Kids' Room Makeovers

Our home editor, Susan Leaderman, knew just what she wanted when she redecorated her 3-year-old daughter Lilah's bedroom: mod white furniture and a fresh take on the classic pink theme (translation: nothing frilly or cutesy). The result is a comfy space that Lilah adores -- and one that will grow with her as she gets older.

Sleek Chic
Two low dressers placed side by side run the width of the room and hold Lilah's clothes and toys; nurseryworks.net. Wilma lamp, Sparrow shade from poshtots.com.

Sitting Pretty
No need for a fussy painted chair -- this simple kid-size lounger is a cushy place to read stories (and the slipcover is washable). Karlstad chair.

Beddy Buy
Instead of a twin bed, Susan chose a versatile full-size platform bed upholstered in neutral, easy-to-clean microsuede. Ella bed.

Pillow Talk
Lilah gets a kick out of her colorful mix-and-match bedding. Pink duvet and pillowcase; dwellshop.com. All other bedding; pineconehill.com.

Space was the big challenge when architects Jill and John Bouratoglou designed a bedroom for their 3-year-old son, Julian. The room is just 11 feet square, and it also had to double as a playroom, so they wanted to use every inch. They came up with innovative built-in storage solutions and made the space appear longer by painting the side walls blue and the end walls white. The result is an organized, modern room that doesn't cramp Julian's style.

Crafty Cabinet
John and Jill made the built-in storage unit out of inexpensive prefab kitchen cabinets and a countertop they bought at Ikea. They attached stainless-steel legs to raise it off the floor. Bonus: Julian and his brother, Max, use it as a stage for their air-guitar concerts. Mini pouf; zidzid.com. Print on wall; moloart.net. Cirque ceiling fan; g2art.com.

Sleep Tight
Jill couldn't find a bed she liked, so she designed and built one herself, using plywood. The cutout circles on the headboard are backed with orange construction paper; Julian likes to change the colors regularly. Pillows from yoyashop.com.

Hang Around
Graphic kids' paintings over the bed really pop against the blue walls.

Toy Boxes
Underneath the bed, repurposed cardboard file boxes hold Julian's toys and trains, which he slides over to the nearby train table when he plays.

Groovy bedside tables keep Lilah's favorite books handy. The rounded edges are a nice safety feature for an active preschooler. Pod ottoman; chiasso.com. Curve lamp; lampsplus.com.

Lime-green wallpaper on opposite walls makes the room look bigger -- and keeps the pink paint from overwhelming the space. Bella Pink paint, sherwinwilliams.com. Waverly fabric custom valance; budgetblinds.com.
 

High shelving arranged with toys creates a three-dimensional border that's way more interesting than a standard wallpaper one. A set of frameless bird canvases by Jennifer Kiraly hangs in a neat row underneath.

Even Julian's tiny entryway has a dual use: The Bouratoglous lined it with shallow shelves that hold toys and books.

The small closet does big work: The left side has shelves and bars for Julian's clothes, and on the right is a built-in art desk topped with shelves for his books, games, and puzzles. A clear shoe organizer inside the door holds his action figures and trinkets. Elfa closet system; containerstore.com.

Copyright © 2008. Used with permission from the February 2008 issue of Parents magazine.