Sponsored by Stearns & Foster
Guest Room Makeover
Today I’m excited to share a summer makeover project for our guest room. Decorating is fun, but a successful room update goes beyond aesthetics. It’s about how the space feels and ensuring it’s comfortable and welcoming. Thoughtful details and practical planning are what turn a pretty room into one people want to spend time in.
My aim was to create a room that’s not only attractive but genuinely comfortable. If a bedroom doesn’t feel inviting, you won’t relax in it—and since we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, comfort matters. Designing a bedroom is as much about function as it is about style.
Quality Counts
You may recall that my husband and I have been contemplating a new mattress for some time. For more than 15 years we loved a Stearns & Foster mattress that moved with us through two states and several homes. Even though mattresses aren’t typically kept that long, the quality and comfort of a piece can make it last in your life and home.
Recently Stearns & Foster reached out about partnering on a small guest bedroom refresh and trying one of their new mattresses. We weren’t ready to change the master mattress yet, but the guest room was the perfect place to start. A high-quality mattress is an investment that pays off through years of better sleep and a more inviting guest space.
Hand-crafted with premium materials, a Stearns & Foster mattress elevates any bedroom—small or large—bringing luxurious comfort that lasts. Choosing durable, well-made pieces is a design philosophy I follow because I hold on to items I truly love.
Summer Guest Cottage by the Sea
When we moved in two years ago, the tiny guest room was a blank slate (see the before photo above). A fresh coat of paint and a bed were our first updates, and this summer I was ready to add seasonal touches that reflect a coastal, cottage vibe.
We had recently relocated the curtain panels to another room, leaving an unused rod and an opportunity to refresh the window treatment. I also wanted to replace the builder-grade light fixture to give the room more character. Small changes like these create big impact in a compact space.
My vision was a summer guest cottage by the sea—a cozy retreat you’d want to escape to for a weekend and never leave. Living in Seattle with a view of Puget Sound naturally inspired a subtle coastal atmosphere inside the house. The room’s new look ties the interior to the exterior setting while keeping the design relaxed and welcoming.
Wood Bead Chandelier • Mudcloth Throw Blanket • Striped Curtains with PomPoms
We created an inspiration board to guide the design and selected elements that would give the room charm and comfort. I’m delighted with how the space turned out: it still feels small, but now it carries the personality and ease of a seaside cottage. The new mattress and curated details make it both stylish and welcoming for guests.
Stay tuned for the full “after” reveal on the blog next week—I’ll be sharing all the photos and sources for the pieces used.
Enter the HGTV Stearns & Foster sweepstakes for a chance to win a Stearns & Foster mattress and $1,000 for a room makeover!
This post was sponsored by Stearns & Foster. The opinions and writing are my own.