This 100-Year-Old Bedroom Got a Makeover That Feels “Like Entering a Different World”

Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
Sarah EverettHome Projects Editor
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
published Sep 14, 2025
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When it comes to choosing a dark paint color, DIYer Danie Berger (@diyinprogress_) says “transitioning a space from bright and airy to dark and dramatic can feel intimidating.” But she says it can be rewarding, design-wise; the key is “layering tones within the same family so the space [feels] cohesive rather than chaotic.”

Danie chose to go with a dark green paint color in a bedroom makeover she did for her sister-in-law; she wanted to give her sister-in-law a cozy respite after a personal loss. The makeover takes the bedroom from crisp white to completely cocooning.

Credit: Danie Berger
Credit: Danie Berger

The room was drenched in dark green paint. 

“This primary bedroom came with beautiful bones: original wide-plank floors, a charming sloped ceiling, and two tall windows that filled the space with natural light. Still, the room felt unfinished. The all-white walls and simple curtains left it looking flat and lacking personality,” Danie says. 

She decided to drench the room in dark green (Behr’s Alpine Trail). “The moment you step inside, it’s like entering a different world inspired by the forest,” Danie says, adding that there’s still plenty of light that comes in through the large windows. 

“The color drenching in this room made it feel like a cozy oasis,” she says.

Credit: Danie Berger
Credit: Danie Berger

There’s a wallpaper accent wall that fits the color scheme.

“From bedding to artwork to small decorative accents, every element was chosen to echo the wall color,” she adds. She picked a green and black leafy peel-and-stick wallpaper to match the green paint. 

“Instead of wallpapering an entire room, consider doing only one wall,” Danie says. “It will save you money but still carry an impactful punch of personality.”

Credit: Danie Berger
Credit: Danie Berger

The room has tons of dark green decor, too. 

A lot of the bedroom furniture and decor is from IKEA, including the new bedthe pillows, the green curtains to match the walls, the bedding, the velvet armchair, and the overhead lantern

“Once the furniture starts coming together, everything begins to fall into place,” Danie says. “By lowering the bed, choosing the right furniture, and committing to a bold new paint color, the room now feels larger, refreshed, and entirely brand-new.”