Dueling DIY is officially BACK, and it’s time to transform my guest bedroom from a cluttered, identity-crisis zone into a welcoming retreat! This beloved series, where the stakes are high and the friendly competition even higher, pits me against another talented DIY master. Get ready for an epic journey filled with creative challenges, strategic planning, and, of course, a healthy dose of spirited banter as we tackle one of the most neglected spaces in my home.
For weeks now, I’ve been dropping hints about the much-anticipated return of my popular Dueling DIY series. Today marks its triumphant relaunch, and I’m thrilled to announce that this installment promises to be bigger, bolder, and more exciting than ever before! I’m particularly excited because my friend Charlotte, the brilliant mind behind At Charlotte’s House, is joining me as the perfect rival – though, naturally, she’ll soon be experiencing the thrill of friendly defeat!
With an incredibly packed schedule looming in the coming months, I quickly realized that my guest bedroom makeover project could easily drift to the bottom of my priority list. To ensure this doesn’t happen and to keep my focus sharp, I’ve revived this reader-favorite series. Just as in past Dueling DIY sagas, this challenge provides the essential motivation I need to tackle and complete ambitious home improvement projects. The competitive element ensures accountability and keeps the excitement levels high, transforming what could be a solo grind into a dynamic and engaging endeavor.
My Guest Room’s Current Predicament: A Space in Transition
Many of you have already caught glimpses of my guest room, particularly its rather sad state just a few months ago. Since then, the room has undergone an unintentional transformation, becoming an eclectic storage unit rather than a welcoming space for visitors. My boyfriend has moved in a number of items, including a truly enormous television, his father’s cherished vintage stereo equipment, and various other gadgets and collectibles. While these items hold sentimental value, they are undeniably better suited for a dedicated media room or an enthusiast’s den, not a serene guest sanctuary.
The result is a highly confused, disjointed, and utterly un-guest-bedroom-like space. My mind was already brimming with design concepts for these four walls, but the arrival of what I affectionately (or perhaps exasperatedly) call his “big-ass TV” truly solidified my resolve. It highlighted a broader shift in our shared living space as Kyle and I plan for our future together. What began as a slow trickle of his belongings into my home has now become a steady flow, pushing my small house to its limits with an abundance of knick-knacks and furniture that simply don’t fit.
As many seasoned homeowners can attest, simply having “too much stuff” doesn’t magically lead to instant decluttering or perfect organization. In fact, with numerous other demanding projects on my plate, the guest bedroom has ironically become the opposite of a priority. This is precisely why I need a powerful external push, a catalyst to spark action and creativity. That catalyst, my friends, is Dueling DIY. It’s the perfect antidote to project procrastination and the ultimate motivator for tackling this challenging space.
The Backstory of Dueling DIY: A Proven Motivator
For those new to the Dueling DIY phenomenon, you can find the complete rundown RIGHT HERE. This series originated several years ago during a period when I found myself neck-deep in countless projects, with an endlessly growing to-do list and a desperate need to regain focus. My “project A.D.D.” often gets the better of me, leaving my ambition and the available hours in a day hopelessly out of sync. It can feel like I’m constantly working, yet achieving very little tangible progress. The truth is, there’s a definite limit to how enjoyable fixing drywall can be when a second season of Stranger Things is calling for a rewatch.
This is precisely where a structured challenge like Dueling DIY shines. It forces me to regroup, define actionable goals, and consistently make significant progress. There’s nothing quite like receiving playful memes from a friend, showcasing their superior home renovation progress, to ignite a fire under you and get those paintbrushes moving again! The blend of competitive spirit and shared endeavor transforms daunting tasks into an exciting race to the finish line, ensuring that both participants push past their comfort zones and achieve remarkable results.
The Art of Smack Talk: Fueling the Competitive Fire
Frankly, one of the most enjoyable aspects of this entire endeavor is the opportunity to engage in friendly, good-natured “smack talk” with another talented blogger. This challenge isn’t just about forcing us both to make progress on similar room transformations; it’s about adding a thick, delicious layer of friendly—yet undeniably snarky—banter to the mix. To maintain fairness and ensure an “apples-to-apples” comparison in terms of challenge, each Dueling DIY series focuses on the same project type. We’ve tackled staircase vs. staircase and kitchen vs. kitchen, and this time, it’s clearly a guest room vs. guest room showdown! This consistent format allows for direct comparisons of creativity, problem-solving, and execution, making the competition even more engaging for participants and observers alike.
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Challenge Schedule: Bi-Weekly Updates for Sustained Progress
Given that Charlotte and I both juggle an incredible number of commitments (and we’ll even be seeing each other in person at a DIY conference in a few weeks, hopefully with time for a Facebook Live!), the update schedule for this Dueling DIY will be every other week, rather than weekly as in previous years. This bi-weekly rhythm allows us to allocate time to other crucial DIY projects that aren’t directly related to this guest room challenge. I still have significant progress to make on the shed project, ongoing updates in the primary bedroom, and a few exciting kitchen enhancements in the pipeline. This balanced schedule ensures we can maintain momentum on the guest room while also addressing other important home renovation goals without feeling overwhelmed.
The Ultimate Goal: Completion, Creativity, and Fun
Consistent with previous iterations of this popular series, there is no predetermined official end date for this Dueling DIY challenge. The primary aim is to provide both Charlotte and myself with a fresh, engaging project to share with you all every other week, which itself is a powerful motivator. However, the prospect of being the first to cross the finish line offers significant bragging rights, a subtle yet ever-present threat that keeps us both hustling. Perhaps this time, I’ll finally have the honor of sending Charlotte a coveted golden hammer as a token of her valiant effort… or, more likely, I’ll solidify my status as a THREE-TIME CHAMPION! The fun lies in the journey, the creative problem-solving, and the delightful rivalry that pushes us to achieve our best work.
