A Stylishly Updated Boys Room

Published July 19, 2012

Forget about super-heroes and rock stars: kids respond to strong, bold decorating panache. This was the thinking behind a West Vancouver family’s newly renovated bedroom for their 9-year-old son. As plastic toys made way for computers and sporting equipment the new decorating theme for this room was “big and bold”.

There’s no reason why a child’s space cannot be connected with the general theme of the rest of the home. If proper planning is in place and a fresh, and timeless theme is chosen then there can be uniformity from room to room.

Armed with loads of creativity and a well thought out budget, these homeowners decided on a nautical theme. Initially the colour scheme was to be fairly soft and muted but a trip to a local decorating store changed everything.

A beautiful navy blue duvet was spotted at Pottery Barn Kids and it was clear that it offered many opportunities for a decorating theme. Add a few oversized stars from Homesense and a nautical theme was born.

First up was to borrow a little hallway space for a walk-in closet. In doing so the old closet space was torn down and incorporated into the bedroom making the room larger.

BC Hardwood floors were installed in a dark stain and white paneling was added over the existing wall space. This enabled the family to keep the cost of materials down. The walls were painted in Jet Blue from Benjamin Moore and the paneling was finished in Benjamin Moore Cloud White.

In keeping with a fairy clean and clutter-free theme the windows were covered in white shutters to shade out the sun. A white couch was added along with a matching wicker desk.

There’s no question that the antiqued bookshelf in the corner adds an element of whimsy to the room. Little touches such as  throw pillows and a decorative seagull help continue the nautical theme without adding too much clutter.

Details such as colourful fabrics, trims and carefully chosen paint colours can have a large impact in a small room. As these homeowners discovered, small changes can produce a whole new look without breaking the bank.

Prior to this renovation their 9 year old’s bedroom was just another room in the house that lacked personality. However, once the closet was installed and the room was enlarged, the doors of opportunity opened to allow this family the ability to use their imagination to create a space that functions efficiently yet embraces a strong theme.

The results speak for themselves:  a stylishly updated boys room that blends beautifully with the rest of the home.

For more photographs of this renovation go to www.nsnews.com