Kids Room Makeover: 15 Budget DIY Ideas for the Best Christmas Morning Surprise
A kids room makeover is one of the sweetest Christmas surprises a parent or grandparent can give, and it does not need a big budget. Picture a child opening the bedroom door on Christmas morning to find a painted mural, a cozy reading corner and fresh bedding waiting for them. Most of the ideas below use paint, plywood, fabric and a few thrift store finds, and many can be done over two or three weekends while the kids are at school. We gathered 15 budget friendly projects for walls, beds, storage and play, each with a short supply list and simple steps. Mix and match them to fit the space you have, the age of your child and the time left before the big reveal..
Kids Room Makeover Magic Starts With a Mountain Mural
Surprise bedroom reveals are some of the most loved family videos online. One mom on the channel JesssFam turned her daughter’s room into a dream space, and her dream bedroom makeover video has topped 45 million views. You can start your own kids room makeover with one painted wall. Layered mountains in soft blues and greens, topped with simple pine trees, feel calm and grown up enough to last for years. Our guide to painted wall designs has more easy shapes to try..
You will need: Painter’s tape, a pencil, three or four shades of blue and green wall paint, small foam rollers, an artist brush.
How to make it: 1. Sketch three wavy mountain lines across the wall with a pencil. 2. Paint the top layer in the lightest shade first and let it dry. 3. Fill each lower layer with a darker shade. 4. Add tall triangle pine trees along the bottom with the darkest green.
A Shared Bedroom With Matching Twin Beds
When siblings share a space, matching beds instantly make it feel fair and tidy. Place two twin beds on opposite walls with a long rug down the middle, and give each child one shelf above the bed for their own treasures. A low desk under the window can serve both kids for drawing and homework. Simple gray bedding keeps the look calm, while each child picks a different throw pillow. A shared kids room makeover works best when both children help choose the colors. Our list of small space tricks shows how to stretch every inch.
You will need: Two twin bed frames, matching gray bedding, a long flat weave rug, two wall shelves, two accent pillows.
How to make it: 1. Measure the floor and mark where each bed will sit. 2. Center the rug between the beds. 3. Mount a shelf above each headboard at the same height. 4. Let each child choose a pillow so the space feels personal.
Kids Room Makeover Idea: A Plaid Bunk Bed for Christmas
A bunk bed already feels like a fort, and plaid bedding turns it into the coziest spot in the house for December. Red and green quilts on both bunks look festive yet still work through the winter months. Tie a small fresh wreath to the ladder with ribbon and tuck a teddy bear on the top bunk. This is the easiest kids room makeover win if a new bed is part of the Christmas plan. See our plaid Christmas decor for more tartan ideas.
You will need: A bunk bed, two plaid quilts, knit throw pillows, a small wreath, wide red ribbon, a plush teddy bear.
How to make it: 1. Make up both bunks with fitted sheets and the plaid quilts. 2. Add knit pillows in cream or red. 3. Tie the wreath to the ladder with a ribbon bow. 4. Seat the teddy bear at the top as a welcome friend.
A Starry Wallpaper Accent Wall
Self adhesive wallpaper is a renter friendly way to change the mood in one afternoon. A soft star print on a single wall gives a little one something to gaze at before sleep, and it pairs with a gray sofa or daybed for reading time. Choose a small pattern so the space does not feel busy. If you change your mind later, the panels lift away without damaging the paint. Our wall decor ideas show how to finish the rest of the space.
You will need: Self adhesive star print wallpaper, a level, a smoothing tool, a craft knife, a tape measure.
How to make it: 1. Wipe the wall clean and let it dry. 2. Hang the first panel straight using a level. 3. Smooth out bubbles from the center outward. 4. Match the pattern on each new panel and trim the top and bottom edges.
Kids Room Makeover Book Ledges for Picture Books
Kids grab what they can see, so book ledges that show covers face out are a reading game changer. Thin ledges made from pine boards hold picture books upright and take up almost no floor space. Mount three rows at child height and change the books with the seasons, putting holiday stories front and center in December. This kids room makeover idea costs less than a single new storybook. For more ways to style books, browse our Christmas bookshelf decor.
