Shared Boy's Bedroom Makeover + DIY LEGO Shelves

We recently moved our boys into the same room, and gave the space a refresh. Today we’re sharing our bedroom makeover and the DIY shelves we made!

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When you have two kids sharing a bedroom, especially with very different interests, finding a way to make the space work for both can be a challenge.

Our ten-year-old is all about adventure, exploring, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and LEGO, while our three-year-old is obsessed with trucks and anything construction-related.

We wanted their shared room to reflect both of their personalities without it feeling cluttered or chaotic!

So, we added a little paint, a few new decor items and a DIY project to refresh the space in a way that feels cohesive and practical.

The biggest win? DIY LEGO shelves to keep our older son’s prized creations safe from little hands!

The Starting Point

This room went from being the girls’ room, to a guest room, to a guest/office room, to now a shared boys room. I think we’ve had enough of moving beds around, so it will stay this way for the foreseeable future!

Here’s a look at it shortly after we moved into the house:

Kids room before makevoer — Kids room before

A Budget-Friendly Bedroom Makeover

Rather than buying all new furniture and decor, we worked with what we had.

Their beds don’t match, but that didn’t bother us as we focused on creating a room that felt fun and functional rather than picture-perfect.

The matching duvets from IKEA helped tie the space together, and we used a rug we’ve had for years.

We used their existing dressers and added artwork from Hobby Lobby and Amazon to bring in elements of their favorite things.

The only things we purchased were:

-Paint for the walls

-Stain for the shelves

-Shelf brackets

-A couple of new wall art pieces

Keeping the makeover simple and budget-friendly made it all the more satisfying!

Choosing the Right Paint Colors

We wanted a neutral base that would allow both boys’ interests to shine.

We painted the walls Soft Chamois by Benjamin Moore, a warm, light neutral that keeps the room feeling bright and airy.

Painted walls with soft chamois by Benjamin Moore — Wall color is Soft Chamois by Benjamin Moore

To add depth and color, we painted the bottom half of the walls Van Courtland Blue by Benjamin Moore, a beautiful, old-world blue that grounds the space and makes the room feel cozy without being overwhelming.

Van Courtland Blue by Benjamin Moore on the lower half of the walls

DIY LEGO Shelves for Display & Toddler-Proofing

One of the biggest needs in this shared space was a designated spot for LEGO creations. Our ten-year-old loves building elaborate sets, but his little brother loves destroying them just as much.

To avoid daily heartbreaks, Daniel built DIY floating shelves high enough that the three-year-old can’t reach.

He used the same simple method we used in our kitchen with free pallet wood; you can see the tutorial here.

These shelves provide the perfect spot for displaying completed LEGO builds, keeping them safe from tiny hands while doubling as room decor.

DIY LEGO shelves with pallet boards and shelf brackets — These DIY LEGO shelves use pallet boards and shelf brackets

The Finished Look

Finally, we swapped out the curtains for these, light-blocking neutral ones.

Then we added a large map from Amazon and some explore-themed pieces from Hobby Lobby to our older son’s side of the room, and some construction-themed artwork, also from Hobby Lobby, to our toddler’s area.

This bedroom makeover was all about balance– blending adventure and construction themes while keeping it budget-friendly.

The color scheme keeps everything feeling cohesive, the LEGO shelves add function, and the mix of old and new decor makes the space feel fresh without breaking the bank.