Hello, everyone! It’s Kelly here from Eclectic Momsense. Last time, I showed you how to create a budget friendly photo canvas. This time, we’re talking about kids’ rooms. My little big guy recently made the transition from crib to toddler bed, so we’re working on updating his room from nursery to bedroom.

Of course, children’s bedrooms are usually the last place where you’d want to invest a lot of money. They grow so fast and their needs (as well as their tastes) change quickly. I’m one who loves multi-purpose furniture in my house and this is especially true for kids’ rooms. And, what better place to get a little inspiration than Pinterest! Not addicted to Pinterest yet or want to try it but don’t know how to get started? Check out this post by Nicole from the Pixel Boutique.

The key, though, is finding basic furniture and using a little creativity to repurpose it.

For instance, so much can be done with build-it-yourself furniture. And as a bonus, the price tag is much lower! I love the idea of taking a simple side table and turning it into a children’s art space. A few coats of chalkboard paint will allow your little Picasso to keep creating masterpieces.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Fast-forward a few years and that same table can be transformed into a Lego lover’s dream play spot. Plus, everything is confined to the tabletop, so no more stepping barefoot on little pieces in the middle of the night – ouch.

Source: angryjuliemonday.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Modular or cube furniture is perfect for any room, really. There are so many ways to coordinate the pieces to fit your needs. Create a wall unit or bench that can last from infancy all the way to college. Accent it with art, fabric or paint for a custom, decorative touch.

Source: projectnursery.com via Kelly on Pinterest

We LOVE books in our house, especially children’s books. The place is filled with them! Most are on bookshelves or relegated to a few cubes in the family room, but I’m always looking for ways to neatly contain those books we are currently reading.

The next two bookshelf solutions can be picked up at your local hardware or home store for only a few bucks!

Check out these cute book displays created with a spice rack. I found some racks at IKEA for just $3.99. So with just the extra cost of some paint or stain, you have a simple solution for keeping books off the floor. Wouldn’t this work great as a magazine rack for the bathroom, too?

Source: bluebirdkisses.com via Kelly on Pinterest

I actually stumbled across this next idea years ago when visiting a classroom. And then I saw it again on Pinterest. Can you guess what they are? Rain gutters! I haven’t priced them yet, but I can’t imagine that the plastic or even metal variety is much more expensive than the spice rack above. This is another idea that could be used for any age. You could create a fun reading nook for your little ones, or teenagers could use them to store their notebooks, textbooks, magazines – lots of things – above their desks.

Source: raisingolives.com via Kelly on Pinterest

The key is to look at furniture and household items in new ways. And don’t think of it as having to always be something for the kiddos. I love this file cabinet repurposed as a bedside table.

Source: dreambookdesign.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Look for surprises everywhere: yard sales, estate sales – even your own garage. Then spice up your new furniture with some fun accent pieces, like these:

Patchwork Stuffed Bear from DownEast

Apricot Branch from DownEast

Until next time!

Kelly

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