See how I transformed a small guest room into an stylish amethyst bedroom with hotel-worthy details: warm metallic accents, practical IKEA shelving, and cozy West Elm bedding.
When we moved into this house last year, I was most excited to finally have a dedicated guest room. Most of our family lives nearby, so we haven’t needed one in the past, but it’s great to have a welcoming space for out-of-town friends or overnight guests. And I’ll admit—having another bedroom to style is a lot of fun.
I don’t have before photos because this makeover evolved organically without a formal plan, and there are still a few finishing touches to add. Still, I wanted to share the progress so far.
The room is small, which presented some design challenges, but it also felt like an opportunity to be deliberate and efficient with the layout and storage.
The refresh started when we upgraded an old hand-me-down mattress to a new ComforPedic IQ mattress from Beautyrest. The mattress adapts to your body with Smart Response Technology, offering personalized support without motors or electronics, and includes Ultra Cool Memory Foam to help regulate temperature. It’s a comfortable, guest-ready foundation for the room.
Because the mattress conforms to your body each night, it promotes better sleep and helps guests wake up feeling refreshed — which might make them reluctant to leave.
Upgrading from a full to a queen bed meant new bedding. I fell for West Elm’s Amethyst Organic Diamond Medallion Matelasse duvet and paired it with organic ikat stripe sheets and a neutral coverlet for layering and extra warmth. The amethyst tones add a calm, sophisticated color scheme that reads feminine without being overly girly.
Decorative pillows, a faux fur rug, and layered textures complete the inviting, hotel-like look while keeping the palette cohesive in amethyst and soft gray tones.
Because the room is compact, finding a bedside table felt tricky. Instead of a bulky nightstand, I installed floating shelves on the wall next to the bed and closet, using the lowest shelf as a bedside surface. IKEA’s EKBY shelf system fit perfectly and is budget-friendly, giving practical surface area without crowding the floor.
The bed sits about 15 inches from the wall, so the lowest shelf was mounted roughly eight inches above the mattress—just the right height for a small lamp, a bowl for jewelry, and an outlet beneath for charging phones. The remaining shelves display simple, curated items from around the house to keep clutter at bay.
I discovered copper plumbing fittings at a hardware store and realized they would make a great home for air plants. No soil is required—just place the air plants in the fittings and mist them every week or two. The copper adds an unexpected metallic accent that complements the amethyst and gold details in the room.
A bankers lamp and a small gold bowl add function and sparkle on the shelf bedside. Everything else on the shelves is made up of items I already owned, keeping the refresh affordable and personalized.
What’s left on the to-do list?
- Paint: I considered a creamy white but the existing beige isn’t terrible; the room needs fresh paint and I’m weighing color options. I already have Benjamin Moore Covington Gray elsewhere in the house, so I’m leaning toward something different for this space.
- Dresser: I’m hunting for a narrow dresser that provides storage without taking up too much floor area.
- Artwork: I’d like to add more artwork to balance the walls and enhance the room’s personality.
- Window treatment: I installed lightweight IKEA curtains that are airy and affordable, but I still want a shade or blinds for privacy when needed.
This project was a lot of fun. My goal was a feminine, elegant room that wouldn’t feel overly sweet, and so far it has worked—my husband sometimes prefers sleeping here and says it feels like a high-end hotel. With the comfortable mattress and layered bedding, the room genuinely feels guest-ready.
Disclaimer: I have a working relationship with Beautyrest, who provided the mattress for our guests. As always, all views expressed are my own.