How do you solve a problem like a boys' room?

Next up: the boys' room.

 

Every time I do one of these boards, I am so glad I did not go into interior decorating, which was my Plan B in college. Doing any sort of visual representation of my artistic vision is so tedious. I'd rather just spread the torn-out pages of magazines across the dining room table to give an idea of how the elements work together. Y'all can't all fit in my dining room, and I'm not great with company, so I make these boards for you.

 

Apparently I struggle to find my groove in rooms that I do not spend much time in. I have done the boys' bedroom four times in three houses, and it has never been "finished." If they have ever noticed, they have never spoken of it, but I know. And I resolve to do better, and go a little easier on myself in the process. Their room is only going to cost me about $250 in updates, since I am using their current beds and one of the chest of drawers from my bedroom. Whatever apartment we pick after selling our house will be the place we'll call home until Jake picks a high school. The items I've put together here are not age-specific. A boy can easily transition into teenager-ness (groan) among all the elements of this room.  

 

 

This "Christoval" Headboard is to represent the headboards we made for the boys last year, in that cut-out shape. We made them for MUCH less than Nordstrom sells them for, and it was one of the easier projects we've undertaken. They are currently covered in an outdoor stripe, but...

 

This is the C'est le Viv diamond argyle from Spoonflower. I want to re-cover the headboards in an argyle, and I like the whimsy, hand-drawn effect on this custom fabric. I hesitate because the current fabric is outdoor and can be wiped down, though we have not had to do that yet. My mother will tsk, tsk at how white this print is. She's right, but this is the inspiration picture I'm using right now. I'd need to be bored for the hollow horn trying to keep this clean.

 

I anticipate a shared apartment bedroom is going to be smaller than the one they are in currently, so spacesaving is critical. They do not need a nightstand, but they do read in bed, so these IKEA Aläng sconces should do the trick. Being from IKEA, they will likely hang easily and be benevolent to the credit card.

 

I am going for traditional, quirky, unassuming BOY in this room, with the green and blue, the argyle and plaid, and nothing says BOY to me more than ticking. I lurve ticking. These duvet covers are the IKEA Nyponros, and all the reviews I've read from bloggers who have this say it holds up very well to the wear and tear of boys.

 

In a smaller space, storage will be an issue, so utilizing all available space while minimizing clutter is going to be critical. We should be able to fit two of these IKEA Dilling storage bins under each bed. Most of the toys they still play with are in plastic bins in their closet, with the exception of one rubbermaid of larger toys, so four bins should be plenty. It all ends up under the bed anyway.

 

They have two bookcases - one in the closet and one in their room. One of them is going in storage, because it was their mom's. The other is being sold. Between the two beds and the dresser they'll need, I want less presence in additional necessary furniture for their TV, movies and books. A metal shelving unit, like this IKEA Vittsjö bookcase, will store what is needed and keep the room open. The shelves are glass, but could easily be replaced with studier wood and the frame spray-painted, maybe a good green or a yellow, like the examples here.

 

I bought a Federal mirror like this one off Ebay last year. It hangs above the nightstand in their bedroom. Mine is smaller and was around $20. I have seen ginormous ones for $100. I believe the original were done in Syrocco wood, but the frame on mine is plastic. It's been knocked off the wall a few times, and has yet to show signs of abuse. Also, it is lighter. Especially in a rented space, the more you can hang with 3M sticky hooks, the less you will have to do come moving-out day.  

 

The other fabric here is the JBSquared fabric, custom from Spoonflower. I adore the traditional masculinity of a tartan plaid, and this one with green and yellow accenting the blue will let me bring several accent colors in the room. This fabric will be lined with blackout lining and made into roman shades.

 

There are two of these IKEA Hemnes three-drawer chests that we use in the master bedroom in our house. The pair, like the couple it serves, will be in separate residences. I will be using a different chest for storage in my bedroom, so I will be repurposing mine for the boys' clothes. It is very large for only having three drawers. There are so many ideas on how to update IKEA furniture, like borders, fretwork overlays, or even doing an ombre on the drawers. I will likely paint it white and then accent it later, once it's in the room.

 

Just for fun, and to acknowledge that there is more testosterone than estrogen in my house, I dig these Rhino Bookends from Urban Outfitters.

 

Lastly, something has to go on the floor. They are floor kids. It must be durable, because they are boys and this is high-traffic. It also cannot be too scratchy, or they will complain about it. Their rug must also be a color that hides stains. These Mandara rugs from RugsUSA should be durable and not scratchy, and that green will be a good compliment to all the blue and pull from the argyle and the plaid. They're sold in pairs, so I could buy two and keep a backup in storage for when they ruin the first one.

 

I really like this. It doesn't require me to buy any major furniture but that bookcase at an IKEA price. It's themed without being too kitschy. I can reuse the antique prints from the American Revolution hanging in their room currently. The alternative to this could be that we go back to bunk beds to save floor space. In that case, there would be no upholstered headboard and the argyle would be shams for the bed. Everything else would remain the same.

 

What is the answer to this question in the title? However the hell you want. My children have no little input into what goes in their room. They have no taste. They put navy t-shirts with black camo pants, for the love of...This is not a democracy.