Psst—We’re still working on the living room (you saw a sneak peek of that project here), so we’ll share the full details on Monday unless something unexpected comes up.
It’s Friday—time for a little celebratory wiggle at your desk, in the subway, on the couch, or wherever you happen to be. While we often post about major DIY transformations (laying a stone patio, building a deck, renovating our kitchen, or adding board & batten), we also love the tiny, inexpensive updates that make daily life more fun. Those small projects often cost less than $5 and take under five minutes, and they’re the reason our Projects page is packed with little ideas you can replicate easily.
After adding crown molding to Clara’s nursery earlier this week (see that project) and while we finish a few other updates (including the living room), we wanted to wrap the week with a quick, inexpensive makeover that’s cheerful and simple.
We like to call these tiny efforts “jelly bean projects” because they’re fun, bite-sized improvements that fit neatly into your schedule and budget. A recent example is an old wooden cradle we picked up for $11 at a local thrift shop during a little Macklemore-inspired thrift challenge (read about that). The cradle had character, but up close it showed burn marks, scuffs, and a musty smell from long storage. I wanted something brighter and fresher for the nursery, so I painted the cradle white and used it as a base for a small decorative upgrade you might enjoy.
White is a great neutral base—it brightens and simplifies—but it can be even more playful with a splash of color. To give the cradle some personality, I added bright red pom-pom trim that I found in the remnant/discount bin at JoAnn for just 79 cents. The trim instantly turned the piece into something lively and child-friendly without much effort or expense.
For attachment, I considered glue or staples, but then I remembered some old nailheads left over from a rocking chair recovery project (that project here). I sealed the ends of the pom-pom fringe with a drop of crazy glue to prevent fraying, let it dry, and then used the nailheads to anchor each swag from the back. The result is neat, secure, and reversible if I ever want to change the look.
Instead of sewing a mattress I had a ready-made solution: a lumbar pillow I already owned (you might recognize it from Clara’s first nursery reveal post). It fit perfectly as a doll mattress and saved time—and sewing—at the same time. I tucked a soft pink blanket around the doll, set it in the cradle, and in a few minutes the thrift-store find was transformed into a bright, happy spot that matches Clara’s current love of reds and pinks.
All told, this refresh cost under $15 and took a small amount of time, yet the impact is big: a thrifted item looks refreshed and feels special, and Clara loves it. She rocks her dolls, tucks them in, gives them kisses, and even fills the cradle with tiny plastic animals—exactly the kind of use that makes a project worthwhile.
From the back, the nailheads give a clean, tidy finish and the pom-pom trim has held up well so far. I was worried she might tug it off, but she’s largely accepted the trim as part of the cradle. Small victories like this—fast, inexpensive updates that add color and playfulness—are some of the best parts of decorating for kids.
Have you made over any thrifted kid items lately? Or tackled a crib or crib skirt project? I’m always excited to hear about simple, no-sew solutions and other easy DIY ideas—share what you’ve tried!
Psst—We picked a winner for this week’s giveaway—click here to see if it’s you.