Modern Eco Forest Themed Child's Room

I thought we could take just a small break from all the holiday cheer and have a room reveal instead. Jude’s room has been “finished” for a while now but I just wasn’t ready to reveal it. I kept thinking that I wanted to add something more but it’s finally time to reveal it before I need to re-do it again. Just Kidding. And today is the best day to reveal it because today is JUDE’S 3rd Birthday!!!!

This is the view from the door way. Reeve our cat decided to model for me today. This focal wall features a hand painted customized wall stencil painted by yours truly and inspired by Ikea fabric.

The headboard was actually a dark brown crib which I converted into an upholstered headboard. Using a little paint, wood, batting and Navy Swirl fabric from Joanne’s I created something new out of a crib that may have ended up in a dumpster somewhere.

The trim on the doors are one of my favorite parts of the room. A facebook fan, actually a male facebook fan, suggested it. I absolutely love it!

To the left of Jude’s full sized bed is this little night stand that I call our $5 dollar night stand because that’s exactly what I bought it for at a local antique store. Amazing right? It’s always a great idea to try to either use what you have or find great deals at your local thrift stores, you save money and you’re saving the Earth too!

This large piece of art on the wall was left over from the headboard project. It was the perfect size for this big empty wall. The verse from Hey, Jude by the Beatles is very sentimental to our family. Read why here.

I am slowly adding a small art gallery to another empty wall above Jude’s small table and chairs. This is the first of the set. I used an old frame, painted it white, took the matt and covered it with the tree patterned wrapping paper I snagged at the dollar section at Target. Lastly, I added the little lizard that was hand-painted by Jude and myself.

The art was “drawn’ by me. I say “drawn” because I am not the best artist I have tricks and as I add to the collection I will teach you how to make these prints yourself. Are you wondering why there isa dragon fly inside the jar. Well, there is a reason. My Dad always sang and played the guitar to the song “Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell as I was growing up. I now sing it to my kids as they fall asleep. The first line of the song is “Yesterday a child came out to wonder, caught a dragonfly inside a jar, fearful when the sky was full of thunder and tearful at the falling of a star.”

I love making art that has a meaning behind it and each piece in this room definitely has that sentimental touch.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, “Right? Of course Right!” (anybody catch my Fiddler on the Roof quote) Sorry, moving on. So this bright green trunk at the end of the bed was not so bright green a few months ago it actually was maroon, navy and antique white. This was Gavin’s chest when he was a baby so it is about 10 years old. We’ve given it a make-over and even updated it with an upholstered cushion top!

The metal world art is actually a piece that I was going to give to Goodwill then my Mother in Law saved it and then I had a vision for it and took it back. With a little paint it went from traditional bronze and gold to lime and bold!

Jude’s table has a small little Christmas tree and a tea set I bought in Poland many years ago. It is real Polish pottery and he does a great job being very careful with it. Boys love tea parties too!

Jude’s room is completed with some more hand me down furniture. The table and chairs as well as the dresser all were Gavin’s. They are so sturdy and heavy, that is German craftsmanship for ya. Sitting on the dresser is a photo of the boys and all of the Sesame Street characters at Sea world that is large enough to cover up all of the components for the TV. The large bowl of water also houses a new family member, a beautiful Beta name Blue and his live aquatic plants. It’s so nice to have a living thing it a child’s room.

Jude’s room was nearly complete but it lacked accessories. Two small shelves were the perfect place to highlight some of his favorite things. Keeping with the Forest theme we added a St. Jude Owl and mushroom from West Elm. At the time I had no idea that purchasing the owl meant we were giving $5 to St. Jude’s How ironic and awesome. They have a few left on site and they’re on sale.

The little Green gnome was from Walmart of all places, they came in all sorts of bright colors. The little Yo Gaba Gaba book stop was actually his cake topper from last years birthday, it’s made from sugar and it’s still completely in tack.

Over head is a DIY Drum Pendant that was so easy and extrememly inexpensive. Have you thought, is this chick crazy yet? What’s with all the white in a 2 year old’s room? Well here’s the answer he is an angel and he never makes a mess. No, seriously. It’s all from Target and 100% bleachable!

The white grommet top curtains are also from Target however the blue “roman shade” is a little secret window treatment Mom and I created a while back. Here’s what you do: measure your window, cut your fabric and hem it to the length, hem the sides but at the top make a rod enclosure. Slide a tension rod through the top rod enclosure. (when it’s hanging it’s just a straight boring piece of fabric) Take a second tension rod and place it in the middle of the window. When you want the “roman shade” open flop the piece of fabric over the rod, when you want it down pull it down. That’s it, it doesn’t get any easier. Let me know if you want further instructions and I’ll do a tutorial.

So, there you have it. Jude’s room And he’s so happy. It’s such a happy space for such a sweet boy!! I leave you with Joni Mitchell and The Circle Game as I think about how fast these years go by today as my baby is now 3!