Luxe Living for Less
Remember this cute ice cream party we had at the end of the school year? My kids still talk about it…The Flower Home collection fit the bright & cheerful vibe perfectly. So when I heard that there is a newly released Flower Kids collection, I just knew I’d have to get some fun, new accessories for my kids’ room. The bright colors, pom poms and rainbows do not disappoint!
[Read more…] about Favorites from Flower Kids by Drew Barrymore
A couple of weeks ago I shared with you guys my inspiration and thought process behind the our kids’ room. We’ve had a few things we were able to accomplish since then! Painting? Check. Updated light fixture? Check. Hanging chair? Yasss. Bunk bed? Oh yeah. Want to see some in progress pics?
As we’ve been settling into our new home, I’m starting to have ideas for each room. I’ve mentioned before that I like to live in a space for a bit before deciding on any major design decisions. The first room where inspiration has struck is Arden and Conrad’s shared room. Arden’s 5 and Conrad is now 2.5, at our last house, they had their own rooms. Here? We decided to give them the big room to share and it’s been amazing. They’ve gotten so much closer and they play together SO well. Good decision 😉
Here’s the “before” picture of their room. Sorry for the one generic picture, but you get the idea…
First things first, we’ll be painting and switching out the light fixture. Neither the paint or the chandelier is very appropriate for a kid’s room. And as for furnishing it…well, we have a few good pieces from their last shared room version (so long ago!) and we’ll be adding some more fun items, namely, a bunk bed! Yay. Exciting stuff.
As for the direction of the room…I’m not quite sure of that yet. I really just want to create a nice, neutral (yet still fun) backdrop for the room. Then I plan to sit back and just let the space develop overtime. I want to let the kid’s personalities show in their space. We’ll get there. As for now, here are some inspiration shots and a design board for what we are striving for:
ONE
We have the most adorable sheets from Target that we got awhile ago with little tiny plus signs on them. Now just need to find some fun duvet covers or quilts!
TWO
This great little nightstand has storage and it comes in a fun and modern shape. The kids love it. And it’s durable.
THREE
This has been one of my favorite pendants ever. It’s made it through three moves with us and it’ll be back up in the kid’s room again soon!
FOUR
Oh boy, it seems like a kid’s room wouldn’t be a kid’s room without one of these bad boys these days. Yes, I’m falling victim to this trend and it feels so right 😉
FIVE
This bunk bed has been on my wish list since Conrad was born. I love, love, love it. I hear nothing but great things about it: it’s small footprint and sturdiness. Not to mention is sure is purty!
SIX
This play table matches the bunk perfectly, right? And I love how it combines design, form and function.
SEVEN
This shelf is so iconic. It’s practical, sturdy and just so easy on the eyes. I found mine on Craigslist for an absolute steal!
EIGHT
I think FLOR and kids go hand-in-hand. Thank you FLOR for making spills and messes so easy to clean up. Your rug tiles are awesome. I love you.
NINE
This is hands down one of Ikea’s best products ever. So much room. And such a great sturdy dresser for the price.
Now for the inspo shots. Here’s some that really caught my eye:
That’s right it’s time to start thinking about updating the kids room again. Conrad is 18 months now and no longer sleeping in the crib. He’s still sleeping on his crib mattress…on the floor. It’s definitely time to switch that kid over to a real bed. There’s room for a big boy bed for Conrad or maybe even a bunk bed (!), but for now they each have their own nightstand with space to keep their personal items.
We found this great side table (I think technically it’s an ottoman?) and it’s just the right height for Arden’s bed. I couldn’t find it online, but it’s the Room Essentials brand and the tag is just labeled “Ottoman”. The end table we had before was right next to the rocker and it was just way too tall for the bed.
Decorating with letters has been pretty hot for a while now. It seems like every kid’s room has at least their first initial if not their whole name. I just hadn’t really found decorative letters that I thought would work well in their room. I think one of the major reasons why is because I like accessories to be decorative AND serve a purpose if possible. Kids have enough stuff as it is without adding decorative accessories into the mix. So when I saw these light up marquee letters last time I was at Target, I knew I had finally found the right ones!