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Vlogging the Journey: A New Dimension to DIY Progress
As many of you already know, one of my key goals for this year is to seamlessly integrate video content with my DIY projects and tutorials. These vlogs are designed to *complement* the detailed posts I write, not replace them. Like many of you, I highly value written tutorials and have no intention of abandoning that format anytime soon. Therefore, a dedicated vlog will accompany this series once a month on my YouTube channel. These videos will offer additional insights, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and anything else I believe can enhance your understanding of our progress – especially clips of me reveling in Charlotte’s impending defeat! A series like this, driven by personality and competitive spirit, lends itself perfectly to the dynamic nature of video, allowing viewers to truly connect with the challenge and the creators involved.
You can catch my comprehensive intro vlog, which not only introduces new followers to the series but also provides an updated tour of the guest room from a couple of months ago. This tour, coincidentally, showcases a significant amount of Kyle’s belongings in the room (*coughcough*futureposts*cough*), offering a clear “before” perspective. Watch it here.
And while you’re immersing yourself in the Dueling DIY experience, be sure to check out Charlotte’s initial post and vlog about her room here. And don’t forget to let her know that you’re wholeheartedly rooting for ME in this exciting competition! To ensure you don’t miss any of the thrilling video updates, make sure you’re subscribed to both of our YouTube channels. Your support means the world, and your engagement fuels our competitive spirit!
Subscribe to my YouTube channel here
Subscribe to Charlotte’s here
Unveiling the Vision: My Guest Room Inspiration and Plans
That provides a comprehensive overview of the series plan, but now it’s time to dive into the truly exciting part: the actual room plans! Here’s a glimpse into the vision that’s currently taking shape in my head for transforming this space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing guest retreat.
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Sources (clockwise from top left): Ceiling Fan / Macramé Hanging Plant / Paper Shadowbox Art / Office Swivel Chair / Paint colors: Sherwin-Williams Retreat and Stone White / Rug / Faux Fern / Wall Sconce / Black and White Pillow / Leather Pillow / Tassel Throw
One of the most ambitious and transformative projects, as you can glean from the mood board, is the creation of a custom Murphy bed setup. This ingenious solution will allow the bed to be discreetly tucked away when not in use, effectively transforming the guest bedroom into a versatile, multi-functional space. This room will serve double—or even triple—duty, providing a dedicated office space for my favorite bearded engineer and his intricate design work. In fact, he’s already collaborating with me, translating my 2-D design sketches into detailed 3-D plans for the Murphy bed, which we’ll eventually share with you all upon completion.
My design philosophy for this room centers around a truly simple, calming color palette, allowing visual interest to emerge primarily through rich textures. I envision incorporating a variety of global-inspired textiles, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere with a distinct eclectic influence. Of course, my favorite black and white combination will feature prominently, providing a timeless and sophisticated foundation. This carefully considered palette aims to create a tranquil environment for guests while maintaining a clean and refreshing aesthetic for the room’s everyday functions. It will be a space that feels both inviting and purposeful. While I haven’t finalized all the art pieces yet, I anticipate incorporating a stylish city map, elements from my beloved vintage map collection, and additional botanicals to infuse a natural, organic touch into the decor.
Other Planned DIY Projects for the Guest Room Makeover:
- A Coffee/Info Station: This thoughtful addition will enhance guest comfort, providing a dedicated spot for essentials like a coffeemaker, tea, the Wi-Fi password, and travel-sized toiletries. It’s all about creating a self-sufficient and welcoming experience for visitors.
- Curated Art Selection: Beyond the maps and botanicals, I’ll be selecting unique art pieces that complement the room’s global-eclectic vibe and inject more personality into the space.
- Custom Woodworking Curtain Rod: This project will allow me to craft a bespoke, sturdy curtain rod that perfectly suits the room’s dimensions and aesthetic, adding a touch of custom craftsmanship.
- Stylish Floating Shelves: These functional yet decorative shelves will provide display space for decorative items, books, and perhaps even some additional storage for guests without adding visual bulk to the room.
So, there you have it! If you’re the kind of dedicated follower who prefers to track every minute detail of a makeover (and I’ve already been sharing some tantalizing sneak peeks on social media!), you absolutely must follow me on Instagram. My IG Stories have quickly become a favorite platform for sharing my behind-the-scenes thought process and dropping exciting hints about what’s coming next. It’s the perfect way to get a real-time, unfiltered look at the challenges and triumphs of this Dueling DIY journey.
UPDATE: I’ve added one more comprehensive tour video to guide you around the room and elaborate further on all the exciting room plans. You can watch that detailed walkthrough here.
Ready to embark on this thrilling transformation? Let’s jump right in! Oh, and Charlotte?
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P.S. I understand that this involves following a number of different channels, but think of it as a comprehensive smorgasbord of content, allowing you to pick and choose based on your preferences. In essence, it’s a way (if you desire) to see more of the progress as we go. My main blog posts will, of course, continue to cover all the essential updates and detailed tutorials. However, the behind-the-scenes moments and quick insights will be shared on Instagram between posts, simply because it’s an effortless way to share real-time snippets. Meanwhile, the video content is designed to add that crucial “real-life” layer, putting me in front of the camera to connect with you more directly. So, expect a delightful mix of everything!