Kids’ Rooms (What Survives Real Life)

Kids’ Rooms (What Survives Real Life)

I’ve spent about $2,000 total on three kids’ bedrooms over the years. One daughter (age 10), two boys (ages 15 and 8) sharing a room. Kids’ rooms are different. What you buy has to survive jumping, climbing, spilling, and constant chaos.

Pretty doesn’t matter if it breaks in six months. This is my kids’ room breakdown – what’s worth the money, what’s not, and what actually survives real life with kids.

Total invested: ~$2,000 (all three rooms)

Best purchase: $130 vanity (daughter’s favourite thing)

Biggest challenge: Shared room for a 7-year age gap

Daughter’s Room: Blue Phase

My daughter is 10. Her room has gone through two complete transformations without painting the walls. Pink phase (ages 5-9): Pink rug, pink/white chevron curtains, paper lanterns, magnetic flowers.

Blue phase (age 10-now): Blue everything – LED name light, ombre curtains, tie-dye rug, beach postcard gallery wall. Same walls. Different girl. That’s kids’ rooms.

SPLURGE: Cream Velvet Bed with Gold Trim – $199 (Amazon). What it is: Cream velvet headboard and footboard with a gold metal frame, built-in LED lights, and a plug-in bar on the headboard.

Why we bought it: She wanted something that felt grown-up.

The velvet and gold looked elegant, and the LED lights sealed the deal. The good: It’s beautiful. She loves it. The plug-in bar is convenient for charging devices.

The problem: The metal slats keep coming loose. Every few months, we have to reattach them. It’s not broken, just annoying. Worth it? Yes. For $199, it’s a good bed. The slat issue is manageable, and she’s happy.

SPLURGE: Temu Vanity – $130. This is the best purchase I’ve made for her room. What it is: Vanity with built-in shelves that open to reveal more storage, mirrors that fold out, and drawers underneath.

Why it’s worth it: She uses it every day. Skincare, hair accessories, jewelry – everything has a place. It keeps her organized and gives her a space that’s hers. Still loves it? Absolutely. This was the right investment.

SAVE: Blue Tie Dye Shag Rug – $30 (Temu). She loves it. I hate it. Why she loves it: Soft, blue, matches her room perfectly.

Why I hate it: The shag fur gets stuck in the vacuum every single time. Vacuuming her room takes three times longer than any other room.

Would I buy it again? No. Flat-weave rugs from now on. Lesson: Function matters. If it makes your life harder, it’s not worth it – even if your kid loves it.

SAVE: Blue LED Name Light – $20 (Temu). Lights up her name on the wall. She loves it. It was $20. Why save here: Trendy decor for kids changes fast. Buy cheap, replace when they move on.

SAVE: Postcard Gallery Wall – $10. What we did: Bought a set of beach-themed postcards from Amazon. She arranged them on her wall. They kept falling off.

We taped them to white bristol board and attached the whole board to the wall with thumbtacks (four small holes we can patch later).

Total cost: ~$10 (postcards + bristol board). Why it works: She created it. It’s personal. And it was cheap enough that when she’s over it, we’re not out much.

FURNITURE: IKEA Wins. IKEA Kallax ($60): Books, decor, TV on top. Versatile, lasts forever. IKEA Raskog trolley ($39): Bedside table with storage. Holds books, skincare, and random stuff.

Why IKEA: Affordable, durable, moves to the next room or next rental when needed.

Boy’s Room: Shared For Ages 15 & 8

Two boys, seven years apart, one room. The challenge is balancing their different needs and styles in one space.

SPLURGE: Costco Bunk Beds with Stair Cubbies – $2,000. This was a big investment seven years ago. What it is: Bunk beds with stairs (not a ladder). Each stair has a cubby for clothes, toys, or books. Two under-bed storage drawers.

Why it was worth it: The stairs are safer than a ladder. The cubbies are genius – built-in storage in a shared room where space is tight. 7 years later:

The slats need replacing. The kids are outgrowing the bunks (my older son is 15 now). But they served us well for seven years.

Cost per year: $285/year. Worth it? Yes. They got us through seven years of shared-room childhood.

SPLURGE: Navy Star Curtains – Pottery Barn (Baby Shower Gift). These curtains are 15 years old. I got them as a gift at my baby shower. They’ve been washed dozens of times, hung in two different houses, and they still look brand new.

Why quality curtains matter: They last. Cheap curtains fade, shrink, and fall apart. These are still perfect after 15 years. Lesson: Invest in good curtains. They’re worth it.

SAVE: Hockey Decals – Translucent Stickers. My older son plays hockey. His side of the room reflects that – hockey decals on the walls, signed NHL player photos, medals, trophies.

Why save here: Decals are removable. When he’s over hockey (if that ever happens), they peel off clean. Cost: I don’t even remember. Maybe $20-30 total over the years.

