Making Our House A Home (even though it’s a rental)–Follow my journey in turning our house into a home. You can read other posts in this series here.
During the aforementioned survival phase when we were just trying to acquire the basic necessities for our family, we were able to get beds for everyone, but the only bed that we could find for our master bedroom was a borrowed mattress from someone’s RV.
We were grateful to have something to sleep on, but RV mattresses are manufactured with the idea that people sleep on them a few weeks out of the year, not everyday for two years straight. Needless to say, the mattress became quite uncomfortable for us, but we did not have the money for a new one.
One of our primary savings goals for the new year was the mattress fund.
Two weeks ago, we had enough savings and were finally able to purchase a king size mattress! We bought a floor model at a discount so we saved several hundred dollars.
Let me tell you what a difference a good mattress makes!
So here is the before photo again:
And here is the current state of the bedroom:
The quilt is one that my husband’s grandmother made for his mother for her wedding day. My mother-in-law recently gave it to me and I love the way the colors all work together. And now that we have a taller bed, the pictures that I had hung previously are not too high up on the wall.
With some of the money we saved by purchasing the floor model, I was also able to purchase a few accessories. I prayed about which stores to go to and found some items that work perfectly with the color scheme. I am sure that some of you will balk at the idea of praying before shopping, but I believe that God cares about every detail of our lives and I have made some pretty amazing finds by praying first.
On this particular trip I found the wooden letter K, the green and white pillows and the porcelain bowls on the night stands at the first store. The letter K really pulls the out the blue in the quilt. It’s difficult to tell in this photo but the flowers on the porcelain bowls on both our night stands are the same shape as the flowers in the print to the right of the bed.
I found the floral pillow and the lamp on my nightstand at a second store. The blue in the lamp shade exactly matches the letter K, and the floral pillow is almost an exact match for the print on the wall. Maybe the way everything works together is a coincidence I really believe that God provided these items for me.
So I am pretty content with the state of things now. The bedroom is a much happier place and makes me lots more motivated to make the bed!
Have you made any home improvements lately? Share a comment or a link. 
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
My hubby is on night shift so I needed to do blackout curtains. However, purchasing them was not in our budget. So… I went to a discount fabric place and found dark material for 50 cents a yard!!! I then bought some pretty material for $2.00. I made a skylight black out with two tension rods and a curtain that really turned out quite pretty. Then blacked out three other windows that I was able to do and still have them look nice–which was a concern!! I then blacked out the one in the hall with the blackout material and an old but pretty sheet my mom gave me several years ago!
So, my hubby is now sleeping MUCH better–yet the room still looks nice. All for less than $20!!
LOVE this room!! Very lovely!
One thing special on our bookcase type headboard (cheapest we could find–I can’t have already finished furniture unless it is well used. So we have to go w/unfinished.) is a framed saying my mom gave me “Don’t count sheep, talk to the Shepherd.” Due to health, I have problems sleeping. I see that EVERY night–and it is special!!! We recently moved to a house from an apartment–and that framed piece always goes in the same place!
Good for you Rach for using what you had and what you could afford to meet your needs. That saying sounds like a sweet addition to your room–and thanks for the compliment on my room.
LOVE old quilts, BTW, I’m amazed at how well that one looks. Ours that are of that age are very well used. What a great sentimental addition to a room!
-K-that should read Love YOUR room.. very lovely!!!
I too like to have a bedroom look well enough to make me WANT to make the bed! LOL
What a GREAT job with the transformation!!!!!! You really perked it up!!! What fantastic savings!! I too need a mattress fund next year, I hope? I would like to share an idea I found on pinterest with you, using twin size fitted sheets for the bed skirt to hide box springs. I am going to try this for myself too! Discount stores, TJ Max, Marshall’s, Big Lots, etc. have great deals at times. Enjoy! Sandy
That is a great idea Sandy. I had never thought of that–thanks!
Congratulations on the new bed. Good rest does wonders for the soul. Your bedding is beautiful.
Thank you Mandy!
Sandy,
Glad to know another “prayer” shopper. Whenever I’m out and about shopping, whether its with my kids or by myself, whether its heading into target or Goodwill, we always take a moment to ask the Lord to direct us to the things that we NEED and then the things that our hearts desire. To help us separate the things that He has for us from the things we just plain want. To have eyes of good stewards realizing that everything we have has been sifted thru His hands. What a blast, what a treasure hunt!! When you approach your shopping trip with this perspective I find that we all appreciate our finds all the more. I remember one time in specific, when my daughter was about 10. She had wanted one item in particular, I mean she even spoke out the specific color of the item that she desired. I’ll never forget hearing her voice echo through the Goodwill aisle ~ Mom, Mom, look what God has for me:) Now that was PRICELESS!! I think sooo many times we rush ahead and buy something because we feel that we HAVE TO HAVE it NOW, instead of waiting for God to GIVE it to us in His perfect timing:)
I love that story! Thank you for sharing it Kathy.
Most definitely God cares about the minutest detail of our lives. Recently I had a paper that HAD to be postmarked on the 28th…Of course I couldn’t lay my hands on that silly paper. I emailed a very good friend and asked her to pray that if it was God’s will I would find that paper. Less than 10 minutes later there it was…right where it should have been!
Love your story Kathy. So often we forget.
Love the colors you chose. So pretty! Don’t you just love a mini makeover?
Your room looks cheerful and inviting. I love the colors. I think it’s great that you ask God to lead and guide you in your shopping. Good things come to those who are patient.
Thanks Heidi! I love the colors too–it just makes me happy to look at it.
We always try to pray before we go garage sale-ing. I think it is a powerful lesson to our children to see God provide specifically what we NEED.
Here is a cheap tip for Curtains.
I had a small apartment with a lot of windows so I found
Flat Sheets @ Walmart for $6
Undo the side stitching from the top of the sheet (The area where it looks to form a pocket) you can then just slip a curtain rod directly through. I had all “white curtains” in my apt. Buy a few and just bunch them or tie them off to the sides.
I even had friends ask where I got the curtains since they couldn’t find nice white ones that weren’t see through.
(if they are hidden behind a bed you could use twin sheets since the length doesn’t matter)
Awesome idea Jamie–thanks!
Looks great and perfect for your area of the country…..sunny and bright!!! I too pray about purchases….small or large. We have wanted a nice high quality rug for our great room for as long as we have lived in this house…..9 years. I found a 9×12 wool rug that retailed for $1,200 (would never pay that) at Homegoods for $250 on clearance. I couldn’t get up to the register to pay quick enough!!!!
What a great find!
I can attest to the fact that God honors prayer before shopping! He helps me to look at purchases w/spiritual eyes. Often, I decide I don’t need the item…or gives me ideas on how to use something I already have for the same purpose or allows me to find what I need at a much lower price! It is the BEST way to shop!
What a great job on your makeover. The room looks very pretty and put together. I agree God honors prayer and cares about all our needs. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Terri!