Boom — we’ve officially reached the halfway point of the One Room Challenge. Time is flying, and I’m excited to share the progress on our playroom makeover.
UPDATE: See the full playroom makeover reveal here!
Since installing the built-in bookshelves and painting the entire upstairs, the next big task was to turn a solid wood kitchen table into two wall-mounted desks. Yes, we actually sawed a table in half to create functional, space-saving desks for the playroom.
Half walls can be tricky to design around, and this one had me stumped for a while. Ultimately, I decided both Olivia and I needed our own desks: one for her coloring, Play-Doh and future homework, and one for me to blog, craft, and keep an eye on her while she plays. The result is a practical, inexpensive solution that keeps the room open and usable.
Supplies used:
- Solid wood table (repurposed)
- Circular saw
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Level
- 2″x4″ board
- 1 3/4″ wood screws
- 2 1/2″ wood screws
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Midnight Blue
- 1 1/2″ angle brush (preferred)
I scored a solid wood kitchen table and four ladder-back chairs from Craigslist for $100 total. Cutting the tabletop in half turned it into two generous desktops at a fraction of the cost of new furniture.
The cutting process was straightforward and handled by Robert and his dad. Here’s what we did:
- Measured and marked the center line of the tabletop, then cut carefully with the circular saw.
- Notched the table apron to allow the 2×4 to sit flush and provide extra strength.
- Cut a 2″x4″ to the width of the table, leveled it on the wall, and secured it into studs with 2 1/2″ wood screws.
- Screwed the half-table into the 2″x4″ from the top using 1 3/4″ wood screws, then rechecked level to ensure the desk was perfectly flat.
The desks are super sturdy — I feel confident they’ll hold up to a kid’s climbing test, though I’d prefer if that never happens. Below is a photo showing the 2″x4″ secured with screws under the desk for reinforcement.
To add contrast against the room’s soft gray walls, I painted the bases of the desks in Fusion Mineral Paint’s Midnight Blue. Painting two of the ladder-back chairs the same color tied the look together and made the space feel cohesive. With four chairs included originally, I’ll likely sell the extra two to offset costs — that makes each desk with a chair about $50, which is a steal.
The space started coming to life with a few thrifted and repurposed finds: an industrial letter “S” salvaged from a sign (cleaned thoroughly) and a vintage globe I picked up for $5. These small touches bring personality and playfulness to the desk area without crowding the room.
Now Olivia has a dedicated spot for coloring and crafts, while I have a desk roomy enough for my laptop, notebooks, and glue gun. I parked a repurposed jewelry box here to corral office supplies and keep the desktop tidy between projects.
This side of the playroom is officially in place. I still need to style and arrange the built-in shelves — right now they’re holding a few placeholder items while I plan the final arrangement. You can spot a peek of the reclaimed wood wall we’re finishing up; that wall will add warmth and texture to the space.
Current playroom to-do list:
- DONE: Install built-in bookcases
- DONE: Paint and install desks
- DONE: Paint walls
- DONE: Choose and install a colorful rug
- DONE: Install ceiling fan
- Frame and paint window (almost done)
- Install reclaimed wood wall (almost done)
- Make oversized storybook art
- Hang curtains
- Paint wood crates
- Slipcover sofa
- Find and makeover a coffee table
- Decorate shelves
- Implement and organize toy storage
Progress feels great. Olivia and I might celebrate by crafting together at our new desks. I’m excited to see how the reclaimed wood wall, shelf styling, and storage solutions come together in the next update.
If you want to save this project for later inspiration, pin the images below.
*This post was sponsored by Fusion Mineral Paint. As always, my opinion of my favorite furniture paint is entirely my own.