I think you have a lovely room! Only thing I do not think works, and it is only my opinion, is the dresser and dollhouse right next to each other. Can the doll house fit where the fan is by the window? Love the fabric by the bed so sweet and lovely!

A great start and a nice sized space. I bet she is so excited about all the transformation!

Here are some thoughts.

I would move the desk so that it sits under the window by the closet. A cute chair with an upholstered seat will bring some more color and 'pretty' to that side of the room. Of course you want a lamp on the desk.

Move the dollhouse to where the desk is now.

The rug feels really heavy to me, but if you want to keep it in there, I would move it so that it runs across the room at the end where the desk and dollhouse would be located as suggested above. It will create a play/seating space, and not feel so bulky as it does now. You certainly could add a smaller rug or runner by the bed for cold feet in the mornings - maybe a rag rug or a braided one, perhaps more of an oval shape for softness.

I understand what your logic is about the mirrors, but I think honestly that it is overkill. I would leave the dresser where it is now and mount a full-length mirror to the right of it. Have a nice lamp on the dresser. Moving the dollhouse allows for the mirror there, but also relieves some of the crowded feeling as you enter the room.

Since you sew, my first temptation would be to put the closet doors in storage, and to make curtains clipped on easy to slide rings to replace them. It would allow you to bring in more softness and femininity and color. But if that is not an option you like, I would also consider hanging two over the door mirrors on there, and eliminating the wall mirror by the dresser. Those mirrors would have the effect of bouncing the light that you desire, but would also break up those two large pieces of flat wood that are the closet doors.

For the window treatments, I would hang valances or fabric covered cornices almost at ceiling height, then use shades or blinds underneath for light control. I would outside mount the shades/blinds, so that the trim would be covered when the shades were lowered.

Being able to sew means you can mix and match patterns on the bedding, window treatments, and perhaps even the closet, to create a fun, feminine, pretty space for your DD. How lucky she is!

thanks Roarah. I agree about the doll house stuck next to the dresser. I put it closest to the door so that when you walk in the room or sit on the beds, it is off to the side and not in the direct line of view. I will try pushing it over under the window to try it out - see if it crowds the eventual desk / chair too much.

Love the bed! My 9 year old girl would be so jealous! I agree with the ideas about adding softness with the window and closet doors. Also I would change out the rug to something with softer colors. I bought my daughter a cute but large rug at TJ Max. It had pinks and lavender stipes and looked like it would grow with her awhile. Also, just a thought, I purchased a white two-shelved open cabinet that had a shabby chic vibe from Target about 5 years ago. It hangs on her wall and is a place to put her treasured items. We have a photo of when she was a baby on it, her tooth fairy doll pillow, a her handprint on a plaque, a special book, ect. You may want to check out something like that. All in all I think she has a very cute space!

I crossposted with some of you. I am going to digest the suggestions about furniture placement and push the room around a bit this afternoon, then I'll be back...

I think you are off to a great start and it looks like a wonderful space for any 5-year-old to play. The space is great and you have some nice pieces to work with. I redid my 9-year-old DD's room a few years ago in a shabby chic style, but also a somewhat loose intrepretation. I've found that over the past few years she's made her own additions/modifications to make it her own and that to me is what is most important rather than staying true to some decorating ideal. So, with that in mind, the more you can involve your DD and include the items which she loves, the happier you'll both be. I find what works well for me is after I get a sense from my DDs (I also redecorated my 16-year-old DD's room last year) about colors, etc. I narrow down a list to colors/fabrics that I think work and let them choose from that. That way, they still play a role in the final selections, at the same time it is more cohesive than it I just gave them unlimited choices.

For your DD's space, I think it would work well to divide in into two sections: a sleeping/dressing area and a play area that is near the window. I'd have a rug in the play area so she can sit on the floor and play with her toys with the natural light from the windows steaming in. Since you have the floor heaters all along that wall and cannot put furniture that could be a good spot for hooks for dressup items or run a wire along the wall with clips to hang and display her artwork.

I also agree with Les that the rug doesn't work that well. I think a rounded braided rug would be ideal. There was recent post from another member who put one in her DD's room. I can track it down if you like.

I would suggest painting the dresser either a creamy white or accent color. Since your floor and trim is all natural wood, it'd be nice to have more painted pieces for the furniture. Additionally, would you consider painting the closet doors?

For my DD's room, I found much of the furniture on Craigslist and looked for vintage pieces. She has a kneehole desk which I painted white and put a glass top on. I also made a fabric message board on top. The kneehole desk is both a space saver and offers tons of storage for all of her art, craft, and school supplies. Another thought though as she is still young, is to move the round table next to her bed in the area under the window and pair it with a couple of chairs so she will have her own art area (or place to have a tea party) when she has a friend over.

I found JC Penneys and Pottery Barn kids (pbkids and pbteen) great sources for ideas and inspirations. I also found some nice decor items at Home Decorators, including a pretty silver and crystal lamp for my older DD. Younger DD has some feathered lamps in her room that I bought from JC Penneys online.

Please don't feel disappointed as you are off to a great start, It already looks to be a very happy spot for your DD and with a new changes with be something truely special for many years to come.

I don't know if you are opposed to painting the dresser, but I would paint it and the dollhouse the same color as the bed for a less mismatched look and maybe add some fun hardware. Maybe something like this knob from Target

I would also paint the walls a similar green color, and put simple curtains on the window in a gauzy cream fabric, or maybe even an eyelet fabric.

