Whimsical Elegance: Rental-friendly Interior Design For Tween Room Makeover

Moving into a rental house can feel overwhelming for kids, especially when they’re trying to make a whole new town 3,000 miles away from their friends and family feel like home. That’s exactly why I was so excited to put my interior decorating skills to work creating a birthday surprise room makeover for my 12-year-old girt! A tween room makeover that reflects her personality and makes her feel truly at ease in her new space, even all the way up in Sandpoint, a small town in North Idaho.

BEFORE the room overhaul, her only attempt at decorating was this bent up Bluey poster she'd taped to the wall. The scratchy rental house bedding and artwork felt disjointed and didn't reflect who she is. The room felt very bare and open without much of an identity.

This was such a fun & engaging challenge for me to design for someone else for the first time who has completely different taste than me. Her style leans towards muted colors and tight floral patterns. We joke that she has an "old lady aesthetic". Here’s how we turned her new bedroom into a cozy, colorful retreat that reflects her personal style without making permanent changes to the rental house (or breaking the bank).

Step 1: Personalizing the Space 

The first thing I tackled was making the room feel like her own. Her favorite thing in the entire world? Her dog. I secretly painted a custom painting of her furry best friend to hang on the wall as the focal point of the room. This one-of-a-kind artwork not only adds personality but also plays into the color story of the space.

The other thing I surprised her with was printing some recent photos of her friends & family to frame on the walls. Research and psychological studies suggest that children feel more secure, connected, and confident when they see photos of themselves and their loved ones displayed in their environment. Plus, it's just super fun to see your favorite photos OFF the computers and on the walls.

Step 2: Rental-Friendly Design 

Because this is a rental, I couldn’t pick up the paint brushes for a full wall mural. Instead, I used removable wallpaper to add a storybook whimsical floral pattern to the walls without risking damage. The dainty design also set our color scheme for the room, with her favorite blue hues, without breaking any landlord rules. Bonus: I had extra left over to line the drawers in her thrifted bedside table match the wallpaper.

Step 3: Health-Conscious Choices 

At Little Room to Bloom, I focus on creating safe, thoughtful spaces for kids. For this makeover, we chose organic cotton percale and linen bedding: soft, breathable, and free from harsh chemicals. Whenever possible, I avoid micro-plastics in the materials I bring into a room, ensuring the space is not just beautiful but also healthier for growing kids. Yea, they're cute & affordable but sleeping in microfiber sheets is a no-no.

Step 4: Shopping Smart and Staying Sustainable 

Most of the furniture in her room was already there. We repurposed what she had, rearranging and restyling it to make the space feel fresh. The only new piece we added is the most inexpensive tufted headboard I could find online (because the Marketplace ones were more expensive & did not meet the vision I had). The little night stand I added was a thrifted. With a little creativity and a lot of intention, these two pieces elevated the room without blowing the budget.

Step 5: Clever Storage Solutions 

At freshly 12, she still loves to play at her dollhouse, on the floor with her little horses, or make artwork with more space than her desk affords her. She loves to spread out, so keeping as much floor space as possible was paramount in the design. For this reason, we tucked the bookcase and a rolling drawer storage unit into her closet to house extra craft supplies and trinkets. This also keeps the space tidier. For her to be able to help manage her room, everything needs to have a place, and these tucked-away storage solutions ensured that her room stayed organized while leaving plenty of open floor space for her creative activities.

The Final Result: A Space She Loves 

The best part? She absolutely loves it. This room is more than a place to sleep—it’s a reflection of who she is. She told me it finally feels like home. For a pre-teen navigating a new environment, that’s everything.

She particularily loved the a way I paid homage to her Bluey poster with this cute little Bluey clock by her desk instead. She's enjoying the room, and the new town, with her pup more then ever. We're all big fans of North Idaho life!

BUDGET

This is a rental house, so who knows how long we will be here. I didn't want to truly invest in this space, just refresh the room for her. Some things she's sure to use for years to come, like her dreamy new bedding. I spent around $550 total. This was for the peel-and-stick removable wallpaper, new headboard, cotton percale sheets, organic linen duvet cover and insert, rug, thrifted table, curtain rod, blanket, clock, artwork, and photos.

Let’s Create a Space for Your Child 

Whether it’s a rental-friendly refresh or a full room transformation, I’m an interior decorator here to help families in Sandpoint and beyond create or organize spaces their kids will love. Want to see how we can bring your child’s personality into their room? Let’s talk and bring your vision to life!