Designer Amber Lewis took a dated gray bedroom that was straight from the 00s and turned it into a warm sanctuary – it looks like a completely different house

Who doesn't love a good before and after? So satisfying, so inspiring, and the more dramatic the better. And this bedroom remodeled by designer Amber Lewis is a drastic change – it looks like a totally different house from the pretty bland gray space it once was.

Sharing a peek at the before and after of the bedroom on Instagram, Amber Lewis has totally transformed a once characterless space, a 2000s-style gray bedroom, into a modern rustic haven, complete with textured plaster walls, wooden beams and the most beautiful rustic fireplace that look like they have been part of the room for decades. The result is a practically unrecognizable bedroom that feels cozy yet elevated, proving you can always add character to a room that has none.

While the bedroom's initial design was inoffensive, it lacked that crucial sense of personality and warmth that's so important in a space designed for relaxing. Using plaster to add character, Amber chose to swap the gray walls with a chic and subdued pale plaster that gives the space some interest without overwhelming, the perfect backdrop for the wooden accents and rustic decor.

At first glance, the bedroom's infrastructure appears to have been massively altered, but in reality, Amber has been clever with the architecture, enhancing it rather than changing it entirely. Take the window seat idea as an example; this space held a built-in dresser, but Amber discarded the outdated storage trend and made space for a charming wicker window seat, giving the bedroom a further sense of thoughtfulness and curation. Amber also ripped out the dated closets and bulky storage units, and of course, the old-fashioned carpet, which has opened up the room and made the fireplace more of a feature as it's not flanked by storage.

Despite decorating with neutrals, the space feels embracing and inviting due to Amber's layering of warm tones. Tell-tale signs of coziness, the rustic beams frame the space and pair beautifully with the wood furniture and smaller accents. The bedroom is a lesson in warm minimalism, proving that a neutral, carefully curated space can still feel interesting, filled with texture and depth.

Omitting the bench that once sat at the end of the bed, Amber created a small seating area. She's made the most of the dead space and opened up the area, opting for elegant, non-bulky armchairs and a low table that ties in with the rest of the rustic wood decor and doesn't break up the space too much visually. The clever placement of the rug grounds the bed and the seating area, framing it within the room and adding clear walkways around the furniture, creating the illusion of more space.

Then there is the impressive fireplace idea that Amber has entirely modified with rustic brick kit-kat tiles and a new, more seamless surround that blends into the plaster walls and gives it a Mediterranean edge.

Shop the look

Amber's bedroom design features all the classic components of the modern rustic style checklist and more. Combining characterful features with a neutral color palette and plenty of earthy textures, she transformed a dated bedroom lacking personality into a room filled with warmth and charm.