I think fabric--in semi-lavish doses--will be the cure. Pick three that coordinate--a solid and two prints/plaids/stripes. Make a fabric-covered pin board (big!) and put it on the closet door. Maybe a large floor pillow or beanbag chair, toss pillows, curtains, duvet or comforter cover, make the tablecloth for the bedside table go to the floor (looks skimpy now). I'd swap out the rug for something you can wash in a plain color.
More art on the walls--her's, posters, blown up photos--get thrift store or yard store frames--will add color and break up those white walls. Me--I'd paint the trim, but ymmv.
And be prepared to do it all over again when she's older.

I was thinking the same thing, doll house next to her bed. The table next to the bed over where the desk is and the desk ender the window (if there is room for both in that area)...

I would just try moving stuff around and see what feel goods.

I really like what you've done with the room so far. I agree with what les917 said about the placement of the doll house and desk: moving the doll house behind the bed and the desk under the window. I also agree that having a full length mirror next to the dresser would work well. I personally like the rug, though it is more heavy / grounded than the other colors in the room. Perhaps moving it to an area behind the bed for a play area would be nice. As suggested by others, you could put another rug beside the bed.

While I understand the suggestions to paint the dresser, I think it would be sad to do so. It looks like a really lovely dresser with a lovely stain. Although as a young child I might have liked having my dresser white, I would have been disappointed as I grew up if my mother had painted my beautiful wood antique dresser. I am probably biased towards loving antique wood dressers in their natural state, but I hate to see lovely wood painted.

JFTB, are you going for the pink/white SC look or a more Bohemian SC look? Rachel sold both.

I also think the dollhouse shouldn't be next to the dresser. I wouldn't paint it, and not sure I would even change the hardware.

I also wouldn't go crazy with mirrors. I'd do the full length, then have lighter/brighter artwork elsewhere. That will help balance the darker furniture.

I would paint the dollhouse a color pulled from her bedding fabric (once you get that pulled out). I'd skip white on the dollhouse.

New desk - dark wood. It, the dresser and the rug will balance the room.

Fabric - find something with a touch of cream, along with medium colors. With this, you'll branch the range of creams to darks in the room.

Dresser - slide towards door and put full length mirror between it and closet.

Desk - Next to bed, doing double duty as a night table.

Dollhouse - where desk is now.

I know it will look great - you always do a good job!

Please don't let her know you are disappointed or it may take the shine off it for her. This is a very nice room for a 5 year-old in my opinion! The top bunk is really cool, and I am willing to bet she feels like the room is HUGE! I do get it that you want to be happy with it, too, and need to set it up in a way that works for you. Lucky little girl!

Such a cute room! I think I would paint the closet doors the same color as the walls. I love the hardwood floors! I would do a more "girly" rug...maybe one of those really fluffy ones? I would get a different lamp for the dresser, and I would get one of those fancy mini-chandeliers with little crystals to girly it up even more. Can't wait to see what fabrics you pick!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to offer advice! Like suggested I definitely do not show any disappointment to my DD as she loves it so far, and is at the sweet age where she really loves pretty much anything we do in that room. (And yes, I am prepared and excited for the eventual re-decoration years down the road :-) I have to laugh at myself about the "small room" comment I made. I didn't ever get my own room without having to share with *somebody* until I was 22!
I mulled over all the ideas - I moved the dollhouse down next to the bed, and the desk under the window and I like that better already. Tonight I will try the desk next to the bed - there is room for a 48" desk there (will shop for something antique/vintage). Most homework / work gets done in the dining room and by the time we need a hardcore work desk the dollhouse will probably go by the wayside :-( I have decided to not paint the wood dresser for now. I googled and found a few images on Houzz (I just discovered and love that site!!) posted at the very bottom if anyone is interested that show a mix of wood and cream / white that I was kind of envisioning, so hopefully I can pull off that look. And I do agree a nice dose of pretty fabrics will help the room more!
I would like to attempt to keep the current rug, as it does have a bit of pink in it. And will be looking for some kind of younger / girlier fabric that still works with the darker rug. I can always move the rug elsewhere if it still doesn't work.
It will take me a little while but I will definitely post photos later when I have a significant update to show. You all helped get my "creative juices" flowing so thank you!

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[eclectic kids design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kids-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_24653~s_2104) by media and blogs French Larkspur

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[traditional bedroom design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2107) by atlanta interior designer Margaret L. Norcott, Allied ASID

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[traditional kids design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kids-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_24653~s_2107) by los angeles interior designer Elizabeth Dinkel

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[eclectic kids design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kids-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_24653~s_2104) by boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

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[traditional bedroom design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2107) by los angeles interior designer Elizabeth Dinkel

Great inspiration pictures!

I like the space and the loft bed. At first, I was going to suggest painting the dresser and using glass knobs for a shabbier, lighter look but I like the wood and noticed that your inspiration photos have the darker wood dressers.

You could bring in lighter shabby chic accessories with a different lamp, a chippy painted desk, ruffly curtains, etc. I'm making my DD a "teapot lamp" (copying Anthropologie's lamp) with a slipcovered shade and make a fabric flower covered lampshade (similar to PB's rose-covered shade) to use with the PB lamp on her nightstand.

I think the rug may be too dark and serious for the room. A lighter floral rug like the one in your second picture or maybe a fluffy shag rug would brighten and soften the room.

I agree with the others that the dollhouse shouldn't be side by side with the dresser. They're too similar in size and it looks crowded. My DD has the same size dollhouse and I ended up putting it next to her bed, on different walls than the dresser and large hutch.