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While the rest of your house may look like a page out of Martha Stewart Living, your kid’s room can easily fall by the wayside.
You’re not alone. Children’s bedrooms are notoriously difficult to decorate. For one thing, they tend to get messy, fast. Plus kids’ tastes can change practically overnight. Who wants to spend $500 on a Dora the Explorer-themed bedroom only for their kid to ditch Dora for Minecraft within a week’s time?
When it comes to kids’ rooms, it’s important to look for decor that can grow with them. It’s better to spend your money on quality furniture that will last a lifetime rather than on decor that your kid is liable to outgrow. But what if you still want a kid’s space that you both can enjoy? Not to worry, because we’ve gathered our favorite decor ideas for kid’s rooms that look great and won’t break the bank.
Paint old furniture
This is a favorite trick that stands the test of time. Painted furniture is an excellent (and practically free) way to reinvigorate your kid’s space. Bonus points if you can save old furniture from ending up on the curb!
Older furniture tends to actually be of higher quality and sturdier construction than most of the stuff you find in stores today. So grab that chair that was gathering dust in the garage and give it new life with a fresh coat of paint. There are three main types of paint you can use for furniture.
Standard Wall Paint:
Did you know that wall paint looks great on furniture too? This is a great way to use up that extra paint that’s been sitting in the basement. Pay attention though, because this is one d.i.y. project you may not want to have your kids help with.
Furniture can be super unforgiving to novice painters. All the nooks and crannies will easily reveal any haphazard brush strokes. Make sure to properly prep and sand your furniture before painting and take your time to avoid any mistakes. Use a light hand and let the paint dry completely between each coat. If you’re feeling unconfident about your artistic skills we have a couple of great alternatives.
Chalk paint:
This beginner-friendly option is a great paint alternative to standard paint and an amazing medium in its own right. Chalk paint creates a super matte finish that you’re sure to recognize from your favorite design blogs. The overall effect is a rustic, shabby-chic look that wouldn’t look out of place in an English country house. Chalk paint is meant to look a bit undone, which makes it a great choice for those of us with unsteady hands.
We recommend using chalk paint for smaller items like bedside tables or chairs rather than dressers or wardrobes, as the effect can look a bit too intense on larger items.
Spray paint:
That’s right. It’s not just for subway walls anymore. Spray paint actually works great on furniture and can give off a super-polished, airbrushed finish. Any hardware store should have a wall full of spray paints to get started on your DIY designs. Spray paints come in a huge range of colors that will look as vibrant on the furniture as they do in the bottle. From neon yellow to soft baby blue, you’re sure to find an option that both you and your kid loves. They even have metallics and glitter!
Make sure to spray your furniture in a well-ventilated space (ideally outdoors) while protecting the surrounding area. Use long, smooth sweeps of the bottle to get the best finish. We love using spray paint to revive old dressers. Look for a high-gloss, durable finish for an eye-grabbing result.
Create an accent wall with removable wallpaper
When it comes to kids’ rooms (or any room for that matter) removable wallpaper may just be one of the greatest inventions of our time. Among the many reasons to love this modern marvel, the three main ones are:
- It’s affordable.
- It looks great.
- It’s completely removable and won’t damage your walls.
These adhesive wall sheets come in a mind-boggling array of fun colors and designs. With so many options to choose from you’re sure to find something both you and your child will love. Plus, if your kid gets bored with the design you can switch out styles without damaging the walls!
But wait, because not all removable wallpapers are kid-friendly. Make sure you look for wallpaper that’s free from harmful chemicals like PVC and uses non-toxic inks.
Put their accomplishments on display
Favorite instruments, ballet slippers, sports equipment. They all look great hung on the wall! Mounting your child’s accomplishments on their wall is kind of like creating a little shrine to the things that they love. Plus, it looks great and keeps extra clutter off the floor. As the focal point of the room, these prized possessions will motivate your child to keep pursuing their interests.
While it may be tempting to take over decor duties for your kid’s room, letting them have a say in their room’s design is an important way to encourage independence and creativity. Let your kid choose their favorite toys to mount on floating shelves, or encourage a budding artist by creating their own gallery wall. Frame their best work and hang it on their wall as a daily reminder to keep pursuing their passions.
Decorative garlands or mobiles
Grab your scissors and load up on colorful paper because this crafty idea is a crowd-pleaser.
We love using garlands and hanging mobiles to add a bit of bohemian flair to rooms for the little ones. In fact, these whimsical decorations look so great that you may just be inspired to hang some in other rooms too.
There are plenty of stores and websites that sell decorative hanging art pre-made, but our favorite is making our own! With a few simple steps and easy-to-find supplies, you and your kid can construct beautiful hanging art that costs next-to-nothing. The internet has tons of resources for great garland and mobile DIY projects. String up origami cranes in bright colors or attach your kid’s drawings to wires for their very own dangling mobile.
Colorful pom poms make for super cute garlands, plus they’re super simple as a DIY project. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can even make your own pom poms.
Disposable wall stickers
This option is one that the kids are sure to go crazy for. Disposable wall stickers are an ideal budget-friendly and kid-approved choice for a quick bedroom makeover. With literally thousands of options on the web, you’re sure to find something both you and your kid will love. If you want your kid’s room to look just slightly more put-together look for stickers that match the overall color theme of the walls and bedroom. Or, just let your kid go crazy and pick everything out themselves. They’re removable after all. No harm done.
Suncatchers for windows are another great option that will allow your kid to have a say in the style of their room. Plus you can find them in an option every kid loves… glitter!
Get creative with organizers
One of the biggest issues with kids’ rooms is that they’re often smaller in size and lacking in storage for all those crayons, toys, and legos that always manage to find their way under your bare feet. You may be surprised at how a few key storage options can transform your child’s bedroom. Budget-friendly room organizers will instantly make your kid’s room look polished by getting everything off the floor and on display.
Adding storage into their room is also a great way to teach young children how to do chores. Make it fun with a song and game and watch in awe as your kid starts to (gasp) pick up their own toys!
Try out some or all of our bedroom decor ideas and let us know your favorite ways to decorate your kids room in the comments below!
What idea are you most excited to try in your kids bedroom? Let us know in the comments below. Follow us on Pinterest for more like this and pin this to your favorite Kids Room boards.
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