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A Whimsical Retreat: Designing a Dream Bedroom for Our Daughter

Ayla’s Room Makeover: From Pink Princess to Rainbow Reader’s Retreat

It feels like just yesterday we moved into our home, the “Curbly House,” with only one room truly complete: Ayla’s. At three years old, she was navigating the huge changes of a new house and a new baby brother. Her room was our priority, a haven styled to comfort her through it all.

A cozy corner of Ayla's updated bedroom with pink walls, showcasing a full-sized bed and stylish decor.

Her original room was, in a word, adorable. It was comfortable, and a stage for hours of imaginative play. Ayla had a strong hand in choosing the color palette, and the style reflected her personality perfectly.

Ayla's Original Curbly House Room: A charming space designed for a young child, featuring soft colors and playful elements.
Ayla’s Original Curbly House Room

But children grow, and with growth comes change. Ayla blossomed into a reader, seeking a quiet corner to escape into stories. She craved a space to play with friends, a sanctuary for peace and quiet, and a bit of independence. She noticed my design work and started to ask about redecorating her room, expressing ideas of purple, turquoise, magenta, and even black walls – anything but pink! And she wanted gold.

Beyond aesthetics, Ayla’s needs had evolved. She needed a dedicated homework area, a larger bed for sleepovers, and a comfortable reading nook.

Thus began the journey of transforming Ayla’s room. It wasn’t always smooth sailing. Designing a space that reflects a 7-year-old’s ever-shifting dreams and desires is challenging!

I ended up painting her room twice. The first color, a beautiful white, proved too sterile against the existing trim. So, we opted for “Simple White” (SW7021) by Sherwin-Williams, a warmer white with subtle violet and blush undertones.

Organized storage solutions in Ayla's room, showcasing dolls and other toys neatly arranged.

With the paint dry, the real fun began: introducing a rainbow of colors in deliberate ways. Rugs are essential for setting the tone of a room, grounding the space and establishing a color palette. Using the rug as a key inspiration for your colour palette is a simple and effective way to create a cohesive design.

The rug we chose for Ayla’s room offered an incredibly generous color palette, making the ‘working the rainbow’ concept easy. It’s part of Loloi’s Anastasia Collection in Silver/Plum. It’s a dream to walk (and play) on. Its color palette is neutral and slightly shimmery, and perfectly incorporates every color Ayla wanted: gray, magenta, blues, purples, and gold.

A close-up of Ayla's bed, showcasing a white duvet with pink tassels and a stylish throw blanket, highlighting the room's color scheme.

For the furniture, we aimed for clean lines and bright whites, but also wanted to integrate warm bronze metallics and natural wood tones. We accomplished this with shelving from Land of Nod, an IKEA bed, and a desk from Target.

A cozy reading corner in Ayla's room, featuring a comfortable chair and strategically placed bookshelves.
White bookcase in Ayla's room, accented with pink and colorful decorative items.

A stylish and functional desk area designed for Ayla, providing a dedicated space for homework and creative projects.

We upgraded to a full-sized memory foam mattress from LexMod. It’s incredibly comfortable, perfect for sleepovers, and surprisingly easy to handle since it arrived rolled in a box.

We wanted to make sure that we were using the best colour techniques to create a great room, and with a splash of colour here and a dash there, it all turned out great.

The colors of the rug served as a roadmap for the rest of the room. The fringe on the duvet and pillowcases echoes the magenta in the rug, while a bold throw blanket ties all the colors together in a vibrant statement.

A beautifully styled bed in Ayla's room, showcasing a cohesive blend of colors, textures, and decorative pillows.

A floral wall installation behind the bed adds a touch of whimsy with purple and blue blooms. The flowers appear to grow upwards, creating a magical secret garden effect.

Close-up of the floral wall in Ayla's room, highlighting the delicate details and artistic arrangement of the flowers.

The floral wall was also a budget-friendly alternative to expensive artwork, costing only about $60 in silk flowers. To create it, I followed a tutorial from Sweet Teal.

Now, let’s take a look at the “befores” and “afters.”

Before: The room as it looked when we first purchased the house, providing a glimpse of its original condition.
This is what the room looked like on the day we bought the house.
Before: A shot of the room just before we moved in, ready for our (then) little three-year-old.
A shot of the room just before we moved in, ready for our (then) little three-year-old

Before: Books sitting on a white book shelf in a blue room.

Before: A small green couch on a wood floor in a green living room with a giant white burst light fixture.

After: A bed in the corner of a bedroom with pink walls.
After: A modern bedroom with a rainbow of colours in strategic places around the room.

After: coffee table with books and a gold lamp, creating a focal point with soft, warm lightning.
After: Three white floating shelves with a glove, a pink house, a yellow book, a brown lunch pail and a pink and blue notebook on them.

A bed is set up on a rug in a light pink room.

Product List

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams’ Simple White (SW 7021)

Rug: Anastasia Collection in Silver/Plum by Loloi

Bookshelf: Modern Modular Frame by Land of Nod

Wall Shelves: Gold Standard Wall Shelves by Land of Nod

Bed + Mattress: IKEA NORDLI Full-Size Bed + Aveline Mattress from LexMod

Bedding: Metallic Heart Sheets + Tassel Duvet in Berry

Throw: Montara Throw

Toss Pillows: Pom-Pom Pillow +Tassle Pillow + Heart Pillow

Pendant Light: Globe Pendant in Milk Glass (14″)

Desk: Porter Mid-Century Modern Writing Desk

Lounge Chair (Gold): Domino Lounge Chair by Land of Nod

Reading Chair: Mid-Century Chair with Colored Buttons

Bedside Table: Land of Nod, Discontinued (Similar here)

Lamp: Pillowfort Unicorn Lamp

Wall Art: 10 Mil Besos + Mischief Maker

Desk Organizer Pegboard: Discontinued (Here’s a similar one)

Desk Chair: Vintage

Curtains: Mini Fringe Curtain Panel by Nate Berkus

Want to see a tour of her little brother’s room? Check it out here.

Creating a space that truly reflects a child’s personality and evolving needs is a rewarding experience. Ayla’s room is now a vibrant, functional, and inspiring space that she loves. It’s a testament to the power of design in nurturing creativity and independence.

This makeover proves that with careful planning, a creative vision, and a willingness to embrace change, you can transform any room into a dream space for your child. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors, textures, and unique design elements to create a room that is as individual as they are.

We hope Ayla’s room makeover has inspired you! If you’re planning a similar project, remember to involve your child in the design process. Their input is invaluable in creating a space that they’ll truly cherish.

Stay tuned for more home design inspiration and tips! We’re always working on new projects and sharing our experiences to help you create the home of your dreams.

If you have any questions about Ayla’s room makeover, or if you’d like to share your own design projects, please leave a comment below. We love hearing from our readers!

Remember, a child’s room is more than just a place to sleep. It’s a sanctuary for dreams, a canvas for creativity, and a reflection of their unique personality. By investing in their space, you’re investing in their well-being and future.