Playful and Pattern-Happy Big Boy Room Reveal

Another labor of love completed and I’d do it again in an instant! The middle’s Playful and Pattern-happy Big Boy Room Reveal is here!! After a fast and furious race to the finish line last month, his new digs are ready for him. He’s no longer just a long-term visitor sleeping in the Guest Room. The space is all HIS now! Come and read on to hear [and see] how we transformed the space into a Playful and Pattern-happy Big Boy Room.

Each year and oftentimes, multiple times throughout the year, I jump in a room challenge to get myself kicked into high gear. And the New Year, New Room Refresh Challenge hosted by Casa Watkins Living is the definition of a challenge. It takes place each year during the month of January, so there is absolutely no down time after the holidays! This year, I shared my Big Boy Room plans, mood board and before photos on January 1st!!

The timeline is tight.

We typically deal with product shipping delays. And more times than not, we usually endure some form of sickness, all of which were reasons we decided to push the reveal back one week this year. Every year it’s tough, but every year I decide to participate. The Big Boy Room is the actually the fourth space I’ve tackled for this challenge. You can see all of the New Year, New Room Challenge Reveals here. 

So, what exactly did it look like when the middle began inhabiting the space? Here is a refresher of the before photos!

PLAYFUL AND PATTERN-HAPPY BIG BOY ROOM BEFORE PHOTOS

What was going on in here?! I have no words. What was once a well-styled guest room but with a slightly less-than-tidy-desk in the corner somehow morphed into a dumping ground for all the things that didn’t have a home upstairs. That was just the thing. No one slept in here on a regular basis, after all. We created the Sophisticated Neutral Nursery for our 3rd little guy last year, which ultimately forced the middle from that room to the biggest’s room. Oh my did we have grand plans for a shared boys’ room with bunk beds or a loft bed over a full bed at the very least.

The boys were excited.

We were excited.

Until we realized it just wasn’t working! They weren’t sleeping that well in the same room together. Keeping each other up late at night or waking each other up early in the morning. Finally, one night the middle was having a straight up cough attack, so we decided to move him into the guest room for the night. Well, that night turned into another night. and another night. and another night, until it started to make less and less sense to send him back to his blow-up mattress and sleeping bag in the biggest’s room and more and more sense to convert the guest room into a big boy room of his own. 

So, that is what we set out to do. Here is a peek back at the plans and then on to the after photos + full source list at the end!

PLAYFUL AND PATTERN-HAPPY BIG BOY ROOM PLANS

There were a few main aspects we needed to address in the space and we pretty much addressed them all! I’ll share the full updated to-do list at the end after you get to peek at all the after photos.

So let’s get this show on the road, shall we?!!

TASSELS

We added playfulness, pattern and COLOR! Don’t worry, my neutral-loving heart still kept much of the color palette in black and white.

NIGHTSTAND / STORAGE

BRASS NESTING BOWLS | VTECH KID SMARTWATCH

We got rid of the old nightstand because it was part of a set so wanted to sell them together. I contemplated buying a new piece for the room, but realized we had an old storage cubby that could serve as a nightstand, bookcase AND storage for miscellaneous toys and stuffed animals.

You saw the paint and wallpaper treatment the piece got when I shared the bold bookcase makeover in the week 5 update.

Not only is it pattern-happy, but the bright color makes my heart pretty happy, too! The white bins are filled with small toys and trinkets and I added simple clothespin chalkboard labels to the fronts. 

So far our little man has done a good job at putting things back where they belong, but we’ll see how long that lasts!

BEDDING & PILLOWS

I kept the white comforter on the bed, but purchased these gray and white plus sign sheets and loaded the bed up with fun, colorful pillows. These blue Euro shams have a gorgeous woven texture to them and are amazing quality for the price.

The large, green and white striped lumbar is a rich and bold, custom pillow cover with a zipper closure [perfect for removal and washing!] and will definitely be a piece that can grow with him. That is, if I don’t get my hands on it too soon to sneak it into our master!

And when I spotted that cute little headphone pillow, I just couldn’t resist. He says, “It’s the coolest.” 

HEADBOARD

Recognize this black and white pattern?! Well, the irony is two-fold. 

1 – I used an old curtain panel to cover the headboard which was previously covered with a curtain panel. You can see my DIY headboard tutorial here.

2 – This curtain panel has been in not one, not two, but now THREE of my NYNR Refresh Challenge spaces. You first saw them in our old master bedroom refresh. Then you saw them in our Playroom Makeover most recently.

I wanted a bold pattern and knew I couldn’t go wrong with black and white, so I pulled it out of the closet [this was the 3rd panel left over from our old master because we only needed 2 panels in the Playroom] and wrapped and secured it with heavy duty staples. It was literally a 10 minute project! Just my kind 🙂

WALLPAPER ACCENT WALL

Now moving on to what might be my favorite addition to the room – the wallpaper accent wall! When browsing Milton and King’s site, I instantly knew I wanted to use the Nixon paper for this room. I adore the thin black lines creating a simple geometric pattern on the crisp white background.

It’s timeless, ageless and the perfect neutral backdrop to fun art and gorgeous frames in the gallery wall.

or a gold-studded porcupine!

GALLERY WALL

A quirky robot, simple rows of watercolor cars and the cutest little face I ever did see makeup the gallery wall in here!

oh and that darn wooden mirror! You guys! I am not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed that I now have the same mirror in 3 rooms. It’s such a good price and it’s the perfect sort of petite size. 

When it came to frame selection, I went with the gold bead frame, wall-mounted floating acrylic frame with gold standoff hardware and the classic black frame from Art to Frames. Initially, I wasn’t 100% sure what pieces I wanted to go in them. But their super swift design and ordering process made it easy for me to pick out the frames I wanted and then pop the art prints in them once I finally landed on the winners.

