Thursday, October 24, 2013

Budget Bedroom Makeover for a Rental Home

While I'm still working away on my dining room makeover, I thought I'd share my oldest daughter's room that has been mostly completed for a while now.  It just need a couple of little things finished up before I could take pictures...

As you know, the house we are currently living in is a one-year rental, so making this house feel like a home is challenging!  Also, this latest transition has been particularly difficult for my twelve year-old daughter.  The poor girl has had to move schools so many times over the last several years and just when she grew to love her old school outside of Raleigh, she was uprooted to Greensboro.  It breaks my heart that she's had to go through so much and I wanted to make her room as special as I could without spending much on a rental.
It definitely took a bit of rotating furniture around to get this room figured out since her bedroom in our old house was huge (way too big).  She had a full-size bed and her own bathroom that she didn't have to share with her two little sisters and she happy as a clam...
I never completely finished her room and didn't share it on the blog before we sold the house, but we had to sell the full-size bed since there was no way it would fit in the small rental bedroom.  Also, the younger two are now together in one room...requiring us to purchase a set of bunk beds and leaving two unused twin beds.  I knew that we would need to use one of them for my oldest daughter, but wasn't sure just what I would do with this room...
Before 
As you can see, the room already had wood planking on the walls when we moved in since it's covering some sort of old wallpaper. I believe it was a teenage boy's room with the wood and sage green walls (and broken window shades). Working with the wood walls for a pre-teen girl was going to be interesting...
Since I had an ornate French bed and a hot pink antique iron bed from previous rooms to work with, I chose the hot pink bed... but re-sprayed it ivory...
I knew that I wanted neutrals in the room and already owned the linen duvet ($25 Target clearance purchase several years ago), and the ivory seemed like a safe choice and would pop against the darker wood walls. It wasn't until a trip to IKEA that I really got the inspiration the room!  With the broken blinds being on the front of the house, I had to break down and get some window coverings.  I've always loved the "EIVOR" curtain panels from IKEA and for $15/pair, the price can't be beat either...
The black and white trees, branches, leaves were the perfect inexpensive solution to tie the existing black and white decor with the wood paneled walls.  They are also whimsical and perfect for a "tween".  Right next to these panels at IKEA are the"LILL" sheer panels that are only $5/pair and a light bulb came on to use these to flank the bed to break up all the wood and make the room a little softer and feminine...
We all know that window hardware does not come inexpensively, but I was able to get all the hardware and brackets for the room for around $20 (at IKEA) for a total of about $60 for all the curtain panel treatments...money well-spent for the impact they have in the room! 
The rest of the room was pulled together with  fresh, neutral paint and using artwork, pillows, etc from other rooms in the house.  For example, the flower and branch artwork used to be in my master bedroom and bedside table and lamp from the old living room.  All of the pillows were used in different areas before, but I did need to get some new twin sheets ($15 - TJ Maxx)...
...and the ruffled bedskirt for $30 on Overstock...
I found the dresser, desk/vanity, and bench about five years ago from Craig's List and painted them up.  They've made all the family moves so far...

Last summer, I made the large chalkboard for signage for a show and a wedding... Now it's for keeping track of homework, notes, and doodling.  I took about 5 minutes and drew a little curtain-inspired artwork for the chalkboard. My step-dad is the chalkboard artist...not me :)
All in all, the little makeover came in right around $100 and some paint!  It's amazing the different looks you can achieve just by recycling items from around the house and hunting for a few bargains.  
More importantly, my daughter loves her "new" room and I was happy to get her settled in as much as she could before she started her new school!  

Kristen

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36 comments:

Sonny G said...


you've done a lovely job and I know your daughter appreciates it.
maybe you wont have to be in that house for too long.

not sure what sort of rental person shows a home with broken blinds.. :(

what we rent is gone over with a fine tooth comb- professionally cleaned,sanitized and painted if need be and sparkling to welcome its new family= which is as it should be~!

Cassie Bustamante said...

it looks amazing! the crisp black and white paired with the wood are perfect! you really made it work!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

The curtains beside the bed make such a wonderful difference. Love the entire room.
Joy

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

You did a great job, Kristen! I love how you pulled together such a great look without spending a lot of money. I hope this will help your daughter a little bit. I was her age when my family moved from where I had grown up, so I can relate to how she must feel.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

It is so pretty, Kristen. I hope your daughter loves all the work that you put into it to help her through another transition.

