Ok, I’m calling it: Livie Bug’s ballerina bedroom makeover is officially finished!
When we first moved in back in November 2013, her little room looked like this:
Not exactly inspiring. We moved in the few pieces of furniture we owned—a dresser and a crib—hung an Ikea light, and dropped a hand-me-down mattress in the room. It looked like this for about a year:
In April I sketched plans for a ballerina-themed makeover and figured it would take a month. Surprise—it stretched into a few more months, but the wait was worth it. Finally, the room is ready. Come on in.
The whole concept began with my stash of old ballet items from my dancing days. We already have dance parties in the kitchen every morning, so why not give her room a ballet vibe? When I decided to reuse an old mirror to create a ballet barre, everything else fell into place.
Many lucky finds filled this space. Her bed was a $25 Goodwill find that I refreshed with a couple of coats of Annie Sloan Old White for a shabby-chic look.
We made oversized wooden sheet music signs for about $20 each, which became perfect accents for the barre wall. The lyrics and musical theme are a sweet fit for a little dancer’s room.
A pair of angel wings my parents found at a flea market ended up being one of my favorite sentimental pieces. I sewed an applique pillow from fabric scraps to tie the look together.
Olivia adores the canopy we made from a repurposed shelf—it makes her feel like a princess. Silhouette art and vintage ceiling medallion frames add delicate detail without overcrowding the wall.
I repurposed one of our wedding birdcage centerpieces into a simple lamp—one of those small, joyful transformations that make a room feel personal.
An old nightstand that belonged to my grandfather received a metallic, aged finish and now sits proudly by the bed. I love giving heirlooms a second life.
To make the room feel larger we framed out the window and added curtain panels I found at Target—it’s a simple trick that adds visual height.
A consignment-store play vanity got a silver gilding and now provides hours of imaginative play—she loves practicing “makeup” and silly faces at the mirror.
And of course, trying on the bling is mandatory.
A $15 Goodwill dresser got another coat of Old White paint. For artwork I framed a couple of dresses she wore as a baby and a sketch by my brother-in-law—simple, personal touches go a long way.
I kept a small box of items from my pregnancy and Olivia’s hospital stay and arranged them in a shadowbox. The silver rattle there belonged to me when I was a baby—those heirloom details mean so much.
A tiny vintage dress form from an antique shop is the perfect finishing touch—so charming and small enough to be adorable.
My father-in-law whittled a wooden rattle for each of his grandchildren; Robert’s rattle now sits on Olivia’s dresser as a treasured keepsake. There’s something so meaningful about handmade family pieces.
An old bassinet stand I scored at a yard sale for $3 became a dress-up rack, perfect beside the barre mirror so she can twirl in her costumes. A shelf holds boas, hats, and treasured toys, alongside a framed print of Proverbs 31:25.
I also tucked my grandmother’s birdcage veil on the shelf. It’s yellowed and slightly torn, but those imperfections only make it more beautiful to us.
A box of my grandmother’s vintage hats became a playful corner of dress-up treasures. Olivia insists on wearing dance dresses almost every day, then twirls and giggles until she collapses with laughter.
I hung three pairs of my old pointe shoes in the room. One pair was worn when I danced with the Moscow Ballet Company on their Nutcracker tour and was even signed by the principal dancers—yes, my ribbons still carry a bit of stage lipstick from that night.
Overstock provided a beautiful rug that anchors the room—a soft focal point that ties everything together. I tried to get a photo of Olivia standing on it, but you know how energized toddlers are, so I slipped on my pointe shoes for a quick demo instead. She thought “tippy toes” was hilarious and had to imitate me.
I picked up letters spelling her name on sale and they fit perfectly between the sheet music signs—such a satisfying, accidental alignment.
We swapped the Ikea fixture for a chandelier we found on sale at Lowe’s. It rounds out the room with a touch of whimsy and elegance.
I debated artwork beside the canopy, but decided that simple is best—letting the canopy and barre be the stars.
I’m so happy it’s done. Are you on frilly pink overload? Don’t worry—I’ll give you a break from princess-ville soon.
What makes me happiest is that so many sentimental family pieces found their place in this room. That blend of thrifted finds, DIY projects, and heirlooms created a space that feels both personal and playful.
Budget breakdown: (Some affiliate items and product notes were part of the original room build.)
- Wall paint (Benjamin Moore Grey Owl): $54 (Two gallons during a 30% off sale)
- Bed (thrift find): $25
- Dresser (thrift find): $15
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: $40
- Chandelier (sale): $70
- Wall frames (on sale, with coupon): $70
- Wall shelf (on sale): $28
- DIY Sheet Music Art: $40
- Bedding (gift from great-grandmother): $0
- Curtains: $60
- Play vanity (consignment): $20
- Name letters (on sale): $30
- Angel wings (flea market gift): $0
- DIY Window Trim: $30
- DIY Ballet Barre: $16
- DIY Canopy: $45
- DIY Applique Pillow (from scraps): $0
- DIY Dress-Up Rack: $15
- DIY Birdcage Lamp: $12
Total Out of Pocket: $570
(The rug provided by Overstock retails at $274.99.)
Now that I’ve photographed the room, I know it won’t stay this tidy forever—and that’s ok. Messes mean imagination is happening. If you’re planning a nursery or kids’ room makeover, I’d love to hear what themes and DIY projects you’re dreaming up. We’ll definitely be making more sheet music signs around the house.
If you want to browse more room transformations we’ve done, check out our master bathroom and breakfast room makeovers and our ongoing house tour to see progress on a modest budget. Decorating is where we choose to spend a little extra, and for us, that’s worth every penny.
