Everyone loves an imaginative and awe-inspiring kid’s room, right? That’s why we were so excited to see this bright redo from Amandelin. Here’s her note:
My son’s room desperately needed a refresh. Beyond the visual issues — knotty wood paneling and bargain-bin particleboard furniture my mother kept “gifting” us — the room itself was awkwardly shaped: 23 feet long and just 9 feet wide. Three walls are almost entirely windows and the fourth is interrupted by double French doors. It was a real challenge.
I painted all the paneling white, replaced the mismatched denim curtains and the “custom” 80s paint-splattered Roman shades with simple white IKEA curtains. Almost all the furniture is thrifted; the only pieces I kept from IKEA were the Expedit and two toy boxes. The most expensive item was the bed at $19.99.
The side tables cost $5 for the pair. I lacquered them white, used a jigsaw to cut a thick piece of wood to match the curved tops, and then stained that wood for contrast. The lamps were $10 each at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I painted them red and hand-cut a robot stencil, finishing with leftover table paint to create a playful graffiti effect.
The lamp on the Expedit started as one of a pair from my bedroom — until my son broke the other one. I hand-painted a treasure map on the base and applied white contact paper with a skull-and-crossbones inside the shade so it appears only when the lamp is turned on. Months of work, elbow grease, and thrift-store hunting were worth it to give my almost-four-year-old a bright, functional room! – Amandelin
We can’t believe it’s the same space, Amandelin — the transformation is amazing. The room feels cheerful, practical, and full of personality, yet was completed on a very modest budget with lots of handmade details. Your son must have a blast in there. What about you? Do you have a favorite thrift-store find or DIY from this makeover? There are so many great ideas here — which one would you try?