Decorating a boys room using maps and vintage finds from the thrift store

Here is the finished boys room.  Ok, not really finished, what room ever really is, right?  It will constantly evolve as I find new items to add to it but I'm satisfied with how it currently looks, and I'd like to finally mark it off my to-do list!  My two boys share this small room which I've stuffed full of cool finds.

Almost everything in this room was found at the thrift store with the exception of a few items, including the beds and dresser that we've had for years.  I wanted the main focus to be the maps and globes that I've been collecting over the last few months.

An old industrial barn light found for $6 at the thrift store, combined with a $3 vintage cage light becomes the star of the room.

I added numbers to this dresser to copy one I'd seen in an Anthropologies catalog. See how I did it here.

Square cubes shelves also found thrifting hold one son's lego creations.

 

A map bunting made from a vintage atlas found at the thrift store.  You can purchase one in my etsy shop here.

Lots of globes, a vintage lunch box (sprayed in chalkboard paint), and tin letter signs found at Hobby Lobby. 

I painted the closet doors with a green chalkboard paint, and hung a red bucket perfect for holding chalk.

With such a small room, organization is key.  Metal baskets and old crates are tucked under the bed to hold off-season clothes and other stuff.

I found this vintage school desk for $8 and a cute old lamp for $2 also at the thrift store.  I almost didn't buy the desk because I knew it would be cramped in the space, but it was just too cute to pass up.

The boys actually sleep with their heads on the opposite side because my husband read that the electrical box, which is just outside this wall, would interefere with their sleeping patterns.  I also have a thing about hanging things above heads where people are sleeping, so no worries they are safe.

It's so nice to finally get a project done that has been going on for months.  It feels even better to know I found all this cool stuff at the thrift store for cheap.  I look forward to my thrift store trip every week. It's always like a treasure hunt, and you never know what you are going to find.  If you've never been, go try it! 

keep primping,

$6 industrial barn light {a great find} and a chance to win one similar

Here's a sneak peak of the new boy's room, and the star of the room, an industrial barn light found at the thrift store for $6. 

So cool, hugh?

I was so excited to find this beauty but it sat in my garage for months until I decided it would be perfect in the boys' room.  Not everyone is lucky enough to find a beauty like this at the thrift store, but you can win your very own here. 

Barn Light Electric has so many cool options. 

I love this one,

this one,

and this one.

Here's how you can win for yourself.

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own.

2. Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!

3. Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article.

4. Once your personal article is up, you must email your blog link to:contest@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win. The contest ends October 12th, 2011.

keep primping and good luck!

P.S. Be back tomorrow for the full boy's room reveal!

a union jack stool

So I've been eyeing all the union jack projects out there for some time now, and decided to try it on a small scale for my boys' room redo that is currently underway.

I've loved all the dressers I've seen but I needed something small to fit into an even smaller room that my 2 boys share.

Then it hit me.  I've had this red stool sitting unused in my basement.  Not only was it the perfect size for a tiny bedroom, but it was already red, now I only needed to paint the blue and white portions. Using a small flag I already had as a guide, I just eyeballed it, using masking tape and some acrylic paint. Then I heavily sanded the stool to cover any imperfections in my less than perfect lines, plus I love things really distressed.  It will serve as a side table, or a step stool when needed.

I had barely finished this union jack stool when this fun union jack necklace arrived in the mail.  I ordered it a few weeks back through Groopdealz and I love it! 

Maybe now, I will get this whole union jack thing out of my system!

keep primping,

I have a few more projects I'm working on for my boys' room redo and a few other random ones I'm excited to share soon!

going green {with chalkboards}

Can you tell what I've been thinking about lately?

Yep, green chalkboards.

I already have the paint, now I need to figure out exactly what I will be painting.  I do know wHeRe I will be painting--my boys' room.  I am planning a little makeover, and this will fit in just perfectly.

I think these chalkboards inspirations are perfect for today, because it's the first day of school here--woohoo!

I am still thinking and planning, and now that the kids are back in school

I'll have more time to do both.

 

Thanks to Pinterest for all of this green inspiration.

 keep primping,