$500 Teen Bedroom makeover

Thank you to the Washington Post for selecting this post for Blogwatch June 18, 2009!

I thought I'd share a quick before & after with you. This client's teenage daughter visits him on the weekends & so he wanted to create a bedroom for her in the basement out of a wasted room. (below)


I only had $500 to work with, so I used a bed & little table he already owned. The bed looked similar to the one below, but it was more an "oaky" color... (I probably wouldn't have painted the one below) I had it lacquered in white.


I also did all of the shopping at places like Target and Bed Bath & Beyond and found the accessories at thrift stores. Paint was my friend on this project. My client's daughter requested a pretty, calming "shabby chic" look with a bit of glam. It also had to have a chandelier. I love this glass ball lamp from Ralph Lauren Home but found a MUCH cheaper version from Target.


Her favorite color is turquoise, but I didn't want to overpower the room with it...
I found these fun (and inexpensive!!) jersey knit tie dyed sheets in turquoise:



I went with a comfy white cable knit blanket on the bed and made a couple of pillows in fun turquoise fabrics. I also added flirty feminine details in the bedding like runched white Euroshams & a turquoise accent pillow.


I used white painted for the thrift shop accessories: a shelf, a mirror & some other things and got this great little mini chandelier from Pottery Barn Teen:


So here's one last look at the "Before":

And here's the "After":

Now she has a fun place to stay on the weekends & plans on inviting friends over all the time! (All for less than $500!!)

Hope you enjoyed!!

xoxo,

lauren

51 comments:

Miss Madras said...

Love it! I am always amazed at what can actually be done on a tight budget with a lot of creativity! I think those projects are the most satisfying too.

Vanessa Greenway said...

It looks adorable!! That's lovely to see the white walls. I'm going for a pure white look in bedroom and now I know it would look just great! Love the turquoise accents. Beautiful!

Eileen said...

This is absolutely beautiful!
It does not look 'Target' or thrift shop finds at all!
And in these economic times, this is right up my alley!
LOVE IT!!
To me, this is the sign of a true decorator, to create such beauty on a tiny budget.
Anyone can decorate a mansion with endless money at their disposal. That holds absolutely no interest for me.
Now THIS is decorating! THIS is creative!
Kudos!

Letti said...

Great work I love it!

High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

Beautiful Lauren! What a sweet Dad that wanted to make a nice home for his daughter. I love it. It's the perfect mix of exactly what she wanted and you can't beat that price!

Collins @ Life. Mostly Sweet. said...

How cute! I would have loved a room like that when I was a teenager....or now!!

kahlanne said...

Oh that is so lovely. I like it and I am so not a teen anymore!

Kristin Hughes Photography said...

You did an amazing job on this room! I love it and cant believe you did it all under $500!

bluehydrangea said...

I love before and after's and this is a great one!! I also love that it is done on a budget...great job!!

Rachel said...

Paint was your friend, this is totally shabby chic!! Great job!

Re:Fresh Design Studio said...

So cute! What a great transformation!

Smitten Design said...

Fantastic job! The turquoise touches are lovely. Did you make that throw blanket?

Anonymous said...

fantastic! and its not soo "teenage" it can go with her to college, and beyond!

yvonne said...

Beautiful work - it's a gorgeous room.

Michelle said...

Wonderful Lauren...with such a small budget!! Very nice.

Best,
Michelle

LindsB said...

OMG! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!! What a lucky girl she is to have a dad who wants her to have a nice space when she comes and visits- I just love what you did with the place. Its so true, paint can make a world of difference- the white paint here looks great!

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

Lauren- it looks fabulous!

Charmaine said...

WOW! What a gorgeous room makeover! I can't believe you got it all done for under $500! It's perfect!

Natalie said...

Wow! You are incredible being able to completely transform the room on $500.00!!! What talent!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Great makeover on $500! I just love to see real projects like this done on a budget. Congrats!

Brenda said...

It is so beautiful and the pallette is ooh-aah refreshing. It's a very sophisticated room. Thanks for sharing

Brenda said...

