Last year John’s younger sister Carrie moved to Philly for work and found herself living in a cute high-rise apartment in need of a bit of cheap sprucing. So in under $200 we skipped through Ikea, got art and accessories to transform her space, and made over her apartment in an afternoon (here’s that story). Well, a year later she’s been transferred back to Northern Virginia (closer to the fam- hurrah!) but has found herself once again in a plain jane room in need of some serious spiffing. So we took on the help-Carrie-makeover-her-room-on-the-cheap challenge again in this doozie of a sunroom turned bedroom:
Yes, the room is almost entirely surrounded by glass- from the sliding doors that make her bedroom reminiscent of a fishbowl (let’s watch Carrie sleep… creepy) to the five- yes five!- floor to ceiling windows that create the irregularly shaped five-sided back wall. But we weren’t scared. Ok, well maybe a little. But thanks to our trusty $200 budget and another trip to Ikea, we had high hopes for this space. So off we went to our favorite Swedish furniture store for curtains, more curtains, a few accessories and some furniture to adapt with some cheap Home Depot supplies that we picked up on the way. Four hours later, the room looked like this:
Cay you believe that’s the same space? Here’s how it all went down. First and foremost we wanted to work with what Carrie already had to keep her precious pennies in her pocket. So as you can see from last year’s apartment makeover, she already had two black Lack side tables, some colorful pillows, and those textured striped curtains to work with. The only issue is that the black tables were formerly sofa side tables, and were wayyy too low for her bed (see before photo) so we brainstormed an alternate plan to use them to create something else that we needed in the space to save money and keep them from going to waste. Can you find them in the after picture above?
If you were wiley enough to guess that the black Lack tables from Ikea became the headboard, feel free to reward yourself with a celebratory donut. Yup, we were driving to Ikea with our new catalog in hand when I wondered aloud how wide those tables were. Turns out that three of them are almost the exact width of her bed, so we snagged one more (in a rich wood tone for interest) and did the happy dance at the “new lower price” of $7.99.
Then all we needed were a few dollars worth of metal brackets from Home Depot and a long 2 x 4 (which we had cut at HD into three 26″ pieces). The assembly process was simple. Step 1: unscrew the legs and turn all the tabletops upside-down and line them up with the brown square in the middle:
Step 2: Use strong metal brackets to connect each tabletop to the one next to it in at least two places (tip: don’t get decorative hardware- be sure it’s heavy duty enough to do the job). Oh and drilling a 55″ 1 x 3 across the back of your headboard will add even more durability and reinforcement so that’s extra credit (not shown below).
Step 3: Flip everything over to admire your handiwork (seriously guys, anyone can do this- we didn’t even use a power drill to assemble ours, I just used a regular old manual screwdriver and some elbow grease).
Step 4: Use three (or six for even more reinforcement) right angled L-brackets to connect the headboard legs (our three 26″ 2 x 4 pieces that we had pre-cut at Home Depot) to the newly-joined squares that make up the headboard:
And voila- a DIY headboard that we created for under $20 using a few things that Carrie already had laying around:
The headboard was actually more for function than form since the glass walls where the head of Carrie’s bed was resting come together to create an irregular angle that was causing Carrie’s pillows to get wedged between the bed and the window (and she kept waking up with her face in those vertical blinds). But thanks to the new made-it-ourselves solution, that pillow problem is a thing of the past.
But on to the biggest decorating road block we have ever encountered to date (truly- we were stumped for hours). We all agreed that Carrie needed some soft billowy curtains in front of those less-than-lovely vertical blinds (which she could not remove- no ifs, ands or buts) so we snagged a bunch of panels and rods and even a wire pulley system at Ikea in the hopes of turning a wall of vertical blinds into a soft and inviting cocoon of a bedroom. The unforeseen issues? We knew that we couldn’t hang the curtains from the “back wall” since it’s literally made up of five floor to ceiling glass windows (or use the track of the vertical blinds to hang the curtains since it wouldn’t accommodate any modifications of the sort) BUT we never anticipated that we couldn’t hang our curtains from the ceiling! Nope, we failed to anticipate that the ceiling would be a rock solid concrete-esque material that was literally impervious to screws, nails, and even our heavy-duty power drill. It could possibly have been made out of diamonds, it was that impenetrable.
