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Before & After: See This Kid’s Room Transform Into a Sunny, Mood-Boosting Tween Room

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 Mar 13, 2024
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Stuffed animals on shelves in turquoise painted child's room.
Credit: Hilary Crawford

Some parents choose early on to create a grown-up-style bedroom for their children. And there are positives to that choice, namely, how it makes it easier to transition as kids grow up. However, some parents might prefer to change their child’s space and make it a collaborative effort. At least that’s what Hilary Crawford did in her 15-year-old daughter Madison’s room. 

Credit: Hilary Crawford
Credit: Hilary Crawford

“Madison loves choosing home decor schemes and has a great eye for detail, so she was very involved in the whole process from picking the initial wallpaper to choosing the matching paint colours and finishing touches,” Hilary shared via email. “She even helped with the painting!” 

Credit: Hilary Crawford
Credit: Hilary Crawford

Initially, the walls in Madison’s room were painted a bright turquoise color, and the space was dotted with even brighter accents and her teddy bears. But, over the years, Madison’s tastes changed, and they chose to reimagine the room together. 

Credit: Hilary Crawford

Madison and Hilary chose a yellow and lilac Sorbet Dreams wallpaper because of its playful nature, which informed the rest of the makeover. Early on, the mother-daughter duo decided to keep costs low by keeping the original furniture, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be given a fresh life. 

Credit: Hilary Crawford
Credit: Hilary Crawford

“The desk, storage unit, and bedside drawers were painted using Rustoleum furniture paint, and I also decided to use wallpaper offcuts on the drawer fronts and then cover them in a couple of coats of varnish to protect them,” Hilary shares. “One thing Madison really wanted was a velvet headboard, so I decided to make her one to attach to her existing bed using MDF, foam, and some upholstery velvet.”

Small changes (which totaled around £800 or just over $1,000) made a huge difference in the room. Madison’s favorite part is the wallpaper, while Hilary’s is the warm feeling it creates. 

“My favourite thing about the finished room is how it feels so sunny all year round! You walk in, and it’s just an instant mood booster,” Hilary explains. “One of my favourite things in the room, though, are the little bedside drawers that I upcycled. It was very much a last-minute decision to add the wallpaper to the drawers, but I think it just ties the scheme together perfectly.”