As a pup... I usually hook them on a leash attached to a door knob outside my room or inside it. (Where I can hear them) With enough lead to move around, get a drink and lay down. But not enough lead where they feel comfortable peeing or taking a dump.
So they will audibly whine to be let out to go. As they go along, several days to a few weeks, I increase the lead length.
By the time a month or so has passed they move up to being contained in an area. Usually the hall between the bedrooms. After a few weeks of no accidents (Never had a failure), they get run of the house.
P.S.
NEVER actually hit the dog with the newspaper, not because they shouldn't be hit, because they'll figure out it doesn't hurt. The sharp sound gets their attention which is all that needs to happen.
and then they pee in your slippers!
It's really not torturing them Kyle. Like Catt said, they see it as a safe haven. We tried to let Boomer sleep with us one night and he wouldn't, he wanted to be in his crate. He's quite the bed hog now though 
I've never trained my dogs like that either. Now, if only crates were legal for kids. 