Not the Plan, But a Vibe | Moody Black Bedroom Makeover

Not the Plan, But a Vibe

Let me start by saying—a black bedroom wasn’t the plan. At least… not exactly.

But before we get to the moody magic, let me back up for a second.

We did a bit of work before moving into our family home a few years ago—just enough to lay the foundation without a full-blown reno. We scraped the popcorn ceilings (goodbye forever), replaced all the flooring, and demoed the existing closet to build in something more functional for everyday life.

This spring, I’m so excited to be participating in the One Room Challenge—an 8-week design event that brings together creatives across the internet to transform one space. And I’ve chosen our bedroom.

“The original bones. Popcorn ceilings and beige everything.”

Functional Closet Updated Floors

“The original bones. Popcorn ceilings and beige everything.”

Functional Closet Updated Floors

These updates gave us a blank-ish canvas to start layering in personality. From the color-drenched walls to the unapologetically cool art (like the cat portrait I commissioned from the talented Blake Burns), this bedroom has a vibe all its own. I tackled this space in my third trimester of pregnancy—three days before I had my baby girl. (Like, girl. Why?)

I was determined to have a limewashed bedroom. I had been obsessing over that textured, old-world, lived-in vibe. It was moody. It was organic. It was different. The problem? At the time, limewash was hard to source. So I did what any desperate-for-a-design-moment person might do: I ordered a dark, dramatic limewash paint online... without ever seeing a sample.

Let’s just say—it was darker than expected.Like, almost-black dark.

And because the paint was expensive and non-returnable…I committed.

Walls? Black.

Baseboards? Black.

Floor trim? You guessed it—black.

The whole room became a color-drenched cave of textured, moody goodness.

Honestly? I’m proud. I was ahead of the trend on color-drenched spaces.

Here’s the funny part.

It’s kind of ironic—because when I was going through my emo phase in middle school (we all had one, right?), I begged my mom to let me paint my room black and shop exclusively at Hot Topic. My sister was scared and my mom refused. So maybe this is my full-circle moment.

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

My little rebellion, 15 years late. My adult self finally gets the black bedroom my teenage self dreamed of. That cat portrait? It was originally destined for G’s Miami office—but the second it arrived, I knew it wasn’t going anywhere. The vibe is now giving “weird goth girl with interesting taste.” And we absolutely loves it. 🖤

And yet… as I prep to reimagine this space for the One Room Challenge—I have no idea where this chaotic cat is going to go. 😅 TBD.

It’s been this way for years now, and while I’ve grown to love the moody vibe year-round, the rest of the room? It needs help.

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Dark and moody bedroom interior featuring black limewashed walls, layered textures, and dramatic sty

Moody black limewash bedroom with dark walls, vintage-inspired decor, and artistic, lived-in details

Moody black limewash bedroom with dark walls, vintage-inspired decor, and artistic, lived-in details

Moody black limewash bedroom with dark walls, vintage-inspired decor, and artistic, lived-in details

Moody black limewash bedroom with dark walls, vintage-inspired decor, and artistic, lived-in details

Moody black limewash bedroom with dark walls, vintage-inspired decor, and artistic, lived-in details

The DIY mirror hack that left the wall patched and painted with an inexplicable orange square? Fail. I wish I could go back and stop uber pregnant me.

My vanity is overflowing and begging for an edit. And we must find an aesthetic laundry basket. (I might be taking a page from Arianna Danielson’s moodboard—the queen of moody black bedrooms and dreamy vibes.)

It feels very intimate bringing you inside my bedroom… but what a fun way to tell a story.

So, I’m Entering the One Room Challenge

This spring, I’m finally giving this space the love and intention it deserves—with a full room refresh as part of the One Room Challenge.

The twist? I’m keeping the black.

Rather than undo the drama, I’m leaning into it. This space is getting layered, elevated, and brought to life. I’m thinking mood-meets-softness, luxe textures, and natural elements. I’ll be upgrading storage, reimagining decor, and hopefully redeeming my past DIY choices—because if the walls are going to whisper mysterious and moody, the rest of the room needs to sing sophisticated sanctuary.

What You Can Expect

Each week, I’ll share updates here and on Instagram—the wins, the fails, the decisions I second-guess, and the design moments that make it all worth it.

This is going to be one of the more personal projects I’ve shared—because our bedroom is more than just a space. It’s where we dream. Where we reconnect.

I can’t wait to show you how beautiful moody can really be.Let’s do this.

Be sure to follow along right here and over on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, DIY moments, and (hopefully) a reveal that makes all the chaos worth it.

You can also catch weekly updates through the One Room Challenge link-up.

X, Mikaela