So there went our wall of curtains idea. Right out those floor to ceiling windows. We did realize that we could “hang” one striped curtain panel behind the bed across the vertical blinds (we physically clipped it to the top of each blind to hold it up) creating the soft stripey fabric panel above the headboard. But once the curtain was clipped (with little Ikea curtain-hanging clips, btw) the blinds were no longer able to be opened or closed. So because Carrie doesn’t mind losing the ability to see out of the window behind her bed she was fine with us clipping the curtain to the vertical blinds… but for the rest of the windows in the room, we had to leave the verticals as-is to allow her to open and slide them on a daily basis (and again, the management would not let us remove the verticals- and they would see from the outside of the building if we had gone that route).
Long story short: Carrie has since called her building’s superintendent and asked two other renters how to hang curtains in the sunroom and no one has found a way! We’re still brainstorming though, so you can bet that if we think of something we’ll be there in a flash adding soft white curtain panels in front of those verticals to frame out the textured striped ones above the bed. Someday…
You’ll also notice that we brought in new side tables (conveniently shaped like rounded triangles, so they slip right into the triangular shaped space on each side of the bed). And at just $29 each we were psyched about our glass-topped Ikea finds. We also snagged some hanging lamps, which we knew would make the space. When you’re dealing with a small room, anything you can do to create drama and get things off of the few surfaces that you have for display/storage is always a plus. So don’t forget about plug in pendants or even sconces! At $12.99 each, these lights were totally within our budget. Huzzah. But how could we hang them from those bullet-proof ceilings? After approximately ten minutes of woe-is-me whining, we ran to CVS with our fingers crossed and returned with heavy-duty 3M wall hooks that we stuck to the ceiling to swag our little green shades. Success! Then we just plugged them in and we were in business.
We also used Carrie’s existing items (the pillows from her old apartment, her fun blue throw, the colorful books on her side table) to decorate her little jewel box of a room. And we snagged one more pillow (the goldy-green one) from Ikea for just $7.99. We love how it ties the green shades and the green stripes in the curtains into the red and blue pillows and accessories that we integrated. We also grabbed her existing red canvas art and leaned it against the wall behind her childhood dressers (snagged from home for free) for another fun pop of color that every no-painting-the-walls rental needs:
But what about the sliders that lead into the room? You know, the ones that give Carrie’s roommates a Truman Show-esque perspective? Well, we originally thought about hanging curtains but thought that something a bit flatter and less billowy for at least part of the 10′ expanse of glass might make Carrie feel less like she’s sleeping in a curtain warehouse. So we trolled Ikea for some interesting textures that we hoped to place over the glass from the inside for privacy and interest. Wrapping paper? Nope, too thin. Wallpaper? Didn’t see any. Grasscloth window panels? Jackpot. It was just like purchasing a huge roll of grasscloth wallpaper for only $15 a roll (we used two of them to get ‘er done) and we simply cut them to size and used clear heavy-duty packing tape to seam them together for a clean look. We LOVED the outcome- and it was so easy. Here’s the play by play as demonstrated by my other half:
Step 1: Measure the glass and cut the grasscloth panel to fit either horizontally or vertically (we went horizontal because our sliders were a bit too wide to do vertical):
Step 2: Use clear packaging tape to very smoothly tape the exterior edges of each panel to the metal glass door surround. Go slow and steady for the cleanest effect possible.
That’s it. And after a good amount of measuring, taping, stepping back to admire, repeat- you’ll have an awesome privacy screen built right into your sliding doors! Of course heavy duty clear tape is the key (this isn’t a job for scotch tape!) and hanging the grasscloth curtain panels the way they were intended to be used (from the ceiling or wall- both of which weren’t options for us) would also yield something fabulous and textured for your space- so you definitely don’t have to DIY everything if you’d rather stick to hanging the panels as they’re meant to be hung. Oh and we thought of another way to adhere the grasscloth if the tape method is too sticky (literally) for you (or if your house gets humid and warm, in which case we wonder if the tape will last for the long haul). Very strong magnets placed on either side of the glass would definitely hold the paper in place- and look pretty darn cool to boot.
Oh and you’ll notice above that we did actually add two breezy curtain panels after hanging the grasscloth for a layered effect. They felt light enough not to be too invasive (plus since we couldn’t hang the wall of curtains behind the bed, we knew the room could handle a bit more softness in other places). And thankfully there were walls perpendicular to the glass sliders (unlike behind the bed) so we could hang a curtain wire from those two walls to secure them. We loved how the textured panels on the glass and the billowy striped curtains worked together in the space. Tip: curtains slide extra effortlessly on wire, so it’s always good for a doorway- and Ikea sells a great kit called the Dignitet.
