This week I will be decorating my little boy’s bedroom. I will accomplish this fun task by using thrifted treasures, inherited items, antiques, vintage finds, and pieces my family brought over from our home in England. With a bit of creativity and love- a cozy bedroom space can be created. Please join me on this decorating adventure- where I will show you how easy it is to create a budget friendly vintage boy’s bedroom, by giving you lots of tips and decor ideas.
My aim for this post is to show you all how quality items can be purchased on a budget, and then in turn, used to create a collected space- perfect for a little boy to enjoy. Right, let’s not dilly and dally, let us jump right in for a fun day of thrifty decorating and bit of charming, vintage boyhood!
(For more extensive decorating ideas, see my Ultimate Guide to English Cottage Thrifting here.)
~How to Decorate a Boy's Bedroom on a Budget (You go to the Thrift Store of Course!)~
A few months ago, I decided to give my boy’s bedroom space…a little revamp.
And of course, I thought it was only fair to ask my two young boys to help me with the task. Afterall, they are the ones who live in their space.
So, I loaded my children into the car- for a trip to the thrift store. Upon our arrival, I asked the boys to be on the lookout for a few noteworthy items.
Their faces beamed with excitement when I asked for their expert help. It was a fun experience for all of us and, I enjoyed seeing the delightful things they picked out.
~How to Use Bunting Flags to Create a Vintage Boy's Bedroom~
Bunting flags are a beautiful European item that are often seen floating around many parts of England. I find bunting so charming that I enjoy using it to decorate many spaces in our home.
When our oldest daughter was born, my husband and I went into an adorable shop on the high street in England, where we bought her a personalized set of bunting flags for her bedroom. Following this, we have purchased each subsequent child a set of personalized, bunting flags from England-as birthday gifts.
You will see bits of the English bunting flags hanging above our boy’s dresser and on the wicker, European toy box.
~Dresser Tops, The Perfect Space to Decorate in a Boy's Bedroom~
Many bedrooms in England have wardrobes (this is in part because many bedrooms do not have built-in closets). We brought several wardrobes to America- from our home in England.
The boys have plenty of storage space in their wardrobe, but I wanted a dresser for a bit of warmth and charm.
So, when searching for a dresser in America, we wanted something that was full of character. I also wanted something that was not too tall, as the boys are both quite young.
When we found this dresser from a family in our town, I immediately thought the height was perfect- as it would allow the boys to have a reachable place to display some of their favorite things.
Then came the fun-decorating the top with them- and with their thrifted finds! Thus, the beginning of creating a vintage boy’s bedroom.
How to Use Budget Friendly Art to Decorate a Boy's Bedroom with Charm
~Dresser Art from the Thrift Mart~
Before going to the thrift store, I knew I wanted some art for the back dresser wall of the boy’s bedroom. Therefore, I programmed my thrifting radar to find some simple art pieces. Naturally, I was thrilled to discover a canvas print featuring a stone wall and some grazing sheep.
The sheep print was hiding on the floor of a thrift store. I turned it over for closer inspection and I immediately thought of my time in England. The stone walls and the sheep reminded me of wintery walks with my husband and our oldest daughter.
We enjoyed some lovely field walks in our village. England has wonderful, beautiful paths to wander.
I also found an actual painting of a boat that I believe has some age to it. The painting is signed by the artist which, in my opinion, makes it very special.
The other picture is also thrifted and is a charming, vintage, print of a teddy bear -which the boys both liked.
~A Bedroom Full of Books- A Must for a Boy's Bedroom~
The boy’s bedroom is filled with many delightful books.
My love for children’s books inspires me to scour the book section whenever I go thrift shopping. I especially love it when the books have personal, handwritten notes… hiding, just inside the cover.
In fact, I have been known to buy the book simply because there was a lovely, handwritten note inside.
Incidentally, I wanted a place to put some of our most special books. I looked for thrifted, vintage book ends for a long time, to no avail.
