Farmhouse Guest Bedroom Restoration

I share the process start to finish of restoring our farmhouse guest bedroom, how I created a DIY faux brick chimney, a review of PPG’s newly reformulated Timeless Paint, and how to pick the perfect paint color.

Farmhouse Guest Bedroom Restoration

Watch the video of the restoration from start to finish BELOW:

This project was done in collaboration with The Home Depot and PPG Paints.  Although I was compensated for completing this project, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post may also contain affiliate links, meaning that purchases made through such links directly support this blog at no additional cost to you.  You can find my full disclosure here.  Thank you so much for supporting me and my dreams by taking the time to visit my blog!

Farmhouse Guest Bedroom: Before

When we first bought our farmhouse this little bedroom was in decent shape compared to other rooms in our home.  We used this room as our bedroom while we restored the master bedroom, making this room extra special to me.  It was finally time to give this room the TLC it deserved, but first let’s look at where we started.

Prep work

Like every project I take on, I significantly underestimated the amount of time and work that would be needed to restore this room.  There were several cracks in the walls that needed to be repaired.  I learned how to do this by watching YouTube videos.  The trim also needed sanding and patching.  Then the entire room needed to be primed and painted ceiling to floor.

PPG Timeless Paint

DIY Brick Chimney

This room had an awkward corner that is likely the back of a chimney.  Since it was covered in plaster and I didn’t know what condition the brick would be in I decided to achieve the exposed brick look with a DIY option inspired from my friend Cindy (@somethingpaintedwhite).

Materials Needed:

• Joint Compound
• Sand (I used a mix of coarse and fine)
• Putty Knife
• 1/4″ Painters Tape & 1/2″ Painters Tape
• Primer
• Paint (I used PPG Flat Pure White)

To do this all I had to do was draw level lines using a level and pencil (I made mine about 3″ apart but did not make them identical to mimic old brick work).  I then used both 1/4″ and 1/2″ painters tape over the pencil lines, leaving long ends for easy removal.  Next I added vertical lines to create “bricks” that were 4″ and 8″ wide, with a few random sizes in attempt to create an authentic look.  I also used small pieces of tape in random corners to create the look of a brick with a chipped corner.

Next I mixed joint compound with some course sand in an old plastic container (I eyeballed this part but it was about a cup of sand to the tub of compound). Then I used my putty knife to smear the mixture over my work area.  I made the layer just thick enough to stand out once the tape was removed.  Once it was all applied I began removing the painters tape.  Be sure to do this before your joint compound dries (you have time, mine took 2 days to dry)!  The tape left a clean line so I used my finger to smudge the edge of the “chipped corners.”

Once it all dried I used a paint brush to prime it before I painted it.  Be sure to check for drips as you go, the faux brick is a little tricky to paint and drips will happen.

That’s it!  This was such an easy and affordable DIY that added so much character to our guest bedroom.  I receive so many comments about how real it looks and that is the greatest compliment I could get!

Choosing the Perfect Paint Color

Selecting the perfect paint color (the first time around) can be tricky.  Luckily, PPG Paints makes this task a bit less daunting with their Timeless Paint Collection.  The collection of beautiful timeless colors makes it easier (and quicker) to find the perfect one.  They make it even easier to pick the perfect white color.  Instead of having one section of all their white colors, they categorize their whites based on what color family they belong to.  I knew I wanted an off-white with a greenish beige undertone, so I looked for the paint swatches based on the dark greige color I was looking for.  Then I looked at the white color on that same card.  This made it easy to know what undertones that white color would likely pull.

After narrowing all my swatches down to just 5, I went to The Home Depot to pick up some paint samples.  I then cut a poster board in quarters and made large paint swatches using my paint samples.  This is the easiest way to see what a paint color will look like in your home.  Paint color can change based on so many different factors (e.g., lighting, time of day, which direction your windows face).  Making large swatches allows you to move them around the room at different times throughout the day, ultimately making it easier for you to narrow it down to the perfect one.

Ultimately, I decided to use PPG Timeless Paint in China White.  I love the warmth it brings to this cozy room.

Finishing Touches

The paint dried and it was finally time to decorate!!  I was most excited to see the antique bed frame in this room.  It was from a local thrift store and it inspired the entire guest bedroom restoration.

I wanted to keep this room simple and cozy so I brought in several antique pieces, like my vintage dress form, a deconstructed chair, and a collection of gold mirrors to add timeless character back to this room.

 

Farmhouse Guest Bedroom Restoration: Summary

There is nothing like finishing a room in a fixer upper.  It is such a rewarding feeling.  When restoring an old home it can be difficult to restore with respect, bringing it back to what it once was.  I am grateful that PPG Paints has made this task easier through their Timeless paint collection and durable Timeless paint.

Thank you so much for taking the time to see our farmhouse guest bedroom restoration process from start to finish.  It means the world to me that you have taken the time to stop by my blog today.  I hope you leave feeling cozy and inspired.  Be sure to follow along on Instagram for more daily updates on the farm, fixer upper life, and more!