Big Ideas on a Budget for a Toddler’s Fun, Fresh Bedroom
A mom and her sister join forces in a DIY design of a girl’s room that can transition from toddler to tween
Before: The plain bedroom provided a blank canvas for Beattie’s ideas. Freshly painted walls and a whimsical pendant light fixture gave Janvrin a helpful head start on sticking to the budget.
Budget: Janvrin knew they would need to employ savvy shopping and DIY projects — both of which she has experience in from her years corporate styling and interior designing. She just needed to get Beattie on board.
“I said, ‘If we’re going to do this, you’re going to have to do some of the work yourself,’ ”Janvrin says with a laugh.
Wall paint: Grayish, Sherwin-Williams
Budget: Janvrin knew they would need to employ savvy shopping and DIY projects — both of which she has experience in from her years corporate styling and interior designing. She just needed to get Beattie on board.
“I said, ‘If we’re going to do this, you’re going to have to do some of the work yourself,’ ”Janvrin says with a laugh.
Wall paint: Grayish, Sherwin-Williams
After: The clean, modern bedroom provides the toddler a space to grow into. With a few simple swaps, such as pillows, rugs or wall art, the room can suit a toddler just as much as a tween.
Double trouble: Janvrin ran into a challenge when Beattie wanted to have two beds in the room for when her daughter’s cousins and friends come to visit.
Faced with double the bed and bedding costs, Janvrin began searching for sales at her favorite fabric and bedding stores. Inexpensive bed frames inspired a DIY project, which also shifted the room’s vibe to more modern and funky.
Light fixture and rugs: Ikea
Browse kids’ beds and bedroom sets
Double trouble: Janvrin ran into a challenge when Beattie wanted to have two beds in the room for when her daughter’s cousins and friends come to visit.
Faced with double the bed and bedding costs, Janvrin began searching for sales at her favorite fabric and bedding stores. Inexpensive bed frames inspired a DIY project, which also shifted the room’s vibe to more modern and funky.
Light fixture and rugs: Ikea
Browse kids’ beds and bedroom sets
Upholstered bed frames: The upholstered beds, a favorite of both Janvrin and Beattie, pull the room together for a crisp, finished look. They may look expensive, but they were transformed by Janvrin from affordable bed frames from Ikea and discounted fabric.
To create the custom beds, Janvrin and Beattie first painted and stained the bed frame. Next, they added a layer of foam on the headboard and sides of the frame. Then they measured and cut fabric. Janvrin recommends measuring a few times before cutting. Then, they secured the fabric to the bed using a staple gun. You can watch a time-lapse video of the bed frame upholstering process here.
DIY bed frame cost: $260 (two twin bed frames: $140; fabric: $50; batting: $50; and paint, stain and staple gun supplies: $20)
Personal touches: Janvrin and her sister saved money and added a personal touch by having Beattie’s daughter and Janvrin’s 3-year-old son paint the wall art.
“It was really special that our toddlers created the paintings together in about 15 minutes,” Beattie says. “It was fun for them to see [their artwork] in a frame over the beds.”
Incorporating custom and personal items is a big reason Janvrin loves DIY projects so much. “DIY doesn’t just save you money,” says Janvrin, “it allows you to bring in exactly what you want in the space.”
DIY art cost: $76 (two frames: $64; paint: $8; and gold metallic marker: $4)
Material on bed frame and headboard: Serena & Lily
To create the custom beds, Janvrin and Beattie first painted and stained the bed frame. Next, they added a layer of foam on the headboard and sides of the frame. Then they measured and cut fabric. Janvrin recommends measuring a few times before cutting. Then, they secured the fabric to the bed using a staple gun. You can watch a time-lapse video of the bed frame upholstering process here.
DIY bed frame cost: $260 (two twin bed frames: $140; fabric: $50; batting: $50; and paint, stain and staple gun supplies: $20)
Personal touches: Janvrin and her sister saved money and added a personal touch by having Beattie’s daughter and Janvrin’s 3-year-old son paint the wall art.
“It was really special that our toddlers created the paintings together in about 15 minutes,” Beattie says. “It was fun for them to see [their artwork] in a frame over the beds.”
Incorporating custom and personal items is a big reason Janvrin loves DIY projects so much. “DIY doesn’t just save you money,” says Janvrin, “it allows you to bring in exactly what you want in the space.”
DIY art cost: $76 (two frames: $64; paint: $8; and gold metallic marker: $4)
Material on bed frame and headboard: Serena & Lily
Be trendy: Janvrin suggests shopping for popular items and colors when working on a budget.
“Trendy decor items or colors can be found at any price point,” Janvrin says. “You can find them at any retail store.”
Nightstand and lamp: Target; find kids’ lamps
“Trendy decor items or colors can be found at any price point,” Janvrin says. “You can find them at any retail store.”
