At the end of summer 2022, we repurposed three rooms in our home: our main level playroom became my home office, our vacant guest suite became my daughter’s bedroom, and her original bedroom became a multipurpose play/guest/library. It was a significant change yet once we were settled, each space felt like it was meant to be that way all along.
Of the four of us, I wasn't sure how my then 7-year-old would take to the change. She would no longer have built-in storage or open floor space to play. She’d also have to give up her bookcase, which she adored decorating and pulling books from daily. I embraced the challenge to get creative and wanted to share 3 thoughtful things that made our transition smooth and even better than I hoped!
design board
My daughter and I are both highly sensitive people (or HSPs), so knowing what to expect helps lessen our anxiety around unknown events or environments. With this awareness, I chose to treat her like a young client and create a design board for her to see how her new space was going to come together. It got her super excited, which made me more confident in our decision.
While we planned to reuse as many existing pieces from her original room as possible, we thought she deserved a fresh-feeling bedroom design. The rug was her favorite addition. It grounds the room, reflects her boho style, and was the color inspo for the DIY abstract I painted (read on to see!).
clear communication
From the first discussion about swapping rooms, my husband and I were open with our daughter about what that entailed. We weren’t simply reconfiguring one room. We would be shuffling the contents and altering the purpose of three rooms (two upstairs, one main level). There was no going back, so we made sure she fully understood and we were (six months later) ready.
We also made the physical differences in room size and storage clear but didn’t dwell on it. We didn't want her mindset stuck on what she was losing. Instead, I invited her into the creative process. With the design board and both our imaginations, we found ways to make space for what she loved, including letting go of what she didn’t.
Taking this time with her was worth it! She adores her space and has been maintaining it so much better than her bedroom before. Yes, she’s a bit older, but downsizing was key. There was simply too much space and available storage for her to manage. With less space to spread out, she’s more intentional with what gets displayed or kept in the storage solutions we’ve created. It’s been amazing to watch her style and organizing skills grow in the last year. Once in a while, she’ll ask me to organize with her, which is such fun quality time. For the most part, though, she takes care of her own space.
one-of-a-kind artwork
Before my daughters were born, I painted a canvas for each of their nurseries. My first daughter’s was yellow and sunshine inspired and my second daughter’s was mint green with a moon and stars. Fun fact: they were born in the morning and night, respectively, and their nursery themes rather serendipitously reflect their personalities and interests.
With my first daughter’s redesigned room, I wanted to paint a bolder, boho version of a sunrise to illustrate her maturing style and favorite colors. The deep navy is a rich backdrop for the coral and gold sun. She loves sparkle, so I ventured into mixed media layering glue and glitter on the acrylic paint.
The combination of hues echoes the vibrant vibe throughout the room from the rug and decorative pillows to her well-read books and ROYGBIV sticky toy collection.
Without a doubt, my girl’s found her happiest place to be.
how have you personalized your kid's bedroom design?
The magnet boards above her desk give my daughter free rein to showcase what she loves and change it when she wants, and the framed piece behind the door is her own watercolor piece from Kindergarten. These are beautiful, budget-friendly ways to add style and personality to your child’s space. I’d love to learn what you’ve tried and loved, so please share in the comments!
Always,
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