Kids: 6 year old girl, 5 and 2.5 year old boys
Location: Madison, WI
Room Size: 10' x 10'
Meg is the creative force behind the popular blog Elsie Marley and the creative mom behind the three siblings who live in this room. We loved it back when it was just a little nursery for one, then Meg made space for another child, and then another. Sharing a 1,000 square foot two-bedroom home in Wisconsin, this family of five has done more than simply making do with a small space. This is a masterful study in working with what you have, efficiency, resourcefulness and beauty.
Inspired by another 3-in-1 kids' room she saw on Apartment Therapy, Meg was certain that she could make this space work for three kids to coexist comfortably with room for a desk and a dresser. The starting point was the spectacular cloud rail loft bed that Meg enlisted her carpenter brother to make. That's where the five year old sleeps, and big sister sleeps on the IKEA bed below. Baby brother's crib is opposite the clouds. The white changing table has a little surprise when the drawers open, and wooden boxes hold useful stashes in the storage shelves overhead.
Confronted with the challenge of making a small closet work for three kids, Meg made the strong choice of ditching it altogether. Off came the doors and in went an art studio, constructed with cloud bed leftovers. Each child has a dresser drawer and they all share the fourth. All remaining clothing and stuff is tucked away in abundant stealth storage. Linens are stored under the crib along with dolls and puzzles. The hairpin leg ottoman serves as a toy box, and dress up clothes and PJs belong under the twin bed. The underbed storage systems consist of vintage boxes on casters and a rockstar road case found on the side of the road. Here's what Meg told us about bringing together this incredibly thoughtful and fun room for her kids.
What is your favorite element in the room?
The cloud bed is everyone's favorite, but I've discovered I like the big blank wall the best. It allows me to change the room with the season. There really isn't the option of rearranging the furniture in this room, so switching up projects on the wall makes the room seem new again. The waxed leaves we did in the fall was my favorite project so far, but the Christmas tree was good too, and I love the flowers now. I guess I like them all!
What was the greatest decorating challenge?
Actually getting it done! We couldn't work during nap time or after the kids went to bed, because well, the bedroom is where they do both. A little work here and there and nine months later we were finished.
What do your friends say about the room?
They say it looks smaller in person :) But no really, my friends are lovely and they have nothing but good things to say about it.
What is your proudest DIY?
I'm very happy with how the neighborhood map turned out, even though it's not exactly finished yet. I borrowed an overhead projector from a friend and had a map printed onto a transparency (at Kinkos). Then I traced the streets onto an old quilting board that we screwed to the wall. I painted it with acrylic paint and after it dried went over the whole map again, outlining everything in pencil. It is still waiting for railroad tracks and street names and bike paths. I'm sure they will come in time. I also really love the dresser drawers and the art supply storage and of course the cloud bed.
What was your biggest indulgence?
There wasn't really much we spent money on in this room. The cloud bed was probably the most expensive, because of the lumber.
What advice would you give to someone designing a child's room for the first time?
You will need to change up the room every three years or so: a newborn, a 3 year old, a kindergartener, they all need very different things. Try to think about how the room can change to meet their growing needs and possibly your growing family!
If money was no object, what would be your dream source?
If money was no object, I would hop on a plane to Istanbul and go shopping in the Grand Bazaar or maybe to NY to shop at ABC Carpet & Home.
Source List:
• neighborhood map, cloud loft, art studio desk and supply wall, changing table cover, bumper, lightening bolt balance board: DIY
• twin bed: IKEA
• nightlight, hamper, toy box: thrift store
• dresser, underbed storage, mirror: curbside finds
• cutebot wooden robot: The Century House
• tooth fairy shadow puppet: Owly Shadow Puppets
• art studio chair: TJ Maxx
• rag rug: local hardware store
• fake flowers: Joann's
Thanks, Meg! See what Meg and company are doing and making at Elsie Marley.
(Images: Meg Spaeth)
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Love this! The sides of the drawers is such a great little touch.
This is wonderful. Creative and magical.b
Three things I love: the neighborhood map, the plants (never thought to put any in my kid's room!), and the ladder. Okay, four things - I love the animal masks on the wall, too :)
I like it.
I love that all three kids co-exist in a great room. I'm sure it's not a fight-free zone, but the camaraderie will be long lasting. My favorite design element is the desk in the closet.
