Around the House: Dreaming A Boy's Room

With the new baby coming in the next few months, and our youngest sleeping through the night (don't be jealous, she's the only one), we've been thinking about doing a little room rearrangement. Currently the two oldest share the larger room (part gender neutral, part gender mishmash) and the youngest has her own room, also a mashup since it used to be the boy's room. It's my ideal to eventually have a boys' room and a girls' room, since we'll have two and two. Currently, I'm just in the gathering inspiration stage, but I want to share with you what I've been thinking, and mine for additional ideas.

The thing that got the creative juices flowing was a beautiful Belgian TinTin calendar that I found (unopened) at the Goodwill for $1. Even if my kids weren't already huge fans, I would have been drawn to it for its sheer uniqueness and beauty. The pictures below don't really do it justice; the colors are very vibrant and the paper quality is the best card stock I've ever seen. There are 12 large images, and 12 smaller ones. 

GALLERY WALL: The plan is to frame a number of the pics for a gallery wall. I'm starting to look for simple frames at the thrift store, which I'll then spray with a glossy black (the rooms' walls are white and I want to keep them), and maybe a couple in that bright blue that appears in most of the pics (my sister-in-law's suggestion).

BUNTING: I also plan on doing some simple paper bunting, maybe a strand of alternating white and black, and one in bright blue. Seems like a great inexpensive (and easy) way to tie the room together visually and to draw the eye up.

PEGBOARD: My brother recently did a kitchen space saving project with pegboard (hopefully I'll be able to share it with you next week), and it got me thinking that it might be a good option for hanging things outside the kitchen as well. Then I came across the idea to use it to display and rotate children's artwork. Brilliant! As the kids get older (and I more trusting, or they more trustworthy, look at it how you will....), a pegboard could be turned into handy storage for art supplies. Pegboard is quite cheap at the hardware store and easily painted; I'm thinking bright blue would be nice.

UNCONVENTIONAL WALL STORAGE: I came across this idea (see below) for low wall storage, and I love it! Perfect for short people to find the toys, and put them away! I'm going to keep my eyes open for old planters at sales and thrift stores, and just wait until they find me (I'm not crazy about paying $15 each, when they seem to be regularly discarded or donated). I would definitely spray paint them, most likely that same bright shade of blue.

Images: Bunting // Valspar Exotic Sea // Office Pegboard // Art Pegboard // Wall Baskets

Also bubbling around in my head.... The room currently has plain white cotton curtains, and we have extra white sheets for the toddler bed. Since the main colors in the room are black, white, and blue, am I crazy to think about dyeing the bedding, etc. blue? I haven't dyed anything in years and years; I would love some feedback from any readers that are all about the wash machine dye!