Nightstand and lamp: Target; find kids’ lamps
Shop sales: The sisters’ distinct design preferences complemented each other well when it came to the bedding. Beattie got her preppy duvet cover, while Janvrin sneaked in eclectic details like sneaker-printed sheets.
Janvrin patiently waited for sales from some of her favorite shops. In doing so, she was able to find quality bedding and fabrics on sale.
Duvet and throw pillows: Pottery Barn Teen; sheets: Serena & Lily
Janvrin patiently waited for sales from some of her favorite shops. In doing so, she was able to find quality bedding and fabrics on sale.
Duvet and throw pillows: Pottery Barn Teen; sheets: Serena & Lily
Paint problems: DIY projects almost always come with a few bumps in the road. Beattie ran into issues while trying to get the right finish and color for the dresser she already owned.
The navy Beattie first used was tacky and too royal blue. So, she started over. She sanded the dresser down, used a primer and tried two coats of a deeper navy. Despite requiring a bit of patience, the finished product gives the room the wow factor the sisters wanted.
DIY dresser cost: $90 (dresser: already owned; paint, sealer and brushes: $50; and knobs: $40)
Dresser paint: Black Sapphire, Behr; mirror: The Land of Nod
A Reluctant DIYer’s Diary of Dresser Makeover
The navy Beattie first used was tacky and too royal blue. So, she started over. She sanded the dresser down, used a primer and tried two coats of a deeper navy. Despite requiring a bit of patience, the finished product gives the room the wow factor the sisters wanted.
DIY dresser cost: $90 (dresser: already owned; paint, sealer and brushes: $50; and knobs: $40)
Dresser paint: Black Sapphire, Behr; mirror: The Land of Nod
A Reluctant DIYer’s Diary of Dresser Makeover
Don’t rush DIY projects: One of Janvrin’s pro tips for DIY is to simply take your time when shopping.
Janvrin’s patience paid off with these wall hooks. Finding affordable wall hooks was a problem until Janvrin discovered these gilded woodpeckers at a vintage junk festival.
What made this detail even more perfect was the fact that her niece had recently loved watching a woodpecker in her yard.
“It was a nice little connection and happenstance,” Janvrin says.
Janvrin’s patience paid off with these wall hooks. Finding affordable wall hooks was a problem until Janvrin discovered these gilded woodpeckers at a vintage junk festival.
What made this detail even more perfect was the fact that her niece had recently loved watching a woodpecker in her yard.
“It was a nice little connection and happenstance,” Janvrin says.
Use spray paint: The woodpeckers made a playful addition to the walls thanks to a quick makeover with gold spray paint.
“You can spray paint anything and have it look fabulous,” Janvrin says. “Spray paint is your friend when it comes to DIY.”
DIY hook cost: $30 (five bird hooks: $25, and spray paint: $5)
“You can spray paint anything and have it look fabulous,” Janvrin says. “Spray paint is your friend when it comes to DIY.”
DIY hook cost: $30 (five bird hooks: $25, and spray paint: $5)
Use upward space: The two beds took up more space than originally planned. Janvrin decided to use bookshelves on the walls versus using more floor space.
When to splurge and when to save: To stay on budget, Janvrin incorporated high and low brands — splurging on bedding and curtains and saving on decorative details by shopping at large retailers and local flea markets.
“Splurge on quality textiles,” Janvrin says. “Things they’re touching a lot, like bedding, are where you should spend a little more.”
Curtains: Anthropologie
Your turn: Have you incorporated any DIY projects into your home remodel or redesign? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments!
More
3 Girls’ Bedrooms in 3 Bold Color Palettes
My Houzz: Color and Whimsy in a Child’s Play Space in Kansas
When to splurge and when to save: To stay on budget, Janvrin incorporated high and low brands — splurging on bedding and curtains and saving on decorative details by shopping at large retailers and local flea markets.
“Splurge on quality textiles,” Janvrin says. “Things they’re touching a lot, like bedding, are where you should spend a little more.”
Curtains: Anthropologie
Your turn: Have you incorporated any DIY projects into your home remodel or redesign? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments!
More
3 Girls’ Bedrooms in 3 Bold Color Palettes
My Houzz: Color and Whimsy in a Child’s Play Space in Kansas
Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A 2½-year-old girl
Location: Decatur, Georgia
Size: 165 square feet (15.3 square meters)
Designer: Lisa Janvrin, owner of YouthfulNest
The backstory: A recent move from a condo to a larger home gave the little girl’s mom, Christina Beattie, the opportunity to finally put all her girl’s bedroom ideas and research to work. To make them a reality, she called on the design expertise and DIY know-how of her sister Lisa Janvrin.
Goals: Beattie wanted a fun, colorful space for her daughter that had a modern and eclectic feel. Her top priorities were to stay within a $1,000 budget and design a room that could transition easily throughout the years.