Vale's Big Bedroom Makeover!

So. before we get into the "afters", here's a bit of the "befores". I didn't get a complete picture of her room before we started tearing it apart, but this was it, in sections anyway. Not pictured is the toy box, toy storage, and cubby storage we were using in there when we switched it up.

Issues/problems/things we're working with & trying to solve in this space...1. her room is small, she loves to play & needs to maximize floor space 2. No closet - yes the room has a closet, though it's not large... It's full of extra dishes/China, linens, decor items & (my) crafting supplies (with only a small space for a few hanging/fancy dresses of hers). We have a small house (2000sq ft) for 6 people with limited storage space, so this is what it is. 3. We don't have toys anywhere else in the house, same goes for school items and supplies - they all need to fit in this space. 4. Cat litter box needs to be in here 🥴... We have 1 box in the laundry room, but need one on "this side" of the house, in case that door is closed (frequently is) and the cats are on this side of that door... We don't have space in either bathroom, the boys room is where we keep the dog contained when needed (door closed), not really enough space in my room (and Brian barely tolerates their existence, so I can't push it by trying to also add a litter box😆)... So this leaves us Vale's room. 5. An extra bed for a guest, and a place for young kids to hang/watch a show.

She had it in her mind that she wanted a bunk bed back in the spring. I convinced her that loft beds were cooler, and we went from there. Instead of just paint, I wanted some fun color on the walls - so wallpaper! She told me what she wanted in general, and I picked 4/5 designs online I thought would work. This was her #1 choice/favourite... Though it wasn't the one I would have picked - I am glad we did! Everything came together SO perfectly!!

Everything I bought was from Amazon, Walmart, Target & Ikea, with honorable mention to the Dollar Tree for having the perfect sized totes for her dresser/closet at only 1.25ea (because we needed 18 of them!).

After picking out wallpaper (Amazon), and a paint color (Sherwin Williams, thanks to all your help, friends on Instagram stories!), I ordered the bed I chose - it's for sale in multiple places online, but ultimately found it $150ish cheaper on Walmart.com. I repainted the trim in the room, but did not repaint the doors (so all stickers previously applied to said doors are still present). She has strict instructions to keep all stickers off her new bed and walls 🤞🏽
We kept - her open bin toy storage & toy box. The bin storage isn't the most attractive per se, but it is the most effective way to use (and put back) toys, so it's staying. The toy box my dad made for me when I was a baby - it's doubling as a little end table right now, but holds all her larger vehicles and houses etc. It was painted green to match her previous room decor, and it doesn't clash with the current decor, so I left it as is. I may put it up on blocks to raise it's height? I'm still deciding about that, but it works well for what we need. We also kept the coat hangers behind her door. We got rid of everything else in the room, except the curtain rods, and 1 green cube storage bin (contains all her shoes) - again, it matched her previous decor, but was still in great shape, and doesn't clash with current so I kept it. Oh, and her laundry hamper - we already owned that too, and it did clash with her old decor (green, navy & white), but goes perfectly with the new!

The loveseat/futon was Amazon, we needed a very specific size - and it pulls out halfway (for lounging/tv) or all the way for sleeping. The dresser/closet storage solution is from Ikea. It's a narrow area, so its only 10" deep, but very tall. The doors are glass and can be see-thru, or white or black (with the insert they provided). I covered over the black side of the insert with extra wallpaper. And I really love that extra detail. It was not the cabinet I originally wanted, but my local Ikea didn't have what I wanted and I hate paying for shipping 😜 so I pivoted and found this one instead, and it's perfection!!
All the little details came together SO well! The curtain decision was a toughie - but I am glad I landed on the green/teal over the pink (Walmart). This room has such peaceful vibes to it, while also being very "Vale" (and I don't think anyone would describe her as peaceful😂). Her new bedding - Walmart, throw pillows on couch, Target, couch cover (to protect it and keep it clean), Amazon. New mattress, Amazon (with plastic covers etc, walmart). That adorably pretty fandelier is Amazon, and wow is it ever good! The wind output is 🙌🏽. The little sconces, lamp and picture frames are all Walmart - the art was created by chatgpt and my prompts - I couldn't be happier with it 🤩. The under loft lighting is technically under cabinet lighting. Motion activated, and exactly perfect for that space! They recharge and magnet on/off so they are easy to swap when needed. It comes in a 6 pack, so 3 are always on the charger (in the charging station I created on the lowest shelf of the Ikea cabinet) ready to go!

