I wish I could hug a wall. If I could, I would hug this one all day!
The buffalo plaid accent wall in Miles's newly updated room is my new favorite, and guess what – that's not wallpaper, we painted it!
(Yes, paint! It's true!)
Keep reading for details and more photos. Links to (nearly) everything are at the bottom of the post.
My favorite big kid is now five-and-a-half! We go outside a lot as a family, and usually end up with pockets full of rocks, feathers, and pinecones. One of his most loved TV shows is "Wild Kratts" (we got tickets to go see them live in Worcester in October; he doesn't know yet!), and he loves to read and learn about animals, nature, and wildlife.
We've been living in our new home for two years, and I thought it would be fun to give his room a little update that celebrates those interests. I started a Pinterest board and began collecting treasures from thrift stores. Early on in the process I texted my wife Kristie that I wanted the room to have "vintage naturalist vibes with a little mythology and a lot of texture." It could still use a few more mythological touches, but other than that, it came out just how I imagined it!
(Those of you who have been around for awhile might recognize a few items from Miles's nursery in our old house – boy, does that feel like a long time ago!)
Miles is pumped about the new bed! We ordered it a few weeks ago and kept it on the porch in the box until the day we put the whole room together (including doing the painting) while Miles was at school. My parents came up thankfully and helped with it all! We couldn't have done it without them – nor would it have been as much fun.
Oh this wall. I can't believe how it turned out! While my dad and Kristie put the bed together, my mom and I followed this tutorial. (A few notes about that: We didn't do the white base coat since the wall was already white; the paint person at Lowe's had no idea what I was talking about when I asked the paint to be mixed to 25%, etc., so I simply chose colors I thought were in the same family; and our squares are 8" as opposed to the tutorial's 4".)
I didn't trust the ceiling, floor, or other walls in the room to be perfectly level, so we started by measuring down and marking 8" from the ceiling, then using a laser level to get the tape just right. Of course, the level's battery died, so we ended up doing some shrewd eyeballing as well. I was actually doubtful while we worked as to whether the colors were right or whether we were even measuring correctly. It wasn't until we peeled the last round of tape off the wall that it was clear that it had worked, and had worked so well. It's not perfect, of course, especially with having to rush against the clock, but wow, do I ever love this wall!
This little stool was $3.99 at the thrift store. I ripped the dirty shearling fabric off and replaced it with a polka dot print from Joann Fabrics. Doesn't it look like a little toadstool mushroom?
This trinket shelf was another thrift store find. I gathered up some nature items from around the house to display here. I'm sure over time Miles will add more treasures. (Oh, and I used a little museum wax to help some of the more unyieldy items stay put.)
This needlepoint was made by my grandmother – Miles's great-grandmother. His middle name is her maiden name, so it feels really special to have this piece of art hanging in his room.
Miles calls the loft bed his "upstairs bed" and the mattress on the floor his "downstairs bed."
This paint-by-number was a lucky flea market score and only $12!
There's a shelf next to Miles's "upstairs bed" so he can easily put away books after reading at night. Kristie attached that touch light to the wall with stick-on Velcro so he can turn it on and off without having to get out of bed.
Miles picked out this painting himself from the thrift store!
The desk is so so lovely. It was $10 at the flea market, and the chair fits perfectly. I can't believe what great condition it was in for that price! It opens so he can store paper, markers, etc. inside. When he first sat down at the desk, he said, "Mom, I look like a big kid doing my homework!"
A few treasures on top of his dresser: feathers, a thrifted lantern, and a coconut he brought back from Florida.
LINKS
Dresser / Amazon (affiliate link)
Drawer knobs / local hardware store
Floor lamp / Target, then spray painted (affiliate link)
Desk and chair / thrifted
Footstool / thrifted
Footstool fabric / Joann Fabrics
Vintage lantern / thrifted
Trinket shelf / thrifted
Hello Sunshine pennant / Three Potato Four
Loft bed with slide / Amazon (affiliate link)
Paint-by-number / thrifted
Bug sheets / Target (affiliate link)
Floral pillowcases / thrifted
Green cozy blanket / Target (affiliate link)
Star sheets / Target (affiliate link)
Wall bookshelf / IKEA (discontinued)
Cat touch light / IKEA
Acadia National Park tile / thrifted
Teddy bear jar / thrifted
