the week that Annie got to go to her first longer version of camp we decided was a great time to paint and decorate her bedroom!.jpg)
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she had picked her bedspread out a few weeks before at Target.
so i based everything around that.
i made a plan and we stuck with it.
i had all the supplies ready before i dropped her off at camp.
as soon i got back from taking her i emptied her room!
there was no time to waste.
getting it done without a lot of changing ideas… questions… able to work late into the night was GREAT!
kids change their minds a lot it seems.
i had talked with annie about the rainbow stripes so i knew she would like it.
we just hadn’t told her we were going to do it when she was gone.
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we painted the whole room white to start.
when the paint was dry, using a 48″ level and a pencil i measured down from the ceiling across the wall in three places so i could connect those lines.
and repeated that all the way to the floor.
then we used blue painters tape JUST under the line so our pencil line wouldn’t show.
the white stripe is the width of the painters tape.
if you were planning to do this project you would have to figure out your measurements based on your ceiling height, number of colors & stripes and your moldings.
we worked HARD for several days straight.
it was so great to finish a big project so quickly..jpg)
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talby helped me pick the fabric for annie’s curtains at Hobby Lobby.
i sewed them quickly while craig painted the stripes.
i spray painted many coats on the bed & bedside table over the few days we had.
i can only find that bright pink color at hobby lobby? that’s kinda weird don’t ya think?.jpg)
i also revamped the chandelier i found a few months back with spray paint, brighter colors & a glossy finish..jpg)
the night before she was coming home we put another coat on the stripes, cleaned up, craig hung the curtain rod, moved the furniture back in, made the bed and it was after 1 AM.
we were zombies!
But it was totally worth it.
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she was excited about this chair because it had been a big debate over who got the old living room furniture when the new furniture came.
and she got the chair!.jpg)
the alphabet wall hanging is from SpunkyFluff.
i had been saving it for the new house!
it fit so great in that space on the white wall!
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Annie’s pillow is from Chrissie Grace.
the blanket was at the thrift shop. 🙂
Stanley approves and really wants to get on the bed!.jpg)
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after she was home and settled in… and we were rested up a bit from the previous week,
i went back in and fixed the little lines that were left from the painters tape.
it didn’t bother craig and it might not bother you… but it drove me CRAZY.
so i fixed it with a little paint brush..jpg)
THIS was so much fun to surprise her with.
she has kept it clean… she loves everything about it… it was the best.
along the same lines as getting the old chair… she was so excited to get a lamp with a pull chain.
she said “you remembered i wanted one!”
kids are rad.
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Renee - love it!! did you go WOF for the curtains or piece together?? 🙂
annette - When you spray paint furniture, does it chip easily? How do you prep it? Do you cover it with anything to seal it from chipping? The room is adorable! You have an amazing way of making all the colors work. If I tried that, I think it would like a circus clown gone wrong!
Shellie - Absolutely LOVE it!!! ❤️
chasity - it all looks soooooo good.
that crocheted blanket is the bomb!
Tonya Brown - LOVE the room. can i ask where you got the material for her window curtain? I think all of it is my favorite.
Mindy - What a fun room – no wonder she loves it!
Janae - Oh my! I love it!! Striped walls are my favorite and even more so with those bright fun colors! What an awesome room and super awesome surprise!! You are fun parents!!
Lindsey - How awesome! Love it!
Heather - Looks cute!! I think you should put the headboard on the rainbow wall. It would add a huge impact!!
Emilie - Awesome room. What a cute raspy voice she has.
beth larson - You two are the best parents God ever created!!!! What a laborious project- I love how you made it sound like “not biggie”- (I’d love to have your energy). haha xo
Bree - Beautiful room!! When you wrote that Annie was excited about the chair and the lamp, it hit me how much our children learn from us and how excited they can get when we share or do something for them that we love too. It’s special to them because it’s special to us. I’ve seen this with our boys too and I often forget. Thank you for the reminder 🙂 Have a blessed week!
Nana - I don’t think I’ve ever seen Annie as excited as she was when she got to show me her “new” room! She absolutely loved it! I have to contradict something I told her. I didn’t think the cabins at Camp Mennoscah had changed since I used to go there back in the 50’s, but after seeing the picture I realize I was wrong….there was no cute graffiti on the walls then 🙂
Elizabeth - I love the container at the end of the bed holding her dolls. What is that? (I need to start googling to see what I can find for my daughter).
