Hope you’re having a relaxing week between Christmas and New Year’s. We’ve been enjoying family time and tackling a few home projects—sanding, priming, and painting kitchen cabinets has left the house looking like a small paint explosion with a few stray gingerbread cookies in the mix—so we’ll share that progress soon. Today, though, we’re excited to share a thoughtful room makeover completed by Katy for her son Gabriel. This transformation is a great example of how much character you can add on a tight budget and in a rental home. Katy estimates the whole project cost less than $200, including major pieces like a bed and a dresser, and the landlord was on board with the updates. Here’s her story.
Hi Sherry and John! I wanted to share my son’s room makeover with you. We moved into our house in 2011, a few weeks after I found it at a yard sale. Yes, crazy. We’re just renting it now, but would love to buy it someday.
The house needed a lot of TLC when we moved in. But I love a good project! Our son was not quite two when we moved, so his room was my first project in the hopes of making the move easier for him.
I decided to paint his room a deep, peacock-inspired blue. I picked a rich shade called Plumage and used a tinted primer to get full coverage. That deep color set the tone for the whole space and made the other finds pop. My goal was to spend as little as possible while creating a warm, playful room that would grow with him. I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
One of the best finds was a Jenny Lind–style bed, discovered by my mom. It was a solid wood piece and cost just $80. She refinished it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen and sealed it with clear wax. The result is a timeless, slightly vintage bed that anchors the room beautifully.
I also found a dresser on Craigslist for $20 and refinished it to coordinate with the bed. Small thrifted and sentimental items add so much personality: a tapestry from a thrift store serves as wall art, and some small paint-by-number pieces my mom gifted us bring a cozy, handmade feel.
For a sentimental mobile, I spray-painted an old hanging fixture gold and suspended vintage family photos of my dad, grandmother, and aunt. Those personal touches make the room feel like home and provide conversation starters as Gabriel grows.
I have fond memories of my grandfather giving me Shel Silverstein books as a child, so it felt special to find a copy of Falling Up at a thrift store. I used a few pages from the book as wall art, casually taped so they can be enjoyed up close. We read the poems together and play I-spy with the illustrations—simple, inexpensive activities that add meaning to the room.
The bench in the room is a keepsake from our wedding and works perfectly with a basket that holds books and toys. Combining functional storage with sentimental pieces keeps the room tidy and full of memories.
So that’s Gabriel’s big-boy room! I’m excited to share it and hope it gives someone else ideas for creating a stylish, budget-friendly kids’ room in a rental. – Katy
We love the result. The deepest blue walls create drama without feeling overwhelming, and the mix of thrifted finds, refinished furniture, and family mementos gives the space personality and warmth. The Shel Silverstein pages taped to the wall are a particularly clever, low-cost idea—an easy way to introduce art and encourage reading. The refashioned Jenny Lind bed and the tapestry are standout pieces that elevate the whole room.
If you’re planning a rental-friendly makeover, Katy’s room is a great example: prioritize paint and a few meaningful furniture updates, hunt for secondhand treasures, and add personal touches that won’t damage the home. Small investments, thoughtful editing, and creative reuse can transform a kid’s room into a cozy, age-proof space that feels uniquely theirs.