SAVE: Hanging Metal Shelf for Medals – $20 (Amazon). He has 30+ medals. We bought a hanging metal shelf from Amazon for $20. It displays all of them. Why save here: It’s functional, not decorative. As long as it holds the medals, it’s doing its job.

FURNITURE: Espresso Wood (Durable). Desk ($200, Amazon): Homework, gaming, trophies on display. Dresser (Amazon): Clothes storage. IKEA Kallax ($60): Toy bins when they were younger, now books and decor. Why espresso wood: Dark wood hides scuffs and scratches better than light wood or painted furniture. With two boys, this matters.

What Survives Kids ( And What Doesn’t)

SURVIVES:

• ✅ Dark wood furniture (hides damage)
• ✅ IKEA Kallax (indestructible, versatile)
• ✅ Quality curtains (Pottery Barn navy stars – 15 years!)
• ✅ Bunk beds with storage (7 years and counting)
• ✅ Removable decals (easy to change as tastes evolve)

DOESN’T SURVIVE:

• ❌ Shag rugs (vacuum nightmare)
• ❌ Light-colored furniture (shows every scratch)
• ❌ Cheap beds with flimsy slats (constant repairs)
• ❌ Permanent decor (kids’ tastes change too fast)

Lessons From Decorating Kids’ Rooms

1. Let Them Lead (Within Limits). My daughter wanted blue. I let her choose the shade, the curtains, the rug. But I vetoed the $200 light fixture and suggested the $20 Temu version. Give them ownership, but control the budget and the permanence.

2. Invest in Multi-Functional Furniture. Bunk beds with stair cubbies = sleeping + storage. Vanity with built-in shelves = getting ready + organization. In kids’ rooms, every piece should do more than one job.

3. Accept That Tastes Change Fast. Pink to blue in one year. That’s kids. Don’t build a room around a theme that won’t last. Build around a colour palette and swap the details.

4. Function Over Pretty. That tie-dye rug is cute. But vacuuming it is torture. The bed with loose slats looks great. But reattaching them every few months is annoying. Function first. Pretty second.

5. Quality Where It Matters, Cheap Where It Doesn’t. Quality: Beds, curtains, multi-functional furniture. Cheap: Decals, LED lights, rugs, trendy decor, kids will outgrow it or destroy it. Spend accordingly.

What I’d Do Differently

Skip the shag rug. Flat-weave or low-pile from now on. Invest in better bed frames. The loose slats are annoying. Next time, sturdier construction. Let them personalize sooner.

I waited too long to let my daughter switch from pink to blue. When they’re ready, let them evolve their space. Keep IKEA on repeat. Kallax, Raskog, Malm – they work. Don’t overthink it.

Kids’ Rooms Budget Breakdown

DAUGHTER’S ROOM (~$1,000):

• Cream velvet bed: $199
• Temu vanity: $130
• IKEA Kallax: $60
• IKEA Raskog: $39
• Curtains, rug, decor: ~$100
• LED light, postcards: ~$30

BOYS’ ROOM (~$1,000, not including $2,000 bunk beds):

• Espresso desk: $200
• Espresso dresser: ~$200
• IKEA Kallax: $60
• Decals, medals shelf, floating shelves: ~$50
• Grey rug: ~$50
• Navy star curtains: GIFT (but worth ~$100)

TOTAL (3 kids, 2 rooms): ~$2,000 + $2,000 bunk beds = $4,000 over 7-10 years

Key Takeaways: Kids’ Rooms Spurge or Save

SPLURGE ON:

• Multi-functional furniture (vanity, bunk beds with storage)
• Quality curtains (last 15+ years)
• Beds they’ll use for years
• Dark wood furniture (hides damage)

SAVE ON:

• Trendy decor (LED lights, decals, posters)
• Rugs (they’ll destroy them anyway)
• Textiles (pillows, throws – swap as tastes change)
• Small organization (dollar store bins, shelves)

AVOID:

• Shag rugs (vacuum nightmare)
• Light furniture (shows every scratch)
• Permanent themes (kids change their minds)
• Cheap beds with flimsy construction

STRATEGY:

• Let them personalize (within budget limits)
• Invest in multi-functional pieces
• Accept that tastes evolve (don’t fight it)
• Function over pretty (always)

Ready to Decorate Your Kids’ Rooms?

Start with one investment piece (bed, desk, vanity) and let them personalize the rest with cheap, changeable decor.

Next Steps:

• 1. Identify the investment piece (what will last years?)
• 2. Let them choose colours/decor (within budget)
• 3. Use IKEA for versatile furniture
• 4. Accept that it’ll change – and that’s okay

Want the complete framework? → Back to Splurge or Save Hub

Browse more room guides:

• → Living Room: Splurge or Save
• → Kitchen: Splurge or Save
• → Bedroom: Splurge or Save
• → Bathroom: Splurge or Save
• → Entryway: Splurge or Save

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