How the Save My Reno Team Transforms a Big Bedroom Into an Ultra-Functional Suite

A big bedroom is a homeowner’s dream, but ample space doesn’t automatically mean optimum functionality. Making the most of a sizeable-but-underutilized space while sticking to a budget, Save My Reno contractor Sebastian Clovis and designer Samantha Pynn transform a spacious bedroom into a stunning master suite.

Save My Reno airs Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30PM e/p on HGTV Canada and is available online on HGTV.ca.

white bedroom with dark grey panels behind white bed

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Making Space for Mom and Dad

Putting family first, homeowners Monica and Ryan initially prioritized updating their home’s shared spaces. With those renos complete, the couple lost a bit of steam – so they called on Sebastian and Samantha to help them rework their big-but-bland bedroom into this gorgeous master suite complete with hardwood floors, an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in closet.

grey bedroom with white panelling behind striped bed chandelier

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Simple Shiplap

Before Sebastian and Samantha’s arrival, Monica and Ryan tried to update the space with white shiplap paneling behind the bed, which looked good – but didn’t make much of an impact.

grey bedroom with striped bed and stained carpet

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For Floor’s Sake

Before the Save My Reno team arrived on site, Monica and Ryan’s bedroom had problems from the ground up. With two kids, a dog and numerous years or wear and tear, the original upstairs carpets were far from looking their best – which made new hardwood floors a significant part of the team’s renovation plan (and budget).

rustic white bedroom with patterned rug on hardwood floor

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A Brighter Outlook

In the bedroom, the Save My Reno design team lightened up with clean white walls and a new black light fixture. By painting the existing behind-the-bed panels a chic dark grey, Samantha found an inexpensive way to use what Monica and Ryan already had to delineate and highlight the space.

oak wood floors and hexagonal tile floors with straw mat

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A Surprise is Afoot

While pulling up the bedroom carpet to start the renos, the team uncovered a budget-friendly surprise: the shabby carpet was hiding old wood strip flooring. By keeping this oak hardwood, Ryan and Monica saved $3,000-$4,000 for other areas of the renovation. Once sanded and stained, the hardwood easily matches Samantha’s design – and provides the perfect textural contrast to the bold hexagon tile in the new ensuite.

grey bedroom with clothes hanging from racks and clothes on chair

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Closet Issues

When it came to functionality, one of the biggest problems with the old bedroom was a lack of practical storage. The couple’s makeshift answer? They hung Monica’s dresses on open racks and stacked Ryan’s clothes on a chair – which wasted space and left their clothes dusty and disorganized.

man and woman looking into white walk-in closet with grey hanging robe

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Storage Solutions

In order to give the couple the storage they craved, the Save My Reno team expanded an unused hall closet into the bedroom to create a walk-in closet complete with drawers, hanging rods, shelving and dedicated space for shoes. Organization is the path to a happy home.

brown sliding barn door with black hardware

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A Space-Saving Slide

Sliding barn doors with black hardware play well the with suite’s new aesthetic, while also saving space in the newly reconfigured bedroom.

white walk-in closet with drawers, shelves and baskets

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Semi-Custom Savings

While it may look custom, the Save My Reno team used pre-fabricated pieces to stay on budget. Taking less expensive pre-fab pieces – and then customizing them to fit the space – meant big savings for the project. It’s a favourite hack of the Save My Reno team.

modern white bathroom with white subway tile, wooden vanity and geometric floor tiles

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Modern Masterpiece

With contemporary details like glossy white subway tiles and black fixtures, the new ensuite feels instantly sophisticated and luxe. Samantha also incorporated stylish details – like shiplap panels on the soaker tub and hexagonal floor tiles in a mix of grey tones – to call back to the bedroom’s design.

white subway tiles in bathroom with soaker tub and green plants and shelf

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Work With What You’ve Got

Ryan had already modernized the family’s main upstairs bathroom, but the couple needed a space for themselves. To create an ensuite bathroom for Monica and Ryan, the Save My Reno team enclosed the wasted extra space in the bedroom. To stay on budget, they embraced what was already there – like a slanted wall, which became a practical bath nook for storage. And, because Ryan did a Sebastian-approved job with the floor’s main bathroom, the team was able to tie into the existing plumbing for major savings.

modern white bathroom with sliding mirror, antique vanity and geometric floor tile

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A One-of-a-Kind Vanity

Buying a new vanity can be big hit to the budget, so Samantha DIY-ed an inexpensive second-hand solid-wood dresser from the antique market into a unique gem. Sebastian altered the drawers to make space for plumbing and fixtures, while Samantha pickled the wood to give it a rustic wash of white, then added new hardware and a quartz countertop. Above the vanity, Sebastian hung the mirror on barn hardware – so it could slide to either cover the window or let in the sunlight.