Here are my ideas for son's bedroom

**zeuss** · Mar 26th, 08, 12:35 am

The room is very small and he collects lots of stuff. My son just turned 11 and he has most of the StarWars lego models and all of the Lord of the Rings action figures. Add a growning set of football and dance trophies and awards - and his room is all about storage! He is also already 5'3 1/2" 160lbs with a mens size 10.5 EE shoe! I wish I had room for a queen bed, but this will have to do.

We had the Hemnes white day bed in what was a guest room (soon to be dd's room). So I thought I would put it in my son's room for the great storage and find a way to go to a double when he doesn't fit in a single bed anymore. This plan will allow it to pull out the 15" so he can sleep diagonally.

All the cabinetry is Ikea in black-brown. There are 2 PAX units with the Hemnes doors, a short Billy wide unit with an extra shelf (to fit under the eaves) and 3 tall narrow Billy units with glass doors. I figure the dark wood would show the dust so the glass doors will be great to showcase his "stuff" in a dust-free way.

To make getting at the under bed storage easier, the Hemnes table is nice and light-weight. I think I'll hang a lamp so the table top won't get so crowded.

Above the bed are kitchen cabinets. I think there will be room for 3 18" high 30" wide cabinets with Nexus brown-black. They'll need coverpanels on the underside as well as the one end, but should be great additional storage.

But that leaves the Hemnes bed - it is white. So I think I'll try to knock the gloss finish off with tsp or liquid sandpaper, prime with a good sticks-to-anything primer, and paint it Bittersweet Chocolate.

The bedding is just a set from Sears, but it is a microfibre suede.

Finally, I think I've found a cool wallpaper for the 'red' wall. It is red with a 'mod' stylized squares outlined all over it in black, white and tan. I think it will be the bit of whimsy and fun needed to make it a boy's room (that and all the Lego!)

**zeuss** · Mar 26th, 08, 12:41 am

Here is a view from the other corner. The wood textures are rendering all funny, but you get the idea.

**zeuss** · Mar 26th, 08, 12:51 am

Here is the wallpaper I have in mind. I have to wait to see if the colours are right.

**zeuss** · Mar 26th, 08, 1:07 am

So any thoughts about painting the Hemnes white bed? It is solid wood, but laquered finish. I thought if I could just dull the gloss with liquid sandpaper or something like that, then some good Benj. Moore sticks-to-anything primer, I'd be OK.

Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

drlith · Mar 26th, 08, 6:47 am

Have you thought about some sort of wall-mounted shelving/storage, either over head or immediately next to the bed, rather than the little bedside table that needs to be moved to access the drawers?

Also, if I were in your shoes and looking at that boy's, I'd be trying to figure out a way to fit a full size bed in now, rather than later, especially since the twin option is still going to require a lot of work on your part, and an investment in bedding that matches the window treatments, etc.

Do you have a desk area?

**kisaacs** · Mar 26th, 08, 8:23 am

Another option instead of a double bed is to try to find an extra long twin. That's what he'll be stuck with when he goes to college (eventually), and they definitely provide enough space for a taller person without taking up so much space in what looks to be a narrow room.

They're 80" long as opposed to the standard 75". They're actually longer than a double/full bed, so they might fit him better as he grows, and I think it looks like you've got the extra 5".

Kristen

**kisaacs** · Mar 26th, 08, 8:28 am

A quick google search...I was thinking something like this. Might be worth it if you can't figure out how to refinish the bed you have.

Extra Long Espresso Finish Twin Bed/Storage - eBay (item 220204003875 end time Mar-20-08 17:10:54 PDT)

**zeuss** · Mar 26th, 08, 10:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by kisaacs

Another option instead of a double bed is to try to find an extra long twin. That's what he'll be stuck with when he goes to college (eventually), and they definitely provide enough space for a taller person without taking up so much space in what looks to be a narrow room.

They're 80" long as opposed to the standard 75". They're actually longer than a double/full bed, so they might fit him better as he grows, and I think it looks like you've got the extra 5".

Kristen

I've heard of long twins, but I don't know if I've ever seen one. And how do I find bedding for it? That would be perfect. If he grows as much in the next few years as everyone predicts, he'll need it.

madp67 · Mar 26th, 08, 10:33 am

I believe you would search for "California Twin" bedding.

I thought about that night table Zeuss, as did Drlith. The floating shelves would be better for the overall look of your room as well as not having to constantly move that little table everytime your son climbs into bed or needs access to the storage underneath.

Otherwise, I'm really liking this room.

**kisaacs** · Mar 26th, 08, 10:53 am

The best time to try to find bedding for extra long twins is during the summer. All the colleges use them, so anyone shopping for a kid going off to college needs to find that kind of bedding. I've seen them in all sorts of stores (Target comes to mind). When I searched for the bed, I just searched for "extra long twin with storage" and had no trouble. You don't have as much selection as with standard sizes, but there is quite a bit, especially during the summer.

A lot of them are solid. Here's a link to Target's "College" section. They have a special section for xlong twins.

Bed + Bath : College 07 : Target

Kristen