Before: a mattress on a bed frame, one overhead ceiling light (never used), a nightstand from a store I'm embarrassed to name, and no art. My bedroom was a place I went to sleep and tried to leave as quickly as possible in the morning.
After: I spent $340 and it's now the room I'm most proud of in my apartment.
The Line Items
Bedside sconces (x2): $84. Mounted with adhesive. Made the largest single impact of anything I bought. Wall sconces flanking the bed are the one upgrade I'd do in any bedroom, any budget.
Linen duvet cover: $110. Worth every dollar. The texture elevates the entire room.
Large mirror: $55. Leaned against the wall (no installation). Makes the room look bigger.
Two plants + pots: $42. The bedroom needed something living.
Gallery wall prints (printed myself): $24. Frame store frames, Command strips. Nine frames, zero holes.
A pendant light in the corner: $25 (plug-in, cord hidden behind furniture). The pendant gives the corner a destination quality — you actually want to sit in the chair beneath it now.
Total: $340. The room is unrecognizable. My morning mood is measurably better.
Shop this post: bedside wall sconces and pendant light
