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Girls’ Reading Nook: No Money Makeover

February 10, 2014 By: Stephanie15 Comments

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No Money Reading Nook Makeover

Our girls share a bedroom. The room has two small closets and between them there is this window seat. (There is storage underneath where we keep clothes that Abby has outgrown that we are saving for Penny.) My vision has always been to turn this area into a little reading nook.

before

I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on this project.

I’m happy to report that the reading nook is finished and the final cost was…$0!

Eddie built some shelves from wood scraps that we had in the garage, using Ana White’s plans, and painted them with the paint left over from our fireplace mantle project. I tried to get creative to make the rest of the space cute and inviting.

book shelves made from wood scraps

I had some very ugly pillows that came with our sofa. They were so weird. The pattern reminded me of olives and eyeballs. Who wants to sleep on either of those things? Not me. Not only were they ugly, they were threadbare, flat, scratchy and just generally in rough shape.

ugly pillow before

I re-covered them with a yard of purple fleece that I had in my fabric stash. I bought it a few years ago when the fabric store had a crazy off-season sale on fleece. I was planning to use it to make pajama pants for the girls, but never did.

Now the pillows are much more comfy and cute. The model is pretty cute too.

recovered pillows

cute pillows

We used old curtains from Eddie’s college dorm room to cover the windows.

cushions

I used a queen-size flat bed sheet for the white curtain in front. I just cut the sides off of the top hem to open it up and slid an old shower curtain tension rod through the hem. The tension rod was from a bathroom at our old house and didn’t fit the decor or the walls in our new bathrooms. Instant no-sew curtain! The curtain tie I think is canvas. I found it in my sewing scraps. You can’t even tell it is a totally different fabric because the colors match so closely. 

no money makeover

   nook for reading reading nook  reading shelves  sisters reading

I’d say this project was a hit. đŸ™‚

 

linking to Serenity Now,

Home Stories A to Z

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Comments

  1. Jessica (@jessbwatson) says

    February 11, 2014 at 7:32 am

    This is such a great idea and the pictures are so sweet. I need to borrow some of your creativity!

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      February 12, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      Thanks, Jess. I love the pics of the girls reading.

      Reply
  2. Kathy@kissingthefrog says

    February 11, 2014 at 11:56 am

    Cute, fun, and affordable! Awesome – way to go, Mom!

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      February 12, 2014 at 2:20 pm

      Thanks, Kathy. Can you get your boys to sit still and read? Because as much as I try with Nicholas and buy books on his level and about his interest, the little dude really couldn’t care less.

      Reply
  3. Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas says

    February 12, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    I love it and I love that you didn’t spend any money! That is such a great way to decorate. When my daughter was young, we made a princess reading nook in her room for her. She spent so much time there. We didn’t spend too much money on that either, but more than you for sure!

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      February 12, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      awww..I bet her princess nook was cute!

      Reply
  4. paulasweetpea says

    February 12, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    What a great way to use this space in the girls’ bedroom. I know that they will spend countless hours enjoying this space.

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      February 12, 2014 at 7:40 pm

      I’m totally jealous. I know I would spend hours there if it was in my bedroom!

      Reply
  5. Amy - Funny Is Family says

    February 15, 2014 at 9:48 pm

    I want that for myself! We have windows like that, but without the bench seat. I wonder if I could convince my husband to build the bench to kick off this project? Your little models are adorable!

    Reply
    • Stephanie {Binkies and Briefcases} says

      February 16, 2014 at 7:40 am

      ooooo…I hope you can convince him! I LOVE our bench. It’s one of my favorite parts of our whole house.

      Reply
  6. Alison Moore Smith says

    February 16, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    This is seriously awesome. Not only do I LOVE books (we have a library full, complete with rolling ladder! yes, we love books!) but I love that you have made reading seem so fun and inviting for your kids. May the new nook get tons of use!

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      February 16, 2014 at 3:15 pm

      I want to see YOUR library!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Top 5 Things That Make My Life as a Work at Home Mom Easier - Binkies and Briefcases says:
    February 24, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    […] the kids can play amongst themselves without a lot of adult interference and the girls have the reading nook as well as a dollhouse and play kitchen in their bedroom (and I have a direct view of their room […]

    Reply
  2. Welcome to Binkies and Briefcases - Binkies and Briefcases says:
    October 8, 2014 at 11:31 am

    […] My Girl’s $0 Reading Nook: This is my favorite space in our house, and it was […]

    Reply
  3. Building the Dream: Drywall and My Covered Porches! • Binkies and Briefcases says:
    April 17, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    […] had the electrician add a recessed light that wasn’t originally in the plan because I want to create a reading nook in that area. I’m also in love with our extra tall windows. The ceilings are 9 feet high (12 feet in the […]

    Reply

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Binkies and Briefcases with Stephanie Giese

Stephanie Giese is an indie author based in Florida. She writes stories about realistic problems with humor, heart, and sass. Her work has a strong focus on mental health and consent. Her North Bay small-town romance series is set for release in 2025.

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