Our DIY Primary Bedroom Remodel: Boutique Hotel Vibes Meets Everyday Living
- Danielle Nicole Enright
- Oct 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 28
I’ve always said that if I could live in a hotel, I would. The crisp bedding, the moody lighting, the sense that life outside the room can wait...erm room service and late night snacks, come to mama! I am a bit of a hotel snob though (don't judge me on that) so when I said I wanted my bedroom to look like a 'hotel room', I’m not talking about any hotel. I’m talking about those beautiful high-end boutique hotels that have robes and all the amenities. Hotels are my love language because, well, self-care. So when it came time to remodel our primary en suite bedroom, I knew exactly what I wanted: a high-end boutique hotel vibe that I could come home to every single night. Ps: girl math says that if you renovate your bedroom to look like a boutique hotel room + have more staycations = the remodel is basically free 😉
Step 1: Goodbye, old Carpet. Hello, Clean Slate.
Nothing says “1980s Colonial” quite like wall-to-wall beige carpet. Ours was in rough shape too. It had been there since I had moved in in 2010 and who knows how long before that. Before you say, “ew, that's gross," I was a single mom for quite a long time and putting food on the table was my priority. I just couldn't justify putting money into new flooring and back then I never would've attempted ripping up a carpet by myself. Even now that I'm remarried to a contractor and doing well financially, our primary bedroom always seemed like an afterthought compared to the other rooms that needed more care. But, since I seem to be sick in bed so often with Hashimoto's thyroiditis + celiac + chronic fatigue (anyone else)? it was time to finally give her the attention she deserved. The first thing we did was rip up that nasty carpet and let those floors breathe again. Instantly, the room felt bigger, fresher, and more alive. If you’ve ever wondered whether new flooring can change your mood, it can. It really can.
CHECK OUT ALL OF THE BEFORE PHOTOS BELOW
Step 2: The Popcorn Ceiling Era Ends and White Oak (LVP) Flooring Begins!
Important: If your home was built in the mid-80s or before, make sure to purchase an asbestos test kit before you remove your ceiling. I researched this extensively beforehand because our house was built in the early 80s, so it was possible that asbestos was still being used. I always think 'better safe than sorry' with these types of scenarios so we went ahead and purchased the below DIY asbestos test kit. It was super easy to use and we received really quick results that you send in via the mail:
Since our test for asbestos in our popcorn ceilings came back negative, we could finally say good riddance to our popcorn ceilings!
Armed with nothing but a pump sprayer with water, a regular old large putty knife, and questionable optimism, we tackled what might be the least glamorous part of any renovation: removing textured ceilings. Pro tip? Soak the ceiling with water with your pump sprayer and let it soak for about 15 minutes, scrape, repeat. Please do yourself a favor and get the proper tools to begin with. I can't tell you the amount of times Dan and I have tried to save money on a project only to waste even more time and money by not getting the proper tools to begin with.
Case in point, we did most of the work on the ceiling before finally investing in specific tools that would've saved us more time. If you don't have a lot of ceiling square footage to do, I highly recommend this really affordable popcorn ceiling scraper. It has a place to attach a garbage bag which helps with the mess and the scraper itself is superior to a putty knife.
We also found removing all of the furniture and laying plastic on the floors was the way to go. Knowing that we have a few other rooms with popcorn ceilings that we need to remove, we are planning to get the drywall sander with vacuum dust collection before we do that.
Ultimately, no matter what, it’s a messy job that’s a pain in the neck (literally) but watching that outdated texture fall away is oddly satisfying, kind of like exfoliating 40 years off your home.
We put in the same flooring that we installed throughout the first floor, Coretec LVP in the color Calypso Oak. I love this flooring. I usually suggest real hardwood, but since we have kids and animals (3 rescue cats + 1 dog) it was just the smartest way to go. Plus, we had already installed this flooring many times before. In comparison to the flooring that I chose for my jewelry studio, which I'd never recommend to anyone, the COREtec is really high-quality and easy to install. It has a cork bottom which dampens noise, plus it's scratch resistant and waterproof.
I'll do another blog devoted to the install of this LVP because it really is that super easy, but if you're in a hurry to install yours, I highly suggest the below floor cutter.
Step 3: Character, Please
Once the ceiling was smooth, it was time to give the walls some personality. One thing my 1980s colonial was lacking was character. Having grown up in a beautiful 100-year-old victorian home, I knew what it needed; woodwork! I added picture-frame molding which is the kind of detail that instantly elevates a plain wall into something architectural, high end and classic. It’s like makeup contouring for your room.
