One thing about having children is that everything they need costs money. That’s why I’m always keen on making the biggest impact with the smallest budget. I try to save money everywhere I can so I can get the absolute best out of what I’ve got and my children stay happy.
Decorating your child’s bedroom is one of those things that can end up costing hundreds (or even creeping into the thousands) if you’re not savvy with your spending. As someone who doesn’t mind having a go at a bit of DIY, I prefer to keep the costs down and still have a great end result to impress my kids with.
These are my best tips for completing a revamp on a budget.
1. Planning and Budgeting
Before getting stuck into the creative aspects, it’s crucial to plan and set a realistic budget. Start by assessing what you currently have and what can be reused or repurposed. Consider what really needs updating, what can be revamped and what needs to go. Bonus points for selling what you no longer need as that will increase your budget for the revamp!
I always try to allocate a budget of what I can afford to spend on a project then make a plan that only uses half of it. That way you’ll never over-spend or have to stop halfway through because of funds.
Try to get your child involved in this stage (no, not the money aspect), so you can gauge their tastes and keep a look out for goof deals on specific things.
2. Creative Wall Transformations
The walls are often the most noticeable aspect of a room, making them a prime target for a makeover. There are several cost-effective ways to transform them. If your budget it very tight, then a coating of fresh paint can really brighten things up.
If you’re looking for a wow-factor and a job that looks professionally done (without the hefty price tag) then a wall mural is very exciting option.
Wall murals don’t have to be hand-painted on, you can get some great designs with wall mural wallpaper. These modern murals can give you an amazing looking bedroom without a horrifying hole in your wallet.
You can choose a wall mural that reflects your child’s personality. I personally love animal murals or exotic scenes but I know my son would go mad for a giant world atlas on his wall. The good thing about these is that they’re loads cheaper than you think. You just need to measure the wall it’s going on and enlist an expert wallpaperer.
If a mural isn’t your thing but painting is too bland, you could always opt wall stickers. I’ve seen some great decor on Pinterest where the walls look like they have cakes and sprinkles on. These are handy because they can easily be peeled off once your child outgrows the design.
3. Furniture Makeovers
Instead of purchasing new furniture, consider giving existing pieces a fresh look. If you can savage what you’ve got by giving it a new look then it’s well worth doing. Chests of drawers can be painted, even if they’re just those cheap ones covered in enamel. You’ll need to look up tutorials based on the material but most things are pretty easy to paint.
If you can’t upcycle what you’ve already got, try and upcycle someone else’s stuff. Facebook market place is full of cheap and free furniture, so it might be worth trying to grab a bargain and make it your own.
Soft furnishings can be recovered and dyed, anything hard can be painted or even decoupaged!
4. Bedding and Soft Furnishings
New bedding and soft furnishings can instantly refresh a room. You can always sell or donate any old duvet covers you don’t want.
Something as simple as buying accent cushions or changing the curtains can have a big effect on the room, especially if you’ve already changed the walls. So there’s not always a need to update the bedding if you can just add a few choice pieces.
Cushions and throws are an affordable addition that’ll change the vibe easily.
5. Storage Solutions
Effective storage solutions can keep the room tidy and organized, which is especially important in a child’s space. Nobody I know has more stuff than my children.
Sort through their belongings before buying more storage though, you might find they just cling on to lots of nonsense that they don’t really need. If you can reduce their belongings then that’s even better than finding storage for them.
Chances are though, you won’t be able to get rid of anything. You’ll probably just have a small angry person standing over you telling you how they need absolutely everything.
One good storage solution is an ottoman bed. It’s not that cheap. but it might be cheaper than buying lots of other storage too.
It can also help to get creative with storage, like making a toy hammock, or storying things in baskets. Pegs and hooks can also help keep bags and things from cluttering the floor or wardrobe.
6. Lighting
Lighting can change the ambiance of a room and serve as a decorative element too. If you’ve got a little princess lover, a pink chandelier might be right up their street. Likewise, a football-lover might enjoy a football lamp shade.
Lamps can also come in handy, especially if your kids go to bed with the lights on. You could put an energy saving bulb in a night light and you child will love the decor.
Whatever budget you’re working with, there’s a few ways you can refresh and revamp your child’s room. Don’t forget you can do everything in stages. If money is tight, you don’t need to do everything at once. You could replace the lampshade this month and paint the walls in two months time.
When it comes to decorating, there are no rules about how much you should spend or how quickly you should do it. Whatever you do, your kids are bound to love it.