Progress in My Boys' Bedroom

Over the holidays we did a little bit of work on our boys' (Christian-4 and Justin-2) bedroom.  We moved Justin to his "big boy bed" and it's been a bit less than smooth at nighttime.  He started climbing out of his crib a little while back & after whacking his head on the floor a couple of times, we knew it was time to switch him out of the crib to a bed.

{Putting together the new beds}

The boys' room is teensy and we recently reduced the size of the closet so that we could fit two twin beds in the space.  We have no room for extras in here, and instead of dressers, both boys have drawers for clothes under their twin-sized trundle beds from Ikea:


The closet is directly to the left of where I was standing when I took the pic above and it used to take up more than half of the left wall.  You can see in this before pic that the chaise could just fit sideways in the nook: 


The room feels so much bigger now and here's a pic of how Justin's twin bed fits in the new larger nook:

{right now the bedding is just in cream & I'm adding Euro shams and quilts at the end of the beds for some color...  }

The striped rug just happens to be in here right now & we plan on replacing the carpet with seagrass because there is a hole in it from where we removed the old closet.  (Justin's bed hides it nicely in the meantime.)  I'd like to layer a big cowhide in here for a soft play spot.

Below is Christian's bed on the other side of the room.  The art is up over here and I wrapped fabric around a Euro sham (in my Filigree Chevron in Autumn} & tossed fabric (Fern Star in moss) at the end of the bed to get an idea of how it will feel with the pillows and quilts.


I did a lot of thinking on the Ikea beds.  Christian originally had a similar black Ikea bed in his other bedroom and we really liked the clothes storage & trundle bed feature.  (They can get their own clothes out & help put away the clean ones because the drawers are right on the ground= awesome.)  Christian's black bed took up a bit more space (both visual space & physical space) as it had side & back rails and two of them would really cramp the new bedroom.  The two new beds together were also $100 less than the 1 black bed with rails so we ended up saving too by not having to buy another black bed.   (It took all day to put them together btw...  we love Ikea's wordless directions ;) 

I've thought about adding upholstered headboards to the beds in my filigree chevron fabric (and leaving out the Euro shams) but the arrggggg window isn't centered so the headboard would overlap the window.   I'm playing with ideas for shapes that might suit it better but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle...  That left bed does look especially lonely though.

We're installing these fixtures (by visual comfort) above both boys' beds so that will help:


...Except they're in burnished brass:


...And artwork & color on the bed will do a bit more to add interest...  I think I'll wait & see how it all looks installed before I make any headboard decisions.  The globe mobile is a Christmas gift to the boys from my good friend Elise, who also owns the Design Center of Northern Virginia.

{Justin is thrilled to be hanging out on his big brother's bed while he's at preschool... ssshhhhh!}

We keep their toys & books in this oragngey-reddish piece I found years ago (for around $27) at a thrift shop:

{Again, I love how they boys can clean up on their own - okay with me telling them over and over and over- and we have baskets for toy storage underneath.}

...Anyway, there are still a bunch of details to finish up before I'm really in love with it, but the boys are thrilled with their new room for now.  We're hanging the rest of the artwork & lighting this week and I'll be sure to keep you posted!

xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

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49 comments:

Jodie Okun Interiors said...

loooove it!and i love the mobile!! i just said to my (7 yr old) son last night that i wanted to hang a globe over his bed! it looks amazing in there now and i know it will keep getting better...perfect big boy room! jodie

Lisa Mende said...

This looks great! love it!

Barbara Matson said...

Love their room! That mobile is awesome! You have such an amazing knack for creating classic spaces! And I love your fabric too - still trying to figure out which one to splurge on. Do you ship to Canada??

Shelly said...

Looks great so far Lauren! I'm in the middle of redoing my 4 1/2 yr olds' room...again. Going from a full size bed to a twin. Now trying to decide on a daybed or just a twin. She has so much STUFF to fit in there..dollhouse, kitchen, toybox, etc. I wish I had a spare room to use as a play room, but alas we do not.

DecRenew Interiors said...

Looks like tons of work but well worth it. Kids are so capable of putting away their toys, etc. if they have places to put them away. You have got it all set for them! Looks great!

Ruthie

Maureen@CheekyinBlue said...

This is adorable, I am loving those lamps! Who makes them and where can I find these gorgeous things?

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Adorable boys room.

Love the globe/mobile...and those lamps will look great!

