River Rental Reveal: The Guest Bedroom
We're back with another room reveal, and oh my goodness, you guys are going to love this transformation! If you thought last week's primary bedroom makeover was good, just wait until you see what we did with bedroom number two.
The Great Storage Cleanout of 2025
Let me paint you a picture of the "before." When Billy was living here, this front bedroom had become the house's unofficial junk drawer – you know, that space where everything that doesn't have a home somehow ends up? There was a lonely futon, a desk with good intentions, and approximately seventeen boxes of "I'll deal with this later" stuff.
Billy's original plan was genius in theory: create a dual-purpose office-slash-guest room. But like most dual-purpose spaces, it ended up being neither a great office nor a welcoming guest room. It was more like a storage unit with furniture!
Before we could even think about paint swatches, we had to stage what felt like an archaeological dig. Layer by layer, box by box, we excavated years of accumulated stuff. But trust me – what emerged from all that chaos was absolutely worth it.
Note: this before photo was taken when the room was actually “clean,” before all of the storage chaos ensued.
The Color That Changed Everything
After painting the entire rest of the house in Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore (our trusty, go-to white), I was practically vibrating with the need to do something different. Don't get me wrong – I love a crisp white wall – but I was worried our rental might start feeling a little too... safe? Predictable?
That's when I spotted the leftover paint from another project: Carolina Gull by Benjamin Moore. This isn't just any green – it's a deep, rich, warm green that immediately whispers "golf course fairway" and "cozy cabin" all at once. The moment I rolled the first stroke on the wall, I knew we'd found our winner.
And the original wood trim? I couldn't bring myself to paint over it. The contrast between that gorgeous natural wood and the deep green walls was absolutely chef's kiss – like something straight out of a high-end golf resort.
Designing for Maximum Flexibility
Since the primary bedroom has a river theme, I leaned fully into the golf theme here. The green walls were the perfect starting point. Because we’re expecting this room to get used a little less than the primary, we decided to skip clothing storage and instead added a desk. If guests want to put away clothes, there’s the dresser in the primary bedroom or the closet in this room. With the desk, the room doubles as a workspace or even a little vanity for getting ready.
Here's a hosting pro tip I'm obsessed with: two twin beds instead of one larger bed. So much more flexible! Friends traveling together? Perfect. Parent with a child? Ideal. Solo traveler who likes to spread out? They can use one bed for sleeping and one for their luggage explosion (we've all been there).
Each bed gets its own bedside table and lamp because everyone deserves their own little space, even in a shared room.
One of my favorite design tricks in this room is the mirror placement. I hung it over the desk, directly across from the window, and it's like having a secret weapon against dark walls. The mirror bounces natural light all around the room, making those gorgeous deep green walls feel bright and airy instead of cave-like. Plus, it doubles the vanity functionality.
The Reveal
Budget Break Down
What We Already Had:
Desk & matching stool – $0
Blue end table – $0
Curtains – $0
Desk lamp – $0
Clock – $0
Golfer statue – $0
Secondhand Scores:
Twin bed #1 – Free from a family friend (best kind of free!)
Twin bed #2 – $100 from Facebook Marketplace
White shelf (using as a nightstand) – $5 from local flea market
Rug – $45 from Facebook Marketplace (still in original packaging!)
Mirror – Free hand-me-down from my mom
Driver spec art – free from my mom
Large golf art – free from my mom
Wall sconces – $40 from Facebook Marketplace
Small trash can - $3 from Goodwill
Board games/puzzles - $6 total from Goodwill
Wooden bowl - $3 from Goodwill
New Necessities:
Bedding sets (2) – $46 each from Amazon = $92
Twin mattress (2) - $80 each from Amazon - $160
Twin pillows (2) - $20 each from Amazon - $40
Throw pillows - set of 2 for $16 from TJ Maxx
Grand Total: $510
The Reality Check
Full transparency moment: This room definitely cost more than the primary bedroom because we were essentially starting from zero. And if I'm being completely honest, I probably could have snagged a cheaper twin bed – Facebook Marketplace was full of great options. But did I message people promptly? Of course not! I kept thinking "I'll reach out tomorrow" until all the good deals disappeared. Consider it my procrastination tax!
My absolute favorite find, though, has to be that rug. Not only was it still sealed in its original packaging (score!), but it's ridiculously soft underfoot. Sometimes the thrifting gods just smile down on you.
The Big Question
So here we are – two bedrooms down, each with its own personality! Now I'm dying to know: If you were booking a stay at our rental, which room would you claim? The serene river-themed primary bedroom with its calming blues and whites, or this cozy golf retreat with its rich green walls and playful touches?
Up next: the bathroom and public spaces—and I seriously can’t wait to show you! The before and afters are just so good!
