Since my son LOVES robots (see Robots & Aliens Birthday! for proof, and coming soon – Robot Halloween Costume), I decided to make his bedroom into a robot theme. This is a work in progress, so for now I will share what I’ve completed in the room and a few of my plans for more finishing touches.
Above are my son’s little friends. He named them ‘Monster’ and ‘Robot’; how creative. In his defense, he’s only two and at his age it might be a stretch for him to come up with more elaborate names for his stuffed animals. Whenever he picks up ‘Robot’, he yells “Beep, Beep, Robot!” in his best robotic voice. It’s one of the many adorable things he does. Ok, enough sappy mommy stuff and on to the robot decor…
First, the bedding:
Robot Bedding
These adorable Robot Sheets were purchased at The Land of Nod, along with the Robot Throw Pillow. The gray Tile Stitch Quilt and shams are from Target. I love that they are reversible (light & dark grey) so you can change it up if you want, or just add some interest when you fold down the top.
The Ugly Doll (AKA: ‘Monster’) isn’t a robot, but he just seemed to fit. ‘Robot’ was purchased at a little shop on a business trip in Portland, OR, which I don’t recall the name of. If I figure that out, I will link back to it. Isn’t he cute!? I had to do a little surgery on him though; he had huge pom-pom ears that I knew were probably not safe for toddlers. They were glued on, whereas the one on top is very securely sewed in.
Bedtime Stories in Robot Jammies
Some may be curious why my two year old is sleeping in this giant bed. There are a few reasons: 1- The bed is one of those 3-in-1 convertible crib, toddler bed, and full-size bed frame types and there just weren’t any robot sheets for a crib/toddler mattress (Go ahead, look. You won’t find anything worth buying). 2- My hubby and I were getting really tired of trying to rock him to sleep and then delicately transferring him into his toddler bed. Or worse; lying on the floor next to his bed until he falls asleep because our bodies are too big to lay in the toddler bed. Reading stories in bed next to him seemed like a much less complicated bedtime ritual, plus he’s really tall so he could easily get on/off his new bed at 22 months. 3- Did I mention I really wanted a robot themed room and there were no sheets for a crib/toddler sized mattress? Is forcing a milestone onto my child for decorative reasons really that bad? Probably.
Accents:
Orange Table Lamp
The colors in the bedding are teal, grey and orange, so I’m working within that range for all the ‘extras’. I couldn’t resist these table lamps, also found at The Land of Nod (I could spend hours there!). The graphite base and orange shade tied in perfectly with the bedding. I was afraid that he would try to play with these in the middle of the night, but it’s been about 6 months and he hasn’t touched them once. Phew!
It wouldn’t be a proper little boys room without his name pasted up on the wall (as if we’d forget who’s room it is). So, I dug up several black frames I had lying around, and painted them with Martha Stewart Metallic Paint in Thundercloud. This paint was awesome; I’ll definitely be looking for another project to use it with soon. It dried quickly and made a faux-aluminium finish with just a couple of coats using even, directional, brush strokes.
Metallic Frames
I cut out the letters of his name in metallic grey and orange paper using a Cricut Expression at my local scrapbook shop. If you are into scrap-booking, or crafting, this modern die cutting machine is amazing! There are tons of fonts to choose from and different shadow options. They also have shapes and all sorts of other fun things. Many scrap-book stores (like the one I go to) will offer a monthly membership that includes the use of their die-cutter, or Cricut.
I mounted the letters on cute robot paper that was leftover from his Robots & Aliens Birthday. Conveniently, the paper contained teal, grey and orange, so it tied right in with the color sceme. Many nights he points to each letter and spells out his name, so I guess they had an educational purpose after all.
Robot Name
Accent Wish-List:
As I mentioned before, this is a room-in-progress and there are still many things on my to-do list.
Benjamin Moore Paint -
First, the walls need a new color. The current shade is a golden-beige which is a bit too warm for all of the grey accents in the room. I am really into this Benjamin Moore color – ‘Cosmopolitan’. It’s the perfect beigy-grey and will make a great backdrop for all those robots! Now, I just need to convince hubby to spend a weekend painting with me (his least favorite project).
Another thing on the list is to make a large magnet board to hang on the wall adjacent to my sons bed. I got a cute set of robot magnets, which was the inspiration for the magnet board.
Large Wood Framed Corkboard
I’ve seen Large Wood-Framed Corkboards from Pottery Barn that are just about the same size and concept, only I will be making mine from scratch and the backdrop will be metal instead of cork. I plan to paint the frame in orange to stick with the color scheme. I imagine magnetic letters and shapes will provide hours of entertainment for my son, and it can double as a bulletin board for his artwork.
The bedside tables I currently have in the room are on temporary loan from our guest room, and I have been looking for new ones so I can get that room back in order.
Vintage Steel Shoe Locker End Table
I would love to go all out with the robot theme on these industrial looking Vintage Steel Shoe Locker End Tables. They’re a little out of my price range, so stay tuned and I may come up with a DIY project to get the same affect for less.
The last thing on the to-do list are curtains. This is one thing I have debated on for fear of over-decorating the room (after all, my son is only 2 years old). But what the hell, if I’m working this hard to tie the room together, I might as well just go all the way…
Grey Canvas Curtain Panel
Once again, I found inspiration at The Land of Nod, and I think these Grey Canvas Curtain Panels will be the perfect finishing touch. I love the detail of the horizontal line of stitching across the top of each panel. It adds a more casual feel, which is perfect for a kids room, and could easily transition into a teen bedroom down the road.
When these ideas and inspirations come to life and the room is complete, I will update with more pictures. We’ll see how close I get to my intended plan. Wish me luck!