Tips for installing Picture Frame Molding:
Tape off the wall where you want your molding to go.
Once you cut one side of the rectangle, use that side to measure for the 2nd side. We found it easiest to do this on the floor and lay each piece as they would appear on the wall.
Instead of getting your measuring tape out for every measurement, cut a spacer block the exact width you want to space out your boxes to place in between each box. This will ensure a perfect measurement every single time and it makes things a lot quicker.
I can't stress this enough, don't use glue. Just add brad nails. Why? Because if you use glue and ever want to remove this in the future, you will be putting up new drywall (and cursing).
Use miter shears to cut the molding! I can't stress this enough, these miter shears need to be in every DIYer's arsenal. They are so affordable and make installing architectural details like picture frame moulding so quick and easy. I just used these on another outside project and I didn't have to touch my saw once.
I have the first miter shears, but I added 2 others from Amazon below for your comparison. I may buy the more expensive miter shears (the last one), as they have great reviews and I'll probably be adding more moulding to other rooms.
Step 4: The Power of Paint
Ah paint; that magical moment where everything shifts from “construction zone” to “intentional design.” I had been wanting to experiment with color so I chose a moody, sophisticated hue that makes the room feel cocooned in calm but still makes a statement. It’s bold but grounding exactly what you want when your goal is to make your bedroom feel like a chic boutique hotel sanctuary. I chose the color Sherwin Williams, 'Iron Ore'. In certain lighting it looks like a dark navy blue and other times it looks charcoal.
Step 5: Boutique-Style Storage
Every hotel suite has beautiful, functional storage, so I decided to create my own version at home. We added extra 'open' wardrobes using pre-made armoires. Think: effortless luxury meets practicality where every shirt, shoe, and sweater has its place, but still looks chic enough to stay visible.
You've heard of the Ikea closet hack? We basically did the "Wayfair closet hack". I chose Wayfair because I don't have an Ikea near me and when I looked to purchase their closet systems online, it felt so confusing.
I'll have to write another post on how we made these really affordable prefabricated armoires look custom by building them in. Even as is, I think they're so pretty and with the moulding and the brass hardware, I think they look perfect in this space at a much less cost than the Ikea system. The best part is all of that extra storage! Even though I have a partial walk-in closet in my en suite bathroom, ladies can never have enough closet space!
Step 6: Furnish Like You Mean It
Finally, the fun part...the furniture, the finishing touches and the moment you've all been waiting for: those fun before and after photos! Don't you just love a good transformation?!
For this room makeover I leaned into rich textures, affordable layered bedding, warm lighting, and pieces that whisper, stay awhile. The result? A room that feels like a beautiful, classy, elegant boutique hotel room, except I don’t have to check out at noon.
My favorite part is the reading / working nook. Lounging on the chaise lounge makes me feel like a goddess. I also upgraded to affordable but high-quality window treatments with remote-powered room darkening shades. Every time I use that remote I feel like Kate Winslet in The Holiday when she walks into Cameron's bedroom for the first time and draws the shades using a remote.
I also finally gave my ex-husband back the bedroom set I was still using and I bought a king-sized modern ivory upholstered one that really pops off of the darker walls. Since I went with dark-colored walls, I needed the furniture to be lighter.
Here's a peek at my Youtube video which got over 100k views (my highest on that platform)! I had mostly positive comments, which was so appreciated. I was confused by someone who said that it lacked character because if you read this blog you would know that I literally added character in. But, I was grateful for all of the feedback; the good and the bad because I like to hear others' perspectives. Interior design is one of those subjective art forms that someone may love or hate, but as long as YOU like it, it can never be "wrong" 🥰
BEFORE
AFTER
The Takeaway
This remodel reminded me that luxury isn’t about spending more, it’s about designing intentionally. It’s about creating a space that feels like you, only calmer, cozier, and maybe a little moodier. So if you’ve ever caught yourself daydreaming about living in a hotel; don’t fight it. Bring the vibes home. And, if you have questions about anything we did, drop them in the comments :)
Tags/Keywords:
moody bedroom ideas, boutique hotel bedroom, DIY bedroom remodel, interior design inspo, modern home makeover, dark paint colors, cozy bedroom design, home decor inspiration
Wow!