Vibrant, Playful Girls' Bedroom

A neglected attic in a 1946 cottage is transformed into a fun and colorful sister's bedroom.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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An Attic Lacking Purpose

For years, carpenter David Cloak used the attic of his 1946 cottage as a space to store hand-me-downs. As daughters, Gaby and Channing, outgrew their first floor bedroom, the single dad decided to overhaul the neglected upstairs area into a stylish space to sleep and play.

Three Spaces that Work

Gaby and Channing's bedroom is made up of three different zones: a sleeping space, an area to store books and toys, and a place for reading and clothing storage along the back wall. The light pink and blue accents are set against a dominant shade of periwinkle.

Chalkboard Cabinets

Gaby and Channing have tons of books and toys, plus they love to draw and play games. To give them something fun and unique, David installed ready-made pine cabinets, painted the inside the same shade of periwinkle as the walls, and added chalkboard paint to the door fronts. While the cabinets are used primarily as book storage, pink plastic bins below serve as open storage for classic board games and plush toys.

Keeping the Remodel a Surprise

David surprised his daughters by transforming the attic into a playful retreat. From playing games and reading books over dinner on a Friday night to doing homework after school, Gaby and Channing’s attic-turned-bedroom has ample space for the duo to spend as much time together as possible.

Lighting Design

By adding drum pendants above the beds and homework table, along with task lighting on the nightstand, Gaby and Channing's room remains perfectly illuminated until it's time for bed.

Headboards with a New Face

To update dark and dated faux bamboo headboards, David sprayed them with high-gloss ballet-slipper pink paint using an HVLP sprayer.

A Colorful Backdrop

Painting the attic's walls and ceiling periwinkle is a great backdrop for showcasing the personal pieces David incorporated into the room, which includes a vintage headboards, navy and white trellis print pillows, a modern nightstand and a wooden owl table lamp.

Refurbishing a Dresser Drawer

While clearing out the attic, David came across an old eight-drawer dresser. By sanding off the old finish, spraying it with high-gloss blue lacquer and adding new polished nickel hardware, the carpenter gave it a brand-new, high-end identity.

Painting Hard-Wood Floors

David added high-energy pattern to the room's wood floors by drawing overlapping circles with chalk, then painting them with white, pink, periwinkle and blue floor paint.

A Dad Who Likes Plaid

A roman shade covers the only window in the room. For an unexpected touch, David opted for a masculine plaid featuring different shades of navy and turquoise, which pick up on the blues used throughout the space.

Installing Window Seating Cabinetry

A steel track was mounted directly into the wall studs 18" inches above the floor, just 1" inch below the top of each cabinet. With the track securely installed, each 24" inch deep by 38" inch wide cabinet was fastened to the wall with metal cleat along its back. David suggests do-it-yourselfers hire the labor out to a professional.

Functional Drawer Space

Drawers were incorporated into the L-shaped window seat to house an assortment of things, including extra linens and wool blankets for the cold winter months.