As a result of my unfruitful search, I went on eBay to further pursue my decorative idea. I was not disappointed when I stumbled across an adorable pair of cast iron, British bulldog book ends! They are now my favorite dresser find in the boy’s bedroom.
~Dresser Jewelry for a Vintage Boy's Bedroom~
I like to add decorative figurines to certain areas in the home, as they can add pizazz and personality to an otherwise- ordinary surface.
I knew the boy’s dresser needed a few adorable figures to add a bit of charm and fun.
As I mentioned before, I instructed the boys to be on the lookout for little things they would like on their dresser, and they did not disappoint.
The ceramic frog was a thrift find that my oldest son picked out, as he loves frogs and lizards.
The vintage puppy dog was made in Italy. It is a sweet, decorative figurine that my youngest son was drawn to.
We chose the little wooden box, firstly, because there was a handwritten note on the top, which gave us a little insight into its previous “life.”
If someone takes the time to write a note, ensuring the history of an item is known, it is worth buying in my opinion.
Also, I think every child can benefit from a little box to store treasures in. This box was only ninety-nine cents, but the note written on the top made it more valuable to me.
I guess I am a romantic thinker.
Lastly, the lamp is an antique that belonged to my grandad. It sheds a warm light on the space.
~The Dresser Top Display~
After putting all our special finds together, I am happy with the considered and storied top. These finds were not found all at once, but instead, over several months.
That is the beauty of gathering thrifted and vintage items, they all have a different “story” to tell.
Long may they continue.
~How to Create Cozy Reading Nooks in a Boy's Bedroom Without Breaking the Budget~
I also like to create little reading areas in my children’s rooms. It reminds me of my kindergarten classroom.
As a little girl, my peers and I were given small squares of carpet that we could then bring to any cozy area in the classroom to enjoy reading time. I try to create this in my home as well- as I always want to foster a love for reading.
I like to have cozy areas where the boys can go when they have quiet time in the afternoons to look at their books. This gives me a bit of time to do laundry, or prep for dinner, or do a more in-depth homeschool lesson with our oldest daughter. Win, Win!
Sometimes, a mom needs a bit of tranquility too! Cue the quiet reading time.
~Thrifted Children's Books for Cozy Reading Nooks~
Speaking of reading, one of our favorite books from England is called Alfie’s Feet. It is written by Shirley Hughes. Craig and I got it from a secondhand bookstore in England, shortly after our daughter was born. We brought it back to America with us.
Not long ago, I was looking at the children’s book section of a thrift store, and I saw a hardback book with the word “lorry” on it. (I knew this word from being in England. It is another word for an articulated lorry, also known as an eighteen-wheeler). I did not have time to read it, but put it in the shopping cart.
When I got in the car, and opened the book, I knew immediately that the illustrations were the same as the ones featured in Alfie’s Feet!
After arriving home, I found Alife’s Feet and saw the authors were the same on our book, and The Big Concrete Lorry.
I was so happy to have found it-or maybe, just maybe- it “found me.”
The Big Concrete Lorry also has a cute note printed inside- giving words that American children may not know- that are used in the book. Words like dustbin and aeroplane.
Finds, like this, I always feel are somehow meant to be.
~How to Use Wall Art to Create a Charming Vintage Boy's Bedroom~
Another feature I wanted to create in the boy’s bedroom was a collage wall. I love collages of artwork, all put together on a wall. In my opinion, they can tell such wonderful stories. As each new piece is added, the story of life and its memories is being told. I like to think of walls as a storyteller.
This gallery wall is an amalgamation of thrift, new, and family items.
The cityscape of Chicago was a gift I gave to Craig when we were dating.
The painting of the little girl and boy was painted by my grandfather a long time ago.
The two cross stitch pictures add a bit of warmth and vintage appeal to the space.
