I mentioned in this post that I was turning my hand at attempting to decorate my son's room. Well, we've had our decorating schemes put on hold for a while. However in about a month Samuel will move back into his own room and I'd like him to move into something a little more, um, put together than it was when he last lived there.
And I would sincerely appreciate some advice, because I am very artistically challenged.
Here's a little re-cap so everyone can be caught up to date on just how BAD the situation was at the beginning.
And I would sincerely appreciate some advice, because I am very artistically challenged.
Here's a little re-cap so everyone can be caught up to date on just how BAD the situation was at the beginning.
This is our second bedroom. Before Samuel arrived we decided that this would be his room, but as you can see it was a storage room when we started.
Here's a shot looking back towards the door to the room. The other door in the left of the frame is his closet. Even the cat looks depressed.
I was at my wit's end with how to even start, so this was step one. Note the nicely piled boxes in the back corner. Mostly at this point I was just trying to move non-baby stuff out.
Sorry for such bad photo quality.
Samuel's room when we brought him home, just the bare basics. I started doing something with the dresser but didn't like the colours I chose. Ditto with that yellow bookcase.
It was really more of a place for baby stuff to reside, not a very nice room.
Clearly something had to be done with this room. Now, I have painted it since the last photo. Cream with white trim. Also, we now have a crib for him so he isn't sleeping in his little pack 'n play bassinette. Well, to be honest he isn't really sleeping much in his crib either, he prefers our bed. But he HAS a crib, at least.
3. Bedding/Etc.
I need bedding figured out, too. I think maybe a bedskirt to hide the storage drawer under the crib, and then maybe a matching sheet? I am making him a pillow for his bed. The front is my first attempt at cross stitching.
I was a little anxious about the curtain situation but found blue and white plaid curtains at a local antique shop.
4. Storage
All of his clothes are in a blue steamer trunk right now, which is very pretty to look at and a nuisance to dig through. I need a better solution. And something for books/toys? What do I use for that?
So, here are my needs.
1. Lighting
I have a lamp for his room. It is hideous. I'm thinking of doing something like this to it:
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| http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/rope-lamp |
And then purchasing/making a simple shade for it.
2. Art
I have a very large stamp collection, which I've raided to come up with a grouping of naval-themed stamps. Perhaps framing them for the wall is an idea?
3. Bedding/Etc.
I need bedding figured out, too. I think maybe a bedskirt to hide the storage drawer under the crib, and then maybe a matching sheet? I am making him a pillow for his bed. The front is my first attempt at cross stitching.
I was a little anxious about the curtain situation but found blue and white plaid curtains at a local antique shop.
4. Storage
All of his clothes are in a blue steamer trunk right now, which is very pretty to look at and a nuisance to dig through. I need a better solution. And something for books/toys? What do I use for that?
5. Flooring ideas, clearly. Rental apt. carpeting is icky.
Any other interesting and inexpensive ideas out there?
Any other interesting and inexpensive ideas out there?
2 comments:
Bear in mind, I know nothing about decorating. I change paint colors on a yearly basis, because it takes me that long to realize that what I was going for doesn't work.
1. stamp collection- since stamps are small, displaying them all at once runs the risk of being both overwhelming and underwhelming. If you chose, say, nine stamps that were unified by color or theme, and got 4x4 frames to put them in, like these: http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_021W011066030001P?vName=For%20the%20Home&cName=DecorativeAccents&sName=Frames%20&%20Albums&sid=KDx20070926x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=021W011066030001P that would make a nice focal point for a wall.
2. Bedding- did you see this? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Seed-Sprout-Gingham-Crib-Bedding-3-Piece-Set-Navy/4179959?sourceid=1500000000000003260330&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=4179959
a dust ruffle is sold separately.
3. As for books and toys, we've found that open is better. If books are clearly displayed, and at child-level, you're going to have a child who interacts with books more often. With summer coming, garage sales will be your best, cheapest bet at bookcases. Or Craigslist. Do they have craigslist in Canada?
As for toys, we have a big box in each child's room. That way, when toys start overflowing, we either donate, box up and bring out at a later date, or re-distribute to other siblings. Trust me- if you can just fling the toys into a box, life is much easier and tidier.
What number am I on? I don't remember. As for flooring, you can find a cheap carpet remnant and bind it yourself. I found this video about binding carpets yourself, but haven't watched it, since the kids are now done with dinner and are chasing each other around the house, attempting to bomb one another. Yay.
http://curbly.com/modhomeecteacher/posts/6092-diy-bind-a-carpet-remnant-to-make-a-custom-shaped-area-rug
We rotate toys so there is less of a mess. we just have one tote that has a bunch of toys in it that is in our back room and I have her moses basket that she use to sleep in with her current toys in it (you can pick up some good size baskets or buckets at the $ store).
You can get those large foam squares that you could use for his floor, they go on sale a lot at Canadian Tire.
For decoration you seem to be going with a nautical theme, maybe making some pennants like this for decoration http://bit.ly/hWehzm
Do you still have the dresser? Because you could do great decorating with that. Or those Clear plastic pull out drawers are great for clothing. Canadian Tire has them on sale this week.
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