Finally, something to share - The Guest Room

I am always so inspired by the blogs I read and the amount of work and DIY projects that can be "done on a dime"....because that's typically about all I have to spend. So, knowing that I will soon be having an overflow of tween girls here for 2 months of the summer, I set my next goal as getting the guest room ready to look a bit more cheerful and a bit more like something tween girls might enjoy. 

Might as well start with the before shot of the room that was drab and dreary.  Sorry it's such a bad shot, but it's the only one I have.

It's a small room, but has 2 windows and good hardwood floors.  First step, get rid of the weird green color and change it to a color match of Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage and paint out the trim in white, so that it looks fresh and crisp. Had the paint, so no money spent. Next up, a trip to IKEA for some new duvet covers to add a bit more color to the room.  Found something I thought looked "tweeny" for a great price - $24.99 each.  Now I pull in some twin beds that I have had forever and have a friend help me cut some new  secure bed slats.  Next up some accessories, with the smallest of budgets.  I had an old pine dresser that could work in the room and after I put it between the beds, I decided I needed 2 small scale lamps.  So, in a discard pile from a garage sale (as in free), I find 2 of these:

and after some

$9 lampshades at

IKEA, they now look

a bit more hip and

take up less room

on the dresser.  So,

I end up with 2 of

these for a total

$18!  Now that's

a deal that makes 

me very happy 

Off to TJ's for some funky pillows @ 12.99 each, adding a touch of texture and fun:

Beds up and made....hurray, it's now starting to look like a room.  Still need curtains and something on the walls - but figure the kids won't notice if I don't get that finished right away....their eyes will be glued to the small flatscreen on the door wall.  The best part of the story is that this room came in at about $100.  Fortunately I had the beds and mattresses and the pine dresser, so the costs were: Duvets $50, lampshades $18 and pillows $26.