5 Little Monkeys provided product in order to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this post on Tips for Long Lasting Boys Rooms and all opinions are my own.
Ditch the toddler bed for a room that will grow with your little one. Check out these tips for creating long lasting boys rooms, even in the smallest of spaces.
We hit a few milestones when my littlest boy turned three last month. For one… no more diapers! Can I get a woo-hoo???? Second, all of my children are in school! This one I have mixed feelings about. I know most moms rejoice at the freedom preschool allows, but sending Sir James out to fend for himself in this world makes my mom-heart ache. Even if fending for himself really just means telling the teacher when he needs to go potty.
And, finally, it’s a big-boy house. No more babies. We promised James that we he turned three he’d get a big boy bed just like his brothers. Bye-bye toddler bed. It’s time to upgrade.
It made sense when we designed the nursery for our third child to put it in the smallest bedroom. But now that we needed to turn that room into a room for a growing boy… well, it presented a few challenges.
I’m happy to report that the room now looks better than ever and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The smallest room in the house is now the envy of all of the boys, introducing new problems of it’s own. Saw that one coming…
Aside from looking great, I know this is a room that will grow with him. With a small budget we were able to create a room that I know that James will love at age three and eighteen.
Tips for Long Lasting Boys Rooms
Select a great foundation.
You know it’s true… a great mattress makes ALL the difference. When it came to swapping out the crib mattress for a big boy bed, we selected the 5 Little Monkeys Sleep System. The system includes a triple-layered mattress made using CertiPUR-US® certified memory foam, waterproof mattress protector and custom fill pillow… plus a cute little monkey stuffed animal. 😉
Not only super comfy (as James immediately tested out), it’s super easy to clean. With a washable, removable cover and waterproof mattress protector bedwetting and spills are no big deal. Both the mattress cover and protector are made with organic cotton. It comes beautifully packaged and once opened immediately fills out to it’s full size.
The 5 Little Monkeys Sleep System is a 15 year mattress, meaning from it won’t need to be replaced until after he’s shipped off to college! Although I protest often, I’m really not wanting to rush it. Just look at that cutie!
Keep it flexible.
With three boys, we may end up switching around who sleeps where. So, we got a bunk bed for the room that accommodates a full-size bed on the bottom and a twin bed up top. We figured it may also be beneficial to have during holidays when we have plenty of guests. And, when they get older, the top bunk can used more as a loft.
But, because it’s also a room for a three year old now, we made sure that the bunk bed had stairs instead of a ladder. They don’t take up much extra space, plus they have additional storage in each step.
The bunk bed system also included a desk. It currently serves it’s purpose as a garage for trucks, but at some point, I imagine it might become homework central.
Use pieces you already have.
It’s not perfect, but we used the diaper changing table as a little library and for storage of pull-ups. I tucked the rug we used as an accent piece in his nursery under the bed for visual interest, and hung custom Etsy prints near his desk. Hung in store-bought frames, I can switch out the prints as the theme of the room evolves.
Select simple linens.
By selecting navy as the color of the linens, I now have a very easy palette to work with as the room evolves. If the bike theme becomes hum-drum, we can easily swap out art and throw pillows to bring in new pieces as his tastes change.
Pick your lighting.
By picking a bunk bed, I was a little worried about how to easily get lighting up top and underneath without visible cords. I found a couple of awesome solutions. I found under-cabinet lighting that I was able to attach to the underneath the top bunk for nighttime reading. Operated by remote control, this has become my three-year-old’s favorite feature of his new room.
I was also able to find a few reading lights that are re-chargeable. Instead of plugging them into the wall permanently, they charge via USB cable. Then, they can be used unplugged (and up on the top bunk) for cordless light.
Decals are your friend.
Decals are such a fun way to bring your personality to a room. Limited only by your imagination, any theme or quote can be turned into a decal that is easy to install.
Have you converted a toddler room to a big kid room? What tips do you have? For more decor inspiration check out our post on outdoor living on a budget and this quick guest room makeover!
Pin me!
Leave a Reply