Teen Bedroom Makeover: The Reveal!

I couldn’t let 2020 slip away without one final room reveal. This post feels like a long time coming. Looking back, M. and I first started talking about redoing her room almost a year ago! The pandemic really did throw us for a loop, but the important thing is that we completed the project together, and she is so happy with the outcome.

We actually moved her back into her room in October, but there were a few odds and ends to finish, and I put off taking photos and video of the finished space. A couple of days ago, she and I finally sat down together to record a video recap of the project. Even if you aren’t really into vlogs, I hope you’ll watch. The video offers an excellent overview of the entire project and some insight into how my daughter and I work together.

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The Very Orange Beginning

In 2016, M’s very favorite color was orange, and we had a blast painting the stripes…

…and building a well-appointed studio apartment for “the girls.”

After years of fun, M. decided to grow up, against my wishes, and she was ready for something new.

Before we started, I asked her to make a list divided into three sections:

• What to keep in her new room (The dolls now live in her closet)
• What to get rid of
• Wants for her new room

She also completed a little online style quiz, and it matched her up with the clean lines of mid-mod. All of that information helped us formulate the initial plan for the makeover. Then, the pandemic hit, and we pivoted hard towards less money and more resourcefulness. In the end, it was the best lesson for both of us.

M’s New Nature-Inspired Bedroom

All sources linked at the bottom of this post.

When you first enter the room, this is the new view.

One of the trickiest parts about this room was working with the layout. Four doors and two windows made it difficult to find the best location for her bed. I ended up building a headboard/door cover to put over one of the unnecessary openings.

Since the new addition was visually heavy, M. and I decided that painting it the same shade of green as the walls would help it blend in better. Initially, we talked about painting it white or leaving the wood its natural color. I am so glad that we painted it.

For reference, here’s what the corner looked like before:

The new headboard, hanging by a cleat, is completely removable. The door, trim, and original hardware are intact behind it. The guest room is next door, and I plan to cover that side with a large quilt or tapestry.

One of M’s big requests was a place to display her medals and trophies. We used simple shelf brackets and unfinished boards up above, and I built a very simple peg rack for the medals. (more on that in another post)

I’m pretty sure that no tween/teen girl’s bedroom is complete without fluffy bedding, so we decked hers out in the softest faux polar bear fur duvet and pillow cover. What you cannot see are the two fleece blankets underneath. The girl is serious about softness.

Another item that she really hoped for was a beanbag chair, and it arrived for Christmas. It is enormous! It shipped as a tiny little block, but it has exploded into the entire room over the past week. She loves it, and I don’t blame her. I had an opportunity to try it out, and sitting in it feels like a cozy hug.

M’s final wish was for more storage for her books and teen girl accouterment, which seems to involve mostly manga and hair scrunchies. We salvaged a very trashy cabinet from the basement and turned it into a functional part of the decor.

More Notable Additions

Although the cabinet certainly qualifies to win a trash-to-treasure prize, the real honor belongs to the dumpster desk. What a piece of work that was!

The chair was also a roadside find from several years ago. I repainted it and covered the seat cushion with the extra pillow sham that came with M’s new bedding.

The fluff-o-meter in this room reads 100%.

My favorite thing is the mural from Limitless Walls. They gifted it to us, and we are so grateful. Months later, after the install, M. and I still stand back and admire it. What a breathtaking view. I love the reflection in the mirror too.

I am a little embarrassed to admit it, but we were supposed to hang that mirror in her room four years ago. Instead, it leaned against the wall the entire time. The little inset piece was blue, but that was an easy fix. I painted it the same soft white as the cabinet.

Although I did not take any noteworthy photos of the rugs, we added two–a 5×8 in front of the desk and a 3X5 beside the bed. They are so soft. The nubby wool texture adds more interest to the room with its limited color palette.

Regarding that simple color palette, I wanted to leave plenty of room for M’s self-expression, which will likely change over the years. We purposely left the walls pretty bare so she can eventually hang posters and art that she likes. I didn’t want her to feel like she had to choose a generic piece of art just to fill a space. Completing this project wasn’t about aiming for magazine perfection. It was about creating a backdrop for her life as she sees it.

The unsung hero in the room is the fully-restored and functional window.

I swapped out the broken ropes with sturdy chains and added reproduction hardware because the original hardware was missing.

I still need to make a few tweaks to it next spring, but until then, it functions perfectly, and M can lift it with one hand. Prior to the restoration, it was inoperable, but we did have an alternate emergency evacuation plan.

The new light-blocking curtains will be useful next summer. It gets scorching on this side of the house when the sun streams in.

Sources

• Rugs (cotton & wool blend) – 3X5– The 5X8 is sold out, but here is a link to the 6X9.
• Bedding (It comes in queen size only, so we used it more like a bedspread.
• Beanbag chair (filled with memory foam chunks, not styrofoam beads)
• Mural
• Shelf brackets
• Wall color – Green: Isle of Pines, White: Pure White – matte finish, both by Sherwin-Williams
• Cabinet & Window color (matches the existing trim color) – Sail Cloth by Benjamin More – satin finish
• Desk paint – Isle of Pines, satin finish

A Few More Photos

I cannot help myself, you know.

I am so excited that M. and I could do this project together. We made some wonderful memories, and now there’s a pretty new room in BHH too.

I would love to know what you think, so please let me know in the comments.

Happy New Year!