Before and After: A “Very Beige” Bedroom Gets a Lively, Magical Makeover (And a Rock-Climbing Wall!)
Salma Chatto knew from the beginning that the room that was to be her daughter’s in their colorful home in Billingham, United Kingdom wouldn’t work. It was initially the primary bedroom, which allowed for ample space for her daughter to play and explore, but it wasn’t working aesthetically.
“There was quite mature wallpaper, very beige floor, beige walls, etc.,” Salma explains. “Quite outdated, lacking character, and boring.” Even though her daughter had just turned 2 when they began decorating, Salma envisioned a room she could grow into. She wanted to find the balance between colorful but not childish, so she selected Dunelm’s “Archive Tree Mural” wallpaper. This wallpaper was not only perfect for her daughter (who loves animals and plush toys) but also because it includes other accent colors.
“We selected a color from that pallet for the walls. A peach wall color with lilac accents around the room (radiator and furniture). I painted the roller blinds a blue color and selected blue curtains also to match,” Salma shares. “In the mirror wardrobe I painted it black and added black electrical tape to make it look a little industrial, I then took the carpets out of the wardrobe and painted the floor that accent the lilac color.”
But it wasn’t just the room’s color scheme that inspired a sense of adventure. Salma also embarked on some fun DIY projects, too. For starters, they built a rock climbing wall (just like the one in this kid’s bedroom). To make the wall, Salma started by sanding and varnishing plywood to make sure there were no splinters. Next, they drilled in the hanging molds.
To make sure it was safe, Salma built a strong wood frame that was attached to a big sheet of thick plywood. “We picked a solid external wall to fit this too, so it was safe. Then I used a spare cot mattress as the crash mat at the bottom and chose a nice floral sheet to protect it,” she explains.
On the back of the bedroom door, Salma used IKEA spice racks to display her daughter’s books and created a little reading nook near her desk. Other updates, like the butterfly decals, comfortable furnishings, and shelving and sideboards complete the space and made it an environment that cultivates growth. “When we decorated this room for her she had just turned 2, now she is 5 and it has evolved with her so well,” Salma says.
The room transformation has a lot of childlike, whimsical details but it’s also a space that she can make her own as she grows up. “I love how it is a magical room that she will grow into and I can easily change things up and revamp instead of totally making over her room again,” Salma shares. “She loves her bed, her story book corner, and her climbing wall. She also loves that she has her own bathroom.”
This isn’t the only room in Salma’s home that’s been reimagined — basically every space has been. If you’re interested in seeing more, visit the full home tour on Apartment Therapy.