So - the TV... My bigs are giving me all kinds of grief about how spoiled she is 🥴. It's not just for viewing any ol time, and has only been used a few times - but!! With our family dynamics, this scenario happens OFTEN - adults are talking in living room, my bigs (& friends) are talking, playing a game, or watching something in the new room... And she's displaced to no where 😬 Whether just her, or with also younger kids, they have no where to go but her room, and when it gets late for littles (8pm) and adults are still going strong until midnight, we usually put on a show and let them veg out/fall asleep etc. It's just a practical entertaining strategy, really. And it worked out exactly as I envisioned on Friendsgiving with all ages doing all the things (games, football etc) and having that extra thing for the young ones was super helpful.
What are some other details? The hanging stuffed animal storage (Amazon) is life giving😂 she has so many stuffed animals and adores them! The mirror was Walmart.com, and super ugly in colour (was supposed to be gold). Rub n buff saved the day! Little shelves here and there was a multi pack from Amazon. The desk chair was walmart.com, the rug was Walmart
The fancy hidden litter box was Amazon, and it's so great! When she has people over playing, we turn the opening to the wall and no one would even know what's in there! It just looks like a planter with a fake plant in it 🤗
I've never actually in my life done such a thorough remodel all at once/in such a short span of time (about a month) 😄. It was really fun!! The end result is a space that fits what it needs to, and is still pretty. We have maximized every square inch! She happily does her school in there, all kinds of set ups with her toys and dolls, and thinks her new bed is super comfy. I don't think I could have come up with anything else more perfect that this for our girl ❤️
The Christmas tree was already hers from last year, but it fits right in!!

I prompted ChatGPT to make me art by uploading a picture of the wallpaper. I wanted the colours and design to "go with", but specifically wanted a valley with a stream going through it, and couldn't find anything similar online/on etsy to purchase. I LOVE THIS ALL!

Giving that under cabinet lighting time to shine

Pulling out the bed halfway for watching a show

Hanging stuftie storage is a NEED around here

Her "dresser"/closet for all her clothes and bed linens. The bins are from Dollar Tree.

Ikea cabinet which is very narrow, the doors can be see-thru, or have an insert, with a white side and a black side. I covered the black side with extra wall paper. I love how this turned out so much!

The fandelier she picked out (of the options I gave her). She told everyone for weeks about this fandelier, asking everyone if they have ever heard of a fandelier (everyone had not). She was quite pleased to explain the details of a chandelier + fan.

The mirror was the right size, style and price, but unfortunately a ugly yellow (not the advertised gold). Rub n buff to the rescue!

I looked for similar in better colours/pastels...anything other than primary or what I already had (all black). Nothing was available, so I used left over wall paper and rub n buff to beautify what we already had. A small detail, but a good one.

Kitty litter! we keep the entrance mostly turned to the wall, and nones the wiser! I love this hidden functional thing so much.

Anyone need a backpack. She won't be parted with any of them. They each serve a specific purpose:-) And her American flag, just because. This room is very "her" in every way.

Coat and sweater rack, and school stuff, and a little shelf (which was there before in a slightly different spot, we just re-hung it)

All her shoes and boots are in this tote. We had it from her old room, and it doesn't clash with the new decor, so I kept it.

Toy bin, this was part of the old room set up

Toy box my Dad made for me when I was about 3 or so. It was painted to match the green/navy/grey of her former decor scheme, but doesn't clash with new, so I have not repainted it. I might do so later, as it's a bit beat up:-/ Doubles as storage for the larger toys and vehicles, and an end table.

So then, after Christmas we needed a little more "updating". She already has, and then added more Lego to her collection over the holiday - sets that are meant to "stay set up"...which means we need more places to put it. So I ordered more shelving!

Added one more here...

Added one more here...

And one here for her Tonie box and characters

And one here...currently displaying the Up Lego house in the corner, and her American Girl doll hair stuff & lip glosses

And then to get her art carousel off the desk for more surface space, this Ikea gem (technically for kitchens) solved the issue perfectly!

Will there be more?! Only time will tell! ;-) But this was fun, she LOVES it, and so do I:-)

DIY HairSpray

Well, I ran out of hairspray - and I don't use it often and it makes my head SO itchy. Like if I spend the time to curl my hair, I can't have it last more than a day because of how itchy the hairspray makes my scalp - I need to shower to wash it out - but the curls don't last as well without it:-/ So a little DIY that worked!! Held my hair like a wanted, even into the next day with a teeny refresh on certain spots. No itchiness, so a win for me!

