Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

9 year old Boy Room Makeover with Shiplap and Wallpaper

September 8, 2025

This week, we gifted a bedroom makeover to Finn’s buddy, Crew! His mom, my friend April, and I have done a few fun projects in their home before, so this one was extra special. Finn was so excited about the makeover and both boys helped me choose a few of the details. We tried something new and it didn’t turn out quite how I expected, can’t wait to show you the transformation!

Bedroom Design Plan

Wallpaper // Light // Canoe Art // Good Old Days Banner // Moon Art //
Bed // Bedding // Gold Pillow // Nightstand // Wall Sconce // Dresser // Lamp // Chair // Bookcase // Rug

Bedroom Before

April had removed his old floorboards to install new ones, and since Crew had recently broken his bed (no monkeys jumping on the bed!), she also wanted to change a few things to make his room more functional.

Bedroom After

So much color and personality, Crew was thrilled! His favorite part of the room was his bed, and honestly, it really does look incredibly cozy and inviting. We added this plaid peel-and-stick wallpaper, it brought such a cozy, classic feel to the room. The trim and doors are painted in Bancha by Farrow & Ball.

Bedroom Nook Before

The window seat was fun, but it wasn’t practical for storing Crew’s toys. They just ended up piled on top of the bench, creating clutter instead of staying organized. Since his room isn’t very big, we knew we could put that space to better use.

Bedroom Nook After

And the after! Keep reading for all the sources….

Bed and Bedding-

For the bed, we wanted to upgrade to something he could easily grow into. Eventually he’ll appreciate the extra space! We went with this full-six bed that’s nice and sturdy.

+Mattress Pad (waterproof) we use This Cooling Mattress Pad on our bed- and added extra padding to their mattress…a must!
+Sheet set– lightweight and breathable, woven (not printed) patterns.
+Duvet– this duvet has ties in each corner to keep the duvet insert in place.
+Duvet Insert Organic– that duvet insert is my go-to a must for a fluffy bed!
+ Euro Sham with Euro Sham Firm Insert (the best!!!)
+ Pillowcase with Standard pillow insert
+Decorative Pillow and Insert– this gold textured woven adds some dimension to the bedding, and brings out the pops of yellow in the room.

I found the side table on Facebook Marketplace for $40, and added some baskets I already had (similar HERE).

Adore this wood lamp, perfect warm glow. And we always have a diffuser on our nightstands. I had Evergreen Essence diffusing, perfect woodsy smell for this room (comes out around the holiday’s).

Shiplap and Paint Color-

Kevin installed the vertical shiplap paneling. It’s definitely not a quick job — precision is everything when it comes to keeping the boards straight and evenly spaced. We topped off the ledge with a trim piece for a clean, finished look.

After installation, we filled all the nail holes with wood putty and followed up with a rich wood Dark Walnut stain. We tried several stain samples before selecting this one, unfortunately, I didn’t love the result. We tried to go lighter by brushing it on and wiping it off with a rag, but I still didn’t love the color and it came out uneven. I learned a few things: Pine is tricky to stain, and conditioning the wood first really helps achieve a more even finish. In the end it just felt too dark.

Once I decided to paint, everything came together beautifully. We painted the shiplap Bone by Farrow and Ball, and I immediately loved the change, it brought in the perfect cozy cottage vibe!

Art-

I showed Crew a couple different art options, and this Tranquil Canoeing Art was his favorite. The white in this artwork really ties in with the lighter shiplap on the lower half of the room. It really all came together perfectly. Next to the art we installed these plug-in fluted wall sconce’s.

Rug-

With how much pattern we have on the walls and bedding I decided to go with a more neutral rug. Th blue stripes match the bed and wallpaper. This handwoven rug is size 9×12, it fits the room almost exactly, I wanted the desk chair to be on the rug too. We did screw down all the edges to help keep in place.

Desk and Chair-

I also found the IKEA secretary desk for $100 and rolling cane chair for $25 on Facebook Marketplace. It really does pay off the shop there first!
Good Old Days Banner // Moon Art

It’s so nice for Crew to have a little spot to build Legos, craft, color, do homework—and a place to store it all, too! We even fit his 3D printer below.

Little Lamp // Dog Art

Dresser

The dresser I found on Facebook Marketplace for $100, fits perfectly in the space. We sanded imperfections and painted it in Bancha by Farrow & Ball, then sealed it with this wood sealer.

Lamp // Hoya Rope Plant

There were no curtains in his bedroom. He’s on the 2nd floor, privacy isn’t an issue, and he sleeps fine with the sunlight. I took old linen curtains and hemmed them to the length I wanted to make cafe curtains. Used these hooks to hang on this tension rod.

Light

Doubling as both a light source and a stylish focal point, I love this 4-light dimmable fixture, it adds charming character to the room!

Finn saw Crews room first and could not be happier for his buddy. He said “Crew your room is so cool!” I love that he approved of the hard work and love we put into it!

Looks like they have a new cozy place to hangout!

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