Room Update: Big Girl Bedroom Ideas

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How to decorate a tween girl’s bedroom

I’m sharing some of my big girl bedroom ideas that reflect a more classic and mature taste. Hopefully, these choices will endure through the next few years without much change. But be prepared – adolescent girls can go through room design styles with the speed with which they outgrow clothes.

Typically the big girl bedroom update refers to the transition from a nursery to a toddler or adult-sized bed. My daughter already did that years ago. But we all know that the initial transition is rarely the final update.

Depending on how specifically you decorated that big girl’s room, she will likely outgrow the toddler-style choices she or you made for her. There is another big threshold to cross as kids move into the pre-teen years. 

Big girl bedroom design – size and budget

As much as I tried to make classic choices for my daughter’s big girl room, our styles have evolved through the years. There were small updates along the way. At different points, she got a new bed, nightstands, window treatments, and bedding. The latest big update involves a change of the wallpaper, a new dresser, and a desk for her brand-new gaming computer. Yep, my little girl isn’t so little anymore. 

Because this is probably the smallest room in our house, this design should be a great resource if you’re looking for big girl bedroom ideas for small rooms. There are some pieces in the design that I splurged on (ahem the dresser, albeit on a clearance sale), and others that fit into the girl bedroom ideas on a budget category. I made the pinch pleat drapes by sewing together inexpensive panels from Target.

The new room has a vintage-modern design. It blends classic patterns and fabrics with a modern streamlined furniture style.

Bedroom wallpaper for girls 

My daughter’s room already had a wallpaper accent wall I installed years ago. I removed the old wallpaper and installed a new wallpaper in its place. This time wrapping around the entire room. The new wallpaper has a vintage block print design on a cream-tone background. The old wallpaper had a pure white background and a larger grey-tone block print. It fits more within the light and bright coastal style of the old room. 

Girl’s bedroom furniture 

A full-size bed for the girls’ room

I chose a full-size bed for the new big girl’s bedroom. It is more comfortable than the previous twin size my daughter had as a toddler. It is also the largest size that could fit in this small bedroom, leaving just enough room for nightstands on each side.

This West Elm bed has sloping wingback sides and is fully upholstered in vintage mauve velvet. I love using upholstered beds because they make pairing with other furniture very easy. You don’t need to go and find a matching big girl bedroom furniture set. This bed is a great value and is incredibly well-made and sturdy. I have been very happy with my furniture from West Elm, including the famous velvet Marin sofa. 

Seagrass-wrapped dresser

The Serena and Lily dresser for this big girl bedroom is another perfect blend of vintage and modern. Unfortunately, this exact dresser is no longer sold. I snagged it during a clearance sale. But there is another dresser that looks just like it. It has the same classic seagrass material wrapped over modern straight lines and inset plain-front drawers. A word of advice, get a piece of glass to protect the top. My daughter already has a stain on it. Seagrass is not as easy to clean or wipe down as wood. But it’s absolutely stunning!

In the past, I have replicated this look by using faux grasscloth wallpaper to wrap around a DIY console table.

Wicker nightstands

The scalloped nightstands are also from Serena and Lily and I already shared a detailed review post. They are a great accent piece that ties in the natural materials and tones of the rest of the furnishings. The scalloped details add beautiful feminine detail. Check out my Nightstand Styling post for tips and ideas!

Vintage turned leg desk

The latest furniture update in the room is the desk from the Ginny Macdonald collection at Lulu and Georgia. The desk looks like an heirloom piece with its hand-turned legs, raised back, and sloped sides. The tone fits perfectly with the rest of the furniture in the room. Maybe because this desk is marketed as a console table, it has a compact profile that allows it to fit in this small bedroom. At the same time, the lack of a middle bar and the presence of drawers, make it perfect to use as a kid’s desk.  Use my special discount code STEFANASILBER15 to save 15% on your Lulu and Georgia orders.

Girl’s bedding sets

I love mixing patterns and having fun with bedding is the safest and most budget-friendly way to experiment. The block print bedding in a smaller pattern is a great way to tie in the vintage element from the wallpaper. This Target quilt and shams are no longer available but here are some similar options:

Woven chandelier

The rope chandelier is the one item I have kept throughout all these updates. It is oversized and a statement maker but it doesn’t break the bank. File that under big girl bedroom ideas on a budget!

Plush rug

A couple of years ago we replaced all of the carpet in our bedrooms with hardwood that matches the rest of the house. Hardwood in a bedroom may come across as cold and unwelcoming. However, laying one of these Loloi CloudPile rugs makes it immediately plush and cozy. The rugs are similar to the brand’s famous vintage-style printed rugs and come with a similarly low price tag. Another win for the budget conscious. But unlike the flat printed rugs, the new construction has a super soft and plush pile – the patented CloudPile technology. The rug in this room is the Antique/Sage color.

Big girl bedroom wall decor and accents

One of the advantages of using wallpaper on every wall of the room is that it removes the need for hanging wall art. Other than mirrors, I decided to add just a single pair of prints above the desk. The best accessories in a kid’s room are the ones that perform double duty – both as decor and to store toys and items out of site. I love using the La Jolla lidded hamper baskets from Serena and Lily. A tray on the dresser or nightstand is a great way to corral small items.

Before and after room photos

Because everyone loves them, and for the sake of my readers and IG followers who remember this room from years ago, here are some before and after photos of the room. You can see how much my decorating style has changed over the past 4 years.

The old bed was the Colette upholstered wood frame bed from Pottery Barn Teen. Still, a very beautiful bed that I recommend. I also love the old wallpaper from Serena and Lily but my style evolved away from coastal and toward a vintage modern aesthetic.