I’ve been swooning over that floating acrylic frame since it first arrived on my doorstep.!

For the custom wrapped canvas art, I simply uploaded his photo online and the handsome piece was shipped out right away! He loves seeing himself on the wall, but probably not quiiiite as much as I do!

DIY WORD ART

I wanted to incorporate something personal into the space – something that is just “him”. Since I love a good word art piece, I decided to make one on my own! The middle is always saying “100.” It’s his answer to absolutely everything. 

It’s 100 degrees outside or he requests 100 more hours on the iPad. It’s always 100 in his book, so I thought by creating an art piece that reads “100% AWESOME” and having it printed in a poster size seemed fitting. It definitely makes us smile when we are in here!

Download this “100% AWESOME” Free Printable for your Boy’s Room!

LIGHTING / CEILING FAN

Yes, it’s finally gone! That bad white and brass ceiling fan is bye-bye and I’ve wanted it gone almost as badly as I wanted the rainbow fan removed from Nursery. But not near as desperately as I wanted the fluorescent box light out of the kitchen last year ha!

We ordered this gunmetal and black 42″ ceiling fan and had it installed when these super fun two-tone aged brass and black wall sconces were put up! They are the perfect bedtime reading light and look so awesome flanking the window even when they’re not on! I definitely have bedroom light envy. Too bad these guys won’t be as easy as the green striped pillow to snag out of here and plop into my own room!

VERTICAL STORAGE / DISPLAY

The slightly awkward space is the area towards the foot of the bed around the TV. No, I didn’t want my four-year old to have a TV in his room, but no, we weren’t going to take it out. It’s mounted to the wall but since the desk was previously under the TV, we did have to address the cord situation. I found this great little cord concealer kit and we are really happy with how it looks. It’s clean and not gaudy looking at all. 

We decided the little nook to the left of the TV near the closet needed a little something, so we picked up a floating wall shelf from IKEA and put it up. It’s not a true storage unit but houses little keepsakes and decorative items. I did have a basket leftover from the nursery closet that I stuck on the bottom shelf for a few stuffed animals but not much else. 

I can envision trophies and awards sitting on the ledges some day. Even a hat or shoe display might be really cool when he gets older! He loves little trinkets so I’m sure he won’t have any trouble coming up with something!

ACCESSORIES & EXTRA TOUCHES

COAT RACK | JACKET | “S” HAT

We also made several smaller changes or swaps to create this look. Some of those items included: dresser knobs, a rug, fiddle leaf fig, curtains, storage bench and a wall-mounted hat rack. We also painted the closet doors [Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black] to match the other interior doors. We ended up not having enough time for a full closet makeover within this NYNR challenge. Although I’d love to come back and revisit it someday soon! 

“IT’S COOL TO BE KIND” | KNOBS | MIRROR  | WALLPAPER

Not that I’m ready to tackle another big project just yet. I’m going to take a little time to recharge before I get revved up again. A little Spring decorating might be good for the soul right about now! I’m so incredibly happy to have this room decked out for a certain special 4-year old, but like I said…It was a labor of love. Emphasis on the labor part! I do know what I’m getting myself into each and every time and I just keep coming back for more!!

One last look at everything we knocked out on the list in order to get this room where it is today:

PLAYFUL AND PATTERN-HAPPY BIG BOY ROOM CHECKLIST:

• purge and declutter 
• closet refresh [including door & wire shelving removal] – might not happen until February or March
• take desk and computer out
• rearrange bed position
• replace ceiling fan 
• wallpaper accent wall 
• install wall sconces 
• determine book shelf / storage [possible furniture makeover]
• reupholster fabric headboard 
• get new rug
• find a nightstand 
• purchase new lamp [had one] 
• bring dresser in from the biggest’s room
• swap out dresser hardware 
• new laundry hamper 
• update the bedding 
• pick out new pillows 
• hang wall art 
• style and decorate the space
• Miscellaneous projects:
  • _DIY pillow covers__
  • _install floating wall shelf_
  • _coat rack____________

Not too bad for a one month project! The best part is hearing his sweet little voice tell everyone he has a new room! And of course if they’re here, he asks if they want to go and see it! It’s safe to say he’s LOVING his new digs!

If you’ve been following along with the other participants this round of the New Year, New Room Refresh Challenge, then you’ll know there are some other veterans here, too! Be sure to stop by each and every one’s Reveal spaces today and show them some love. They, too, worked long and hard on their rooms! We are ALL thrilled to share our work with you!

Casa Watkins Living // Domicile 37 // House Homemade // Iris Nacole // Monica Wants It //

Jeweled Interiors // Pocketful of Posies // This Is Our Bliss // Up To Date Interiors

And one final thank you to our very generous NYNR sponsors. They have all provided us with fabulous products and these rooms simply would not be possible without them! 

To shop most of the products you saw pictured above, here are clickable images for you to shop the sources:

Thanks to all of you who have followed along with yet another room project. Your continued support and encouragement means the world! I hope you have found a dose of inspiration for your boy’s room here today!

If you’ve missed any other posts, you can get caught up on the entire New Year, New Room Refresh Challenge below:

• PLAYFUL & PATTERN-HAPPY BIG BOY ROOM PLANS
• 7 OF THE CUTEST BOY ROOMS INSPIRING ME RIGHT NOW
• COLORFUL & AFFORDABLE WALL ART PRINTS FOR A BOY ROOM
• BIG BOY ROOM PROGRESS UPDATE
• HOW TO TAKE YOUR OLD BOOKCASE FROM BASIC TO BOLD
• PLAYFUL & PATTERN-HAPPY BIG BOY ROOM REVEAL