Ideas for a Summer Bedroom Makeover with Vintage Linens

If you’re looking for some ideas for a summer bedroom makeover, I’ve got some for you.

Transforming your bedroom into a cozy and inviting space can be a fun and rewarding project. 

With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to give your bedroom a refreshing makeover.

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Why Refresh a Bedroom for Summer

Summer is the perfect time to refresh your bedroom and give it a new look. With the warmer weather and longer days, you’ll want to create a space that feels light, airy, and comfortable. 

By incorporating vintage linens into your bedroom décor, you can achieve a cozy and inviting space that’s perfect for lazy summer days.

Refreshing your bedroom for summer doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. A few simple updates can make all the difference in transforming your space. By swapping out heavy winter bedding for lighter linens, you’ll instantly create a brighter and more breathable atmosphere. Vintage linens are a great choice for summer because they’re lightweight and breathable, making them perfect for warm weather.

In addition to creating a more comfortable space, refreshing your bedroom for summer can also have a positive impact on your mental health. By creating a calming and relaxing environment, you’ll be able to unwind and de-stress after a long day. Plus, a refreshed bedroom can help you get a better night’s sleep, which is essential for your overall well-being.

Adding Vintage Linens

Vintage linens add a touch of nostalgia and charm to any space. They are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways to create a unique and personalized look. From crisp white sheets to colorful patterned pillowcases, vintage linens can help you achieve the perfect summer bedroom makeover.

In this post, I’ll share some creative ways to incorporate vintage linens into your bedroom decor. I have a before and after video to help inspire you and give you some ideas for your own summer bedroom makeover. Whether you’re a fan of shabby chic, bohemian, or minimalist styles, there’s a vintage linen look for everyone. 

So, let’s get started and transform your bedroom into a cozy and stylish oasis!

Watch the Before & After Video

Before the Makeover

State of the Bedroom

Here is a common scenario:

You’ve been meaning to update your bedroom for a while now. 

The walls are a dull beige, the furniture is mismatched, and the linens are worn out. 

You don’t feel relaxed or comfortable in your own space, and it’s affecting your sleep.

Your bed is the centerpiece of the room, but it’s not doing anything to enhance the overall aesthetic. The sheets are frayed and faded, the pillows are flat, and the comforter is lumpy. You’ve tried to spruce things up with a few decorative pillows and a throw blanket, but it still doesn’t feel cohesive.

The curtains are another sore spot. They’re a cheap, synthetic material that lets in too much light and doesn’t provide any privacy. You’ve considered replacing them, but you’re not sure what style to go for.

Overall, your bedroom is in desperate need of a makeover. You want to create a space that feels cozy, inviting, and reflective of your personal style. You’re hoping that incorporating vintage linens will help achieve that goal.

We seem to leave our bedroom last on the list of rooms we take the time and money to refresh.

Why is that when it should be our sanctuary?

The Makeover Process

Planning the Layout

Before you start your bedroom makeover, take some time to plan the layout. Consider how you want the room to feel and function. Do you need more storage? Would you like a reading nook? Do you need some adult matching nightstands? Once you have a clear vision, measure the room and create a floor plan. 

This will help you determine what furniture and decor you can fit in the space.

Whether it’s your guest room or your primary bedroom that needs a new bedroom design I hope this post gives you some inspiration. 

The room I’m working on is our primary bedroom

Painting the Room

Our walls really needed a fresh coat of paint so after we took everything off the walls and moved most of the furniture into a different space, we painted the walls. The new wall color was very similar but it is fresh and it covered up all the holes, knicks, and cracks.

Painting the Wood Floor

We painted the wood floors in our bedroom.

It’s been a long time since our floors were refinished. Instead of refinishing the floors which requires removing all the furniture, a large investment, and moving out of the house for a few days, we are choosing paint!

If we wanted it to match the rest of the house it would also be stained dark wood and I didn’t want that for our bedroom.

If you have a wood floor in your bedroom, consider painting it to add a vintage touch. While you can choose any color you like, I suggest choosing a color that will work with changes throughout the year. I choose WHITE! Go figure.

Because our home has a vintage look, I thought that painting the floor would be a good alternative to refinishing them. It also will give the space that vintage look that I have in the rest of the house.

Before painting, the standard procedure for painting floors is to sand the floor and clean it thoroughly. Then, apply a primer and let it dry completely. Finally, apply two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. 

We purchased Sherwin Williams Floor and Porch Enamel. We were told by the salesperson that with this paint, we didn’t need a primer. Depending on what type of paint you buy, the instructions might change. We applied two coats of paint and it covered beautifully and is holding up fine.

Incorporating Vintage Linens

Recently I was at our storage unit and found some vintage Ralph Lauren bedding that I thought would be a nice addition to my summer bedroom refresh. They are Ralph Lauren Southhampton Beach House Floral.

It’s a color scheme that is not quite me but I thought it might be nice to step out of my comfort zone.  I have been a neutral white with a little bit of blue gal for a very long time. 

Vintage linens are a great way to add charm and personality to your bedroom. You can find linens with interesting patterns and textures, such as lace or embroidery. In this case, I found vibrant florals

I also have a beautiful vintage hand-tied Persian rug that has rich colors and will look lovely against my wood floor and is (in my mind) a perfect match for my old linen. It is the perfect rug for this refresh.

Modern Linens

If you’ve been following me for some time, you know that I’m kind of a snob about my bedding. While I’m using my vintage linen as a bed skirt, pillow shams, and decorative pillow covers, I am using new sheets that we put under and over our bodies. 

“Handy” and I sleep on a NEST Mattress and they recently sent me a set of sheets as a gift. I am truly impressed and I have pretty high standards for sheets. 

