Room of the Day: Chasing Rainbows for a Girl’s Room Makeover

There comes a time in all kids’ lives when they look around their bedroom and think, “I want a change.” It’s a precious moment and one worth celebrating — taking note of your child’s maturing tastes and letting those tastes come alive in their own special space. Doné Hanekom did exactly that when her 6-year-old daughter, Mia, came to her asking for a rainbow bedroom makeover. While a rainbow theme has the potential to get out of control, Doné stuck to a sophisticated and fun style and involved Mia in every step of the process, which helped strengthen their tight bond. Together, they turned Mia’s uninspiring yellow room into a stylish and mature space that will transition with her into teenage years.

Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Doné and Mia Hanekom
Location: Perth, Australia
Size: 118 square feet (11 square meters)

BEFORE: This is the room prior to the makeover. The yellow walls, draped mosquito netting and knickknacks dating back to Mia’s birth had to go, making way for her developing style and playful personality.


Mia requested a rainbow room where she could hang out, enjoy fun colors and do her homework. Instead of taking a stereotypical approach to the decor, Doné worked in the multicolored theme against a sophisticated gray backdrop. “As kids’ rooms are stereotyped, I wanted to do something different. I focused on the colors of the rainbow and made it the feature of the room,” Doné says.

Wall paint: Western Myall, Dulux


Pillow: Tree of Life





Doné took note of Mia’s favorite things and made sure she was surrounded by them. “She has everything she loves in her room — a hippo, a pug, a unicorn, colors of the rainbow and love hearts. Like her, it’s a fun and happy room,” Doné says.


The choice of color for the walls was Doné’s biggest challenge. Because she had used a lot of colorful accessories, she wanted a wall paint that offered a blank canvas. As the majority of the furniture was white, she went with charcoal. She was originally concerned with how it would affect the appearance of space in the room and thought maybe it wouldn’t work for a 6-year-old’s bedroom. “Although I could picture the color, I was still hesitant to use such a bold and dark hue for her room. After I painted the first wall, I knew it would work. Somehow it makes the room feel bigger, and it makes the colors pop,” Doné says.

Pom-pom garland: eBay



Although she bought most of the items from well-known stores, Doné managed to make each piece unique with a bit of creativity and DIY. The three prints on the wall are an example of Doné’s resourcefulness; she created them herself on Photoshop.

Hemnes daybed and Flaxa bedhead: Ikea


She also dip-painted the legs of the Ikea desk to further play with the rainbow theme.

Desk lamp: Target


The family is originally from South Africa, and growing up in Australia, Mia doesn’t get to spend much time with her relatives. Doné created this photo collage in the shape of a heart, using photos of her relatives and fond memories. “With the photos displayed in her room, her relatives and friends are part of her life every day,” Doné says.


The dollhouse is another crafty project that makes the bedroom special. Doné was making it as a present for Mia’s fourth birthday, but Mia discovered the gift early and decided to help her mom complete it.


The care taken with the execution of the dollhouse rooms, pictured here, shows the amount of work the mother-daughter team put into the project.

“The birthday gift turned into a special project between the two of us. We worked on it for almost a year, using only things from around the house,” Doné says.


“The time we spent together making it has so many special memories. All the light fittings are fairy lights, and most nights she puts on the lights and puts [the dolls] to bed,” Doné says.


When asked what advice she would pass on to other parents wanting to make over their little one’s bedroom, Doné suggests adding lots of storage, keeping the furniture and walls plain, and adding a theme with fun accessories that can be changed as the child grows.

Tell us: How have you made over your child’s bedroom? Post your photos and suggestions in the Comments section.

More:
14 Bedrooms That Grow With Kids
5 Steps to a Fun and Practical Kids’ Bedroom

URL: Room of the Day: Chasing Rainbows for a Girl’s Room Makeover http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-26128.html