The squirrel and the bee were a thrift find, and I thought they were charming. Clearly someone put a lot of work into them- making them even more valuable in my eyes.
The cross-stitched bible verse is a family piece.
I love gallery walls because they can be easily swapped out with new thrifted artwork. They are also very individualized to the taste of the room’s dweller.
~Top Tips for Creating a Budget Friendly Gallery Art Wall: ~
- Visit your local thrift stores, church rummage sales, or yard sales to begin collecting cute pieces of inexpensive wall art.
- Think outside the box. A wall gallery can have things other than a traditional framed piece of art or a canvas. Metal or wooden words make a gallery wall unique. Small mirrors can make a big impact and create the illusion of space and light.
- Before hanging items on the wall, place the items on the ground and arrange freely until you like the shape and overall design.
- Start in the middle of the wall and work your way out. Padding each empty space with a unique and meaningful item.
- Remember that gallery walls can take time… and that is okay. Add fun items when you find them. This creates a wall that is continually growing and telling a story.
- As you add each piece of wall art, consider the area you have and space items out evenly to give a cohesive look.
- Stand back and look at the gallery wall after hanging a new piece. In this way you are always keeping your original vision in mind.
- Don’t worry about perfection…unless you want to. Some personalities would prefer a perfectly measured, and concisely spaced, gallery wall. Others will prefer a more fluid, artsy style. Create whatever style you feel most comfortable with.
- Have fun and enjoy the creative process!
~How to Decorate a Shelf with Budget Friendly Vintgage Treasures~
I enjoy decorating our home with dedicated areas to place special treasures. Sometimes this is in an old china cabinet or bookcase, and other times… it is a shelf on the wall.
For the boys’ room, I decided to use a shelf that was mine as a little girl. I wanted them to have a safe space to put things they liked or found important at the time. I decided not to repaint the shelf so that it kept its history and vintage feel.
The cross stitch of the two cars was a piece I found at an antique, thrift mall. I thought it showcased skill, and I loved the way it was framed. It also had an inscription on the back… which I loved.
The bits and bobs on the top of the shelf are a wooden, carved giraffe which we got at a thrift store, some of my dad’s old toy cars and blocks when he was a boy, and a peg board my husband made.
These bits are personal and special items to us-so we place them there to keep them safe.
~A Wall Decor Idea for a Charming Vintage Boy's Bedroom~
~How to Use a Vintage Trumpet from the Thrift Store to Decorate a Boy's Bedroom~
A trumpet? Yes, yes…you read that right…a trumpet.
The trumpet we recently found at the thrift store. I tried it in two different places (the dresser and the shelf). I liked the shelf the best for now. This way, the trumpet is seen- but not able to be played with by curious, little hands.
The trumpet was made in Italy, and unfortunately, is not in usable condition. However, I think it is perfect for a unique interior decoration- as its shape and form is beautiful.
The shop owner knew a bit of the trumpet’s history. She told us it was from the 1920’s and it was donated by its original owner.
The story alone was enough for me to know; we needed to take it home…and I knew just the place for it to live.
How about you- has a vintage item ever “spoken” to you? If while considering the item, you can “see” where the item would fit in your home… then the item is “speaking” to you. It may be worth putting it in your shopping cart.
~Final Thoughts Until Next Week~
Well, that brings us to the end of another fun blog post. I hope I filled your mind with budget friendly decor ideas and fed you imagination with vintage inspirations. Remember, decorating a home can be done on a budget. Creating a sweet home space for your family can be accomplished with a bit of treasure hunting and patience.
If you enjoyed this post on budget friendly vintage boy’s bedroom decor ideas, why not check out my vintage inspired girl’s bedroom now? You can see how I decorated a room in a similar fashion for my two precious little girls here.
For more ideas and inspirations don’t forget to visit my Cotswold Kitchen Mom Facebook and Pinterest pages. Also, subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss a creative post.
Until next time!
~Elizabeth~