Transitioning a child into a new bedroom can be a challenge, especially when they have to give up their original space to accommodate a younger sibling. When that bedroom is also in the basement, the move can be doubly difficult. To put the little boy at ease, I incorporated his love of dinosaurs without being too theme-y, so when the time came to move in he was super excited about the change. I also transferred his most treasured items (travel souvenirs from his grandparents) and displayed them around the room. To keep it feeling light and airy, walls were painted an off-white. A large mirror was mounted width-wise on the furthest wall to reflect light and create the illusion of more space in the long and narrow (14-foot by 7-foot) below-grade bedroom. Floor-length curtains were hung on the small window to lift the eye and make the 6-foot ceiling look higher. Budget-friendly furniture was given an inexpensive makeover with paint to keep costs down. Greys and blues were layered throughout, adding a punch of colour and sophistication to create a bedroom the 5-year-old won’t soon outgrow.

Photography by Scott Jordan