Before & After: A “White Box” Is Now a Whimsical, Cozy Retreat with 2 Different Wallpapers

Tweenhood can mark the moment when kids transition from seeing their room as a peaceful spot for falling asleep to viewing it as their own personal sanctuary, spending more time there just hanging out and doing their own thing. That’s absolutely the case for content creator and actress Eva Amurri’s 12-year-old daughter Marlowe. 

“She studies in there, listens to records with her brothers, and loves reading at night before bed,” Eva says. “I loved spending time in my room as a teen, and it makes me happy that my daughter has a safe and cozy space she can retreat to.” 

Marlowe’s bedroom wasn’t always the cozy spot it is today, though. When the family moved into a new build in Westport, Connecticut, the room was “very simple with blank walls,” Eva describes. But Eva saw potential in the space and what it could offer her daughter.

Eva’s first step was selecting the right wallpaper. Marlowe wanted her room to feel “whimsical, but not too girly, and for it to feel cozy,” her mom says. So Eva presented five wallpaper options to her daughter, and Marlowe picked out Rifle Paper Co.’s “Peacock.” From there, Marlowe trusted Eva and let her bring the vision to life. 

Next, Eva chose a secondary wallpaper (Rifle Paper Co.’s “Palette”) and began introducing more texture to the space. She sourced a floral rug from Rifle Paper Co. and a set of rattan baskets from West Elm that also come in clutch for storage. A large bulletin board from Pottery Barn Teen means Marlowe has a place to display her memories and pieces that feel like her. Now that Eva has partnered with BenchMade Modern to create her own furniture collection, she plans to put a performance velvet Eva bed in the room in the future.

“Most of all, it’s been a process of letting Marlowe fill the room with her entire personality, and surround herself with things that make her feel good,” Eva says. “While I love a perfectly curated space, I think that children’s bedrooms should let every bit of their personality shine, and shouldn’t be too fussy.” 

Revealing the finished bedroom to Marlowe brought Eva so much joy. Both Marlowe and Eva appreciate all of the finished room’s special details. “We both love how serene and cozy it feels,” Eva says. “It’s always wild to me how much wallpaper and some textural elements can make a white box feel like home.”