I personally love the slight green of the striped rug!

Pat

Debby said...

The room is perfect for a couple little guys. So cozy. My sons shared a similar room in space. Just takes some imagination.
I love the idea of a faux cow hide rug. How cute would that be with the other art.
Happy New Year.

Megan said...

The room is coming along wonderfully! I love the fixtures you picked out for the boys' room, and the red hutch for their toys!

Lauren@BaylorSays... said...

Darling! Oh I've been so crazy about those swing arm lamps for so long. Lowe's has a version that I'm mulling over...comparable but less fabulous.

Pretty super smart to think about their ability to help put clothes away, nice!

Unknown said...

Love it! Your boys are so lucky to have an awesome room like this...I guess it helps to have an interior designer as a mommy.

Also...I live in NOVA (Reston) too, and I literally just started my blog yesterday. Thanks for all the inspiration. :)

sixteenfourteen.weebly.com

LindsB said...

So so cute!! Love that you are using your fabric in there, I think the chevron is perfect for a little boys room! The beds are perfect too, I love it all as usual!

Happy New Year! xoxox

Leslie said...

I love the globe mobile. It's absolutely gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Looks like it's coming together great! I love the sconces you're using, they'll really add a lot.

Jenna

helen tilston said...

Hi Lauren

Beautiful work and I love that the two boys share a bedroom. It looks perfect for them and I love all the work you have done.

Helen xx

Rachel Anderson said...

What if you did a headboard that ran the length of the bed? Just a thought!
I think I've been reading your blog for forever, and this is probably my first comment :)

Brhea said...

Their room looks great! I love the globes, love the storage under the beds and am excited to see the euros!

katiedid said...

So cute@ I love the art and especially love the planet mobile!!!!! I look forward to seeing it all finished.

pve design said...

That room should be in a movie! I can just see it now.
Great colors and looks comfy! Love the planets hanging out.
pve

Kris @ Driven by Décor said...

Your boys' room looks amazing! I love that you got away from the standard boy themes (trucks, sports, etc.) and did something timeless. I hope they enjoy it!

The Buzz Blog @ Diane James Home said...

What a great boys room filled with inspiration. I'm finally going to have to update all three of my boys rooms and you've given me lots of fun ideas! Thanks, Cynthia

Acquired Objects said...

Their room is wonderful I love the way it looks. Those beds with drawers were a great idea and they really look nice. I can't wait to see what else you do!

The enchanted home said...

What a sweet, cozy, beauitful room! I love it....the colors are so inviting and soothing..love what you are doing.

Kristy @ I Design Love said...

So pretty. I love the eclectic feel of the rooms. It is a very sophisticated boys room. I can't wait to see the final results. You always do an amazing job :)

Kristy
www.idesignlove.com

Kathysue said...

It is looking more and more like a big boy room. I love to design little boys rooms, Having had 3 son's I did my fair share of boys rooms and I use to love decorating them. WE did not have Ikea back in the day, boy I would have gone crazy in that store. I really like the lighting you are using, do you have a link?
Kathysue

Anonymous said...

love the room, lauren... actually, love everything you do... thanks for sharing!!!

Kasey McKay said...

it looks great! love the mobile! i have 2 girls and am hoping to put them in one room soon, but i don't have a space where both beds could go on the same walls due to window placement and overall configurations of the room. what do you think about twin beds that aren't on the same wall? i'm wondering if that will look wierd.....

-Courtney Lane- {blog} said...

Oh my word I'm obsessed with this. This is so many things I love in one room. You're doing a great job!

Courtney Lane
courtneylanemichaels.blogspot.com

Windlost said...

Lauren, their rooms is totally charming without another bit added. Love it - but will be lovely with those lamps overhead. I think you can live without the headboards - why waste the money - unless Dave can build them! Those globes are insane - love. Your fabrics look great here with their vintage quality to go with the art. I love that angel - it looks like an Abott Handerson Thayer angel. There is a ton of his work in the Museum of American Art in DC. Gosh - it will be heaven to live so close to DC when the kids are older - what a town for great learning outings...!

Love the trundle beds. I had a tiny room when I was a kid and had a white trundle bed. I packed so much stuff into my drawers that they eventually broke. I survived in a small space - you just can't have piles of crap coming in all the time - was not a problem when I was a kid as we didn't have much extra money anyway. I still managed to fill my room with things I found in the back yard...
xo Terri

Nicole said...

