• Week One: Urban Boutique Bedroom Construction and Inspiration
• Week Two: “If These Walls Could Talk” Gallery Wall
• Week Three: Urban Boutique Bathroom
• Week Five: Faux Bamboo IKEA Hack Daybed

The Spring One Room Challenge has been just the motivation I need to decorate our bedroom addition! And the most important project is, of course, the bed!

I love customizing furniture – remember my DIY built-in shelves or the DIY dining banquette? I knew that the bed in our new guest room was going to require some creativity, and I was excited for the challenge! First, this room is quite small and narrow (7.5 feet wide x 12.5 feet long). Despite the space constraints, I wanted something that could work as a daybed/ couch when the space is not being used as a bedroom and that could convert to a comfortable bed for one – and if I am dreaming, could also be a bed for two?! Oh, I also wanted to incorporate a Thomasville Allegro twin bedframe that I was so lucky to find free a few years ago on Craigslist. So, yes, this project was a real unicorn.

After browsing lots of options, I found the IKEA Hemnes daybed had the functionality I wanted – a daybed with storage drawers that can convert to fit one or two for sleeping. It’s made of solid wood and MDF, so it is sturdier than a lot of particleboard/ pressboard options also. I got extra lucky when I found one on Facebook Marketplace that the owner had moved from France. It turns out that the EU version of Hemnes is a little longer and narrower than the North American version, which is perfect for our long narrow room!

The next step was figuring out how to integrate the Hemnes daybed with the Thomasville bed frame. I decided to use the two twin headboards placed side-by-side as the back of the daybed. I cut down the height of the Hemnes frame, so the two ends would be the same height as this transition in the Thomasville headboards and would serve as low armrests for the daybed and low headboard/ footboard for the bed. I also reversed the back piece of the Hemnes and removed the top trim from that piece, so that it would not compete with the vintage headboards. To make the Hemnes frame sit flush against the vintage headboards, I also had to trim a small section off the back of the “arm rests.”

Once I prepped all the pieces, I sanded and painted everything in Benjamin Moore HC-166 Kendall Charcoal, a warm dark grey that coordinates with the dresser I bought for the closet.

I really want to make sure this finish lasts, so I followed every step to paint furniture, like I did when I made over this mid-century dresser. That finish has held up perfectly, including in my kids’ rooms!

Finally, I replaced the drawer knobs with these sleek satin brass pulls (affiliate link).

You can see all the other fun room transformations on the One Room Challenge website!

Julie AKA “Jewels”