In my daily Pinterest-ing I noticed a few interior design photos with “One Room Challenge” noted in the title, so I looked into it. Turns out it’s a biannual design event over the course of eight weeks that’s open to guest participants. In partnership with Better Home & Gardens, it’s a community event that celebrates the process of completing a room. I’m a little late to the party, as they’re in week six. But I decided I’m all-in for it. I’m trying the One Room Challenge for my office!

Am I being a little too ambitious? I think we all know the unwavering answer to that is YES. But I’m excited for the challenge. I feel like I totally overthink my own spaces. And this one is exemplary of that! This room has so many uses for me. I use it as an office, extra shoe storage, a cardio fitness zone, a photo studio and a storage unit for over 250 items for sale on Poshmark. Yikes, right?

By the way, if this is your first time reading my blog, I just moved to a mini-farm in a new city a few hours from Tampa. This happened the same time as kicking off my new career, no less! Check out my first blog post for the full back story if you’d like to hear more.

So I hopped to it this week and created a plan for bringing this space to its full potential. After hours of going back and forth about some of the decisions, I finally had to say to myself: “What would you recommend to a client?”

It sounds crazy, but this was a game changer.

I would tell my client not to settle for a plan that they’ll have to change later. If they love something but it costs more than they wanted to spend, look at the scenario 360 degrees and decide what would truly be best. Turns out after taking every role of this office into account, that the Plan A and Plan B that were competing so hard in mind, were both not the answer. Plan C has emerged, and it’s going to take some major decluttering, streamlining and putting together new furniture. But in the end, I think it’ll be worth it.

So here’s the situation!

A lot has happened in this little office in the right direction since moving here, but I think this event is a great push to get it done. Here is where I’m at today!

Again, I’m very lucky to have this space in the house. I’ve never had an office before. But with the clutter right now I feel like I don’t even deserve it, and I know that’s not the attitude to have! I’m the type of person who can stay neat-ish if there’s a system and it looks good to me. With the mis-matched fabric storage cubes, it never felt right! And, to top it off, I can’t just order more of the ones on the left because the two shelves from IKEA have different inside cube dimensions! Ugh, you would think they, of all stores, would have this streamlined, but this was not the case. But hey, that’s what I get for buying them piecemeal.

Today, an official plan has been born to finish this project, and you get to watch it all happen, too!

Some Good News This Week!

I purchased this cute little plant from our recently reopened IKEA to get my positive Feng Shui going as I dive into finally finishing my office.

I also had some success creating a little custom foot rest from a West Elm pillow and an IKEA children’s wooden stool. Check out my Instagram stories for the full DIY on that.

My Goals for the Space

Below are the objectives I’m trying to achieve in the process of finishing the work I’ve started on this office. I hope in two weeks I can come back to this and say I’ve got it all down pat!

1. I want to have an office that feels as put together and stylish as the spaces I create for my own clients.

2. I want all of my Poshmark inventory concealed and organized. And I want my packaging products to remain easily accessible when I make sales.

3. I want to better utilize the vertical space of my office for much needed storage.

4. I want to be able to look up from my desk at my pin board hanging on the wall with inspiration images attached.

5. I want a system of organizing paper and tech pieces so that it’s not cluttering my glass desk.

6. I want my elliptical space clear and ready to use at a moment’s notice.

7. I want to create one shelf of interior design references.

8. I want everything in the office to have a place.

This feels so crazy to me to post something that I haven’t finished! I’m excited to see where I can take this space in the next two weeks. Check back on my blog next Thursday for the next progress report.

Thank you for reading and I hope you’ll wish me luck!

From horrible to habitable!

You guys really need to know – when we got to the mini-farm, the bathrooms were rough. The second one didn’t even have a floor as you saw in my first blog post. Renan and I are in an atypical situation since we’re renting at a discount because it was mid-renovation. Basically, we’re allowed to do whatever we want to the space, and I’m thankful! But like many renters out there, we had to make it work on a budget. And while this bathroom may not be the stuff of your “dream house” Pinterest board, the improvement is visible. So this is my magical tale of how we completed our rental bathroom makeover for under $300. I’m sharing EVERYTHING in hopes that it inspires others to make the most of their space, at any budget!

