It’s reveal time! My first One Room Challenge makeover is a wrap. Over the past six weeks, I’ve been working on a gender-neutral, shared kids room, turning it into a bright, happy space for my six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.
Learn more about Emmerson & Fifteenth’s interior design services here.
This was the plan, and I stuck to it pretty closely:
We didn’t have much of a budget for this room, so I stuck with mainly things we already owned. The room isn’t big, but it’s lovely and light, and the perfectly centered window made the floor plan straightforward.
The beds were the big DIY here, as I explained in week three. (And week four, when everything fell apart!) Sebastian’s favorite color is red, which can be a bit loud if it’s too bright. The bed fabric is a softer shade of corally-red, so we’re both happy.
The drapery came with the house, and it works. I think I’d nix the curtains and do a big roman shade if we weren’t renting, but I do like the yellow gingham in here, and the black-out lining, so they stayed.
I found the little rattan chair in a vintage shop for £10, and it makes for a cute little reading spot for little bottoms.
Although this is a shared kids room, I wanted to designate space for each of them to call their own. They basically have a side of the room each. The bookcase is mainly Eleanor’s stuff and the closet is mainly Sebastian’s, although there is some overlap. I still want to add book plates to label the bins, but they’re shipping from the US and haven’t arrived yet.
Painting wasn’t an option. I love white walls anyway, but I would’ve done something about the trim and closet doors if I’d been allowed.
I have to thank my grandma all the pretty brass – she was having a clear out recently and I did well out of it! Eleanor bought the little rattan chair for her bear from a charity shop the other day – it cost 50p and it was the first thing she’s ever bought with pocket money (#minime). I attached the fairy lights with clear acrylic clips, and they’re so pretty at night.
In the hallway just outside, I hung the growth chart we bought four years ago. I still love it, and love that we can roll it up and take it with us when we move. (We lost the bottom weight – I need to make a new one so it stops curling.)
We bought the dresser a couple of years ago. It was a total impulse buy (from Feather & Black) and I haven’t regretted it for a second.
I made a home work station and armoury in week five for all of the boy’s toy weapons. I’m still planning to replace the too-short poof.
Cardboard Suitcases // Robot // Minecraft Torch
I talked about the wall decals and how I put them up in week two. I didn’t hang them all the way down the walls because I did that in our last house and the ones within little arms’ reach didn’t last long. They still make a big impact on the room this way, and no one has tried to peel them off. Win!
I bought the sweet star print duvet covers at M&S a couple of years ago. The striped fabrics are actually Turkish towels (from Home Sense, which is the UK version of Home Goods), but we use them as throws, and the yellow throws are throws, funnily enough.
I’ll shut up now and bombard you with the rest of the photos of this happy shared kids room.
My boy really wanted to be in the last couple of photos. (His sister really didn’t want to!)
You can (and should) check out all the reveals from the featured designers for this One Room Challenge here, and the linking participants here – there’s a lot of good stuff in there!
Other posts from this One Room Challenge:
Design & Floor Plan | Week One
Wall Decals & Shelves | Week Two
DIY Upholstered Beds | Week Three
Fixing & Organizing | Week Four
Space Saving Homework Station & Pegboard Toy Storage | Week 5
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I love it! It looks great-so cohesive and well thought out. Great job!! Do the kids love it?
Wow Lizzie this room is Awesome for your kiddos!! I love all the color, ahhh and that dresser is soooo good!! Beautiful work 🙂
I love it!!!! I also did a kid's room, so I love seeing what the other kiddos are enjoying after their mamas put in long hours making over their bedrooms! 🙂 Fantastic job!!!
What a perfect shared space! I love this color combination too, gender neutral without being boring, so cute!
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Thank you! They do love it – S has been showing it off to all his buddies 🙂
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Thanks so much Maggie!
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You come up as anonymous – shoot me a link – I'd love to check out your space too 🙂
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Thank you Jane! 🙂
This type of room is just so tricky to pull of,but you managed to do so Lizzie! I love hoe their individual personality still shines while still maintaining cohesiveness thru out the space! how you did it is beyond me! Genius momma with lots of love for sure!Congrats and Cheers for another room done!
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Thank you Vel. Love your son's room too! 🙂
You did an amazing job creating a space that is special for both your kiddos! I bet they are delighted to have such a special room! Beautiful job!!!
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Thank you, they do love it 🙂
The combo of the red headboards (love the nailheads!) against that navy dresser/nightstand is EVERYTHING!!!!! xx
The room looks amazing Lizzie. Love the transformation
– Bharati
This is such a great shared room! I feel like it can be super tricky to balance the gender lines but you did a wonderful job!
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Thank you Bharati! 🙂
this is such a cute and relaxing space. I know your kids love it and I would have never thought to put a coral upholstered headboard in my sons room. I LOVE the look….I have been missing out.
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Haha, yes – as far as he's concerned, they're red! 🙂
I love how fun and colorful it is!
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Thanks Krystle, us too! 🙂
I love the coral beds! I would have never thought to use coral in a shared room with a boy and girl but I LOVE the idea! And it turned out amazing! Great job!
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Thanks so much Tilisa! 🙂
The coral bed was the right choice! it looks great. That dresser is amazing too. The whole room turned out pretty awesome.
I love all of it! Those beds are gorgeous, and I love the chest in between them too. Amazing!
-Erin Spain
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Thanks so much Erin!
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Thank you Mila! I love your kids' room too 🙂
I LOVE the red upholstered beds! So beautiful and totally impressed you DIYed it!
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Thank you so much Gwen. I loved your room too!
Love a great kids room. And I notice you have a Corgi! We had one when my boys were growing up – best dog ever.
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Thank you Brenda! His name's Ted – he's a sweetie (and a bit of a grump too, lol). I love Corgis – they have so much character. 🙂
Lizzie take a bow because this room transformation is just fantastic! Have a wonderful flower filled week!
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Thanks so much Laura! You too! 🙂
Such a great kids room Lizzie! I love the red, white and blue and that dresser between the beds and the bedding. Great job!!!
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Thanks Tara! 🙂
What a beautiful job you did! I love all the color and pattern! Such a fun space…lucky kids!
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Thanks so much Stephanie – I really love your daughter's room too!
I love the use of color. Such a cute kid-friendly room! Like the decals only half way down the wall. It really works! =) – Rosanna
What a beautiful space for your kiddos. Love that dresser!
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Thank you Erin! 🙂
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Thank you Rosanna 🙂 I was hoping they wouldn't look weird…I think they work, and it's definitely better than having blank spots where they've been peeled off!
You’ve probably read this a lot, but your room is awesome! I featured it today on my favorite Kid’s spaces from the ORC!!! Thank you for the inspiration!!!
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Thank you so much Vel!!
I think my favorite thing in the room is the armory — so clever!
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It might be mine too 🙂 Thanks Laura!
I am totally blown away by this GORGEOUS room you've created for your kids, Lizzie. So much WOW!!
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Thank you so much Meera – you're too sweet! 🙂