So that’s the story of an angular glass sunroom, a trip to Ikea, a $200 budget, and a ceiling that could probably deflect Superman. Oh but we can’t just mention the budget without doing a little play-by-play of how we spent our allotted cash, so here’s the breakdown for all you curious home improvement enthusiasts (items not on list below were existing last-apartment remnants, which really helped us stretch our dough):
- Striped curtain panels throughout room: $30 (for two sets of 2)
- Curtain clips (for panel over bed) & curtain wire (to hang sliding door curtains): $20
- Hanging lamp shades and lighting kits on either side of the bed: $26 total (such a deal!)
- 3M hooks to hang lights from impervious-to-everything ceiling: $6
- Third lack table to complete headboard project: $8
- Wood and brackets from Home Depot to create headboard: $12
- Goldy-green pillow on bed: $8
- Glass topped side tables: $30 each
- Grasscloth curtain panels turned into slider door wallpaper: $30 (for two rolls)
- GRAND TOTAL: $200 (and not a penny to spare)
Don’t you guys love those green hanging pendants? They have to be one of our favorite details in the room. And although it’s still a small space (9 x 11′ to be exact)- it feels so cozy and inviting. Hooray for Ikea and apartment makeovers! So what about you guys? Anyone itching to snag some of the goodies that we reached for while we shopped til we dropped? Any soon-to be-head-board-making individuals out there who are ready for the Lack table challenge that we detailed above? Anyone else with wall to wall glass and impenetrable ceilings who have curtain woes of their own? Let’s commiserate.
CarMaj says
Seriously… you two are amazing! Her new place looks so awesome – the headboard rocks!! Great job and great thinking!!
Connie says
Love the lamps, and even better, I love the re-use of other items. You guys are so creative!
Kristen says
FAB!!! That headboard project will be finding its way into my very sad guest room!
Colleen in MA says
Just, WOW, you guys. You changed a renter’s nightmare into a room that anybody would love to relax in.
And the headboard idea … I’m going to run this past hubby. Have are using two Lack tables as a coffee table in the living room but I feel that they need to be replaced by something more round and less rectangular. Would LOVE to have a headboard. Your idea = problem solved.
Very nicely done.
name your design says
you two should seriously have your own show! it is such a great use of space….and coming from a fellow cheap-o, i love that you can stick to a budget.
p.s. i just snagged that fun flower pillow at pier one (off the clearance rack for $8) and used it as the inspiration for my office/studio. love it!
Ashley says
I really can’t believe the transformation! Very cool!
M.K. says
I’m have to admit, I’m glad the ceiling was impervious because it led you to the simple adhesive hook solution – a solution I am going to borrow! I’ve long wanted to suspend a little lamp over my dark stove, but didn’t want to drill into the cabinet overhead. Problem solved!
Also I’m really impressed with the inexpensive and nice looking headboard. I’d like to fashion something similar for our second bedroom but wonder how you secured it to the frame? Otherwise I imagine it would be a bit wobbly?
Thanks!
Mimi says
Great job! Would it be possible to use an industrial grade velcro strip attached to the ceiling to hang drapes from? Or how about some very heavy duty 3m hooks to hang a small curtain rod for each panel as you did the lamps (love the look). I went up to Ikea (N. VA.) and bought some of the panels for my new space and can’t wait to hang them. My friend in Columbus has become a big fan of yours and she made the trip to Cincinnati to invest in some of your ideas. We are both in our 50s so you guys are doing a terrific job of reaching out to us almost “oldies”!
YoungHouseLove says
Mimi- Great idea with the industrial grade velcro! We did try to hang rods with 3M hooks and that backfired but the velcro is a possibility! The only thing is that the ceiling is super duper textured (picture small alligator teeth all over it) so we’re unsure if we could make it stick for the long haul. Definitely something to consider though!
M.K. and Laura- In Carrie’s room the alcove where we stuck the bed was exactly wide enough for it to nestle in there against the window, so placing the headboard between the back window and the bed was all it took to hold it in place (since there’s no possibility of it wiggling from side to side due to the shape of the space). In a regular flat wall situation, we would definitely recommend screwing a few super long screws right through the headboard legs into the wall to hold it in place. You’ll only make a few small patchable holes in the wall but you’ll get a super sturdy outcome that way. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Christin says
Simply incredible!
Dana Miller says
This has got to be one of your MOST CREATIVE projects to date. The headboard is geeeenius and those grasscloth backed doors are stunning. I love the way the light shines through the sliders and grasscloth. You two do your best work under pressure! Thanks for sharing.
