A Bohemian Lamp Makeover and New Curtains Changed Our Guest Room

An old gold lamp from my mom started this guest-room change. I had owned it for about thirteen years and wanted it to fit the room’s playful style. The makeover grew into a painted shade, new curtains, and a fresh arrangement of pieces with personal meaning.

A lamp decorated like the things I wear

I looked at lampshade ideas, including ribbon and flower embellishments, before deciding what felt like me. My poppy lampshade had come from that kind of inspiration. For this lamp, I wanted the bohemian style I like in my clothes.

I spent two days working out the idea. Burlap, fringe, and beads looked good on other projects, but I chose a different combination for this one. The finished shade was not tailored or perfect, and I was happy with that.

Brown and blue paint, flowers, and a fabric belt

I painted the shade brown and the lamp base blue, then painted small flowers across the shade and added texture to their centers.

Next came a belt: I cut fabric from inside a pillow sham, tied it around the base, and fringed it. A necklace-like detail followed, because necklaces are another part of how I dress.

Lined curtain panels replaced sheers and valances

The guest room had sheers and valances that had never felt right to me. I replaced them with lined Better Homes and Gardens panels, which cost $16.97 each when I bought them.

A painted dresser and round metal artwork

The room is small, so I bought a little dresser to hold the guest TV. It was hand-painted and cost $79 at World Market. I paid more than I usually liked to, but liked the workmanship and how it fit the room.

The round metal artwork cost $12.99 at Marshalls the year before. My mom had found one in Buffalo, and I was glad to find a version here. At the time of these photos, I was considering painting it blue.

Gifts gave the room its personal details

The light over the TV came from a birthday surprise from my husband. When we lived in South Florida, we window-shopped on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. I had admired the light there, and he later bought it for me.

It had hung in our South Florida kitchen before moving into this guest room. A cross from my cousin in Arizona and a chair I had redone added other personal pieces.