This is what I love about the Crinkle Percale Organic Sheet Sets from Nest Bedding:

• They are made for summer sleeping 
• So Soft and Breathable
• They come in a variety of colors and for the first time in my life, I didn’t choose white
• My favorite part is the top sheet is very generously sized which is hard to find. I like to have plenty of material on the sides and then on the bottom to tuck into the mattress and this has both. 
• The bottom sheet is very deep and doesn’t pull up with our mattress 
• The set comes with 4 pillowcases – Such a bonus since we both sleep with several pillows. 
• They are half the price of the same quality sheets that I’ve purchased elsewhere.
• They are made with Fair Trade Organic Cotton.

The quilt on my bed is from Pottery Barn. It’s actually the second one that I’ve owned as I love it so much. It’s butter soft! The quilt is also made with chemical-free materials and sustainably sourced fibers. Those things align with what I want in my home. Right now it’s on sale! You can find it HERE

Bedroom Furniture

Not too long ago I purchased matching nightstands that are what I call “adult” nightstands. Prior to this, we had tiny mismatched nightstands that really were meant for a child’s bedroom as our bedside tables. Now the nightstands with our headboard will only fit on one wall and I’m fine with that but I moved other things around.

We had a faux fireplace mantel on the wall opposite our bed and we’ve moved that into a corner on the other side of the room. It makes a perfect cozy reading spot.  The bookshelves that were on our balcony are now on the old fireplace wall. I’m not sure they will stay there but if they do, we will be finishing them so that they will look more built-in.

The only piece of truly antique furniture that I have in our bedroom is an armoire and it provides the storage we need upstairs in our little house. I have some old quilts on top of the armoire. One I purchased at a flea market and the other two are family heirlooms. Old quilts are a decorative element that adds a vintage touch to any space. 

I used to have a chest of drawers in our room but I was able to clean out the built-in white cabinets and fit all of my clothes that were in the dresser into the cabinets. Not only did it free up space in our room but it also forced me to organize, purge and redistribute the things I had stashed into them.

The Window Treatment

Our blinds have been hanging over our windows for over 20 years! It was definitely time for a change. The BlindsGalore Cordless Woven Shades in the color: Palapa-4044.

These are a nice way to tie our cedar ceilings together with the space and they a natural element and texture that I like to have in any space.

Adding Final Touches

Once you have your furniture and linens in place, it’s time to add the finishing touches. 

Hang artwork or photos on the walls. I have some vintage botanicals that I just love and they will be going back above our nightstands. 

I have some throw pillowcases with the same vintage linen so I added that to our bed. 

Don’t forget to add lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Now that I’ve finished making over a lamp from Goodwill, I’m on the hunt for two matching vintage-style table lamps that I can put on our nightstands. 

If we didn’t desperately need the fan in our room, I would definitely consider replacing it with a chandelier.

With these simple steps, you can transform your bedroom into a cozy and stylish retreat. By incorporating vintage linens and adding personal touches, you’ll create a space that reflects your unique style and personality.

After the Makeover

Revealing the New Look

As you step into a newly made-over bedroom there is such a great sense of accomplishment. For me, it’s that feeling of new being simply stunning. 

Having cleaned every inch and added fresh paint makes me know that the space is truly clean.

And then there are the new, fresh, sheets! They breathe new life into the space. Our bed is the centerpiece of our room and the linens really make it a focal point. 

You can’t help but smile as you take in all the little details.  

Feeling the Difference

As you sit down on the bed, you can feel the difference in the linens. They’re soft and cozy, and you know you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep. 

The vintage feel gives the room a sense of history and character, making it feel like a space that’s truly your own.

You can’t wait to spend more time in your newly made-over bedroom. It’s a space that’s both beautiful and functional, and you know you’ll enjoy it for years to come. Or in my case enjoy it for this season. 

I guarantee I will be bringing back the white bedroom with white linens when it’s time to put up my Christmas trees as I always have a tree in our room.

Conclusion

I’m really happy with the final result of our bedroom. It’s a whole different feel with the help of the vintage linens, the antique rug, and the painted floors. 

The vintage Ralph Lauren pattern gives the space the summer feel I like with the floral patterns and the vibrant colors. I was so happy that I hung on to them. I was able to give my room a completely new look by using something I already owned and contributing to the more eco-friendly lifestyle that I do my best to maintain. 

If you’re interested in using vintage linens to refresh your space and be more sustainable, you can find lots of great vintage and linen bedding on Etsy. 

There are still a few things that I want to finish in the room. 

• Create a built-in look for the bookshelves
• DIY Lamps for our side tables
• Find a great chair on the Facebook marketplace for my reading nook 

Thank you for following along on this journey to transform your bedroom with vintage linens. We hope you found this article helpful and inspiring. Happy decorating!

Peace and Love,

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you paint a wood floor?

Painting a wood floor is a great way to give your bedroom a fresh new look. Before you start, make sure to clean and sand the floor to remove any dirt or rough spots. Then, apply a primer to the floor before painting to help the paint adhere better. Once the primer is dry, you can paint the floor with high-quality floor paint. Be sure to let the paint dry completely before moving any furniture back into the room.

Where can you find vintage linens?

Vintage linens can be found in a variety of places, including thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales, and online marketplaces like Etsy. When shopping for vintage linens, be sure to inspect them carefully for any stains or damage. Also, consider the color and pattern of the linens and how they will fit into your bedroom’s overall design.

What are some affordable ways to update your bedroom for summer?

There are many affordable ways to update your bedroom for summer without breaking the bank. One easy way is to switch out your bedding for lighter, brighter colors and fabrics. You can also add some decorative pillows or throws in summer-inspired patterns. Another option is to add some plants or flowers to the room to bring in some natural beauty and freshness. Finally, consider rearranging your furniture. It’s the easiest way to create a more open, airy, and different feel in any room.

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