In a few senses, I’m lucky because we now have two working bathrooms. One for “boys” and the other for “girls” – which Renan and I totally love. We found a lot of supplies on property like vinyl flooring for the house, new sheets of drywall, etc. I’m also lucky to have such a handyman, “Chip Gaines” of a partner. And hey, I get a good amount of counter space to myself! The get-ready surface space is priceless, no matter how expensive your bathroom is, am I right?

So let’s take a virtual walk through the bathroom and chat about the changes made in this DIY makeover.

Change #1: Paint it All ONE Color

With my interior design work, I always stress the importance of how a space makes someone feel. Since I’m the client in this scenario, I wanted to attack the the thing that drove me the craziest first. And that was paint! Who in the heck can even live with all these crazy paint colors and water-damaged walls?

I picked up a gallon of Behr Marquee One-Coat Cameo White Semi-Gloss and went to town in one weekend. Spoiler: it took more than one coat to cover the bathroom, but it covered the sins.

Two learning lessons from the painting process:

Say no to semi-gloss. I’ve never liked semi-gloss paint, so I’m not sure why I went with the Home Depot recommendation. I think a satin finish would’ve worked just fine for the bathroom. Semi-gloss has a bit of a latex texture and is sometimes harder to get even coverage, in my opinion.

Prep in one day, paint in one day. Between painting my bathroom and my office, I’ve learned this lesson officially. Use the first day to prep the room to high heaven! Carefully fill holes with a putty kit and use painter’s tape on trim pieces, fixtures, etc. Start with the putty work so you can sand it down later in the day. If you have textured drywall, you may also need a texture spray to help camouflage the repair prior to painting. On painting day, start early so you can run to a Home Depot or Lowe’s if you need more paint. This way you’ll complete the project faster and only have to clean the paint brushes, rollers, and trays once!

Change #2: Paint the Cabinets

This is where I’ll admit I’m a little braver than most people in the “GSD” department. I literally just took the same house paint to the cabinets. While I wouldn’t do the same for a client, this got the job done for me! The coverage was not great, and it may have taken three coats. It was worth it to save money and work from the same gallon of paint! Frankly anything is better than peeling, fake wood cabinets, so this was a win in my book. If you try this, take your time in prepping.

Change #3: Install Privacy Film

This blog is making me realize how much I did in just one or two weekends before I moved here! Ah, memories.

So when we bought the paint, I also had privacy film on my list for the bathroom. I liked the natural light, but having a transparent window in a bathroom was a hard no for me. Renan said “You don’t need this, we live far from neighbors.” But let me tell you, the privacy film was a savior!

There’s also cool rainbow privacy films that would be fun for a kids or teen bathroom. Make sure to buy a wallpaper kit like this to help smooth out and cut.

Change #4: Apply Contact Paper to Countertops

This is the idea I most welcome you to steal! I stole it from Sharrah Stevens who put marble contact paper in her rental kitchen. Though I prefer the gray marble contact paper, I thought the pink/beige went well with the 80s vibe windows.

Look for contact paper that is wide enough to to cover the surface + sides without a seam if you can. Purchase a wallpaper kit to help measure, cut, and smooth out. Be SUPER patient with it and take your time with the cuts. Especially around the sink. When you’re done, use clear or white silicone caulking around the edges to seal down. Props to Renan for his excellent sealing work!

Change #5: Dollar Tree Linen Closet DIY

I saw this video and was instantly inspired to cover my wire shelves in the bathroom linen closet. And Do it On a Dime shared my photo on her story, which makes her extra cool in my book!

There was originally just one shelf in the linen closet, so Renan was awesome and added two more for us. Then, I used approximately one roll of contact paper and one foam core board from the Dollar Tree per shelf. I chose the light wood grain option, as you can see above. Although not totally perfect, they make me happier to look at my linen closet with no door. And they’re easier to use! Watch her tutorial video for all the steps. This is a solid half day project, NOT including time to organize your stuff.