What a lucky family! Everything about this room is kid-perfect. Best of all, it's not so over-the-top kiddie that it's going to be a huge undertaking to redo when they get older.
What will this family do when the kids are older? (related to my own situation, I'm wondering what parents of opposite sex children do to provide privacy in small spaces). What are your thoughts for the future, Elsie?
That's the second time I've seen that day bed (the one with the scroll work) in an AT room tour. Anyone know where to buy?
@Sepher - check IKEA. Regarding the child crawling out of the crib: my folks left me in crib after I was mobile like this child and that's exactly how I broke my tibia, falling onto the hardwood floor.
@Sepher : This bed is actually and evolutive bed (goes from toddler to twin-size) from IKEA http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19827958/
Those stairs are totally unsafe.
This is so great, I love all of the colors and textures.
That ladder against the wall is brilliant. We have a bunk bed and the ladder is always a problem with space constraints.
Wonderful - this is what I come to Apartment Therapy for. Interesting, resourceful solutions to creating lovely useful spaces within a reasonable budget. More, please!
How does mom get three small children to coexist with differing nap & nighttime sleep schedules? My littles share a room & disturb each other all night, every night with crying, screaming, shrieking & what not.
I think this room looks wonderful. I love that it's not so design-y and really does look like someone was smart and thrifty and resourceful to create a fun and aesthetically pleasing space for their home. A real home that gets lived in and dirty and used by kids and tired parents - a family! So many of the rooms on this site are beautiful and great for inspiration points, but they look like they hired professional designers to do a room and come across as being slightly sterile and blandly over designed. I also like seeing photos of the kids using the space. Sure some of the other commenters points about safety are worth considering, but perhaps the parents have trained their kids to be safe and smart so they aren't such serious concerns after all. Thanks for sharing this room Meg and AT!
Love Love Love this room!
Love it! What a fun space for these kids to spend their young years together. The ladder looks sturdy to me, and the crib rail may be up just for pictures (and what kid can resist climbing an obstacle once presented!). I'm going to guess that these loving parents who pay such close attention to detail in their children's room are also aware of the needs and capabilities of those kids. Great job!
Well said BETTERBOMBSHELL!
I agree BetterBombshell. If you say this place is unsafe for children, be sure to never take yours to a playground.
Love it.
I don't comment much, but as a now 30 year old that shared a room with her brothers until she was about 16 (now 28 and 20!) I just need to say it can be done to those who doubt the sleep schedules or space restraints. There was never another option. My parents could have wasted money on a larger space or remained in our 2 bedroom apartment, thus maintaining financial security for our family. I think a lot of us in the 80 and 90s grew up sharing rooms and today the sentiment seems to be that children need their own room from a very, very young age. Brothers and sisters can co-exist in a shared room! It has made my brothers and I closer over the years...even when we can't stand each other because of something petty we have always been there for one another.
And to the safety police, kids get hurt. It happens. Period. My brothers fell off their bunk beds at first and then they didn't because they figured out their boundaries....we all need to breathe a little and remember that parents are not being selfish for living in a small space. Just maybe they are happy, content and financially secure because of it! When did living in your means become passe? I balm the McMansion boom!
With that said, I love this space. It works and seems easily transformable as they grow. I love that you made the space for a desk area. My parents did this too and it made our space feel complete somehow.
I love it!! Just because you have 3 kids doesnt mean you need a flippin mansion! Good for them for finding creative solutions and making it work. Their kids look happy from what i can see. To all you debbie downers with nothing better to do... im guessing you dont have kids. I have 2, they get hurt. On the playground, simple walks outside, in the house. They learn fast. Gimme a break...
This a GREAT room tour. Where she lays out all the stuff and boxes she manages to cram under the beds? Genius - and so inspiring and helpful. My favorite element is how they sited the cloud bed so that both the loft and the lower bed get natural light from the window. I wish this lady had a blog because it looks like there is a LOT going on in that family.
I adore this room!!!
I love this room!!! I would like to know how you pasted the flowers on the walll? I love to do this at my apartment in Costa Rica!
what a cool and harmonious room !
I love that Meg did such an amazing and inventive job with so little money. It's inspiring to see that the kids are so happy with the outcome too. Kudos!
Such a fun room. Very jealous.