwise cool-toned bedroom design.

This Massachusetts bedroom has great bones but is dressed in dreadful, dated finishes. The orange-stained hardwoods, boring light fixture and clunky corner wardrobes aren’t doing this space, or those gorgeous windows, any favors.

Designer Kelly Rogers breathes new life into the space with airy taupe paint on the walls, a neutral stain on the hardwood floors and a whimsical flush-mount fixture above the bed. The airy and expansive bed is positioned at the center of the windows and flanked by gorgeous, graphic drapes and twin table lamps. Abstract artwork lines the entry hallway walls and brings a subtle touch of color to the design.

There’s a time and place for extreme, literal commitment to a bedroom in the woods, but it’s not now and it’s not here.

A black shiplap feature wall offers a contemporary version of the drama the previously kitschy, wood-on-wood-on-wood bedroom set was trying so valiantly to serve. Reclaimed planks texturize the headboard and nightstands; and hardwood and a distressed area rug replace beige carpeting.

To say this bare, beige bedroom leaves a lot to be desired is a vast understatement. The space is plagued with a wonky layout, an awkward smattering of accessories and an ill-fitting four-poster bed piled with drab and dated bedding.

TerraCotta Design Build takes this space from dreary to dreamy. The designers reimagine the layout and energize walls with bright and airy aqua paint. A tropical palm triptych serves as a stylish statement piece above the white spindle bed. The Bohemian theme in the space continues with textured bedding, pom-pom trimmed curtains and a woven jute tote-turned-planter.

The homeowners have more space than they know what to do with in this bedroom. The king-size bed and accent furniture are positively lost in a vast sea of cream carpet and beige walls.

Designer Marie Flanigan transforms the suite with cozy, intimate and fresh design that layers texture and timeless finishes. The cream carpet has given way to neutral hardwood floors paired with a large, traditional area rug to bring pattern and movement underfoot. A grand canopy bed takes up more visual space and can hold its own in the room. A sophisticated ivory loveseat with a silhouette that echoes the canopy, in turn, provides a spot to relax.

From the faux-Rococo bed and nightstands, sponged mid-tone wall treatment and torrent of tapestry prints to the teeny-tiny brushed-nickel bedside lamps, pile of remote controls and high-tech table fan, there’s a real power struggle taking place in this bedroom.

This stylish contemporary cottage-style bedroom has plenty of character, thanks to a thoughtful combination of textile patterns, a serene landscape painting and well-styled nightstands — but its villains are gone, and that makes all the difference. Creamy ceramic table lamps and wall-mounted reading lights add detail that layers the space instead of disjointing it.

There are some lovely details here: the Marimekko-patterned armchair paired with a white coverlet and more bright pillows on the bed work well, and the art feels kid-appropriate. That said, those elements feel utterly incongruous beside mismatched, too-mature furniture and sisal carpet.

White nightstands, glam lamps and a playfully-printed chair counterbalance the bed and chest; this mix now feels intentionally eclectic rather than jarring. New accessories and artwork will suit this room’s sleeper now and for years to come while gorgeous new flooring and a soft area rug look and feel far better than all that sisal. Plus, a visiting pup matches the pillow shams. Perfection.

Squat furniture, discordant tones, harsh angles and out-of-scale arrangements make this bedroom suite feel empty and overdecorated at the same time.

A soaring four-poster bed creates connection between the bedroom’s furniture and its spectacular ceiling. An updated chandelier gives the space a contemporary atmosphere, while slipcovered armchairs replace the odd leather bench that had once crouched in the foreground. Soft charcoal, in turn, stands in for all that look-at-me crimson fabric. Phew.

Flat red walls are swallowing this room whole — and its lack of storage, smothered surfaces and ill-chosen patterns deepen its claustrophobic atmosphere.

Dove gray walls welcome natural sunlight in this transformed bedroom. A custom shelving unit runs the length of the room, offering stylish storage for books and providing a punch of color above the bed. A bright red pillow accents the center of the bed and brings a youthful energy to the classic blue, gray and white bedding.

Since the window valance and the bedding and the runner on the chest at the foot of the bed are all quilted, that fantastic handiwork feels spooky rather than special. The beige carpet and yellow pine ceiling, in turn, are dated rather than cozy.

This bedroom still celebrates handiwork and natural materials, but it does so in a contemporary way. An angular, walnut-stained bed replaces its twiggy predecessor, and industrial nightstands feel properly substantial beside it; polished planks now adorn the ceiling. Geometric textiles on the bed and floor complement but don’t match each other, and a darker, higher-pile carpet is both cozier and more functional.

An architectural detail like the arch in this 1925 Tudor Revival’s bedroom should feel regal — but its reign has come to an end. Along with that too-ornate, peachy carpet, it’s facing exile.

The previously elevated sleeping area now flows smoothly into the rest of the spacious bedroom suite, and a handsome cased opening replaces the outdated arches. There’s still richness here in the swooping velvet bench, gleaming pillows and intricate ceramics, but this midcentury Asian aesthetic is restrained rather than kitschy.

This forgotten-and-forgettable bedroom is a mix of muddy beige and ivory tones. Ill-fitting window treatments draw the eye to a pair of cluttered dressers, and the ceiling and walls’ unlovely yellow paint both ages the room and looks dingy against white bedding.

Talk about a transformation, right? Designer Claire Paquin keeps the design neutral but executes her vision with updated hues. The walls are coated with an airy, cool gray color and the ceilings and trim are refreshed with bright white paint. A light lavender, velvet bed is dressed in classic white bedding and framed by two white chests. A luxe, silver rug adds softness to the space and coordinates with the metallic pillows and custom Roman shades.

