Just two weeks ago, we shared the exciting news about our Children’s Hospital makeover project, outlining our vision to transform a crucial space into a haven of warmth and joy. Today, we’re thrilled to pull back the curtain and show you the tangible progress we’ve made, as we’ve begun the installation phase of this deeply meaningful endeavor. The atmosphere is already brimming with holiday cheer, a testament to the power of thoughtful design and heartfelt effort. While we’re eagerly awaiting the delivery of approximately 40% of the remaining furnishings and decor to share comprehensive room shots, we couldn’t wait any longer to reveal some of the most charming elements we’ve created. In the spirit of accessible design and spreading happiness, we’re detailing four easy, budget-friendly, and profoundly impactful DIY holiday projects that are already bringing smiles to the faces of children and their families.
Our mission with this project was clear: to infuse a sense of comfort, familiarity, and a touch of festive magic into a space where families often face challenging times. We wanted to create decorations that were not only visually appealing but also offered opportunities for interaction and personal connection, all while adhering to the unique requirements of a hospital environment. Each of these DIY projects was carefully chosen to be safe, durable, and evocative of the holiday spirit, transforming ordinary materials into extraordinary sources of delight. From crafting a cozy hearth without the need for actual flames to designing an interactive art display, these pieces are more than just decor; they are invitations to feel at home, to engage, and to find moments of peace and play amidst their stay. Join us as we explore the creative journey behind each of these special additions:
- A charming faux fireplace adorned with real branches
- An engaging, interactive paper bulb garland
- Elegant gilded cardboard letters spelling a powerful message
- A beautifully hand-painted gradient Menorah
1. Crafting Coziness: A Faux Fireplace with Real Branches
The concept of a fireplace instantly conjures images of warmth, family gatherings, and holiday coziness. While a real fireplace is, understandably, not an option in a children’s hospital, we were determined to bring that comforting ambiance to the space. Our first project, a delightful faux fireplace, proved to be the perfect solution, capable of transforming any corner into a temporary, kitschy hearth for the festive season. The room we were decorating had an ideal recessed niche situated directly below the television, offering the perfect canvas for our creative endeavor.
To begin this DIY faux fireplace project, we started with a simple, thin plywood board. We had it cut to the precise dimensions needed at our local Home Depot, ensuring a seamless fit for the niche. Once home, the plywood received a modern touch with a gray stain, applied using a small pot of stain also sourced from Home Depot. This subtle base color provided a sophisticated backdrop for the natural elements we planned to introduce.
Our initial design idea involved simply painting a log and fire graphic onto the wood. However, a spontaneous “harebrained” idea quickly took hold: why not incorporate *real* wood for an authentic, tactile experience? This led to a brief scavenging expedition in the woods behind our house, collecting fallen branches. These branches were then carefully ripped in half on a table saw, creating a flat side that would sit flush against the plywood board. This crucial step ensured a stable and realistic stacked log appearance for our DIY holiday fireplace.
After experimenting with various arrangements of the halved logs, we achieved a visually appealing stack that perfectly mimicked the rustic charm of a real log pile. To prepare them for their permanent place, the branches were allowed to dry thoroughly before being sealed with several coats of spray poly on all sides. This not only prevented crumbling but also added a protective layer, essential for a high-traffic area. Once dry, each log was meticulously glued into place. For an added measure of safety and durability, especially important in a hospital environment, we further secured them by screwing them in from the back once the glue had fully set.
With the “logs” in place, it was time to bring the fire to life. Sherry expertly painted vibrant flames using spare orange paint, specifically Valspar’s Terra Cotta Red, which we had acquired with free sample coupons from Lowe’s. Her initial thought was to add layers of red and yellow, creating a multi-toned flame. However, we both found ourselves drawn to the elegant simplicity and graphic impact of the single-color approach. The bold orange stood out beautifully against the natural wood, creating a striking visual that was both artistic and inviting.
The final touch for our removable faux fireplace was its installation. To ensure it could be easily taken down after the holiday season, we opted for 3M Command velcro strips, which securely held it in place within the recessed alcove under the TV. This method provides stability without any permanent damage, offering complete flexibility. The finished piece, adorned with a few carefully chosen “mantle” decorations, now serves as a heartwarming focal point. The charming chevron stockings, a handmade donation from a local Etsy shop named Love by Design, add an extra layer of personalized warmth. These thoughtful details are already sparking joy, making kids and families smile even before they’re filled with presents. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Christen for her beautiful contribution.
