Nursery Makeover...It's in the works.

I love the holidays, but for the past month I have been anxious to get them over with so that I could move onto my next big makeover project...the {nursery}.

Currently no one is sleeping in it. The babe has somehow conveniently taken up residence in my bed...okay, so I'm a little lazy and a lot sentimental {she is the last and I am savoring the fact that I still have a little one who will snuggle up with me at night}.

The plan is to get the babe completely weaned off me and into her own big girl bed. It's gonna be painful, but I need to do it. I'm hoping a new nursery will {motivate} us both.

The plan is to also transfer {the little dude} into the same bedroom. He's 4 and currently taking up residence with {the big dude} who's 12. {Big dude} has made it abundantly clear that he needs his own space.

So, now I am working with a {his&her} bedroom...and I am sore afeerd. There is a delicate balance when it comes to desiging a space that will work for both male and female. I'm not so sure I have the design finesse...I guess we'll find out.

Here is the space currently. Chew on it a moment...try not to gag.

{I realize that this is probably the worst picture ever taken...in the whole entire world, but you oughta try getting a decent shot with your iphone and with your eyes closed}

I'm not exactly sure what possesed me. Apparently it was the dark overlord of bad design. Polka dots... they seemed like a really good idea at the time {I should have known when I popped a blood vessel in my wrist painting them that I was being compelled by something evil...but I still kept going, throbbing wrist and all}.

Anywho, moving on...polka dots. They seemed a {brilliant} idea at the time, but I soon realized they were a little over the top...the {big top} that is. I can't really say I blame the darling for not wanting to sleep in there...the place gives me nightmares.

But alas, I finally have the time and presence of mind...now that the holidays have passed, to start working on redesigning the space. I'm still not sure what I want to do exactly. I'm more of a {fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants} type gal, so I will be as curious as you to see how it all turns out.

I do have a few ideas I've been {tossing} around in my head, like:

Custom {headboards} I want to make a set of headboards and the possibilites are endless. I think I've narrowed it down to a few possibilites.

I love the look of a tufted headboard...so classic. But maybe a little too {sophisticated} for a kids room. Ooh, but I love them so much.

Picture from Urban Outfitters

I'm such a sucker for shutters. I love the idea of using them as headboards. They would work well for both "his" and "her".

Maybe I could do a combination of these two headboards for a "his" and "her" look. I don't like things matchy matchy anyway. Hmmm, I'll have to think about that one.

I am also loving the idea of using an old book shelf for a headboard. You can never have too much storage space.

Picture from homesickdesigns.com

I've also toyed with the idea of using a set of {shutters} in place of standard draperies. I am really loving these board and batten style shutters. I like the novelty of using them on the interior rather than the exterior.

Ooh, turquoise...yes, please.

Paint is a great {and inexpensive} way to change the look of a room. I am hopeful that a coat of paint will help take this sad nursery from {over the big top} to {top notch}. I want to keep the paint neutral so that it doesn't compete with everything else in the room. I think I've narrowed it down to these two options.

Sandy Hook Gray by Benjamin Moore

And Blue Haze by Benjamin Moore.


I'm still a little on the fence about wall art. I think this idea of using flash cards is pretty {smart}...and better yet {cheap}.

Picture from sarah hartill @ houseandhome.com

I think I might have an idea for something fun and whimsical, but you'll have to wait to see what it is. Hopefully it will turn out how I see it in my head.

In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that I get this room figured out.

Oh, I almost forgot the biggest challenge of all..to complete the task without spending any money {or at least very little money}. My goal is to not spend any more that $100 {hopfully less}, which means I probably need you to cross your legs and toes too.