This small bedroom is made even smaller by the cluttered built-in shelves delineating the space. The deep red shelving unit is an eyesore with its disheveled mix of plastic binders, board games and booze.

The red shelves are removed and the cottage bedroom is brought to life with a pitched ceiling, charming white trim and cheerful aqua paint. The cozy bed sports classic white bedding and a custom, turquoise-and-yellow lumbar pillow. A small armchair wears the same turquoise-and-yellow upholstery and offers a sweet spot to enjoy a cup of coffee each morning.

This sweet city cottage could be a charmer, but its rustic vibe is at odds with, um, VCRs? Battered old briefcases? We're not sure what's going on with the built-in shelving (or the tiger-striped chair beside it), but it's no longer welcome.

Nashville designer Connie Vernich layers this master suite with soft textures and neutral patterns that enhance one another. Crisp black trim on the floor mirror, window hardware and wall art provide purposeful contrast, while subtle gold notes give this southern stunner a bit of glamour.

A matchy-matchy sleigh bed and vanity feel heavy and generic in this mustard-slathered guest bedroom, and the simple shutters are too contemporary for the room’s traditional feel. Burgundy brocade bedding clashes with the walls and creates a darkened, dated look.

The homeowner's existing bed gets a new lease on life in this ethereal bedroom makeover. Designer Minhnuyet Hardy repositions the bed between the two windows at the center of the room. She swaps the dark finishes for a fresh palette of icy blue, snowy white and metallic silver. The results are equal parts classic and inviting.

This traditional bedroom sports an unsightly mix of unfashionable finishes and disproportionate furnishings. Scrawny nightstands flank the overly-elaborate four-poster bed dressed with a too-dark burgundy patchwork quilt. The cumulative effect is exhausting.

Designer Minhnuyet Hardy takes this suite from gaudy to gorgeous with soft gray and cream tones enhanced with cool, contrasting furnishings. The inky two-poster bed skims the white crown molding and draws the eye up to the room's showstopping ceiling. Sizable nightstands and matching table lamps frame the bed while a flashy Sputnik-style chandelier adds illumination and modern style cred.

This suite sports an unsightly mix of stained wall-to-wall carpeting, a dusty grass cloth accent wall and dingy vertical blinds. Dated furnishings draped in mismatched patterns and out-of-place hues make a bad scene even more tragic.

Designer Natalie Meyers swaps the dusty and dated details of the original space for a clean, minimally inspired main bedroom design. Bright white vertical paneling lines the wall behind the bed to create subtle dimension. Blonde hardwood floors and a vintage bohemian area rug replace the stained carpeting while gauzy, ivory sheers dress the bedroom window.

A mirrored closet wall and haphazard furniture add up to an unsightly and uninspiring bedroom — who wants to see it twice? This cramped space is begging for a floor-to-ceiling makeover.

Designer Caitlin Jones Ghajar gives the once-cramped bedroom a contemporary makeover with crisp and clean finishes. Geometric patterns add panache to the floor and the statement wall behind the bed. The remaining accents are a combination of crisp white, timeless navy and heathered gray for a streamlined design.

One could forgive a guest for struggling to get comfortable in this room, since it has the frozen-in-time feel of a historic home that's been converted into a local museum: Look, but don't touch!

Traci Connell Holmes introduces both texture and contrast with a feature wall swathed in navy blue grasscloth, then updated the bed with a bold Art Deco-inspired headboard. Abstract artwork above each hammered metallic nightstand marries her chosen tones and adds a splash of painterly detail.

This bedroom set is old (as opposed to antique) and paired with frilly curtains and a busy brass chandelier (with mismatched bulbs!). It seems positively musty.

Designer Michael Abraham let natural grandeur guide his hand as he reimagined this master suite: A raw quartz chandelier draws the eye up to exposed beams while a sandy-toned linen headboard anchors painted-desert bedding. Details like the agate-striped glass artwork on the occasional table and the turned wood vase on the nightstand add to the space's earthy serenity.

This guest room has a sad and scattered dormitory vibe. With a tattered duvet cover, dated mirrored closet doors and wire storage shelves, it’s in dire need of expert instruction.

The once disheartening guest room graduates to this gorgeous and inviting space with vibrant wall art, bright white bedding, symmetrical nightstands and table lamps.

Neither the fussy, formal furnishings nor oppressive stained trim are doing this bedroom any favors. In the absence of modern touches, these traditional pieces contribute to a decidedly "spooky bed-and-breakfast" vibe.

Warm gray paint highlights artful angles at the ceiling and complements a deliciously plush new headboard. A pair of casually chic new chairs create a relaxed new sitting area, and a stunning pendant establishes decidedly 21st-century design cred.

While this master suite was the height of beachy chic a few decades ago, details like view-obscuring shutters and too-rustic paneling are now anchoring it in the past. It's also high time to let the overstuffed white love seat relax into its retirement.

Less is much, much more, thanks to Blackband Design's minimalistic makeunder. Removing ceiling panels and giving the space a fresh coat of dazzling white paint lets the panoramic ocean view spill in uninterrupted, while a fire pit and bistro table turn the terrace into an outdoor room.

The overwhelmed parents who shared this third-floor main bedroom with one of their three young children barely had time to sleep. It comes as no surprise, then, that they never got around to making it their own.

Designer Candice Olson didn't have to remove much to begin her transformation. What she added, on the other hand, makes all the difference A built-in window seat and entertainment cabinet offer countless opportunities to personalize their suite, and luxurious gray fabrics on the bed, windows and chairs are both charismatic and calming.

Someone needs to chart a course across (and establish a floor plan for) this massive bedroom — and pull up the space-swallowing teal carpet — ASAP. There's buried treasure here, but it's buried deep.