Dennis Bullock says
You guys amaze and inspire me with every new creation!
OMG-YHL says
It’s GORGEOUS! I looooove the lack headboard! I have four lack side tables that I know what to do with if I ever get tired of them now! And it’s so colorful! A+ (and a gold star!)
Liz @ It's Great To Be Home says
Another ridiculously fabulous makeover!! I love it, and I’m sure Carrie does, too. And even though I’m not a fan of vertical blinds, I like that the striped curtain acts as an extension of the headboard, which wouldn’t have happened if you were able to hang all of the curtains. Looks great!
Laura says
I’m in the process of turning a cheap-o found in the as is section Malm headboard into a much better looking piece.. How do you guys attach the 2×4’s to the bed? Did you? Or do you just set it there? Appreciate the tips, and the room looks fab! :)
Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog says
Nice IKEA hack! The room really looks beautiful.
Elizabeth says
I’ve recently started getting on your website daily and I am continually amazed!!! This room is fabulous! The headbord is amazing!! A+ on another job well done!
Kristi W. says
You guys are so creative! Very nice work.
About the curtains… is it at all possible to somehow mount a large tension rod, like the kind you use in a bathroom? I’m guessing it wouldn’t work but figured I’d throw it out there.
elizabeth says
I wonder if it would be possible to use magnets to hold up the curtains on the other windows? It’s hard to tell from the pictures, what are the vertical blind tracks made out of, metal or plastic? If they are not something magnets will work with… have you thought about suction cups? I consulted google and found this site full of little industrial suction cups with really cool hardware that could be utilized to hold the curtains up, sort of like those draperies that are mounted directly to finials. (like here, but prettier: http://www.customdesignsbykara.com/photo_click.html)
suction cup site: http://www.anver.com/document/vacuum%20components/vacuum%20cups/cups-21mm.htm
Danielle says
WOW! What a fab space! Love the curtains and yellow pendent lights.
E. Colberg says
Fantastic…you guys are genius! You totally transformed that room and it looks amazing! It went from something I would be scared to sleep in (the fishbowl thing is creepy), into a cozy bedroom with privacy, function and fun! Love it! Keep up the great work and LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog.
Daily reader and loving it,
E.Colberg
Linden says
This is amazing!! I’m loving the headboard!!!
Lauren says
Wow! You guys did such a great job with the room!! How lucky she is! I live in northern virginia too and i think i know that apartment building, but i knew guys that lived there and surely didn’t do any sort of decorating in that space!
Kristal says
Great transformation! Love all the bright colors.
Melissa says
That looks so fab, guys!!! I’m so jealous of people who live close to IKEA. My closest one is almost 4 hours away!
What type of metal is that running along the top of the windows above the blinds? If it’s ferrous and not aluminum, you may be able to use some heavy-duty little magnetic discs attached to the back of the top of the panel(rare-earth magnets are super strong) to hold the curtains up near ceiling level.
megan @ a life's design says
Great transformation {even with the odd sliding glass doors}! I love the headboard idea from the Ikea tables. Very inventive!
Krys says
Was thinking about light, billowy, weightless curtains on top of those vertical blinds…
I hate vertical blinds so I don’t have any, never have.
But isn’t that some sort of aluminum track that the panel hooks “ride” in? Can’t the velcro go on the outside of the track somehow, with tie-backs of some sort to pull the curtains to the side when you want to open the verticals and let the light in? Or are there some sort of hooks that can be attached to the light billowy weightless curtains that can hook onto each individual vertical panel so when the panels open, the curtains do, too?
peacelovemath says
Another sticky idea for the curtains: Could you attach a wire to the walls on either side of the windows behind the bed, usint 3M hooks on the ceiling to contour the wire around the irregularly-shaped windows (i.e. one hook on the ceiling at each turn)? So the wire would be firmly attached to the wall at either end, and the hooks would only be holding it to the angular track the curtains need to move in, but not doing the heavy-duty work of holding up the whole contraption.
I don’t envy her living in such a small space, but you made it look really chic and comfy-cozy!
Wendy says
That looks great. I went to my first IKEA this weekend and Oh, it was soooooo wonderful! I can’t wait to go back!
Jenny @ DIY Newlyweds says
Wow, amazing job! The room looks so luxurious and comfy, especially impressive for an all glass room on a tight budget. The headboard idea is awesome, you never cease to amaze me!
S says
is your super heavy duty drill a hammer drill? typically that is enough to drill into concrete (it literally hammers in while drilling)
mhb says
I’m usually impressed, but this could be my favorite makeover you’ve ever done. I’m having trouble believing it’s the same room!
