Jack's Room

Jack is sleeping in a toddler bed. Said toddler bed was less than $50 from Walmart just over three years ago. We bought it for Payson before Jack was born because she had started climbing out of her crib and because we knew the new baby was going to need the crib anyway. When my parents gave me my old bedroom furniture last year, Payson moved into one of those twin beds and Jack moved from the crib into the toddler bed.

After just over 3 years the toddler bed is shot. Slats are breaking and the rails are super wobbly. And Jack is growing out of it quickly. It's just a cheap piece and we knew it wouldn't last too long. So Jack needs a big boy bed.

(The dresser/changing table in that room are also from Walmart. We bought a lot of cheap furniture there when we were first married because it was what we could afford and we weren't thinking ahead. Now everything we've ever bought from there is falling to pieces after only a few years. Everything else is gone at this point. Those pieces lasted the longest but are all falling apart at this point.)

Anyway, Jack's 3rd birthday is coming up in less than two weeks. So we've decided that Jack will get toys and such from his sister and aunts and uncles and grandparents. This is the only thing he NEEDS right now. So he's getting this one expensive gift.

I have looked at lots of pictures and thought and thought and thought about what I want to do in his room. I have learned a few lessons in the last few years. One is that whatever it is it has to be quality. Cheap isn't really cheap when it's falling to pieces every year and you're constantly replacing it. And I don't want anything super "childish". Not that I want him to have an adult room, but I want something he can grow with, something classic. No characters or anything.

I think I've settled on this:

I ADORE this set from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child. I love the colors and even the vintage baseball theme. It's cute for now and won't be too "childish" when he's older. And the picture already has his name in it, so it's a sign, right?! Anyway, I love it. I'm using this as my inspiration.

Here are my dilemmas. For one, we plan to have another baby (or 2, or 3, or whatever). And especially after our loss in December, hopefully within the next year that will happen. Initially that baby would be in a bassinet in our room and then move to the crib (which is in Jack's room). If that baby is a girl, that baby would then move into the extra twin bed in Payson's room. Bedding is already there and waiting. But if that baby is a boy it would eventually share a room with Jack. I'm thinking bunk beds would easily solve this problem. It would give us a spare bed for guests for the next few years and then when future-hypothetical-baby-boy is old enough he would have a bed waiting for him. And I like the idea of not having to find matching bedding three years down the road. Now a bunk bed (and mattresses) are actually about the same price as a new twin bed and mattress set. It's the bedding that gets costly. An extra set of bedding and sheets isn't super duper cheap. So what do I care more about? Saving money NOW? Or having everything there when I need it in the future?

My next dilemma is that, unfortunately, RH is not in my budget. Boo hoo. I've been scouring the internet (because there are no stores where I live) and have found plenty of stuff that is close enough to get the look. But even with what I found online, all furniture, bedding, and accessories included is still more than I can afford or want to spend. So I've got to find ways to bring the cost down.

This is the kind of thing that makes me wish I still lived in Utah county. Ugh. I could just pick up some solid, inexpensive furniture from DI and yard sales and refinish it. I'd probably splurge a little on the bedding. Not RH, but all new and the same look. And between thrift stores, home decor sales/yard sales, and what I have on hand I could probably knock out this room for a decent price. I'm even willing to make a few trips back and forth. But I own a Dodge Stratus. Not a pick up truck or SUV. I have no space to haul things back. Renting a truck is too much money (because of gas and mileage). So who wants to loan me their truck for a week so I can go shopping?!

Any ideas? I've postponed finishing up our family room (which is *thisclose* to being finished) because Jack's room needs attention more than I "need" a cute new rug and sectional. There's nothing wrong with what we've got now. I just want something new. And his room really is literally falling apart. So how can I find ways to cut costs but still have to quality I want and the look I'm going for? Help me please!!