Change #6: Purchases for Functionality

Believe it or not, my apartment bathroom was one of the projects I completed the Marie Kondo method on. (Read: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.) Even so, my hair, skincare, and makeup products bring me a lot of joy apparently! The important thing for someone like me is to have an organization system in place that works in real life. Otherwise, it’s a total clutter mess.

When we moved here, the bathroom storage situation was different, so my system from my apartment didn’t all translate. The bathroom had no drawers and minimal closed storage. This bathroom works extra hard for us since it needs to act as a storage extension for our laundry room. It was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and I may continue to move some things around. But ultimately for me it takes living life in the space to decide on storage solutions.

I share this because, for me, it’s important to be mindful about how a space is used. By thinking through the functionality and organization, I didn’t need to splurge on all new things for every corner.

What I did buy was this trendy pink rolling drawer cart from Home Goods because I deeply missed having drawers! (Similar one in white on Amazon.) I also bought the oval mirror and placed in a well-lit spot for putting in my contacts and doing makeup. (Similar mirror on Amazon.) I brought in the teak-style IKEA shelf that was from my apartment closet. And basically everything else was brought over from my apartment or repurposed.

Change #7: Accessories & Styling

For whatever reason, maybe with the new, all-white canvas I created, I went pretty hard with accessories in the bathroom. It’s all a mix of stuff I had, thrift store finds, Target Opalhouse collection, and my DIY Anthropologie vase knock-off. I can see myself changing this up in the fall, but for now, the color and pattern makes me happy! And that’s the whole point right?

But Wait…There’s More!

Bathrooms are never simple, right? So the last piece is the second closet that had the water damaged wall. Thankfully, Renan has some construction background so he was capable of removing the bad drywall and replacing. We still need to paint it and put shelving in. So I decided we’re going to do a video tour on my Instagram stories in the next week or so. Be sure to follow me to see even more of this bathroom!

What a whirlwind! I hope you enjoyed this Under $300 Rental Bathroom Makeover (in my relentlessly honest style.) Are you planning to try any of these ideas in your home? Let me know in the comments below!

You can also subscribe to my blog here to see more of our rental makeover projects and watch me grow! I absolutely can’t wait until I’m writing about my own bathroom with custom tile, stone surfaces, and built-in everything. I hope you’ll be here for that day, too. ❤️

Disclaimers: a small percentage of purchases from select links will benefit me via an affiliate program. I appreciate anyone who wants to support my blog by shopping the products, but there is no obligation to buy.

All of my DIY blog content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I share what works for me in my home, but you should consult with professionals/landlords before taking on any construction projects. My blog does not constitute interior design advice for readers. I am not liable or responsible for any damages resulting from or related to your use of this information.

New floors change the entire vibe of a space – especially if there’s a dramatic change in the material or color. It can make all of your existing furnishings look totally new again. They can make your home feel and even sound different. But some people get caught in the indecision of not knowing how to decide between dark and light flooring.

Good wallpaper in a well-designed space, to me, is like drinking a glass of fine wine. This is because it brings an instant, unique flair – that says “we mean design business here.” However, I’ve noticed many steer clear of the product. Is this because they are afraid of the commitment? Or maybe they’ve seen too many examples of it gone wrong? As a self-proclaimed mega-fan of pattern I want to help break the cycle. So I’ve put together a list of “Ten Times Wallpaper Got it Right.”

My hope is to inspire others (or future clients) to make the leap in their homes or work spaces. If the pattern brings you joy, then why not put it somewhere that will affect you everyday? Secondly, this list provides some inspiration for new styles and creative places to implement.

And I made sure to include some peel and stick varieties that would make excellent quarantine, #stayathome projects. So I hope you enjoy!

Future me talking now – this was actually a hard list to assemble, because wallpaper gets it right pretty often. This assortment is to show ten different room placement ideas and styles, but there’s much more out there!