Kelly Deen says
Where did you find the curtain panels?
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the hanging ideas guys! Many if them are definitely something we can attempt so here’s hoping…
Oh and the curtain panels are from Ikea, Kelly (along with everything else except for the headboard materials from Hope Depot). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
heather s. says
Great job! My favorite part is the grasscloth covering the glass doors. I’ve never seen that at Ikea and am now wondering where I could use it in my house!
CJ says
Wow! Genuis idea to re-purpose the LACK tables.
Shelley says
You guys should submit this to Ikea Hacker: http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/. The Emmabo deck chair is a favorite of mine (http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2009/08/chair-to-rock-your-summer.html) but your Lack table headboard could surely win out.
Stacy S says
My DD went to Berlin last year and a solution a lot of renters used for curtains were those little suction cups with hooks onto the tops of the windows and then hanging the curtains some way from the hooks on the suction cups. This may not work with the blinds in the apt. you mentioned, but it may help someone else who is limited by landlords, tools or circumstances.
Love your blog and love your city !
From the ‘Burgh–SSB
Meghan says
I love all the pops of color- it truly looks amazing! I actually live in the apartment building next door to this building and have had several friends live in the “2nd bedroom”/sunroom. I have yet to see a solution for privacy and functionality in that space- job well done! My building (which is pretty new building) has those horrible vertical blinds too. Who thought those were a good idea??
Liz says
WOW. I am totally blown away!
This room turned out amazing! I love the headboard idea, it looks awesome! AND it was only $20!!
Shelley says
p.s. for those of us who don’t have a neighborhood Ikea store, Target sells essentially the same table as the Lack. I can’t find the Target version on their website but it retails for $15 in the store and is part of the REdecorate line. I have this table in the coffee table size (retail $30) and the construction is the same as the Lack.
April in CT says
It looks fantastic!!
I don’t even NEED anything and all of a sudden I’ve got the urge to go spend hours at Ikea looking around for things I didn’t know I couldn’t live without. I love that place and it’s only 15 minutes from me..dangerous!!
Audrey says
this is an amazing makeover, guys! Well done! And the headboard might be the most inventive thing I’ve seen in a while – and so cheap!
mrslimestone says
What a genius idea about using the lack tables! Great job.
SamiJ says
Curtains – could you possibly use magnets in the curtain pocket to have them stick to the vertical blind rail that runs along the ceiling (assuming the rail is metal)?
Could you use the 3M commander adhesive goo strip – but use it on your curtain wire pulley system anchor to make it adhere to the vertical blind rail?
Lovely room —
Aimee says
Okay, do you guys have any idea how cool you are??? I picked up a Lack coffee table floor model a couple of weeks ago for $9.90 (gotta love the Ikea As Is room). I had NO idea what I’d use it for, but it was too good to pass up. Add a couple of the $7.99 end tables, and we’ll have our headboard – thanks SO MUCH!
Anne says
You guys rock!!!
Our daughter is moving in to her first apartment this weekend and I can see many trips to Ikea in our future.
Donita says
VELCRO……..Mimi had the same idea that I had…ACCEPT, my way of thinking was, put velcro on every other one of the blinds *I know time consuming*, that way you could open the blinds and curtains all together. ;-) Just a thought, *WHERE THERES A WILL THERES A WAY* :-D
Donita says
P.S. FABULOUS ROOM, AGAIN guys. I love your work, and tell everyone about your site. ;-)
Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst says
Wow. That is one impressive makeover. Nice job!! I love the little triangle tables. :-)
Jenny
Words On Wendhurst
Sedona says
I had the same ideas as others, velcro stuck to the thin metal along the ceiling and sew/stuck to the top of the curtains. They would not be able to slide back and forth, but the could be tied back whwn wanted.
That room is amazing!! It’s so home and cozy. Great hacks and great ideas. I’m getting ready to make a padded headboard. Could be cheaper to go buy the lack tables than the wood to make it!!! Thanks for all of your amazing ideas! I love you blog!!
Kelly says
Amazing makeover!!! Love the grasscloth curtain panels… would you mind providing a link to those from the Ikea website? Want to bookmark it and be sure to check them out the next time I hit up the store!
YoungHouseLove says
Keep those curtain hanging suggestions coming! You guys are a crafty bunch. As for the link to the grasscloth curtain panels Kelly, if you go to ikea.com and look at the $14.99 panels (under panels and not curtains) you should see them. Hope it helps!
xo,
s