Kathi Mahoney - I love everything about her new room and, especially, how you surprised her! Gah. Can you be my mom too? 🙂
Kathi - It’s beautiful!
Jill - Meg…It is a DREAM! Just a dream!
Now, I am curious where the rainbow fabric for the rainbow pillow on the bed came from? Hobby Lobby too?
Kristen Bangs - Thank you for the great shout-out, Meg! Was not expecting it and what a coup! So much traffic from your amazing readers! xoxoxo!
Elz - We are converting the study into a bedroom for my older daughter while they are away at camp. I can NOT wait to see her expression when they come home!
Jeannine - I’m going to have dreams about that accent wall.
Elizabeth - Well done! The room is a true reflection of her vibrant and fun personality! She will always remember her mom and dad staying up late to redecorate and paint her room. That is an awesome feelingg for a little one to have. You guys are just amazing parents!!
Karen - What a fabulous room for a young girl! I know as a mom, we love surprising our kids with things we know they’ll love!
Sami - That comforter is beautiful. It looks amazing with those colors! I love the way you decorate with such bright, cheery colors. It is so inspiring!
Sami
Crystal - Wow that looks stunning! On the nightstand and headboard, can you post about refinishing them? Did you sand first or just paint them. Too many pinterest tutorials are on the shabby chic look and not a regular bold paint job!
Lora - Wonderful! What a great gift to give.
marcie - Love the room – fun colors and just “looks” like Annie – spunky and bright!! I’ve done the “room surprise” thing twice for my daughter. Once when she went on a week long mission trip and we went from deep turquoise walls to white – talk about late nights – it took so many coats and threw me off schedule but it worked out. I did a bathroom makeover like that once, too. It seems that I only finish completely if I have a project deadline!!
There is a trick to painting those lines and not having to touch up…. has amyone shared it?? If not, let me know before you stripe again!! I’ve painted a zillion stripes with no edge bleed using the technique. It’s on my blog, too.
Can’t wait to see more progress in your new home!
Marcie
Nicole Franks - I WANT your taste and talent! and I want this room 🙂
Julie - LOVE the room! What a wonderful surprise to come home to. I remember painting my sister’s room when she was gone on vacation once. I told her that we had painted it to look like a candy cane when really Mom and Dad painted it mint green, which was her favorite color at the time.
Did Annie go to Camp Mennoscah? If so, she was about 5 miles away from where I live. That is the camp I went to when I was her age and for several years I took my students there for an end of the year camp out.
KirstenP - I would totally go back and touch up the white stripes in Annie’s room. Love her room!!
Jackie - Awesome!
Julie - What a fabulous room – love all the colours, especially that duvet cover and chandelier.
Janna - I LOOOOVE!!!!! LOVE!
Andrea - This room is adorable!!!! Just like Annie! So glad she loves it!
Jane - What an awesome room! I love the bright colors!
Shelby Beck - Meg, this is gorgeous and a great surprise for your daughter.
missy - If you paint over the tape with your base coat first, it will eliminate the need to go back & fix choppy lines.
Adrienne - Darling! The stripes remind me of rainbow sherbet!
Tammy @Through the Milk Glass - Wow, beautiful room! I would love to have it myself!
What a wonderful surprise to come home to!
Jesse - Love the stripes! If you want to avoid those paint line touchup next time you tackle a stripe try painting over the edge of the painters tape with the original wall color then paint on the colors once that’s dry. Since something will always bleed under the tape you seal it with the original wall color and end up with a clean line, no touchup needed. (Yes I saw is on Pinterest but I’ve actually done it and it works!)
Michelle Whitlow - Such a cute room!!!
katie Skiff - I loved watching this on Instagram – what a lucky girl! I want it for my room, but hubby might flip out!! HA!!
Jane - I wish you had been around when I was raising my kids. I did my best but could have used inspiration from you. You are an amazing mom and have so many incredible ideas!
Tiffany - Beautiful room! I love the stripes. I did that once in my youngest son’s room when we first moved into a house we remodeled. It was so much work, but adorable. Everyone loved it. Maybe one day I’ll do something like that again, but not right now. Good job mama!