1. Forest Wallpaper in a Modern Boho Nursery or Bedroom

2. Botanical Blue & White Wallpaper In a Coastal-Chic Home Office

3. A Dramatic, Dark, Whimsical Print Backing a Bathroom Vanity

4. A Photograhic Print Wallpaper in a Work Space

5. Brushstroke Print Graphic Removable Wallpaper

6. Behind Floating Shelves in a Rustic, Coastal Kitchen

7. Textural Print Wallpaper in a Monochrome, Boho Dining Room

8. Dalmation Spot Print Built-in Bookshelf

9. Extra Fun Color Statement Removable Accent Wall

10. Peel & Stick Wallpaper on Stair Risers

I think this shows a lot of ways you can implement one of these “wallpaper wins” into your home and instantly boost the style! Which was your favorite? What do you think is the biggest reason people are turned off by it? Are you #teamwallpaper like I am? This I need to know!

If you enjoyed this article on “Ten Times Wallpaper Got it Right” please be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any upcoming posts. In addition to sharing my design perspectives and ideas, I will also be chronicling DIY projects, product recommendations, and sharing some of my mini-farm life.

If you try out any of these projects or products, I’d love to see them! So please sure to tag me on Facebook and/or Instagram which are both: @kaitlynloosdesign

Related: Where to Shop Budget Home Essentials

So this being the first blog post on my new website, a little back story is pretty much required 🙂

When I quit my day job to go full time with my interior design freelancing work, my boyfriend who is a farrier, had a strong interest in shifting our home base from Tampa to Ocala, Florida. Since I can now work from home, I opened my mind to the possibility so Renan could be closer to his clients and their horses.

What I didn’t know was that we would be soon adopting two beautiful 9-year-old Friesian horses ourselves – and would soon need a considerable amount of property to accommodate them. No doubt, Renan found it in under one day and shook hands on the rental agreement, sight COMPLETELY unseen to me.

While Renan negotiated a deal to rent a two-acre property with a barn, chicken coop, and stall for the horses, the inside of the house was something of a nightmare. It was left mid-renovation, lacking a sink, cabinets, or appliances in the kitchen. The second bathroom was merely a huge hole in the floor! There was shoddy paint work in the bedrooms, and the whole property was lined with dirt and sand any which way you walk.

Renan had a strong sense of optimism and had begun repairs to the property immediately. It was not long after the first visit that I decided to accept the challenge myself. What a whirlwind the entire month of December was for us!

So I’m starting this blog to chronicle some of the projects and challenges we are tackling here. We’re working under a true beer budget with my champagne taste!

But hey, I can’t be alone in that. My challenge is to turn this place from dirt pit into a home for us and our (now over 20) animals. I envision a home where we can welcome friends and family without the disclaimer of “under construction” or “please don’t judge my interior design taste on THIS.” You know this has happened!

So knowing I’m not alone in my search for quality home essentials on a budget, I’ve put together a list of where to shop first for each. I hope you can use my experience going in and out of dozens of stores (before pandemic) and anecdotes of product regrets to help your shopping experience go without a hitch.

1. For a Mattress, Shop Amazon

Let’s start with a positive: oh my goodness, I love our Signature Sleep mattresses. I first ordered when I moved into my apartment in Tampa and always enjoyed it – especially with a 1.5″ memory foam topper to make it extra princess. In moving to the new place, we needed another for the guest room and I actually bought the same one again. We had guests come into town for Christmas and they raved about their sleep. It’s a great, balanced mattress, leaning on the soft side. It comes rolled up in a box and delivered right to the door.

Hot tip: Do not let the Amazon prime two-day promise fool you! Mattresses have to be shipped ground and typically can’t arrive sooner than the 4-5 day window. Learned that lesson here at Christmastime (ugh!), but the mattress is great.

2. For Stylish Lamps, Shop Target

Lamps are probably what inspired this article! I feel like we all went to sleep one night and woke up to almost every new, cool-looking lamp costing $50 at the minimum. And if you need a big one, that’s $70+. Even at HomeGoods! And while those prices might not be jarring on a normal day, when you move, it can add up fast.

