It's been a while since I've had a DIY project to get stuck into, so I've really enjoyed picking up the paintbrushes for this one. Our under stairs cupboard, however, has been crying out for some serious attention.
I'm actually embarrassed to admit how bad things have got in this tiny space. At the moment it's home to all the kids toys, however is so overflowing its actually impossible for them to get in there and access them. I genuinely cringe when the kids open this door during playdates, so its finally time for a well overdue clear out. And in the process I of course want to add a touch of whimsy to this very unloved space.
Step 1: Declutter
First up, the hard part. Pulling everything out of this cupboard, and sorting out into piles of things we want to keep, donate, or recycle. I've previously shared some decluttering tips, but I find removing everything from the space first is always the easiest way to tackle a big job like this.
There were a couple of really bulky items in here such as the play kitchen and ride-on toys, which have been relocated to the garden, and lots of things they no longer play with which we could donate.
Once we'd worked out what we wanted to keep it was time to get cracking with a mini makeover. As you can tell, this is probably the world's dullest cupboard, untouched in years, and with yellowing woodwork and an old vinyl flooring, so it needed a whole new lease of life.
Step 2: Paint
Seeing as there's no natural light in here, I knew it needed a bright and cheerful theme, so decided to go with the boldest shades I've ever tried - bright yellow ceilings, blue stripes and even a touch of red. Choosing these colours was a real trust the process moment, but just until you see how perfectly they go together! Perfect for a whimsical child's space.
Starting with the stripes - I promise this is a lot easier to do than you might think! I simply used frog tape to create this look - make sure to use a spirit level to ensure you're applying them straight.
When measuring out your stripes, I find the easiest way to do this is using small sections of frog tape between each stripe to keep the gaps the same width. I then used a mini roller to apply two coats of the most beautiful pastel blue paint; 'Blue Horizon' by Johnstone's.
Tip: When using frog tape its always best to remove the tape BEFORE the paint has fully dried - that way you avoid chipping, which you definitely don't want with a project like this.
Next up: With a slanted ceiling which forms such a large part of this space, I knew I wanted to do something a bit more special here than leaving it white. I've chosen a really bold yellow, 'Yellow Diamond' again by Johnstone's for this.
To finish this off I hand painted some small flowers, which I used the boldest colour I've ever used before - 'Ruby Red' by Johnstone's. I knew it needed something bold to finish it off, but was quite nervous using such a dark colour. It turned out so well though, completely finishes off this space perfectly I think! I even got the kids involved with this bit, and they both painted one of these flowers themselves (which went down very well!) - a lovely way to remember how little they once were!
Step 3: Re-organise
Once all the paint was dry it was time to get everything back! Luckily the declutter had been brutal - we'd got rid of around half of the things in here - so this was much easier than it could have been. I added a new toy box which we'll be using as a place to sit, and as always, everything needs to have hidden storage, so there's lots of space in there to hide as much of the clutter away as possible.
Our trusty IKEA Trofast is back in there too (yes, it was hidden in this cupboard before, would you believe?!) all labelled up to ensure tidying is much easier, and I've replaced the white plastic trays for red ones to match the theme in here better.
Finally, I popped some wall hooks inside where we can hang more bits, and a small IKEA spice rack becomes a bookshelf without extending too far into the room.
Step 4: Style
Finally, onto the fun bit! No natural light is obviously an issue in here - but with no power outlets either, adding some all-important cosy lighting wasn't easy. I found this beautiful rechargeable wall light online, and its perfect for a cosy glow, whilst being easy for the kids to switch on themselves using a remote.
I wanted to continue the bold, whimsical theme so added some red seat cushions to the toy box, and popped a bath mat (most rugs are too big for this area!) on the floor to cosy it up a bit.
And there you have it: chaotic headache to magical reading nook (featuring all important storage!) in just a weekend. What do you think? I'm absolutely in love with this space, so much so that its making me want to add some more whimsy around the house...
Thanks for reading,
Sam Xx
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