2. Brightening Spirits: An Interactive Paper Bulb Garland
Adjacent to our cozy faux fireplace, a freshly painted wall now hosts two more of our heartfelt projects, just recently hung with care. Let’s delve into the simpler yet incredibly engaging one first: our “Christmas lights” paper garland. From the outset, we envisioned an interactive garland, a piece of decor that would actively involve the children and allow them to leave their personal creative mark on the space. The concept of paper clipped onto a string, much like a clothesline, emerged as the perfect solution. This setup would enable kids to color their designs and easily hang them up for display, fostering a sense of ownership and participation.
To infuse this interactive display with a distinct holiday flair, Sherry brilliantly cut the paper into shapes that beautifully mimicked those beloved, old-school big bulb string lights. This specific design choice instantly transformed a simple craft into a festive decoration. To complete the illusion, she then meticulously glued small silver paper “sockets” onto each clothespin. Now, when the personalized paper bulbs are clipped into place along the silver twine, they magically resemble a string of twinkling Christmas lights, ready to be colored and cherished by children and parents of all ages.
Before we even left home, our thoughtful Clara very kindly volunteered to pre-color a few of the paper bulbs. This subtle gesture was intended to provide a gentle nudge, just in case the children in the hospital needed a bit of encouragement to unleash their creativity on the garland. As it turned out, the nudge wasn’t truly necessary. During our installation, a wonderful 10-year-old girl named Jessie, accompanied by her nurse, enthusiastically colored a whole bunch of the bulbs for us. Her self-portrait, adorning one of the green bulbs, is a vibrant example of her artistic talent and joyful spirit. Jessie is, without a doubt, one of the coolest kids we’ve ever met. We extend our warmest thanks to Jessie for kickstarting our interactive garland project with such infectious enthusiasm and beautiful artwork!
3. A Message of Hope: Vintage Cardboard “PEACE” Letters
Nestled above the delightful interactive garland is another meaningful addition to the room: a beautifully lettered “PEACE” sign. Crafted from simple cardboard letters found at a local craft store, this piece carries a profound message. The word “PEACE” was intentionally chosen as a guiding principle while selecting items for the room. In a space designed to be calming and welcoming for families facing challenging circumstances during the holiday season, peace felt like the most fitting and universal sentiment. The journey to create this striking piece began by acquiring these versatile cardboard letters from JoAnn Fabric.
Inspired by clever DIYers online who had previously transformed these types of letters, we decided to embark on a similar path. The first step was to carefully slice along the top edge of each letter. This wasn’t a quick process, requiring patience and precision with a craft knife to ensure a clean cut. Once the cutting was complete, a sanding block was used to smooth out any ragged edges. Cardboard, by nature, doesn’t always cut perfectly cleanly, so this sanding step was essential for achieving a refined and polished finish, preparing the letters for their artistic transformation.
After a focused session of cutting and sanding, the letters lay ready for their next phase of embellishment, exhibiting their newly opened, hollowed-out form.
With the letters prepped, Sherry took them outdoors to apply a stunning coat of gold spray paint. This particular spray paint was a happy remnant from previous book photoshoots, proving once again that leftover supplies can often spark new creativity! She focused the spraying primarily on the edges of the letters, laying the groundwork for a contrasting interior. For the inside, we had envisioned a vibrant and captivating gradient, transitioning from a bright turquoise to a deep, rich navy. Having several shades of blue craft paint readily available made achieving this beautiful color spectrum surprisingly easy. The combination of the metallic gold edges and the serene blue gradient created a truly unique and eye-catching effect.
It wasn’t until the “PEACE” letters were fully completed that we realized the wonderful surprise outcome of our design choices. The combination of the metallic spray paint on the edges and the slightly rough, natural texture of the cardboard imbued them with an unexpected vintage, almost rusted metal appearance. This accidental effect was absolutely awesome. It became a delightful observation to see visitors instinctively reach out to touch the letters, expecting a heavy, cold metal, only to be pleasantly surprised by the lightweight, painted cardboard. This tactile illusion adds another layer of intrigue and charm to this meaningful holiday decoration.
