Inviting Bonus Room

Since it is such a small room but serves several purposes, interior designer Kristan Cunningham must maximize the use of space. She and design coordinators Spencer Anderson and Dave Sheinkopf paint the walls in warm retro colors: burnt orange, pea-soup green and mustard yellow. A horizontal band painted around the walls makes the small space feel larger and draws the eye upward. An updated desk and sewing area with lots of storage to conceal the clutter and a modified Murphy bed that doubles as Eric's keyboard stand round out the retro redo.

The Cost

Bed and bedding — $160

• sheets, 011342200904, twin, $12.99 — Linens 'N Things

Paint — $70

• paint, Benjamin Moore's Autumn Cover, 2170-30, Buttercup, 2154-30, Cotton Balls, OC-122 — True Value
  
• stencil paint, Burnt Umber and Dark Chocolate, 5909155, 5910419, $.99 each, 2 oz. — JoAnn

Desk and sewing table — $75

• two-drawer vertical file cabinet, brown, $50 — Mr. Office

Chairs — $172

• stool, Traktor 70094123, $29.99 — Ikea
  
• chair, Skruvsta 70087151, $129 — Ikea

Lighting — $114

• overhead lamp, $75 — Plethoric
  
• lamp, 056119, $19.99 — HomeGoods
  
• floor lamp, Lighttrack, 019293965651, $19.99, 69" — Linens 'N Things

Storage — $177

• letter tray, Fniss, 0040083300 — Ikea
  
• box, Slugis, 30096464 — Ikea
  
• magazine files, Flyt 50022354, $2.49 each — Ikea
  
• shelf, Lack 00011013 — Ikea
  
• silver boxes, Emu, 30045417, set of 2 — Ikea
  
• wastebasket, Fniss 90096418 — Ikea
  
• white boxes, Lyckeby 30045417 — Ikea
  
• used canisters — Wright Thrift Shop

Fabric wall art — $41

• fabric on medium-density fiberboard behind shelves — International Silks

Sewing accessories — $22

• iron away (used) — Wright Thrift Shop
  
• mug rack, $8.99 — American Way
  
• sewing helper, 2673358 — JoAnn

Window treatments — $43

• curtain, Florence ,00089342 — Ikea

Shag rug — $52

• rug, Bts Shag, 044891045955, $51.99, 5x7 — Linens 'N Things

Frames — $70

• frames (used), $11 — Arcadia Welfare and Thrift
  
• decorative plaques — American Cancer Society Discovery Shop

Total — $996