You will need: Three pine boards, thin trim pieces for the front lip, wood glue, small nails, white paint, wall anchors and mounting hardware.
How to make it: 1. Glue a trim piece along the front edge of each board to form a lip. 2. Paint the ledges white and let them dry. 3. Mount them to the wall with anchors at a height kids can reach. 4. Stand the books face out.
An Art Wall Full of Their Own Drawings
Nothing makes a child prouder than seeing their own artwork on display. Cover one wall, or the back of a door, with a sheet of cork or kraft paper and pin up their paintings in loose rows. Rainbows, suns and stars together make a joyful patchwork that changes all year. Add new pieces on top of old ones and save favorites in a keepsake folder. Our easy canvas painting ideas give kids fresh projects to add to the wall.
You will need: Cork roll or kraft paper, push pins or washi tape, a staple gun, a keepsake folder.
How to make it: 1. Staple the cork or kraft paper to the wall at child height. 2. Pin the drawings in loose rows. 3. Let kids choose which pieces go up each week. 4. Move older favorites to the keepsake folder.
Pegboard Wall for Toys and Art Supplies
A painted pegboard keeps crayons, paper rolls and small toys off the floor and easy to reach. Wooden pegs and tiny shelves can move around as your child grows, so the board works for a toddler and a ten year old alike. Paint it white for a clean look or a soft color that matches the mural. Set a kid sized table below and you have a creative station that makes this kids room makeover truly useful. Our craft supply organizing tips have more ideas for storing art supplies.
You will need: A pegboard panel, wood battens for spacers, white paint, wooden pegs, small pegboard shelves, jars.
How to make it: 1. Paint the pegboard and let it dry. 2. Fix wood battens to the wall so the board sits out from it. 3. Mount the board onto the battens. 4. Add pegs, shelves and jars for crayons and pencils.
A Navy Accent Wall Corner for a Little One
Dark walls feel surprisingly cozy in a small nursery or toddler space. A deep navy wall behind the crib, paired with a white rocking chair and woven baskets, looks calm and grown up. Small wooden ledges on the side wall hold a few books, and a simple hanging rail shows off tiny outfits. Warm wood floors keep the dark color from feeling heavy. For more paint color ideas, see our bedroom makeover ideas for grown up spaces too.
You will need: Navy wall paint, a roller and tray, painter’s tape, a small rocking chair, two woven baskets, wood ledges.
How to make it: 1. Tape off the ceiling, trim and outlets. 2. Roll on two coats of navy paint. 3. Place the crib and chair in front of the dark wall. 4. Add baskets for blankets and small toys.
Kids Room Makeover Cloud Shelf Above the Bed
A cloud shaped shelf above the bed is a sweet, simple build for a beginner. Trace a cloud onto plywood, cut it out with a jigsaw and add a narrow shelf board along the bottom edge. It holds a favorite plush toy, a tiny plant and a couple of wooden blocks. White paint keeps it light and dreamy against a sage or blue wall. This kids room makeover piece takes one afternoon. Our cloud decor ideas have more fluffy shapes to borrow.
You will need: Plywood, a jigsaw, sandpaper, a thin pine board for the shelf, wood glue, white paint, wall anchors.
How to make it: 1. Draw a cloud outline on the plywood and cut it out. 2. Sand the edges smooth. 3. Glue the pine board along the flat bottom edge. 4. Paint it white and mount it securely above the bed.
A Little Desk Corner by the Window
A small desk under the window gives kids a bright spot for coloring, puzzles and later homework. Look for a secondhand desk and give it a fresh coat of white paint, then add a cushioned chair and a small lamp. Wall cabinets above hold paper and books so the desk top stays clear. Natural daylight is the best reading light of all, and a desk makes a kids room makeover feel ready for school. Our DIY desk organizers keep pencils and markers neatly sorted.
