DIY Ranch Design Series: Kids Room

It seems like yesterday we were beginning this series, so I can’t believe how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. This month is Part VII, and after giving birth about eight weeks ago, I have a new appreciation for this room in particular—the kids room.

Much like the rest of the house, this room originally had an awkward layout, and I had to be really creative with the limited amount of space. Initially, I thought it would make a great playroom, but I find bedrooms without beds a waste of space—even if they’re tiny. My solution: a kids room/playroom. Why not make it both?

Here’s how we did it.

First, this small room was stripped down to its bare bones, and the dated built-ins were demolished. Reclaimed knotty pine floors were installed and white washed. And after these steps had been completed, we were at a good starting point for the redesign.

Although the built-ins were gone, their original placement was great, allowing the rest of the room to be a functional space. I sketched out a basic design, and the framing of the bunk beds began. The beds took on an “L” shape around the perimeter of the room, allowing plenty of space for the kiddos to play.

The one thing I didn’t know (and still don’t) was just how many kids would be in this room. So I also included a trundle bed and a platform lounge area in the design. We also figured in some extra storage space to maximize the usage.

On the other side of the lounge area, we added bookshelves to custom design a learning nook for this fun room.

Next on the agenda was to find the right fabric for the lounge area cushions and to choose the right bedding to complement the salvaged barn wood from our property. When it comes to ranch style—old and new—it’s hard to beat Pendleton and Ralph Lauren. Of course, the Ralph Lauren fabrics were a bit pricey, but a little went a long way. We used it on the lounger and accent pieces throughout the house. Pendleton was much easier. The company already makes exquisite blankets and bedding, and they were perfect for the bunk beds.

Another touch I was so excited to try out was the chalkboard paint. I’d seen it on HGTV so many times and thought it would be fun in the kids room. And now that Darlington is here, it’s so great to have a real child who will actually enjoy it. Until then, Grandma Ricki gets to try out her chalk skills and tepee building!