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

What a charming room you've created! I just painted a similar bed green and posted it yesterday. :)

Pamela said...

Kristen it turned out wonderful! I know it has to be so hard feeling so unsettled.

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

You have done a wonderful job in her room. Luv that ruffle bedskirt and the Ikea drapes.

Blessings,
Linda

Restoration House Interiors said...

Love it! What a sweet redo! Glad to have found you...new follower! Found you via Feathered Nest Fridays! Hope you come over and say hello! Best, Kennesha
www.restorationhouseinteiors.blogspot.com

Suzy said...

Beautiful job, Kristen. I would have found the wood wall daunting, but you did a fantastic job of making it look intentional and pulling all together. So pretty!

Holly said...

You did a beautiful job Kristen! I hope that everyone has settled in and adjusting to a new routine.... and I know that having a beautiful room to escape to made it easier for your daughter!

Christy James said...

This is gorgeous, Kristen! I am in love with that bed skirt and I agree with Suzy, you totally made that planked wood wall work! Have a great weekend! :)

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

Love it, Love how the polka dots & the tree branch curtains work together.

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

Love it, Love how the polka dots & the tree branch curtains work together.

Erin said...

Loving your ingenuity!

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

The room is GORGEOUS!!!....You are like the Fairy Godmother...turning that room fit for a princess in an enchanted castle.....fantastic job as always Kristen!!!

Robin Johnson said...

You've done a wonderful job on your daughters room. I looks so grown up and chic. I love the bed of course but the dresser, desk, bed linens and curtains make the room lovely.

Abby said...

This is a really pretty room! The black and white with different patterns and textures is just so gorgeous! Really like how you softened the plank wall with curtains!

lynn cockrell said...

Kristen, this bedroom is wonderful and should be perfect for many years to come for a growing girl. The way you have the one beautiful paneled wall gives the room a nice warm and welcoming feel. The linens and curtains are simply perfect!

Connie said...

Oh my goodness, this room is beyond charming. I love how you took that wood paneling and embraced it, and soften it with the sheer panels. Everything about this room makes me want to move in and call it home. Beautiful and Bravo!!!
Keep Smiling,
Your blogging sister, Connie :)

Margie said...

Excellent job with this makeover. She will definitely grow with this room. Love that you truly did it on a budget. Sophisticated yet youthful.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

AMAZING bedroom!! I know your daughter must love it!!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Simple but very pretty. What little girl...(or grown up girl) wouldn't love this room,huh?
Pat

THE FARMHOUSE PORCH said...

awww, this is so pretty. I like the color scheme :D

Cute ruffled bed skirt too!

Maria said...

What a pretty room! I love all the little details, especially the big chalk board and all the cute pillows!

Anne Boykin said...

Kristen, You've done a wonderful job at making a beautiful room. Love the bed linens especially. I'm sure your daughter appreciates these comforts of home.

Mary Ellen said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper

Allison @ The Golden Sycamore said...

I love everything about her room! I really love the bedding with the polka dots and black with different shades of white and ivory. So pretty! And the wood wall totally works with it all! You did a beautiful job and really showed how to work with what you have!

At The Picket Fence said...

Oh this room is so, so beautiful!! You did an amazing job creating a lovely space for your sweet girl and showing how it CAN be done on a budget. Well done! :-)
Vanessa

The Kim Six Fix said...

It came out beautifully. I also have 3 children, two of which have to share a room after moving (we used to live in Durham, NC!) to a much smaller house in California. It was hard at first, but it did eventually become home. I am sure your daughter loves her space, since you made it special just for her, and that is more important than the actual square footage!

Life Between Potato and Rice said...

Really nice bedroom. The mirror and the curtains are really great compliment to the room.

Becca Bertotti said...

Beautiful, Kristen! I love how you added the panels on each side of the bed, too! I know your daughter must love it!

Wild Oak Designs said...

Wow, to move that much, kudos for you all! And to be able to pull together a great look, make it feel like home for your family is a big kudos to you! Your daughter's room is worthy of magazines! Love it....
Nancy

Anonymous said...

Genius idea to use the sheer curtains to break up the wood panel wall. Everything works so nicely together now, the wood wall actually lends a cozy / organic feel to the room.

The Hen House Chicks said...

What a beautiful transformation! Looks much more expensive. Loving the new paint color. What shade did you use?

The Hen House Chicks said...

Beautiful transformation and it looks much more expensive that it was! Love the new paint color. What shade did you choose?

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