What a great project. Have you looked at some of the other girls rooms on Houzz to get some ideas too?

I like the idea of the headboard on the 8'4" space with the dresser on the opposite wall, so you have the area to the right free for the desk and playspace.

Thanks, Emily. That is pretty much what I was thinking except I had the dresser and the playspace reversed. But I like your idea. I was also thinking of some built-in shelves under the window - maybe doubling as a window seat. I have looked through the Kids section on Houzz and have saved a bunch of photos to my ideabook - just trying to figure out how to implement it all in our space.

I did a show for Decorating Cents years ago - the colors may be a bit much but maybe you can take away some of the ideas and projects I did - It was all done on a budget of 500.00!

http://kellikaufer.posterous.com/archive/1/2010?page=3

Have furn!

Kelli - thanks so much! The room you referenced is adorable and exactly what I am going for. The colors are not at all too much. I love the little projects, too - hopefully something I can do. We've already framed some tissue paper art in shadow boxes (also bought at Michael's) on the wall, so maybe we're on our way...

cylon, - I loved doing this makeover, I have 2 boys so a little girls room was out of the question and boy, did I have a ball decorating! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Would love to see some pictures when you are done! :)

Thanks so much, Kelli - will keep you posted!

One more question: any ideas for a bed and dresser? I like the Restoration Hardware child and baby lines, in part because the design seems a little different from everything else I've seen (aside from custom), and in part because the white is a more antique or distressed white rather than a stark white, which again seems different from everything else I've seen. Any other companies to suggest? Looking for something not too girly, but fun, and something that will last through the teen years, even if we change the decor as she grows... Thanks!

Oops, didn't mean to post the canopy bed, but you get the idea...

Hi, I'm working on my little girl's room, too. She is 6, and like you, want to create a space that works now but also a space she can grow into. I also think the bed on the 84" wall makes the most sense. If you have the space, and it looks like you do, I would go for a double or queen bed. I've been thinking about doing an upholstered headboard.....I keep going back and forth. Where you have the desk (corner) in your second picture, might be a great space for an upholstered chair or a short chaise where she can curl up and read. Where the dresser is, you could do a desk with a hutch or shelving above for books, baskets for craft supplies etc. I'd put the dresser and maybe a fun coat tree on the wall opposite the bed. You might also be able to do a tall set of cubbies beside the closet with baskets that fit into them for toy storage now...and maybe shoe storage when she's a teenager! I like the RH furniture- simple clean lines, not too frilly and girly. I love "upcycling"...if you have the time and are inclined, you can find well built pieces - dressers, headboards/frames second hand and either sand and paint yourself or have them professionally sprayed in the colour of your choice. This gives you soooo many more options, but admittedly, is more time consuming. I'd love to see what fabrics you are working with.

I have to tell you, the most profound experience in a child's life can be having his or her room decorated. My son wanted lions and tigers (a safari theme), and so we did it, right down to the white flokati. When his son had his room decorated, my son didn't even ask him what he wanted, he simply duplicated what he had! Of course, he doesn't realize how that happened. My two girls were allowed the same opportunity and they wanted color, so we do an entire range of sherberts with white furniture. The middle child today has her bedroom in all those same colors. The youngest wasn't influenced as she was very young (sharing the same room). My Mother asked me what I wanted and I was very much into Cinderella, so one day I found her on the floor with white sheets and she was hand painting scenes from Cinderella. I'm 69 and to this day I can remember everything about my room. Your child is your best source of information, and what is so wonderful is they have no filters. There is no right or wrong in how to do things. Of course, it takes the Mom to be the decorating police and to "collaborate" with the child. Some of my best memories as an adult and as a child came from these important moments.

Karen-like you my mom was a DIY decorator..we never knew when we'd come home to have her tearing down a wall (it was a supporting wall and she got half way thru when the roof began to slip) to wallpapering..I used to wallpaper anything that would hold still long enough...My 4 kids have all had total input in what they wanted from their rooms and they remember important things like rainbows (which was duplicated in my grand daughters room a few years ago) to an underwater scene with fish from dr Seuss "Red Fish Blue Fish". I am also 69 and still love decorating. I am looking forward to decorating my new Accessible apartment (when I settle on the plan for it).

Cylon-let your daughter be your guide-there are inexpensive magazines about decorating available at larger magazine stands-bring a couple home, turn daughter lose and let her decide what she wants. Don't think it has to transition to her teens-you'll be replacing paint and decore things for years as daughters interests change-just think about how she has changed from (perhaps) Elmo to Disney Princess to Hanna Montana etc. I use those because that has been the way my 7 year old grand daughter, who I live very close to, has gone.

I like the distressed white from Restoration also-and they will be able to transition well into her teens.

have fun!

I completely agree about having your child involved in the decorating process. It is their space and should certainly reflect their personality. My take is to largely go with the basics and have their changing tastes and interests reflect in the smaller, more easily changed elements - artwork, posters, bedding, lamps etc.

@Karen-love this image..I remember my mom painted my dads prized riverstone fireplace off white and antiqued it with gold. This was 1957 or 58. She then recovered everything in chintz after painting our mishmash of furniture white-including a beautiful craftsman buffet. She painted that buffet 7 times before I inherited it when she passed away and I stripped every layer off and bleached it back to golden blond-2 years work!

@cylon sorry to hijack your thread. Looking forward to seeing the final project.

I just can't stop as I know most of us have such stories. That's why we do what we do...It's in our genes! Love your stories. The visuals are stunning. Ha! Also sorry about hijacking. Back to business...

Thanks, everyone - no worries about hijacking the thread - I love the discussion and think it is funny that the thread was hijacked to reminisce about mother's decorating influences... on Father's Day... we should probably give some cred to the dads out there...

Chandani - glad to hear you are decorating for a school-aged daughter as well. I like your furniture arrangement and will plan to go with that. I'm waiting for a wood sample from RH and then will likely get the bed and maybe the dresser but look toward refinishing a secondhand nightstand and other smaller pieces - maybe the desk, too. Will keep you posted. It sometimes takes me a while, but I'll post pictures when the project is eventually done...

Hi clyon- too bad there isn't a way on Houzz (not that I know of) to communicate directly with a member. I'd love to compare notes. After I get the room decluttered, I will work toward posting for ideas. Unfortunately, we are working with a much smaller room.

Hi all - after months of procrastination, I have finally redone my daughter's room. The yellow (BM Little Angel) and pink (BM Autumn Red) are all her choice. I went with Room and Board furniture, which I am very happy with - works for a 5 year-old, but will be current and fun through her teens (I hope). The flowers are also new, which we both really like - current and fun for now, but easy to remove when she is over her love affair with flowers, rainbows, and butterflies... I'd love some suggestions for how to finish off the room, specifically bedding, window treatments, and maybe an area rug. I'm a less is more person in general, who likes contemporary style, but think we need a couple of finishing touches. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Here are pictures. Sorry in advance if they upload sideways - they are straight in my computer folder, but seem to turn over on their own... CL

Chandani - if you are out there, hope your project is going well. CL

hi... still check into houzz, though not as often. I'm sure your little girl loves her room! It looks like you have a blind in the window for light control/privacy, but I think a couple of panels of drapes would finish off the window and soften the space a bit. I also think an area rug would be a great addition. A fun mirror over the dresser would be functional...as she grows up... and will fill in the space.

I'd say I'm about 80% done my daughter's room. One of these days, I'll get around to posting!