Boy Bedroom Makeover: Reveal
Right before baby #3 arrived only a few short weeks ago, I finished the final touches for my sons new space. The window treatments had me hung up (no pun intended, hehe) for a while as they were the last item to finish. I just couldn’t decide what to do, but I finally went simple and I am thrilled with the less is more design decision.
I adore the result of this cool room and honestly, I often walk in, sit down, and stare to soak it all up. It feels so bright and cheerful.
Come have a look.
This is the view when you walk in to the space… Welcome.
My son’s room has had many evolutions (take a look what it used to look like here & here) over the past 4 years, but I feel with the creation of this new space, he’ll be able to grow with it through the teen years (unless I change it again…). It’s versatile, engaging, and a fun place to hang out!
When you step into the room, directly to the right are 2 white leaning shelves filled with books, toys, and important (to my son) keepsakes! I shared my love for leaning shelves a while back and I think this new element in the room has not only provided a ton of storage, but has introduced height, openness, and color. The shelves are from Target and were super affordable at around $100/each!
[check out my favorite leaning shelves to decorate with here]
Most of the artwork in my boy’s room was repurposed from his last space. The inspirational quotes that used to be above his desk are now lined up over the leaning shelves and some of the artwork – made by him – is above his bed. I love decorating with items that have beautiful meaning and he loves to wake up seeing things he’s created.
Even though it took some time to get used to, I’m happy with the decision of the lighter wall hue – Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies. It really is a beautiful gray tone and provides the perfect backdrop for the layers of colors in the books, toys, and artwork.
The honeycomb shelves… the honeycomb shelves… The biggest, most difficult, yet THE MOST REWARDING do it yourself endeavour yet. When creating the design for this new space, my son had his heart set on honeycomb shelves after I showed him the Land of Nod style. And since this mama can’t let her boy down, I had to pull through. Instead of buying, what did I do? DIYed them, of course. They are absolutely the focal point of the new room…
{click for the tutorial of the honeycomb shelves}
The bed is actually part of the bunkbeds we had and dismantled a few years ago. He used to have the other twin in his room too, but to provide more floor space, we took it out. The bedding is a new addition and was a great score from Target – orange comforter set and blue plaid flannel sheets (similar style). The arm light on the wall, which I found at Lowe’s, was such a smart solution instead of a table lamp. There is limited room on his nightstand, so this gives him the light needed for reading yet doesn’t clutter up the table surface. Speaking of nightstand… it’s actually a side table from West Elm that I “found” in the basement that didn’t have a home. It might not be the forever nightstand, but it serves the purpose for now.
One of the ways we’ve resolved toys ALL OVER THE PLACE is with the addition of the new under-the-bed toy storage bins I made. They large wood boxes are on wheelies and easy to roll in and out from under the bed.
{click for the tutorial of the under-the-bed toy storage bins}
As you make your way around the room, we come to The Book Nook. We still love the stained pallet shelves that I created a few years ago, so they had to stay. I removed them from the old location next to the door and repositioned them towards the end of the bed to create our new little ‘reading nook’ spot. My boy loves to gather his poufs (the colorful one is by MiraJean Designs) and ‘chill’. It’s his escape and relaxation place (and the spot he can hide from his sister)!
{click for the tutorial of the pallet shelves}
One of the most exciting additions in the room is the picture frame wallpaper. I went with a lighter tone wall color – Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies – so the wallpaper could ‘speak’ and have ‘it’s moment’. An entire room of this wallpaper could have been a bit overwhelming, but one wall of it is fun, unique, and just enough. Here’s a progress shot of the paper going up…
{click for the tutorial of how to hang wallpaper like a PRO!}
And here it is complete…
With the window treatments, I decided to go understated and reuse what was already there. How much easier can you get?! To jazz up the existing white drapes that I purchased from Ikea about 8 years ago, I added a woven trim to the leading edge. The trim that I found at Hobby Lobby is black and is a great contrast to the all-white panels. I simply sewed the trim onto the panel edge and it was complete. This is an easy & very inexpensive way to customize window treatments to give them a designer look!
{click for a similar project tutorial on adding a leading edge}
When rearranging the furniture, I liked the idea of positioning the desk so my boy can look outside the window. The desk that was in his room was moved out and is now in the garage (I have plans for using it in another room in the future). Since it was big and clunky, I didn’t want it to hide the new, fun wallpaper. So in it’s place, I purchased a white, more modern desk from Target and chose to pair it with a clear ghost chair. Again, letting the wallpaper have “it’s moment”. A few black storage bins that I found at Lowe’s completed the look.
On the desk top, I added the most adorable owl lamp that I found at Walmart and paired it with a black shade (again, playing with contrasts). Also on the desk are a few of my boys favorite books and the cutest metal arrow bookends that I got from The Painted Fox, when I worked with them on creating The Nursery Nook. A telescope and microscope are a few other favorite, everyday things he loves.
As we continue around the room, we can take a look at the closet and the dresser. I had some fun with the closet door and chose to give it a splash of color with a deep blue hue. Because the walls are neutral, adding a pop of color as I did for the door, is a fun way to add depth to a space.
[click for the tutorial on how to paint a door]
Opposite of the bed / honeycomb wall is the dresser. This dresser has had many lives and even though it’s a bold color (red/orange mix) it’s lived through all the room updates. It’s from Ikea and was purchased about 8 years ago. For the dresser top I got 2 new lamps – clearance from Target – that flank each end and added some books + a clear jar of Legos… my boys favorite!
The rug. The rug. From preview pics of this space, many of you have loved & commented on it. I got it from Joss and Main through one of their flash sales. Sorry that I don’t have more info to share 🙁 Isn’t it fun though? I love how it brings all the colors together.
Above the dresser is an oval mirror (which is from Lowe’s) that I took from the kids bath (which is now mirrorless, hehe – it happens…) and the new instagram picture holders I made.
{click for the tutorial of the toy animal instagram photo holders}
And there you have it… an awesome boy bedroom makeover filled with DIY projects & repurposed items. Thankfully my son loves his new room, as do I. It’s a keeper (for now, lol).
Thanks for stopping by for a tour. To see more spaces in my home, along with other room reveals, head on over to my House Tour!