I heart them, so do the kids, so everyone’s happy. They’re battery powered (so no cord) AND the best part? They’re on a 3-hour timer! Hello perfect nightlight! Arden’s been wanting to sleep with a small light on lately, which means we always have to make sure we turn it off. The 3-hour shut-off works perfectly because there’s plenty of time for them to fall asleep before it turns off.
Everything’s pretty neutral in the space right now. The room has migrated to more of a play on pattern and texture as opposed to color. The toys and books bring in plenty of color though and the rest of the room is like a backdrop. It helps keep the busyness to a minimum. And now typography adds another layer of fun!
Here are some of my faves from my last visit to Target!
FIND YOUR STYLE @TARGETSTYLE
Pottery Barn Kids Wingback Convertible Rocker
$849
Target Eddie Bauer Wingback Upholstered Rocker
$360
It doesn’t have to be a huge space, as long as it’s functional. We decided to set her up in a cozy corner of the playroom. Eventually, I’d love to have the whole playroom be more of a school/play room, but we’ll take it one step at a time!
Here are four of my favorite kid’s workspace looks. I’d like to take all four inspiration images and use the best elements from each and combine it into one amazing space. But for today let’s start off with our desk nook 😉
 |
| via |
I love this little girl’s desk. Not only was it made to fit, it also has a sleek, modern-feel while also being functional with all of the storage space. That ledge over the desk is such a great idea to keep pencils handy. And since everything has its place, the desk looks clean and organized.
 |
| via |
`Okay, how amazing is this dining room turned homeschool classroom? I’m so keeping this in mind for our playroom. The reason this space is so successful is because the unified color scheme. The teal accent color ties everything together and the warm tones of wood and the baskets keep it from looking to one-note. And you’re so busy admiring the fabulous shelving wall, that you’re totally distracted from the fact that it stores kid’s things. Pretty fabulous and functional right?
 |
| via |
This rooms calm demeanor gives off the organized but productive vibe. What kid wouldn’t be inspired to work in this beautiful room? Can I just say…I want one of those peg board organizers for myself? Please?
 |
| via |
Last but not least, isn’t this computer display is so genius? The computers, wood shelving, books and toy collections all mesh in this great casual, fun and light-hearted way. It gives off the effortlessly-chic vibe doesn’t it? I really love how the shelving and desk span the width of the room creating plenty of space for mutliple kids to work side-by-side. And any room with a Tripp Trapp is A-ok in my book.
Now for our start. Here’s Arden’s new desk; an Ikea side table that I bought off of Craigslist for $8 (original is only $10 btw!). Isn’t it adorable? I think the teal color keeps it fun. I added a little easy-to-care for plant in a cute little owl planter. And for the Pièce de résistance, we partnered with HP to get Arden her very own laptop, one of their newest most versatile models, the x360.
So why the x360? It’s a tablet and laptop in one and it has four different modes, laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. A mouse can be kind of confusing when you’re just learning how to use a computer. And since Arden is really comfortable using iPhones and iPads we thought the x360 would be perfect for her because you can either use it like a laptop….
Or use it like a tablet. Here’s she’s using a stylus to practice her letters.
Or she can watch her favorite shows on it. The screen is nice and big for being a tablet combo.
It’s great that she can use her stylus to perfect her pencil grip or she can just use the touch screen to navigate. It makes it super easy for her. She’s loving her new computer and we love having such a versatile tablet around the house.
Do you have a special spot where your kids can learn, study or do their homework? What does your space look like and what was important to you to have to make it functional? I would love to hear your thoughts!
You can learn more about the HP x360 by visiting their site. You can also learn all about how HP is partnering with Meghan Trainor on her #BendtheRules tour. They’ll be creating a fan generated documentary using the x360. Pretty fun stuff 🙂
