Rustic Ideas for a Boys Room of any size!
OK friends, if you have been following for a while you know I have had a complete blast making over my childhood dollhouse. (If you are new you can catch up here and see the first floor kitchen and living room makeover!) This month I focused on the boys bedroom and rustic was the only way to go to please my real life little guys. If you have been inspired by this dollhouse makeover series then I have an awesome surprise for you, be sure to see the details at the bottom of this post…there is something for EVERYONE! Let’s take a look where this sad little room started:
Focusing on one room at a time has been a good lesson in decorating for me. Looking at the entire dollhouse and how much work it needs feels intimidating, but setting the goal of one room at a time, one room a month has made it fun and not overwhelming. That’s a good tip to follow in our real homes! Also have a theme or feeling to narrow in on helped.
This laser focus also allows me to pay the attention due to all the elements of a room instead of overlooking details in a rush to finish. I paid special attention to the floor and ceiling in this room, wanting them to be textural and dimensional aspects of the space. I started off painting the ceiling black, using Ebony Chalk Paint from Decoart. I would love to do this in my real house, but it doesn’t fit in the decor currently. If we ever move you may see it pop up in real life though! Most people think it would make a room feel dark, but to me it adds a cozy moody feel that reminds me of a rustic winter lodge.
Next came the wallpaper. You know wallpaper is the hot trend right now and I didn’t want to miss out on this easy way to add flair to a room. Again, I want it for real! I used a traditional grasscloth type wallpaper from Miniatures.com. This might not seem like the logical choice for a little boys room, but it gives a neutral background with loads of texture to build the rustic bedroom on. Plus this is a transitional boys room as they move from the toddler boy to tweens. It’s a little more mature and can grow with them!
For the floor I went with the popsicle wood floor treatment that I used in the downstairs kitchen. This time I stained the wood after instillation, sanded and dark waxed the wood for a worn and rustic feel.
The trim needed to blend in as well and the traditional white just didn’t go, so the crown molding and base boards got stained the same as the floor, but I used the ceiling black for the window trim.
For the actual bed in the boys bedroom I struggled because I REALLY wanted twin beds, but the space was just to small. I bought bunk beds from Miniatures.com but ended up using just the bottom bunk, it just felt better in the room, but the kids may decide to play with it later using the bunk beds, so I will make bedding for both. I left the wood as it came, I think we will see a return to natural wood furniture in the coming year and it feels appropriate for a rustic boys bedroom.
The bedding that came with the bed had to go, it just didn’t fit the rustic boy bedroom mold. The great thing about working with miniatures is how inexpensive changing the fabrics can be! You need such a small amount! I spent about $5 on fabric for this room and have plenty of leftovers! The sheets got repurposed from old linens I had lying around and then the comforters and new pillows I bought fabric for at Joann’s. Mixing pattern and texture is such an amazing way to cozy up a bed.
The rug is a dollar store placemat cut down to fill the space. The giant J is a wood chip letter covered with scrapbook paper.
I searched high and low for the perfect size deer to mount on the wall. Like it or not my boys love the great outdoors and hunting. We have such a special place in our deer lease and they adore displaying their hunting treasures from there. I chopped off the toy deer head and mounted on the wall for a DIY deer mount. The boys are crazy for this touch.
Minitures.com has a great array of games to choose from and I was able to add some fun elements to the boys room that I know they wish they really had, like a dart board! This iron deer figure was another unique miniatures.com find that is perfect for this rustic room.
The race is tight between woodsy outdoor activities and sports, so I had to add some sports paraphernalia to the mix, also from the Minitures.com site. We have a croquet set and they both love to play baseball. You can almost always find a lazy cat hiding out on their bed for an afternoon nap.
Many of you have mentioned you have a dollhouse you are either working on or want to tackle and I have great news for you! EVERYONE can use the Hunt & Host coupon code to Miniatures.com and get 15% of your purchase from now until February 2, 2018. Use the code HUNTHOST15 on www.miniatures.com. In case that’s not enough you can enter to win a $100 gift certificate to Miniatures.com below, giveaway closes Saturday January 27, 2018! Woohoo – no excuses, now you can get moving on that dollhouse makeover! I hope you enjoyed this rustic boys bedroom tour and the dollhouse ideas gave you inspiration for your dollhouse or real house! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Yeah! thanks for all the ideas. I’m working on a Greenleaf dollhouse I bought the girls for Christmas after seeing your post. I need all the help I can get 🙂
it’s so fun. glad this has been an encouragement!
I love the minature fairy house craze!
me too!!! I couldn’t get my kids into a fairy garden outside, but they are all enjoying this dollhouse makeover, it’s a special house to them too 🙂
I like this! What room is going to be next?? Can’t wait to see:)
My daughter and I were talking about that yesterday, probably the hallway then her room, but maybe both, not sure!!!
Love your boys room! Even had the same idea for the deer head. I bought a dollhouse from Craigslist 2 weeks ago. Currently stripping the old wallpaper which is just about done. After which the outside will get an update with a fresh coat of paint. Then the fun begins. This is the first dollhouse makeover for me and it’s so much fun. And I do agree with wood furniture coming back.
You will have a blast! I saved the outside for last because I am not looking forward to it, lol! I think that will be a lot of work, but I will get it done!!!! Share pics of your house, I’d love to see it (that goes for all of you!)
