Hope you’re enjoying the cozy stretch between Christmas and New Year’s. We’ve been soaking up family time while tackling a few home projects—right now we’re sanding, priming, and painting kitchen cabinets, which has left the place feeling like a little paint explosion mixed with stray gingerbread crumbs. We hope to share that progress on Monday. Today, though, we wanted to highlight a thoughtful, budget-friendly bedroom makeover completed by Katy for her son Gabriel. The transformation was impressive not only because it cost very little (Katy estimates under $200 for major items like a bed and dresser), but also because it was done in a rental. We love seeing renters make meaningful, tenant-friendly updates—kudos to the landlord for allowing this refresh. Here’s Katy’s story in her own words:

Hi Sherry and John! I wanted to share my son’s room makeover with you. We moved into our house in 2011, a few weeks after I found it at a yard sale. Yes, it sounds a little crazy. We’re renting for now, but hope to buy it someday.

The house needed a lot of TLC when we moved in, and I’m always excited by a good project. Our son was not quite two at the time, so his room was my first priority to help make the transition smoother for him.

I knew I wanted a deep, peacock-inspired blue on the walls. I picked a shade called Plumage, used a tinted primer, and set to work. My goal was to spend as little as possible, but still create a rich, cozy space—and I love how it turned out.

My mom found a Jenny Lind–style wooden bed for Gabriel, which matched the vision I had perfectly. At $80, I couldn’t believe the find. She refinished it with Annie Sloan-style chalk paint in French Linen and sealed it with clear wax. The finished bed is beautiful and feels wonderfully solid.

I scored a dresser on Craigslist for $20 and refinished it myself, turning it into a practical and attractive storage piece. A thrift-store tapestry does double duty as wall art and visual texture. Decorative trees from the holidays were repurposed into whimsical accents. My mom also gifted a few charming paint-by-number pieces that add a personal touch. I created a mobile by spray-painting a thrifted piece gold and hanging old family photos of my dad, grandmother, and aunt—small sentimental details that give the room warmth.

As a child, my grandfather introduced me to Shel Silverstein, so finding a copy of Falling Up at a thrift store felt like a special stroke of luck. I framed and displayed pages from the book as wall art, and they’ve become a favorite feature. We love reading the poems together and playing I-spy with the illustrations. The bench in the room is from our wedding, and a woven basket holds books and toys for easy cleanup and accessibility.

So there’s Gabriel’s big-boy room! I’m excited to share it and hope you enjoy it as much as we do. —Katy

We’re big fans of this makeover. Gabriel is lucky to have such a warm, thoughtfully put-together room. Some of the details really stand out: the tucked-up Shel Silverstein pages create an immediate connection and are an affordable, high-impact decorating idea. The soft-gray Jenny Lind bed is another favorite—it’s classic, kid-friendly, and looks custom-made for the space. The thrifted tapestry and the layered personal touches give the room personality without breaking the bank. Katy shared more photos and background on her own blog, but feel free to share which element you like best right here. It’s hard to choose—everything from the bedding to the DIY wall art has a lot of charm.