A new year means a new project in our house. We’re still finishing touches in the bedroom (I shared a little sneak peek recently and will have more to show soon), but I’m also turning my attention upstairs after spending the past few years focusing on the main floor.
Upstairs includes the Snug, two bedrooms and two bathrooms; I’ll cover the bedrooms and bathrooms separately. For now, this post is all about the Snug.
The Snug
The Snug is the room that stole my heart when we first toured the house four years ago. It’s a cozy, multipurpose space where my husband and I unwind each evening—we watch shows, he does puzzles, sometimes we work or write—and it also functions as a guest room. It holds some office items and craft supplies, so it has always been a bit of everything.
This year’s projects upstairs will be straightforward and budget-friendly—no major renovations—but I’m excited about them. Smaller, simpler updates are my favorite.
One big improvement we already made: we removed the carpet from the entire second floor and installed new hardwoods. That change alone transformed the upstairs and made everything feel fresher and more cohesive.
Over time I’ve considered many layouts and functions for this room. For practicality, I’ve decided to keep the current layout mostly intact and make a few thoughtful changes to refresh both the look and functionality.
A note about the mood board:
Use the initial mood board as a starting point that shows where we’re beginning—with what we already own—rather than the finished room. Our decisions about what to keep or replace begin from the existing pieces and evolve from there.
The plan for this year (and the two new daybeds!)
I’m waiting for delivery of two trundle daybeds that will replace the single rattan twin daybed we currently have (in addition to the double bed already in the room). These trundle daybeds will function as seating by day and provide extra sleeping space when needed. With the trundles we’ll have three additional mattresses available—four sleeping spots total—plus the double bed. This arrangement makes the Snug much more flexible so it can comfortably accommodate a family, kids, or groups of friends despite being a modest-sized room.
These beds have received positive reviews and are very budget-friendly. They come in several colors; we chose brown but other shades looked great as well. I love the scalloped detail and classic gingham option—timeless with a touch of whimsy that suits our beach house vibe. I’m already imagining grandchildren enjoying these beds for years to come.
If you’re curious about how I make decorating decisions, I teach a process in my Room Recipe Workshop that helps you use what you already have, shop with confidence, and bring every room together intentionally. That method is the backbone of how I approach updates for the Snug.
What I’ve done already (or decided so far):
- Rearranged furniture between rooms to confirm we had the right pieces and placements.
- Brought in one of our white rattan chairs that longtime readers may recognize from past homes; I’ve wanted to use them somewhere in this house since we moved in.
- The rattan chairs will need fresh paint and new cushions and covers since we no longer have the original seat cushions. A small refresh could make one or both chairs feel new again—they’re lightweight, comfortable, and easy to move.
- We added a new slipcover for the couch in mineral blue organic cotton, which freshened that seating area.
- We ordered the two trundle daybeds that arrive soon. I love their scalloped shape and timeless style.
I also have a clever idea for repurposing the existing rattan daybed—more on that soon.
Next steps:
- Clear everything off the bookshelves and start fresh with curated styling.
- Paint the room to update the mood and tie the elements together.
- Decide on a rug or rugs to anchor the seating and sleeping areas—this is still under consideration.
There are many more decisions ahead for this room and the other guest room, and I’m excited to share updates as the Snug evolves over the year.