Chapter Two: Ben’s Big Boy Bedroom – A New Bed

Originally, I had my heart set on the IKEA LEKSVIK bed for Ben’s big boy bedroom.  It “grows” with the child and would fit perfectly in the small space Ben will soon transition into.  Unfortunately, the only dresser that matches the bed doubles as a change table (they use to have an adult line but it has been discontinued).  Ben won’t need a change table much longer and I need something with lots of storage.  Therefore, I’ve decided that I’m going to get Ben the IKEA HEMMES dresser, buy an old single bed and refinish it.  I’ll be honest, I like things to match, especially furniture, so this is a little out of my comfort zone.  I’ve seen them do it on TV a hundred times though, so it should turn out fabulous, right?  Here are a few examples:

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Chapter One: Ben’s Big Boy Bedroom – Kid Friendly Art

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been looking for inspiration for Ben’s future big boy bedroom.  It won’t be long before he swings his leg over the crib rail and climbs out (it’s the only thing in our house he has yet to scale).  When that day comes, I’d like to transition him into a big boy bed in the room next to the nursery.  I think I have the color scheme all figured out so now I have to move onto the details and pull it all together.  Yesterday afternoon while Ben was napping, I spent my time searching for some kid friendly art.  I found a few beautiful pieces on Etsy to ponder over.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Trendy Peas

Almost Sunday

Pumpkin and Butterfly

Petit Collage

  Barking Bird Art

Taking Back the Living Room

Last week we bought Ben the IKEA mini-kitchen and it quickly took the level of chaos in our living room to new heights.  In addition to all the other toys Ben scatters about throughout the day; there were now pots and pans, teacups and play food all over floor.  By the end of the weekend, I thought to myself, “Enough is enough.  I want my adult living space back”.  

Ben currently has toys in two areas of our house, in our living room and in his playroom.  I’m lucky, at 18 months, he’ll go downstairs and play on his own for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.  Since our house is a bi-level, I can hear him and, when it gets too quiet, I can peek over the railing to check on him.

Even though Ben has a playroom, over the last few months the toys in our living room seem to have multiplied.  My previously peaceful room was beginning to resemble a primary color toy store.  We even had a red/blue/purple/yellow tent in our living room (see image here).  On Tuesday morning, my dad took Ben out for a few hours and I did a little reshuffling.  I moved some toys (including the tent) downstairs to the playroom and tucked away a few of his favorites in our TV stand (previously filled with CDs and DVDs).  You can still tell we have a child but it feels a lot less cluttered and more like an adult space once again.  

Ben playing a few weeks ago.  Lots of toys lined up on the shelving unit.  

The front of our living room.  Some of Ben’s favorite toys are hiding in our TV stand. 

The back of our living room (which is actually a dining room but we use it as an extension of our living space).  The four baskets still hold many of Ben’s toys but the clutter on top of the shelving unit is gone.

 Musical Instruments 

Cars

Playroom Inspiration

This summer, one of my big projects is to finish Ben’s playroom.  It was on my to-do list last year but by the time we returned from our vacation, the summer seemed to slip away.  Over Christmas holidays, Boris and I cleaned out the family room, bought a few IKEA shelves and moved some of Ben’s toys downstairs.  The room still needs a fresh coat of paint, new carpet and kid friendly art and seating.  I want the playroom to have the same feel as the rest of our home yet be a place that inspires Ben’s imagination.  Here are a few ideas’ I love:

A-Frame Tent (Cakies)

 

Doorway Puppet Theater (Etsy)

Pumpkin Pillows (Martha Stewart)