room DIY decorating ideas …
I know this is a DIY blog. And I will tell you about our daughter’s room DIY plans. But first I need to come clean. You see, I’ve been feeling a twinge of mommy-guilt lately.
Actually, I constantly feel mommy-guilt.
But just to keep this all happy-happy-joy-joy-light-and-fluffy in here, we won’t discuss that I feel like my parenting skills are about a C- average. Or that I need about eighteen times more patience than I currently am able to muster.
We definitely won’t talk about how I selfishly avoid any extra-curricular activities that require weekend commitment because that would mean even MORE time spent in my minivan and giving up my “down” time. I know.
Feeling better about yourself, perhaps? Glad I could help. So, the mommy-guilt-du-jour is about my sweet little daughter. She’s our middle child. And being the middle child, she has those fantastic middle child qualities.
Laid back, problem-solver, and a peacemaker…each describe her to a T. Beyond that, she is the one who seems to require the least amount of attention. And that’s where I start taking this little angel for granted.
ย When we moved into this house, I already had lots of DIY decorating ideas forย our oldest’s room…
And the DIY bedroom ideas forย my youngest’s roomย came not too long after…
As parents, we express love for our children in different ways. Sometimes it’s coaching t-ball. For some, it’s doing crafts together. Others become our PTA presidents. Hopefully, all children (putting the rose colored glasses on for just a sec) are getting enough cuddles and snuggles and “I love yous”. But the extras? I think we all kind of fall back on our strengths, perhaps.
I do NOT have the organizational skill set to run the PTA. My crafty-mom aptitude is nil because I don’t have the tolerance for excessive glue on the walls and markers on the cabinets. You DEFINITELY don’t want me coaching t-ball unless it’s ok that the sideline praise is something like “nice goal!”
But designing a room? DIY decorating? I can do that. And someday, I hope my kiddos may realize the effort that was put into their little corners of the world was a small way Mommy and Daddy could express their love a bit concretely (or maybe linen-y or wallpaper-y).
So, back to our sweet little daughter. She’s still patiently waiting for this kind of “I love you”.
One of the reasons for my slackness was that her room wasn’t bad when we moved in. It is painted a nice, neutral off-white. (The image below is my youngest son’s room before, but hers looks almost identical). It’s really a very okay room.

And the other delay is that I really want it to be perfect. Perfection takes time (so I’m told). In our old house, her room was my favorite space. I felt like it was a wonderful, comforting oasis for her.

But that was then, and this is now. And I need to get thisย room DIY done. #NoMoreExcuses. Being the only girl, it’s easy for her to get kind of lost amongst the Star Wars, Legos and the trains and Transformers. She digs that stuff too, but she also likes pastels and pinks and purples and princesses.
She loves baby animals and vacations to the beach and cake. So, keeping her big personality in a little, tiny body at the forefront of my mind, I’ve created a bit of a plan. Here it is:
girls room DIY mood board


source list
- wallpaper: PIP By Eijffinger Brewster
- white swing arm wall sconce
- (similar) rug – exact one no longer available
- ceiling treatment inspiration- Candice Olson
- ruffle blackout curtains
After I settled on the wallpaper, I went to the fabric store and hoarded a bunch of fabric to make her pillows (seen below). So she’s had those in her room for a while now.
As far as the rest of it goes, we’ve done nothing. But we have a plan. And a plan = progress.

And progress helps just a bit with those mommy-guilt twinges…for the moment.
Pssstโฆbefore you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! Sign up now and get a no-cost copy of โBuilder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!โ Click here to enter your email or on the image below. Your copy will be emailed right away!




Jenny @ Refresh Living says
I’m so excited to see you’re doing another challenge, because you rock at redecorating rooms! I love the design for the room and the mix of bright colors! I’m sure she’ll love it and see your love in the design, too. Good luck! I can’t wait to follow along!
Heather says
Thanks so much Jenny ๐ I have some serious doubts about this one…just not solidifying in my mind the way it needs to, so we’ll see!!! Hoping that it somehow will come together in time!!
Jamie Haynes says
Love the photos with her! And loving the "mood board" idea. How smart – I usually just go buy random things and hope they go together…which typically means subpar results and a lot of trips to the store returning items!
Elisabeth says
Hi Heather,
I've been a Mum now for 34 years, and still have two girls at home. Get used to the guilt, it just never goes away! Thank you so much for expressing yours though! Sometimes it's a lonely place walking on the guilt track! Everyone else seems to do the job so much more enthusiastically! I'm like you regarding the extra-curriculars. At my daughters' theatre company I warned the producer not to ask me to do anything which actually involved interaction with the children. I told her I was reincarnated from a species which eats their own young! I do other stuff for them instead. (Creative, artsy, set making stuff).
I love, love, love your daughter's old room! I'm sure she'll know it's an expression of your love for her. The room is just gorgeous and she's a very lucky girl. I'd love to do my daughters' rooms, but they won't let me. Punishment for being a slack Mum I suppose! Ha ha. Can't wait to see the finished result.
Cheers, Liz (Australia)
Heather says
Hi Liz, not sure if you’ll ever see this. I feel so badly that I’m only just responding now. I just wanted to let you know that your comment made my heart very happy. I’m afraid you’re right about the guilt. Never does seem to be too far out of reach. I guess we can console ourselves by saying that means we must be trying. Thanks again for taking the time to comment. It meant a lot. Heather