Some of you may remember that back in January we mentioned picking up a couple of wooden chairs from Target for a side project we were planning to reveal after finishing the bathroom. The bathroom took a few extra months (you can find the finished product and budget breakdown on our site), and during that time a big life change happened: we decided to move to Florida. Still, now that the room has been in use for a few months, we’re excited to finally share the update and explain why we transformed this space.
The room in these photos used to be our guest room. At the time we were reworking a bedroom at our beach house, we realized we had the same problem at home: a whole room that was rarely used. Our bonus room has a big couch that doubles as a bed, which guests usually prefer because it offers more space and a TV. That left the guest room sitting mostly empty. We also realized we could always have the kids share a room for a night if guests needed a place to sleep, so converting this rarely used bedroom into something the family could enjoy every day made sense. When we mentioned the idea of an art room to the kids, they were thrilled.
We started the conversion back in January, just before the move decision came together. With school canceled for the rest of the year, the timing was unexpectedly perfect—the kids were home and able to use the space right away. Turning the guest room into an art room made the house more functional and relieved some growing issues in our downstairs home office, where their small craft desk had become increasingly cramped.
For years the kids worked at a tiny door-turned-desk we made when our daughter was very small. It had been great, but as they grew, the desk was too small for both of them to work comfortably, and their crafts started taking over more of the office. Moving their art area upstairs gave them more room to spread out and kept the main office tidier. We were happy to sell the old bed and bedside tables, which left a clean slate for the new layout.
Having a dedicated art room isn’t a requirement for every family, but our kids spend a lot of time drawing, cutting, gluing, taping, and assembling projects. Since we already had an unused room, the conversion was an easy decision. Another practical benefit is a solid door we can close to hide the mess when we need to, and the room isn’t immediately visible when someone enters the house—both useful for everyday life and for showing the house to potential buyers.
Here’s how we executed the design.
The Oversized Art Desk
Our top priority was creating a much larger workspace. For years the kids used the door desk, which was charming but no longer suited two older children working side by side. We decided to run a desk wall-to-wall to give each child ample, well-separated workspace and lots of surface and storage area for supplies. The bases for the desk are three drawer units that provide generous storage. They originally had casters but were not tall enough for a standard desk height, so we fitted new metal legs that raised them to a comfortable table height—an easy modification that works with standard chairs.
For the desktop we chose a faux-marble laminate countertop because it is lightweight, affordable, and durable—ideal for an art room. In person the finish looked great and is simple to clean. We used two six-foot pieces to span the three drawer bases, leaving a seam down the center that’s largely hidden by supplies and not a concern for us. To secure the tops, we removed some upper drawer components and screwed up through the tops of the bases into the underside of the countertop pieces, which also helps pull the seam tight.
The drawers have been excellent for organizing arts and crafts supplies. We added plastic drawer organizers to keep everything sorted, and the kids enjoyed shopping for supplies to stock their new drawers. To keep organizers from sliding, we used adhesive strips on the bottoms so they stay put but can still be lifted out when needed.
The Display Space
Displaying the kids’ work was important to us, so we moved a display area into the art room. Instead of re-creating a giant corkboard, we chose lightweight pegboards that do less damage to the walls and are easy to move. They come in warm tones that add a friendly texture to the room and hang from a simple rail, requiring minimal installation. We use clips to hang finished pieces, and the boards are compatible with various attachments if we want to add shelves or small containers later.
We also repainted the room a lighter tone—Behr’s Irish Mist—because it was the only dark room in the house and a brighter backdrop helps colorful artwork pop. The kids even helped paint: multiple hands rolling and cutting in made the job go faster and was a fun family activity.
The Floor Space
We intentionally left most of the floor open aside from a single rug so the kids would have ample room for their favorite activities, like building cities and mansions out of cardboard boxes. That open space encourages imaginative play and larger projects that wouldn’t fit on a desk. The kids cycle through multi-day builds and then start over, so flexibility was key.
We added a couple of affordable, comfortable bean bags so the kids have a cozy place to read or take a break. Because nothing is built into the room—no permanent fixtures bolted to the walls or floor—we can take everything with us when we move, including the desk, chairs, and soft seating.
This guest-room-turned-art-room gets daily use now, which feels great. We did wonder briefly whether converting a bedroom before selling would be a mistake, but the house sold quickly and we even printed a photo showing the room as a guest room to help buyers imagine the space with a bed. All’s well that ends well—especially when there are googly eyes and string lights involved.
To explore more kid-related projects and spaces we’ve shared, check our archive of kids and pets projects and crafting and art-related tutorials on our site.