I heated up 1/2C water on the stove top and stirred in 2t white sugar until melted. I added a few citrus oils for scent, and put in a little spray bottle I already had. Use as normal hairspray. Simple and easy! I posted this on social media and someone commented that they used to work in a women's prison and the inmates would melt down jolly ranchers to style their hair - so yeah. This feels very hard core, but hey - sometimes the chemical free life feels like this 😂

Milk Painting Brick

Kind of for my own benefit - I have done this one other time, and found some directions online - I couldn't seem to find anything similar this time - so I scrolled through 5 years of IG posts to find the pic of the fireplace, and thankfully, someone commented how did I do it - and I posted my ratio - that was the main part I couldn't remember! I didn't want to use special kinds of paint or anything - I didn't last time, and it's perfect.

I use regular paint - nothing special. I brushed my brick clean, but didn't actually clean it - it wasn't dirty, so I figured why bother!

I really like brick! But ours is especially "orangey" in its undertone, and it just doesn't go with the look I like. So painting is the way to go. I do want some of the brick look, so I didn't want to paint it solid.

I watered down the paint - 1 part paint, 2 parts water. I used an old brush that was kind of stiff and didn't squish when pressed against. I used a sponge made for tile/grout work. It's dense and holds up well - brick is ROUGH.

I paint the grout lines with the paint/water mixture, then use the sponge to spread evenly all the "drips". It's VERY drippy.

Work in small sections, and make sure you use a consistent hand/pressure/method, so that the entire wall has the same look.

It took me about an hour to do this space for the 1st coat - the brand new sponge looked like this at the end! Rubbing it across the brick wears it out fast!

Face done, corner coming right up!

1st coat - wet

The first coat soaks in quite a bit. The next day it will look hazy instead of painted (it will look painted when it's wet). The haze creates a base so that the 2nd coat won't soak in as much. For the second coat, use the same paint dilution, and use a sponge. Dip it into the paint, and wring it out well - and then brush on to the areas where you want to see more colour.

These last 2 pics are the 2nd coat done - it is hard to see in pics - but it looks how I want it to...I think. I may touch up a few areas with a 3rd coat once I stare at it awhile.

I think a lot of people are scared to paint brick - because you can't take it back, go back to how it was, or fix it. You can only go heavier (not the milk paint look, but the solid painted look, which is also nice). I was "ok" with a solid look when I first tried this, so started here...but I love it. The fireplace in the house has been painted since Sept 2015, and I've never once wished I didn't or wished it was different. It's exactly what I wanted for that space - so I think I'll have a similar feeling about this room.

Most of this wall will be covered with a massive TV anyway, haha!

Tips - start in the least visible area first - to get the hang of your method (area behind a tv etc)

Go light - you can always add more coats later if you want

Thoroughly cover EVERYTHING nearby - it's drippy and splashy

Wear gloves if you want - I hate wearing gloves, but will be scrubbing paint off my hands for weeks.

Don't be too nervous, or too sold on any particular look - some of the art of it all depends on the brick type and colour you are dealing with. See what will work for you, and then just GO for it with confidence. Note, you could use coloured paint - I didn't.

Claraderm Recipe

Claraderm is pricey, at $69 per 2oz bottle. But I'm kind of addicted to it...and it's been out of stock for awhile now - DIY to the rescue. I literally just read the bottle label, and used exactly what was listed.

Fractionated coconut oil

Myrrh

Tea Tree

Lavender

Sacred Frankincense

Roman Chamomile

Helichrysum

Ok, those are some heavy hitting (aka PRICY) oils. No wonder it costs so much! But lucky for me, I actually had all those oils. I did 2oz coconut oil, and then 3drops of each essential oil. I found it to be quite identical to the original, and since I had the oils, the cost for me was negligible. But, if you had to purchase Myrrh, Heli, Sacred Frank or Roman Cham just to make this and didn't have much other purpose for the oil, it's likely more economical to just buy the Claraderm...once it's back in stock!

I'm enjoying this DIY for sure, and it's giving me a way to use up Roman Cham & Myrrh, as I was given them as freebies for my monthly order awhile back, and haven't had too much use for them/don't like the scent. So glad it's not just sitting around in the bottle now!