It is so beautiful and the pallette is ooh-aah refreshing. It's a very sophisticated room. Thanks for sharing

Moonjava said...

That's so pretty! I can't believe you did that all for 500!!

FROM THE RIGHT BANK said...

I can't believe this transformation only cost $500. But then again, I do believe it because you are incredibly talented. The room is lovely! The client's got to be thrilled.

Things That Inspire said...

You did an amazing job! What a lucky girl.

Siiri said...

That's awesome, I'm sure the daughter really loved it and you made the client happy as well, to be able to provide them with something that will help their child feel more at home! That's what family is all about!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Awww. Perfect timing, cause we have been working on Daughter's (14) room last weekend, and hopefully this!

Looks lovely!

Maria Killam said...

That is so great, I just love it! It was so much fun to watch your step by step process!! Great transformation!
xo
Maria

cotedetexas said...

ab fab!
love the bedding and colors!
great job, as usual.

Angela at Giannetti Home: Design Online said...

Nice work! So soft and pretty yet also trendy enough for a teen to love.

Unknown said...

I love it! She'll get lots of years of enjoyment out of this room, as it has a timeless and classic look.

Annie Pazoo said...

Congrats on making the Wash.Post's blog watch!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/17/AR2009061701133.html

Haven and Home said...

Could NOT look any better! Well done!

Anonymous said...

Lauren,

Very nicejob!!!!

Love

Dad

pve design said...

I love how you rose to the challenge and made such a shabby chic room! Really sweet! :)

Willow Decor said...

Love the makeover and for only $500- Amamzing!!
xx-Gina

Best friend said...

Please keep getting more famous. Thank you.

DesignTies said...

Lauren, you did a FABULOUS job on this bedroom!! WOW!! And even more impressive is that you managed to do it all on a $500 budget!!

The turquoise accents are fun and pretty, and LOVE that chandelier :-)

It totally doesn't look like a wasted basement room anymore!!

Sorry I haven't visited your blog in a while -- I've fallen so far behind in my blogging, and I'm working really hard to catch up now!!

Kelly

nelya said...

Hi Lauren! I wanted to congratulate you on the WA Post feature! How exciting. My husband and I are in DC with the kiddos this week. Imagine my surprise when I opened the Post this morning over breakfast and saw one of my favorite blogs mentioned. You deserve it. What a lovely room!

NKP

Anonymous said...

Lauren, you have worked your magic again! This room is simply delightful. The teenager must LOVE it and LOVE you for creating it!!
And congrats (AGAIN!) on the Washington Post nod. Terri Sapienza clearly has excellent taste!
RJ

Laura Casey Interiors said...

Great work. Congratulation on the Washington Post mention!

Millie said...

Fab job Lauren. I love how you really grasped the client's brief straight up, did your research & stuck to the budget - & look at the result! Just awesome girl.
Millie ^_^

The Odeh's said...

Our summer project is to use a very little amount of money and update our kids rooms. Wish me luck and paint!

TheBeautyFile said...

Amazing transformation!! Love the chandelier!

simply seleta said...

Lauren, this is spectacular! I love it!!! And congrats on the Washington Post!!!

xoxo
Seleta

Yet said...

You are one talented lady! You really have a skill for design on a design...

I just love the chandler! it's great! Of course the bed is great and I like that you used target also! I knew that place was a winner!

N. said...

Wow, I just found your blog and I'm loving your style! What a great room and I'll bet the girl just LOVES it!

abby jenkins said...

WOW what a transformation! and all that for $500!!! I just bought a twin bed for my step son and it ending up being close to that after the up charge for the boxspring and frame! Wow. Beautiful and sophisticated. Nice job.

Velvet and Linen said...

Where was I last week?
Congratulations, Lauren. You did an amazing job.
$500???? I don't believe it.
Wow.

xo
Brooke

Megan said...

Lauren! I found your blog through The Newlywed Diaries and am so glad I did! This before and after is fantastic, I love the pop of turquoise! Looking forward to reading along for more

Rumadelima said...

Nice ideas for such a tight budget :))