Woman Told Interior Design Choice Was Bad Idea—No One Prepared for Result

Newsweek

9 hours ago

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A viral video about a woman's decision to paint the ceiling of her bedroom has left millions online stunned by the surprisingly cozy result—despite warnings that the move would make the space "look smaller."
A clip showing the transformation was posted by Steffy Degreff (@Steffydegref), a 37-year-old content creator based in Long Beach, New York. The video has been viewed more than 3.2 million times on YouTube since it was shared on June 9.
Overlaid text on the short clip sets the stage, saying: "Painting the ceiling is going to make your room look smaller." The video then sees Degreff proceed to coat the walls and ceiling in a rich, muted orange hue, while later assembling a four-poster bed with decorative detailing. The final effect has captivated viewers on YouTube.
In an interview with Newsweek, Degreff explained her vision. She said: "I wanted the room to feel cohesive and cozy. The bedroom is large enough for a queen bed and a dresser. I really wanted to give it an elevated, cozy feeling. I was going for a bohemian, elevated, and cozy space."
There is a larger trend of home redesign and renovation sweeping across the U.S. A recent survey from Houzz, the home design website, reported that median renovation spending surged by 60 percent from 2020 to 2023, jumping from $15,000 to $24,000.
Kitchens, guest bathrooms, and primary bathrooms topped the list of renovated spaces, while 1 in 5 homeowners also updated their living rooms, the survey found.
A screenshot from the viral YouTube video shows Steffy Degreff decorating a bedroom wall.
A screenshot from the viral YouTube video shows Steffy Degreff decorating a bedroom wall.
@Steffydegref on YouTube
'Stunning' vs. 'Claustrophobic'
Degreff addressed criticism from those who felt her color choice and decision to paint the ceiling might make the room feel cramped. "I don't think feeling smaller is always a bad thing," she said, adding that she is "very happy" with the final result.
Her viewers largely agreed. "It looks smaller but smaller isn't automatically 'worse'. It's cozy!" wrote user @ShortJester.
Another, @shawnahoffman4940, commented: "Yes it made it smaller. But if you were aiming for a smaller, more intimate and cozy space then you hit it perfectly."
Some saw the room's darker tones as an emotional comfort. "It does look smaller, but that's not always a bad thing. In your case it makes it feel cozy. Like the room is cradling you," posted @gonzalofraguasbringas8617.
Others praised the ambience, with @MaiaWade-f6h writing, "This gave me chills … in the best way," and @yeetermcsceet5130 saying: "So much character! It looks amazing."
User @beadalmeida added: "It looks stunning, loving the dark earthy tones."
Not all were convinced. Some viewers criticized the aesthetic for making the space feel claustrophobic.
"Feels more cramped," wrote @MTB8896. "The house looks like it would fall apart like a Lego house in a storm," added @imguest.
Another viewer, @dsouzadavid80, posted: "It does make it little claustrophobic (congested feeling due to dark color). I will end up sleeping whole day."
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