Whimsical Guest + Reading Room Makeover
I'm super excited to be sharing my favourite room in my house with you today. Not only is it something I started talking about almost a year ago, or shared the before pictures for six months ago, but it is also something I can finally check off of my to-do list.
Let's jump back to the beginning, for those who are only joining this long drawn-out process now.
As part of my 2014 goals, I aimed to put the finishing touches on an almost-finished room in my house---the Guest Room (recently renicknamed the Reading Room). This room is not only my home library, it is also my primary guest room and play room for my munchkins.
Here you see the before shots, in all its honest, messy, boring glory. The room was basically the drop-zone for mismatched furniture, and also used to serve as my home office. Despite the lack of space, I crammed in a few bookshelves and even a small cabinet filled with board games. If you look closely at the couch, you can see the million pieces involved in a plastic grocery store for the kids.
ATTENTION AUNTIES EVERYWHERE: Play-stores are one of the messiest toys you can ever have on hand for your munchkins. I advise against them. The auntie points are NOT worth the twenty minute cleanup, or the annoyance of finding fake plastic potatoes and bananas under the couch.
This room sat in an almost-but-not-quite-finished state for over a year. I didn't know what direction to take it in... until I grabbed a couple pillows from Thunderpeep and suddenly it all came easy.
Here is the official After shot, in all it's cozy glory.


Isn't it pretty?! I love my reading room! There's so many owls, and gnomes, and books! Everything good in life, minus coffee. Although there's a coffee scented candle.
The room is now a relaxing space for occasional guests, and a fun space for the munchkins. And let's face it--as the primary user of this space, I am pumped to be so in love with it.



There were a few major changes, including painting, replacing my futon (with another futon, of course. I swear by those things.) and making some pipe shelves. To summarize, here is what I did:
- Added: Paint to the trim and doors.
- Replaced: Mismatched bookshelves with DIY pipe shelves.
- Replaced: Ugly plastic blinds with a throw blanket as a window covering.
- Replaced: All of the hodgepodge furniture with a cozy sectional futon and my sweet vintage yellow leather chair that was tucked away in the basement.
- Replaced: The pink office floor lamp with a cutesy tripod floor lamp. Yay!
- Removed: Bright and colourful floor mats.
- Added: Gnomes! Toadstools! And DIY quote art!
- Added: Life! Plants are kinda sorta staying alive in here. They're pretty, anyhow.
- Added: Fuzzy throws, new pillows, and a faux-sheepskin rug


All in all, I am glad I pushed myself a little further and finished this room. It is by far my favourite room in the house! Perfect room for cozying up with my book and tea, or for making a racket with my munchkins. All good things.

Noteworthy sources:
- Pillows/Covers: Shop Northern on Etsy, Thunderpeep on Society6, Simons.ca
- Lamp: Globe Electric Floor Lamp (Amazon)
- Throw blankets: Target Canada, Simons.ca , Faux Fur Throw (Amazon)
- Gnomes/Garden decor: Vanderwees Home & Garden
- Toadstool stepstool: Homesense
- Small stuffed gnome: HerenessThereness on Etsy
- Small felted toadstool: Winnipeg Art Gallery
- Air plant - See this post for details

24 comments
What a beautiful room, great makeover! I love the owl pillows, I need to get some, and a coffee scented candle too :). I'm the new co-host at What'd You Do This Weekend? and would love for you to come share this at http://joylovefood.com/whatd-weekend-1/ :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Am a bit late but going to link up asap! :)
DeleteThe coffee scented candle was a gift--from an Etsy shop called "Witch City Wicks" in Salem.
Thanks so much for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend? :) I hope you will join us again this week, the party starts Monday morning at 2am EST :)
DeleteDone and done. :)
DeleteIt looks wonderful! What a great transformation! i love all the little accents, and those shelves are perfect! I need some of those in my craft room.
ReplyDeleteThey are super easy! I'll be posting my lessons learned soon. :)
DeleteYou did an awesome job! Love it ALL!
ReplyDeleteThank so much! It's quite cozy :)
DeleteWhat a fun space! So many cute little touches. Thanks for linking up with us at The Makers! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Always happy to link up. :)
DeleteI love this room! You did a great job on it! Thanks for sharing at Think & Make Thursday!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
Deletesuch a gorgeous space, fun and relaxing. And where did you get those Alice in Wonderland bobble heads. LOVE those :)
ReplyDeleteThey were gifted to me a few years ago. The White Rabbit is glow in the dark!
DeleteSo adorable! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the polka dots on the walls especially!
Thanks for linking in up Talented Tuesday Link Party! Hope to see you again next week!
Always happy to link up!! Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteI love this transformation! Thanks so much for sharing at Totally Terrific Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! Happy to join. :)
DeleteSo much fun, Carole! I love all of the fun details you put into this room! I'm featuring you tomorrow at the Talented Tuesday Link Party - make sure to stop by and grab a button (and don't forget to link up your latest posts)!
ReplyDeleteThat's great news! Will be sure to link up again, too. Thanks so much!
DeleteHow adorable! You made it look so fun and cozy, I love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!! My reading room is a million times cozier than my bedroom. Shows where my priorities are. :)
DeleteI absolutely love this. Fun and functional. Love that green wall color too.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's actually the "Loop" premixed recycled paint that Walmart sells, surprisingly enough. Not bad for an off-the-shelf colour!
DeleteThank you for your comments! I love reading them all and will reply when I can.
xo♥clem