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This Kid’s Unicorn-Themed Room Has a DIY Homemade Desk That’s Under $500

Cullen Ormond
Cullen OrmondHome Associate Editor
Cullen Ormond is a writer based in New York City. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up with a book (always open for recommendations, too!) or pushing her rescue pug, Peanut, in a stroller. In her dream apartment, there’ll be a conversation pit and lots of framed,…read more
published Sep 13, 2023
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Small child seated at pink desk in pastel pink painted room with a floral and horse wallpaper strip going down wall in front of desk. Brass bed with floral bedding in corner.
Credit: Tessa Greijdanus

Designing a child’s bedroom is a great opportunity to connect with the whimsical, imaginative side of childhood (just look at this woodland-animal-themed nursery wallpaper). It’s a space to have some good ole’ design fun while cultivating a room aligned with a kid’s personality and desires. 

Some parents paint playful DIY wall murals, while others purchase brightly-colored furniture. However, others, like Tessa, whose house tour was featured on Apartment Therapy, focus on their kid’s favorite animal — real or fictional. “My daughter loved a unicorn wall. I searched online and found an unicorn wallpaper I also adored,” Tessa said at the time of her house tour. 

Tessa found Majvillan’s “True Unicorns Evening Blue” wallpaper and installed it (with her mom’s help!) in the center of the wall in her daughter Noor’s bedroom. On either side of the wallpaper and the remainder of the walls, Tessa used Ashford & Son’s “Vintage Pink” to bring out lilac and pink colors in the wallpaper pattern. 

With the playful details and vibrant colors, it’s understandable that Noor would feel creative and imaginative in her room — that’s why Tessa wanted to give her daughter a space to express herself. So, she created a DIY desk using three inexpensive materials. Here’s how she did it. 

Credit: Tessa Greijdanus

How Tessa Made a Homemade Desk for Noor’s Room

While Noor really wanted a desk in her room, Tessa wanted it to have a dual purpose, too. So, she got crafty by purchasing two IVAR cabinets from IKEA and a pinewood panel and stacking the board on top of the cabinets. Now, Noor has a lengthy area to do crafts and big storage areas for toys and materials.

To make the new furniture piece blend with the rest of the room, Tessa painted it in Fusion Mineral Water’s “Rose Water,” which, according to Tessa at the time of her house tour, “works out great on IKEA furniture.” Not only does Noor have a crafty space, but it was also a bonding experience for the mom and daughter duo, as Tessa admits that Noor got super into the design process. 

Credit: Tessa Greijdanus

Tessa says that Noor’s favorite part about her space is the desk addition. It’s a place where her daughter can be creative and “play with all her LEGOs.” But this desk isn’t the only cool detail in Tessa’s home. Explore the full house tour on Apartment Therapy for more about their colorful space. 

Resource List

  • Wallpaper — Majvillan via Vos en Beer Kids
  • Furniture — IKEA
  • Bedlinen — La Redoute
  • Poster Moon — Mr Starsky Amsterdam
  • Art poster lady — Pietenkees
  • Posters — Desenio
  • Frames — BGA
  • Unicorn — H&M Home
  • Butterfly cardboard — Studio Roof