We kicked off 2008 with a home improvement project that changed our master bedroom dramatically.
On New Year’s Day we were out the door before nine, motivated by the simple promise of two new closets. Our master had only one tiny closet, which forced John to keep half his wardrobe in the guest room. That wasn’t ideal, so we decided to fix it.
Here’s the New Year’s Day timeline:
8:20 am – Up and at ’em.
9:00 am – Headed to Ikea.
11:00 am – Arrived and went straight to the closet section.
12:30 pm – Left with two large wardrobes and interior fittings, $460 lighter.
2:00 pm – Home to rest briefly.
2:05 pm – Rest over. Time to assemble.
2:15 pm – Removed side tables and pulled out the allen wrench.
3:50 pm – First wardrobe frame complete.
4:30 pm – Second frame finished. Re-hung curtains to make the small window feel larger.
5:25 pm – Quick trip to Lowe’s for long screws to anchor the wardrobes to the wall (Ikea didn’t include them).
6:15 pm – Installed shelves and a hanging bar in Sherry’s side.
7:30 pm – Installed drawers and a hanging bar in John’s side (we meant to add shelves too but grabbed the wrong size).
8:30 pm – Took a Burger King break—cereal wasn’t going to cut it.
9:30 pm – Unloaded clothes, shoes, bags, and belts into the new closets. The guest room closet was empty for the first time in ages.
10:00 pm – Hung white curtains over the wardrobes and immediately disliked the look; it came off too cheap and fussy.
10:05 pm – Pushed the curtains to the side and liked the built-in feel much more.
Over the next few days we made steady progress. We added 7-inch molding to the top of each wardrobe to bridge the obvious gap to the ceiling and create a more built-in look. We also tried heavy chocolate brown panels but decided they were too dark, so we returned them and tried several other options.
We went on a curtain-shopping spree—Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens N’ Things, and Target—buying many panels to compare at home, then returning everything except our favorites. The search cost close to $500, but it helped us visualize several looks before choosing the right fabric.
Our dog Burger helped oversee the competition:
The clear winner was khaki chenille-like curtains from Bed Bath & Beyond with a subtle crosshatched texture. They added warmth and softness without overwhelming the space.
Next came lighting. We wanted plug-in swing-arm lamps above the bed for reading and ambiance. After searching locally and finding options either unavailable or too expensive, we found two brushed nickel plug-in swing-arm lamps at a Lamp Factory Outlet while visiting family—$40 each, a great bargain. We mounted them so the bases tuck behind the curtains and the arms angle out in a neat, polished manner.
To finish the built-in illusion, we mounted a wide painted plank to the ceiling in front of both wardrobes to serve as a header. That header, combined with crown molding and curtains hung flush to the ceiling, transformed the two freestanding wardrobes into a cohesive nook around the bed.
The result is a bedroom that feels intentional and cozy. What started as two big boxes sitting on either side of the bed now reads like a built-in nook with improved storage and a more finished, hotel-like vibe. For a 12 by 13 foot room in an older house, this renovation made a big visual impact.
Mission accomplished: the room now feels special and well thought-out instead of cramped and mismatched.
Update: Several readers asked how the curtain rod attaches behind the header. We mounted a basic curtain rod on a bracket attached to the molding that bridges the wardrobe-to-ceiling gap. The rod sits a few inches below the ceiling so it can be lifted off the bracket easily—lesson learned and visible in the mounting holes we left as a reminder.