You will need: A secondhand desk, primer and white paint, a small chair, a desk lamp, cups for pencils and markers.
How to make it: 1. Clean and lightly sand the desk. 2. Prime and paint it white. 3. Place it under the window for daylight. 4. Fill cups with pencils and markers and add a lamp.
Kids Room Makeover Christmas Bedding and a Teddy Bear
New bedding is the fastest way to make a bed feel brand new for the holidays. A white duvet with a small tree print, a red plaid throw and a soft teddy bear in a knit scarf look festive without being loud. Wash the set before Christmas Eve so it smells fresh for the reveal. This kids room makeover detail costs very little and feels like a gift all on its own. Find more cuddly ideas in our teddy bear Christmas decor.
You will need: A tree print duvet cover, red plaid throw, two pillows, a plush teddy bear, a small knit scarf.
How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the new bedding. 2. Make the bed with the duvet and pillows. 3. Fold the plaid throw across the foot of the bed. 4. Wrap the scarf around the bear and seat it on the pillows.
A Blue and White Room With Hidden Storage
Blue and white is a fresh, easy color scheme that suits kids of any age. Pale blue walls, white furniture and a gray plank style floor feel airy, and a bed with drawers underneath hides toys and spare blankets. Keep the shelves simple with a few framed prints and a lamp. Bins that slide under the bed make cleanup a quick game, which keeps your kids room makeover looking fresh long after Christmas. Our dollar store storage picks are perfect for filling those drawers on a budget.
You will need: Pale blue paint, a storage bed or under bed bins, labels, a few framed prints, a reading lamp.
How to make it: 1. Paint the walls pale blue. 2. Choose a bed with drawers or slide bins underneath. 3. Label each bin with a picture for younger kids. 4. Hang two or three framed prints above the bed.
A Canopy Reading Nook With Floor Pillows
A canopy corner turns any quiet spot into a hideaway for stories. Hang sheer fabric from a wooden embroidery hoop fixed to the ceiling, then pile floor pillows and a knit blanket underneath. A low crate holds a few favorite books. Kids love having a space that feels like their own little tent. You can sew simple pillow covers, or skip the sewing entirely with our no sew pillow covers.
You will need: A large wooden hoop, sheer white fabric, a ceiling hook, floor pillows, a knit blanket, a wooden crate.
How to make it: 1. Fix the hook into a ceiling joist. 2. Gather the fabric around the hoop and secure it with fabric glue. 3. Hang the hoop from the hook. 4. Pile pillows and a blanket below and add a crate of books.
Soft Roman Shades and a Blush Color Palette
Blush walls, cream furniture and soft Roman shades give a bedroom a gentle, grown up look that kids will not outgrow fast. Fabric shades keep the space dim for naps and help hold in warmth during winter. Add a matching quilt and a small desk lamp, and the space feels finished. Plain blush paint is an easy weekend job. If your windows let in a chill, our tips for drafty windows will keep the space warm.
You will need: Blush wall paint, Roman shade kits or fabric shades, a tension rod or mounting brackets, a matching quilt.
How to make it: 1. Paint the walls in a soft blush tone. 2. Measure the inside of each window frame. 3. Mount the Roman shades with the brackets. 4. Finish with a matching quilt and a few cushions.
Kids Room Makeover Reveal: A Wrapped Bedroom Door
The best part of any surprise is the reveal. On Christmas Eve, after the kids are asleep, wrap the bedroom door in gift paper and add a giant red bow. In the morning they tear through the paper to discover the finished kids room makeover waiting inside. Keep a phone ready to capture the moment. Use painter’s tape so the paint stays safe. Our gift wrapping tricks will help you get crisp corners on such a big present.
You will need: Wide rolls of gift paper, painter’s tape, wide red ribbon, a large ready made bow, scissors.
How to make it: 1. Cover the door with gift paper, taping only to the door itself. 2. Wrap the ribbon across the middle. 3. Attach the large bow at the center. 4. Gather everyone in the hallway for the reveal.
