A Cozy Retreat: Renovating the Guest Bedroom in Our Lakeside Cabin

There is something special about a guest bedroom in a small lakeside cabin.

It is more than just a place to sleep, it is a space that welcomes friends and family, offers comfort after a day on the water, and reflects the charm of the cottage itself.

When we decided to renovate the twin bedroom, we wanted to create a room that felt serene, cozy, and full of character, all while staying mindful of our budget.

The twin bedroom was the very first space we tackled in our lakeside cabin renovation. Looking back, I wish we had snapped a few “before” photos, because the room did not seem nearly as rough until we stripped it down to the bare bones. The cabin itself is only 750 square feet, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and an open-concept kitchen and living area. There is also a screened porch, not included in that square footage, that makes the whole place feel just a little bigger and brings in the lake breezes we love.

This bedroom needed to pull double duty. It had to welcome any two guests, whether cousins on a summer sleepover or grandma coming to visit, which meant bunk beds were not the right fit.

We also set a firm budget of $4,000 for the entire makeover, so every choice had to count.

The first thing we did was pull up the old linoleum tile floors. Once the glue was scraped away, we left the floor as is and turned our attention to the walls. To keep the pine knots from bleeding through, we started with a coat of BIN Zinsser, followed by Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Start Primer. Then came a few coats of Cloud White Aura in a soft low-lustre finish, which instantly brightened the space and gave it a calm, timeless feel.

To make the most of our budget, we carried that same Cloud White right up onto the paneled ceiling. Suddenly, what had once felt dated looked fresh and cottage-y. The old accordion doors were beyond saving, so we swapped them for something simple but full of character: a curtain rod made from copper plumbing pipe, with a doubled-up fabric shower curtain hung in place of a door. It was an easy project, inexpensive, and added just the right touch of charm. Russell (our Newf) enjoys the little bit of privacy it provides and loves to lay behind them. With $4,000 to work with, creativity was our best tool, and little details like this made the room feel personal rather than store-bought.

For the flooring, we sourced a Luxury Vinyl Sheet by Mannington from our local flooring store, Modern Home Carpet One. It turned out to be the perfect solution: durable, easy to clean, and surprisingly simple to install. All it took was rolling it out and securing it with trim around the edges, and suddenly the room felt crisp and new underfoot. We also said goodbye to the wobbly old ceiling fan and replaced it with a fresh, modern one that finally feels like it belongs in this century.

Luxury Vinyl Sheet by Mannington

Russell (our Newf)

We added a new awning style window, a small but thoughtful upgrade that makes a big difference. Now the room can be left open on rainy nights without worrying about water coming in. It is one of those little touches that brings in fresh air, the sound of the rain, and an extra layer of comfort for anyone staying overnight at the lake.

We kept the existing twin beds since the mattresses were fairly new, and we repurposed the nightstand that was already in the room. With its two large drawers, it works perfectly for guests, giving each person their own space to tuck things away. To add even more storage, we picked up two simple fabric organizers from Ikea and hung them on the closet rod. Sometimes it is the most practical little touches that make a stay more comfortable.

The splurge was the bedding… All of the bedding in the cottage came from Simply Cottage in Bracebridge, Muskoka. We chose the Vintage Muskoka print and carried it through every bedroom and even into the bunkie. Since the cabin is so small, repeating the same pattern kept things calm and cohesive while adding a sense of rustic charm.

The finished room feels serene and cozy, the kind of place where you cannot wait to crawl under the covers. It invites you to sleep in, listen to the quiet, and let the peaceful rhythm of the lake take over.

Renovating this guest bedroom reminded us that small spaces can hold big charm.

With a few thoughtful updates, a touch of creativity, and attention to the details that make a space welcoming, we transformed the room into a serene retreat. It is a space that guests immediately feel at home in, where they can rest, relax, and wake up ready to enjoy the beauty and calm of the lake.

From our little corner of the lake to yours,