You have given me the push to continue the doll house I was able to purchase from a friend. I have some elements collected but have had to put it on hold because of taking care of my parents. I will continue to take care but I am bringing the house out of the basement and getting started! THANK YOU!
yes – I leave mine out in the living room so I can sit with my family while I work on it. It’s a mess but it will pass and the house will get done and I don’t feel bad working on it beside them!
Love this room!
Thanks Carol, it was hard to photograph, we have had such nasty weather lately and the sun was not cooperating! It looks even better in person!
Thanks Carol, it was hard to photograph, we have had such nasty weather lately and the sun was not cooperating! It looks even better in person!
Wanting to do a miniature garden to put outside my craft shed.
I think I might want to try that next! I’d love to see a picture of yours!?
This is going to be our summer project. We are getting the house built by an uncle. I can’t wait to start.
you will have fun, it would be a great summer project so you could have longer spans of time to work on it. Have Fun!!!
I started building dollhouses a year ago and within 4 months I had built and completed 4 full size houses. I gave my sister one and kept the other 3. If I had room I would build more. Love your remodel. I need to put a boys room in one of mine.
wow – that is amazing, you should sell them. I’m sure some people like them but don’t enjoy the actual building/decorating process! I’d love to see them!
Do we put up the ceiling lights first or the ceiling paper?
It depends on the light I think. My house is not wired for electricity, so the light I have runs off a small battery inside. In my case I put the light up last, it actually has a little plate that sticks to the ceiling then the actual light has a magnet that makes it stick to the plate. It’s very cool! I haven’t done a house with electricity, maybe someone else here can answer you…???
Love this room! I have been working on a 3 floor, 9 room house with a wraparound porch for quite a while now and am looking forward to finishing it before my granddaughter is too much older.
I have to keep saving up for the “right” pieces that I want to add to it and that is putting a damper on the project! I AM having lots of fun doing it so I guess that is what really matters!
Would love to win this gc so I can get a couple pieces that I have been saving for. Thank you for the chance to win this prize! ????✨????✨????
good luck to you!!!! There are lots of DIY options to build things, which is fun, but sometimes you do have to wait for the perfect piece! I know she will love it regardless of what the furniture looks like. So special!
I never thought of using a doll house to help with decorating ideas. BRILLIANT!! I’m going to have to salvage and find one.
It is honestly so perfect, you can see how things work together and bring them to life on a large scale if you love them!
LOVE the boys room!! This makes me want want to start working on my doll house again! Thanks for the giveaway!
yes – pull it out and get re-inspired!!!!
This was so inspirational!! I loved all the ideas you had and it gave me so many idea of my own!! I have been working on doll house for quite a while now and I think I can make it amazing now! Thanks for all the help.
I love to hear that – other people’s ideas can always spark creativity to make it your own! Have a blast!
I am rehabbing this same house, that I got 2nd hand! I love what you’ve done! I took out some walls and the stairs. My top floor is a rooftop patio with green indoor/outdoor type of grass carpet. I’m new to miniatures and learning as I go. I also love to order from Miniatures.com! I always look forward to their catalog in the mail.
Isn’t there stuff adorable! I love your house so much, thanks for sending me pictures!
This may be a really fun project to start for my grand-daughter, due in June! ;-D
That would be so special, I love the old fashioned idea and creativity a dollhouse lends for kids! Nothing better
Got a dollhouse last year for Christmas with lots of very formal furniture. Can’t wait to take my paintbrush to it and give some of the furniture a makeover.
yes – so much of what is available is time period correct, which is great for those that want to replicate and era but makes you have to get your DIY on when you want to modernize…so fun though!!! hope you enjoy updating it!
I am working on a dollhouse my parents built for me over 20 years ago. I finally have the outside almost finished and can’t wait to get to my favorite part… decorating! I am also working on starting a blog to document the progress and share my house with others. I love your site and all the great ideas I got from it. Thanks for sharing!
Yay Sheryl, be sure to show me pics as you go, I’d love to see them! I should have started on the outside because it’s not as fun as decorating and now I am dreading it a little bit 🙁
Well I didn’t exactly have a choice on where to start since I couldn’t put the window trim on until I installed the windows and I couldn’t install the windows until I painted the outside, etc. I would love to keep you updated, but honestly I’m not sure how to show you pictures! I originally tried to upload one with my post but I didn’t see a spot. I’m sure mine will be a much slower process, but your site is definitely inspiring and motivating!
you can email me or share a pic on my facebook page if you want!
Hi my name is Janie Rinta and I have no idea what I was suppose to put in each box of the entries above so I just put my name. Sorry. But i thnk you doll house is absolutely AMAZING!!! Such attention to detail…I’m in awe!!! However I have not started on a doll house…..I have never had a doll house….but I would love to make one for my granddaughter some day. I have actually picked up a few things to paint and decorate for it when the time comes. It will be a project my husband and I both have to work on and until he retires he is rarely home (gone for weeks at a time). But thank you so much for your inspiration 🙂 Hugs….Janie
I am sure you did fine Janie, thanks for entering! You should start while he is away, it would give you a fun project to work on!!! It is such a great project to see progress quickly so that is encouraging!
I have been working on a dollhouse I built from a kit for about 4 years now. Its just for me and is slow going, but it makes me really happy. Rearranging tiny furniture is my zen place.
It is so relaxing, I just told someone it’s cheaper than therapy lol!!!