So unless you’re into retro, thrift store finds and have time to shop, my advice to you is to go shop your local Super Target on a Wednesday or Thursday night. I find that’s when they put the NEW sale stuff out, but it could always change. I feel like my longest Target “disappearances” have been around 8 p.m. on a week night. But it’s not a bad thing when I come out with a stash of upcoming birthday gifts, half-off candles, and beautiful decor items. I think I found the Opalhouse lamp in my bedroom, complete with the shade, lightbulb, and all on sale for $25. You cannot beat that for a new lamp!

Hot tip: buy a full lamp, even if it’s not on sale, it usually saves money over the mix and match varieties.

Quarantine alternative: I would use Target.com over Amazon. They have better prices and styles in my opinion.

3. For Area Rugs, Shop HomeGoods

Rugs are tough, but if you’re on a budget, your best bet is to measure and check out the selection at your local HomeGoods. I got my apartment’s living room shag rug there and I love it to this day! You’ll find rugs there come in non-traditional sizes, so that’s why I recommend measuring your room and furniture before you go so you can make a decision. Don’t try to eyeball-it with a rug!

Most HomeGoods have a 60 day return window that you can take it back if you’re not happy with it, so as long as it fits in your car, it’s easy to return for a full refund. Double check with your store, though!

However, if decision-making in a store is not your jam OR if you are currently quarantining, Rugs USA & Wayfair are good resources. I love how these websites show customer ratings and have tools to estimate how the rug will fit/look in your space. Make sure you are buying during one of their promotions or sales. This is not my top choice for the purposes of this article because: 1) Sometimes the rug can look slightly different in photos, so be sure to look close-up and read about the materials. 2) You will often have to deduct $25-$65 of your refund to pay to ship back a return.

Hot tip: even if it’s a great deal, don’t buy a rug from a non-reputable source. We bought a woven style rug, new with tags at a thrift store for a great deal and it ended up tearing and bleeding color in under a month.

Quarantine alternative: Rugs USA & Wayfair

4. For Sheets, Shop Amazon

Sheets are another product that I see creeping up in price everywhere. While you can’t deny high-end material sheets can last a long time, when moving, it adds up. I discovered these sheets on a blog list when I just needed an extra set for my apartment. They are soft and lightweight just as described. They’ve held up so well, that when I needed another set of sheets this year, I ordered the same in the print above. Hello great sheets for under $20!

Hot tip: when you shop anything on Amazon, double check that the reviews are legit before ordering. I’ve noticed a few products with hundreds of reviews, but when you read, you’ll see some are about a different product. Scam alert!

5. For Curtains, Shop Target.com

If you follow me on Instagram and you’ve gotten this far into the article, it’s probably abundantly clear that I am a HUGE fan of the Opalhouse line at Target. These curtains, oh my gosh. I love curtains for the function of blocking light, framing a beautiful room, and introducing a punch of pattern/color.

The love of my Target curtains starts way before this Opalhouse line was introduced. This is because they constantly have a great pattern selection and you can touch them in store and order in the length you need online. For a Target price!

My mom found a few panels of my white/blue paisley curtains in the sale section of Target for my apartment for a steal of a deal. All I had to do was order 1-2 matching panels online and my apartment was transformed in the first week. I still use them now!

Hot tip: be sure to measure the length you need for every window. My recommendation is to hang as close to the ceiling as possible and have the curtains hang within a half inch of the floor. It’ll make your ceilings look incredibly high! If you already have curtains and need to adjust, you can try doing the iron-on hem tape! I may be trying this out soon myself.

6. For Unique Decor Items, Shop GoodWill or Local Thrift Store

I shock myself nearly every time I browse a thrift store home section. In addition to the pineapple mirrors, I found a Crate & Barrel tiered server, a cute jewelry dish, and some vintage china I’m obsessed with. Treat it like a HomeGoods. They may not have exactly what you’re looking for, but you can almost always find something good. Plus it’s SUPER budget friendly!