4. A Luminous Touch: The Gradient Menorah
Continuing our exploration of captivating blue gradients, Sherry decided to extend this beautiful theme to another significant holiday item we brought into the room: a Menorah. This particular design choice was directly inspired by the stunning gradient candles featured in her original mood board’s Menorah concept, ensuring a cohesive and thoughtfully designed space. We were incredibly pleased that we managed to get this special piece installed in the room with several days of Hanukkah still remaining, bringing a timely and inclusive festive touch to the environment.
For this elegant yet simple upgrade, we began with a standard white Menorah, easily found at Party City. To achieve the desired graduated effect, Sherry selected two cans of spray paint. The process was remarkably straightforward and quick. She first applied a rich, dark blue color, ‘Lagoon’ by Rust-oleum, around the base of the Menorah, ensuring even coverage on all sides. Next, an invigorating aqua shade, ‘Blue Ocean Breeze’ by Krylon, was lightly sprayed through the middle section, creating a soft transition. Crucially, she left the original pristine white color along the top, allowing it to naturally blend with the newly applied blues. The entire transformation took approximately ten minutes, resulting in a modern and striking Menorah that beautifully embodies the gradient aesthetic.
These four holiday updates represent a significant step in our Children’s Hospital makeover, offering a glimpse into the cheerful transformation underway. We’re thrilled to share these completed projects with everyone who has been following our journey. Now, our focus shifts to the remaining items on our comprehensive to-do list, eagerly awaiting completion. One particularly heartwarming upcoming project involves showcasing the messages, cards, and countless well-wishes that so many of you have generously sent our way – a sincere and resounding THANK YOU to all who contributed! We’re on track to finish the entire room next week, which will see the arrival of even more exciting elements, including our plush cozy armchair, elegant window treatments, and several larger wall art pieces. Beyond the physical transformation, a short video chronicling the makeover is also in the works, promising to capture Sherry’s emotional reactions (she’s already tearing up just thinking about it!) and, most importantly, the sweet, invaluable responses from the families who will spend their precious time in this newly designed space. We absolutely cannot wait to share all of these moments with you as soon as they’re ready!
Here’s what our To Do list is looking like as of this morning, a detailed roadmap of our remaining efforts:
New paint job on walls.Done!Build a large custom chalkboard for holiday cheer messages and kid doodles (and hang it). Done!Assemble tree and decorate it.Done!Buy (and paint) menorah.Done!Make clip-up garland for kid-drawings.Done!Make removable fireplace panel for under the TV and decorate the “mantel.”Done!Cut, paint, and hang our big PEACE sign.Done!Receive custom art for the kitchen area from a kind reader (all the way in Australia!). Done, just have to hang it!-
Add in a white (but not ceramic) animal friend somewhere.Done! -
Add snowflakes to all the windows.Done! - Make wintry (washable faux velvet?) tablecloths & add small snowy tree centerpieces.
- Hang wreaths in kitchen area.
- Pick up window treatments (once they’re done) and hang them.
- Paint and hang di-cut trees around room ledge (can’t wait to share more details on this! We recruited the coolest local company to help us make them).
- Decorate pillars near entry and arch between them.
- Bring in cozy armchair for corner.
- Paint and hang two cork boards full of messages from you guys.
Create wood slice art (3 pieces) for the wall between those two cork boards.Done, just need to hang them!
Beyond the delightful decorations and the fulfilling aspects of this makeover, I feel compelled to share what an incredibly humbling and profoundly impactful experience this has been. Perhaps between now and our next update, I’ll find the perfect words to fully articulate the depth of this feeling – but witnessing firsthand the unwavering dedication and exceptional work of the staff at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) is nothing short of incredible. To even catch brief glimpses of the heart-wrenching situations they navigate every single day has been a truly eye-opening journey. It unequivocally puts into perspective any stress or anxieties one might feel about holiday decorations or festive entertaining. Therefore, in case we somehow fail to express it sufficiently later, a colossal and heartfelt thank you goes out to every single individual who dedicates themselves to such challenging yet immensely vital work. Your tireless efforts make an amazing, life-changing difference for countless families who are confronting some of the heaviest burdens imaginable. We are profoundly grateful that compassionate and courageous people like you exist in this world.
Update: You can explore all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15, offering fantastic inspiration for your own festive styling!