A boring, cluttered playroom receives a modern eclectic farmhouse makeover on a budget using DIY projects, smart storage solutions, and affordable finds.
Some days I’m a little jealous of my four-year-old: she can wear a princess dress and tiara in public, nap whenever she wants, and the toughest decision she faces is whether to have a cookie or a brownie for dessert.
(Then I remember I can have a glass of wine, eat sushi, and ride roller coasters — and being an adult isn’t so bad.)
One thing Robert, Olivia, and I all enjoy together now is our newly finished playroom.
This room launch wraps up a six-week One Room Challenge, and I still can’t believe how quickly it came together. We’ve had plenty of practice renovating other spaces in our home, which helped streamline this one.
You can follow our One Room Challenge journey through the weekly progress updates from Week 1 through Week 5.
I’ve included a full source list, paint colors, and a budget breakdown near the end of this post.
Here’s what the room looked like before — a functional but cluttered, uninspired space.
And after — a bright, organized, family-friendly playroom with lots of character and practical storage.
We removed the scattered toys and odd office chair and replaced them with purposeful storage, built-ins, and cozy seating. The result is a room that feels calm, functional, and inviting for play and family time.
From the start, I wanted clean white built-in shelving and a comfortable family hangout area, while still keeping a rustic farmhouse feeling. The solution was to marry crisp white built-ins with a warm wood plank accent wall for an eclectic farmhouse vibe.
We used tongue-and-groove rustic-style boards for the accent wall. Initially we hoped to repurpose fence boards, but we chose new boards to avoid issues with mold or dry rot. The wood brings warmth and texture that pairs well with the white built-ins.
Above the TV we added a cut-out sign that reads “adventure,” which feels just right for a playroom full of imagination.
Toy storage is one of the most important elements in a playroom redesign. We found inexpensive wooden crates, spray painted them a neutral gray, and stenciled numbers on the fronts. They’re simple, durable, inexpensive, and easy for Olivia to use.
The biggest investment was our IKEA hack built-in shelving, but it was worth the cost. Closed lower cabinets hide toys and games while keeping them easily accessible for Olivia, and open upper shelving displays toys, books, and decor in an organized way.
I decorated the shelves mostly with items we already owned and a few organized containers. Large Hocking jars hold building blocks and musical instruments, and other baskets and galvanized bins keep small toys tidy.
I made corkboard frames to display Olivia’s preschool artwork so we can rotate new pieces easily, and a vintage-style cage fan adds a touch of charm.
A functional workspace was another priority. We created two wall-mounted desks—one for Olivia and one for me—by cutting a square kitchen table in half and mounting each piece to the wall. It’s a clever, budget-friendly way to make desks that don’t take up floor space.
Window treatments were made from IKEA sheers upgraded with handmade pom-poms to mimic the look of expensive brand-name curtains. A galvanized-style curtain rod enhances the industrial farmhouse aesthetic.
We refreshed Olivia’s play table and replaced our old tan sofa with a white slipcovered IKEA Ektorp. Selling the old sofa covered part of the cost, and a washable slipcover makes handling inevitable playroom messes much easier.
We printed large, colored engineer-style pages and framed them in barnwood frames for oversized storybook art. A felted pom-pom garland adds whimsy and a playful, Dr. Seuss-like touch above the seating area.
The room’s color palette — inspired by discounted sofa pillows — mixes blues and yellows to keep the space fun without being overly feminine. A soft striped rug ties the seating area together and invites family floor time for blocks and games.
We swapped the builder-grade light for a mint-colored ceiling fan with a vintage-modern vibe that feels playful and fresh.
A few unexpected issues with the wood wall and sofa slipcover added about $450 to the original budget, but by keeping most elements DIY and shopping sales, we kept the overall cost reasonable for what we achieved.
SOURCES AND BUDGET BREAKDOWN:
- Paint – Behr Seagull Gray – $62.54
- Bookcase built-ins (IKEA hack) – $899.62
- Wooden plank wall – $117.00
- Wall-mounted desks & chairs (repurposed table) – $100.00
- White slipcovered sofa – $299.00 (after selling old sofa for $200)
- Striped cotton rug – $287.99 (sale price)
- Mint ceiling fan – $219.00
- DIY window trim – $80.69
- Pom pom curtains – $53.36
- DIY storybook page art – $68.82
- Pom pom garland – $27.27
- Adventure cut-out sign – $49.99
- Wooden crates (spray painted) – $59.94 (six on sale)
- Hocking jars – $45.84 for four
- Barnwood frames – $47.96 for four
- Galvanized bins – $29.88 for four
- Assorted pillows – approximately $67.85 (on sale)
- Made-over play table – $21.00
- Metal pipe curtain rod – $32.99
- Yellow cage fan (vintage find) – $8.00
TOTAL: $2,578.74
This was the last large room in our house to refresh aside from the laundry room and closets. Completing it has already changed how we spend time together: instead of zoning out in front of the TV after dinner, we now unplug and play together in a space we all love.
I’m not sure what exact label fits this style—eclectic, farmhouse, modern—but I was aiming for a bit of Joanna Gaines meets Emily Henderson. What matters is that this room makes us happy. Fill your home with the things that bring joy to you and your family—this is definitely our happiest space yet.
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