Hey friends, it’s been a minute since I’ve talked about the small garage we converted into a bedroom for our oldest! We originally created the space out of necessity when he was unexpectedly displaced from his college dorm during COVID. He ended up deciding to finish his college career off-campus at home, and with him and Cayden sharing a smaller bedroom at the time, we had to act fast to make it work.
We pulled the space together in a bit of a rush, and while it turned out great for the time, there were definitely some details we glossed over. The drywall wasn’t perfect, the trim work never got finished, and let’s just say the paint job had its… quirks. But it was livable, and for the most part, it served its purpose well.
Fast forward to today: although he and his girlfriend had been planning to move in together, with how expensive things are right now, it just makes more sense for him to stay here a bit longer. They’re saving up to eventually buy a house, and I’m all for supporting them as they work toward that goal. Plus, when they do move out, I’ve got some ideas for this space—maybe it’ll become my workshop or office, or even a guest room! So, it felt like the perfect time to finally tackle those unfinished bits and give the space the glow-up it deserves!
The goal for this space is to make it feel cozy, warm, and inviting while adding more functionality to the open layout. I also want it to reflect his personality a bit better—think cool retro hip-hop vibes, rather than just a black-and-white box. To achieve that, I’m creating distinct zones: one for music and content creation, a cozy lounge area, a dedicated sleeping space (of course), and a spot for his clothing and personal items.
The first thing we decided to address was the walls.
When we had our siding done, the contractor found significant wood rot on the exterior walls.
A lot of the studs had to be replaced, which caused some of the drywall to loosen. While the exterior end result was nothing short of amazing, the interior walls needed to be secured again. So, we secured all of the drywall and then added some leftover shiplap from our breezeway project to the walls.
This instantly gave the room so much more character and made it feel way more polished (after trim and caulk of course).
Next, we had our electrician install recessed lighting to brighten things up. The two tiny windows in the room face northwest, so it gets very little natural light. Adding the recessed lighting completely transformed the space—it made such a huge difference!
We are so excited with the direction this is heading in. It feels so much more fresh and finished. Stay tuned for the next part, because this room is finally getting the love and attention it deserves!