Added benefit, your money is usually going towards a charity and you’re keeping products out of a landfill. While I can’t recommend thrift stores for everything on my list here, it’s an awesome resource for unique decor items!

Quarantine alternative: Poshmark Home – this is also a great resource to check if a product you love from a big brand has gone out of stock.

7. For Mirrors, Shop HomeGoods

This is a close one to call, but I think HomeGoods is still the best bet for a one-stop-shop for accent mirrors. I think the prices have gone up, but it’s likely lower cost because there’s no shipping involved. When I needed another wall mirror for my new bathroom, HomeGoods was my spot!

Quarantine alternative: Amazon for accent mirrors and Ikea for basic and larger mirrors.

8. For Kitchen Utensils, Organization & Hardware Items, Shop the Dollar Tree

Nothing really grinds my gears more than when I see something at the Dollar Tree AFTER I spend 3x-5x on the same thing elsewhere. In this move, this happened with a set of super long zip ties, #neverforget!

It seems silly, but when you’re on a budget, it’s a good idea to make a big Dollar Tree run when you first move in. I really like their kitchen accessories, especially the knife above and their wooden spoons. I also like their organizational products and have used for the notorious pantry & linen closet organization projects.

They also carry a lot of random decor, garden, and craft items seasonally that are worth checking out.

Quarantine alternative: Amazon add-on items

9. For Kitchen & Entertaining Essentials, Shop Ikea

My love runs very deep for Ikea. Because their products are widely tested before releasing internationally, you can find great basics there for many categories. But I can’t possibly sing their praises enough when it comes to their cookware, serving utensils, glassware, and ceramics. They just get it. And the value is always there.

Hot tip: If you find a colored/printed plate set, glassware set, etc. that you absolutely love, stock up! These type of products seem to be limited-time. We broke a few plates in the move that I’m still thinking about!

10. For Random Batteries, Shop Dollar General

Most random addition, but you will thank me if this happens to you! We needed a random size battery for one of our remotes. Walmart was out of stock and I didn’t have the patience to wait for Amazon so I phoned a friend. Apparently the Dollar General is notorious for having batteries.

Hot tip: Take a photo of the old battery like I did before you go to the store. There were several options nearly identical in size with different numbers. Thankful I did this!

Quarantine alternative: Amazon

Thank you so much for checking out my first blog post! I hope this is helpful! Leave me a comment below if there’s any home essentials I didn’t include that you’d like my shop recommendation on.

If you enjoyed this and would like to see more posts, feel free to subscribe here.

Also, if you want help in 1-3 areas of your new home that you’re stuck on or want design guidance on, I’m currently offering Virtual Design Strategy Sessions through the month of September. This consists of a style assessment, a concentrated strategy discussion on three areas of concern, a prioritization roadmap, and linking you to relevant resources with a summary PDF at the end. All totally remotely by the way. And in as little as three business days. If this sounds like a fit for you, click here to learn more.

About Kaitlyn Loos

Kaitlyn Loos [loh-s] is one of the newest designers for interiors and events in the west-central Florida area. (Tampa, Ocala, Gainesville, and everywhere in between.) She brings over seven years of graphic design, project management, and event planning experience to create amazing spaces and experiences for her clients. She is one of the only interior design companies in her area who offers modern, fresh, pattern and color-savvy designs. From styling an event to designing an entire home, Kaitlyn Loos Design is a full service company that delivers style for nearly any investment level. She also enjoys sharing her ideas and projects through her new blog which reaches over 325 people monthly.

For more information about Kaitlyn, check out: About Kaitlyn: Interior Design, and About Kaitlyn: Event Planning.

You can also subscribe to the blog and contact Kaitlyn directly here.

Disclaimer: a small percentage of purchases from select links will benefit me via an affiliate program. I appreciate anyone who wants to support my new blog by shopping the products, but there is no obligation to buy.

Related: About Me, About Me: Interior Design, About Me: Event Planning