Before and After: Redesigning an Old Bedroom in the Attic

Writer Liza Pjistup and her husband Jonathan Linaberry live in the suburbs of New York. The couple loves renovating old interiors and recently finished a renovation of a small bedroom in the attic. Just a few paint cans, new furniture, and textiles — that's all they needed.

How did the bedroom look before the renovation?

"Don't be alarmed by the photos — in reality, the attic was in good condition when we bought the house," — Liza Pjistup explains. For example, the flooring didn't need to be changed, and the walls just needed a fresh coat of paint.

The couple approached the project with great enthusiasm. First, they cleared the space and threw out old items. What came next?

What changed?

From the start, the couple set a goal — to spend as little money as possible. First, they decided to repaint the floors — they kept a dark color, which contrasts beautifully with white walls. The latter were also refreshed using paint.

The renovation was cosmetic, quick, and budget-friendly — but look how the space transformed.

They brought new furniture and old items to the attic — some of them belonged to Jonathan's grandfather. For example, the initials GL were still on the foldable chairs — there was no need to throw away family heirlooms.

The chairs were left for guests — when folded, they don’t take up much space. Liza and Jonathan store them near a small door leading to the attic. They fell in love with the door right away, so they decided not to change it and just restore it.

They placed the bed in a niche by the window. They immediately decided how to handle the lighting: Jonathan hung lights above the bed and secured them on the ceiling from both sides using hooks.

Since the attic windows are small, they covered them with neutral-toned Roman blinds. Visually, they don’t overload the interior and provide great protection from morning sunlight.

What do you think this bedside table looks like? In Jonathan’s grandmother's garage, there was a large old multicooker. They turned it upside down and placed it by the bed. No need to buy anything.

There was even room for a mini living area in the attic — it's separated from the bedroom by a column. The dresser in the living area came from previous owners and fit perfectly into the interior.

The setup is modern yet features vintage furniture — it gives the space a special atmosphere unique to old houses. And most importantly, they didn’t have to buy anything.

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