Before and After: Decorating a Little Girl's Room

Designer Krista Crawford turns an all-white nursery into a big girl room using natural elements, various coordinating fabrics and re-purposed garage-sale furniture. The walls are painted two shades of green — the darker is applied above the chair rail and the lighter is applied below. To conceal the plain white roller shades, Crawford creates a valance out of voile and hangs it from the ceiling with fishing line. A tree branch painted white acts as the rod.

A free-standing headboard is created out of plywood and covered with batting and fabric. The sides, or "wings," and back are cut from plywood and attached with wood glue and screws. Foam padding is glued and stapled into place and the entire piece is covered in pre-sewn fabric and cording. Garage sale furnishings are painted white for a cohesive look. Two kitchen cabinets are pieced together to make an armoire; the middle parts of the two upper doors are cut out and replaced with screen. Dried ferns and butterflies are placed on the screen and spray-painted over for a natural look. Finishing touches include a TV tray that serves as a nightstand, stamped artwork created by the little girl and a flea-market trunk at the foot of the bed.