I think the room will look amazing! And the cow hide carpet is a great idea- we have one in our living room where the girls eat their meals and it is indestructible! Nothing can stain it or stick to it so it is like a classy splat mat. Just take a damp sponge and wipe and its perfect again. Once I discovered this, I've been telling all my mommy friends to invest in one.

Ness Lockyer said...

looks awesome Lauren! I am sorting my boys' room out at the moment and you have given me some ideas, so thanks. Love the Caveman chart on the wall!
Ness xx
Marley & Lockyer

domestiCate said...

Gooooorgeous as usual! You are an inspiration!

Hello Lover... said...

Looks great - I absolutely love the globes above the bed!

Come check out my first blog giveaway!
http://helloloverofbeautifulthings.blogspot.com/

Lauren -HCP said...

Hi Lauren!
Looks great, and I love your color scheme, I just did something similar to my boys room, and am going for the 2 twin bed look as well, (but luckily my 2 year old can't climb out of his crib-- yet:)) In my low budget makeover I decided to paint faux headboards on the wall, I'd love for you to check it out. (btw, the room is still in progress,)
http://houseofchicandpenoche.blogspot.com/2011/12/boys-room-painted-headboards.html

Gwen Driscoll said...

Looks great & they look so happy! Have a great day!

Tawna said...

Ahhhh, we turned a room into a place for my two girls. I had so many ways I wanted to do it, but used the furniture and quilts we already had and created a nice space...although I get the "it's not exactly how I would have done it if money/time had allowed" :). Looks great...love the earthy vibe and the globes!
Have a great day...
Tawna

AnneHH said...

Happy New Year and congrats on all that you have gotten done on the boys' room! I actually love the Dash and Albert rug in there tho' I know the cow hide would be softer and fun. The art wall is gorgeous too. Your aesthetic is so great--all the natural elements and colors--perfect for all kids, boys especially!
xoxo, Anne
ps your fabrics are fabulous!!

Valerie@chateaualamode.typepad.com said...

What a great room for two small boys. The globe mobile is so great! That would be great in hubbie's office as well....hmmmm!

Anonymous said...

Great job, Lauren! Seriously crushing on those brass lamps! I've faced similar issues with multiples siblings in one room, only with three boys instead of two. Our semi-custom triple-decker bunk bed worked fabulously for them for several years (we've used it successfully with both 8' and 9' ceiling heights), and with them being stacked, it left more open floor space.

Fiona said...

Very cute! I have a four-year-old daughter and a small (well, fairly big by NYC standards, but tiny elsewhere!) apartment. I have been contemplating doing built-in around a twin bed, and I might use this Ikea bed as the bed to build around (since we can always use more drawers!)

Nice work, as always!

Keely said...

Hi Lauren!

Can I ask what paint color you used? It's perfect, and I'd love to use the same in my son's room! (I'm a habitual paint sampler, and knowing the color without having to buy dozens of sample buckets would be amazing!)

bevy said...

The room looks great already. I think I would opt not to do a headboard because of the window situation also, but maybe do an interesting pillow sham on each boys bed. that red shelf unit is pretty nice!

Jenny Quld said...

I just saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be a good inspiration photo for you for the boys headboards :)

http://pinterest.com/pin/87186942755801908/

T said...

Sorry if you've mentioned this, I just found your blog, what color wall paint did you use in your boys room? tiram13@gmail.com

Lauren said...

Thanks so much!!! The paint color is Behr's CONTEMPLATION

xoxo,
lauren

Maria Matiopoulou said...

Hello Lauren! My name is Maria, I'm an Interior Designer as well and I'm currently living in London. I was so excited when I saw the picture with the world globes because I currently have a client and we're creating something really similar for her son!

Keep up the good work!

Maria

http://www.unidentifiedlifestyle.com

jenny said...

" So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

:-)

Rachel May said...

My comment might be a little late, but I was thinking if you wanted headboards, what if you created a headboard that runs the length of the bed instead, more of like a daybed style? Maybe that way both boys get a headboard, plus you don't have to worry about blocking the window? Just a thought. LOVE your blog!

Sandra said...

I saw this room on Pinterest...and I thought it was a movie set (honestly). I clicked on the link thinking I'd be able to find more movie still pics. Lo and behold, it's a real room.

This room is probably one of my all time favorites. Everything about it is steeped in an understated magic, outrageous cool and oodles of goodness. LOVE.IT.