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7 Budget-Friendly Ideas for Kids' Bedrooms
Take an economical approach to decorating your child’s room with these DIY decorating ideas
This summer, I saw my grandma’s $17 hospital receipt from when she gave birth to my mum in 1938. A lot of things were simpler – and less expensive – back then. Between paying for braces, band instruments, sports and all the food that disappears whenever a kid is around, parenting can deliver a hit to your wallet.
Though you don’t want your kid’s bedroom to be a boring white box, spending more than you can afford on their room decor isn’t an appealing option either. To help ease the load, here are DIY ideas both fresh and familiar for sprucing up your child’s bedroom on a budget.
Though you don’t want your kid’s bedroom to be a boring white box, spending more than you can afford on their room decor isn’t an appealing option either. To help ease the load, here are DIY ideas both fresh and familiar for sprucing up your child’s bedroom on a budget.
2. Fabric artwork
If you’re hankering for something a little different from posters and prints, but you’re not confident in your painting or drawing abilities, try making your own wall art by wrapping and stapling a favourite fabric around a wooden frame.
If you’re hankering for something a little different from posters and prints, but you’re not confident in your painting or drawing abilities, try making your own wall art by wrapping and stapling a favourite fabric around a wooden frame.
Using wood embroidery hoops as a frame is an even easier option, and a great way to use leftover fabric. You don’t even have to embroider it – a patterned fabric can look great on its own.
Fabric bunting is cute and easy to put up, either on a wall, like this example, or crisscrossing the bedroom. Pre-made bunting is available online for around $20.
Cool bunting (it’s not just for baby!)
Cool bunting (it’s not just for baby!)
3. Wallpaper collages
Wallpaper has made a comeback in recent years, and the price of rolls has risen as well. You can save by making a collage of leftover wallpaper pieces to prettify a dull wall, wardrobe door or bookshelf. The colours, pattern and layout are up to you.
You can also buy single rolls of end-of-run danglers from wallpaper retailers at steeply reduced prices. And sometimes discontinued wallpaper sample books can be found at no cost.
Wallpaper has made a comeback in recent years, and the price of rolls has risen as well. You can save by making a collage of leftover wallpaper pieces to prettify a dull wall, wardrobe door or bookshelf. The colours, pattern and layout are up to you.
You can also buy single rolls of end-of-run danglers from wallpaper retailers at steeply reduced prices. And sometimes discontinued wallpaper sample books can be found at no cost.
Here, designer Lauren Liess turned a wardrobe-door snore into a roar by cutting out a lion shape from vintage wallpaper and placing it atop a ‘hill’ made with chalk paint.
Creative ways to use wallpaper at home
Creative ways to use wallpaper at home
4. Painted furniture
Paint is the most flexible and economical decorating go-to out there. While the common application is on the walls, try sprucing up a vintage family furniture piece stashed away in the attic, like this iron bed painted mustard yellow. It can make all the difference between grubby and glorious.
Paint is the most flexible and economical decorating go-to out there. While the common application is on the walls, try sprucing up a vintage family furniture piece stashed away in the attic, like this iron bed painted mustard yellow. It can make all the difference between grubby and glorious.
5. Wall decals
Decals are bold and flexible, and they can add a big punch of energy for relatively little cost, particularly ones that are wall-size. They’re especially good for rentals that have lease limitations on decorating. Unless you’re artistic or you have the budget to hire an artist, decals might be your best route for adding pattern to your child’s walls.
Decals are bold and flexible, and they can add a big punch of energy for relatively little cost, particularly ones that are wall-size. They’re especially good for rentals that have lease limitations on decorating. Unless you’re artistic or you have the budget to hire an artist, decals might be your best route for adding pattern to your child’s walls.
Most decals are removable and don’t leave adhesive residue. Some can even be moved around, but be sure to check, especially if you’re considering a large decal that is in a challenging location, such as an angled wall. Decals tend to not work well on textured surfaces, so if your walls don’t have a completely smooth finish, consider placing them on a door instead. Most decals run between $15 and $120, depending on the size, design and manufacturer.
6. Repurpose
Think creatively about ways to reuse things you already own. These jungle animal figurines, for example, might have gone unused at the bottom of a toy box. With some ingenuity, they became playful drawer pulls.
19 inventive repurposing ideas
Think creatively about ways to reuse things you already own. These jungle animal figurines, for example, might have gone unused at the bottom of a toy box. With some ingenuity, they became playful drawer pulls.
19 inventive repurposing ideas
Designer Shannon Berrey used a set of vintage 1960s paper dolls to create a stunning art display in this little girl’s room. Group a collection like this so it reads as a series instead of scattering the elements throughout the space. Also use the same frame profile or coordinating frames for consistency. Custom frames can be pricey, so stick to standard-size frames.
This example shows an antique printer’s tray used as a jewellery organiser. Unusual finds from secondhand markets and garage sales can make memorable and useful additions to your child’s bedroom.
7. Window decor
A simple and low-cost way to freshen window decor is to add a scarf valance, or loose swag valance. This type of valance is a relaxed window treatment made of one long piece of fabric pulled through decorative side sconces, or lightly wrapped over a rod. It visually softens harsh corners on window frames and is an easy, affordable way to add pattern to a room.
It’s also a cinch to switch out if you want a change down the road. There’s no right or wrong way to hang a swag, and the length of the sides, or tails, is up to you. In this tween’s bedroom, designer Alicia Paley used a vibrant Indian silk sari as a scarf valance.
TELL US
What budget kids’ decor ideas have you tried? Share your ideas and pictures in the Comments section.
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A simple and low-cost way to freshen window decor is to add a scarf valance, or loose swag valance. This type of valance is a relaxed window treatment made of one long piece of fabric pulled through decorative side sconces, or lightly wrapped over a rod. It visually softens harsh corners on window frames and is an easy, affordable way to add pattern to a room.
It’s also a cinch to switch out if you want a change down the road. There’s no right or wrong way to hang a swag, and the length of the sides, or tails, is up to you. In this tween’s bedroom, designer Alicia Paley used a vibrant Indian silk sari as a scarf valance.
TELL US
What budget kids’ decor ideas have you tried? Share your ideas and pictures in the Comments section.
MORE
Retro Rewind: Cute and Quirky Vintage Ideas for Kids’ Bedrooms
10 Budget Bedroom Decorating Tips
10 Kids’ Bedroom Themes That Go the Distance
You’ve probably heard how easy it can be to use washi tape to create colourful wall designs. But its amazingness cannot be overstated. Just take a look at this room, in which Abaca Interiors taped various sizes and colours of wide washi tape on white walls to create a delightfully modern look.
Washi tape is renewable, recyclable and removable. It doesn’t leave a sticky mess like duct tape, either. Washi tape is typically made from things like tree bark, paper mulberry, bamboo, hemp, rice and wheat.
The design incorporates rolls of washi tape that are 50 millimetres wide, 100 millimetres wide, and 200 millimetres wide, but you can select sizes and variations based on your budget.
See how to use washi tape creatively