As my kids get older, they have become very interested in making their bedrooms feel like their own. There are many things they’d like to change about their rooms all at once as they grow out of certain colors or themes that we had used to decorate their rooms when they were younger. We have explained to them that while we do not have the resources to do a HUGE re-do of every single part of their bedrooms, there are plenty of smaller changes that we can make over time to upgrade their bedrooms in a way that feels true to their personalities. Here are 10 ways to upgrade a kid’s bedroom without breaking the bank:

Rearrange Furniture: FREE!

Sometimes all it takes to refresh a room is to rearrange all of the things that are already in it! Let your child draw a picture/map of how they’d like the furniture to go, then rearrange it and see how it looks. This might mean that there are some unconventional furniture groupings, but if your child is happy with it, let it be! My daughter wanted her desk right in the middle of the room, facing the door as if it was an office. It looked silly to me, but she liked it that way and it worked for her.

Change the Light Switch Cover: $10-$15

An easy and inexpensive change that can really make a difference in the eyes of a child is to get a unique light switch cover plate. There are so many options out there, and it’s something that your child will see and use every single day.

Add/Replace Furniture: $30+

Unfortunately, these kids just keep growing, so you’re going to have to replace their furniture in favor of larger options sooner or later. Your budget for this will depend on where you shop. I personally prefer to buy inexpensive furniture that might not last as long over something more expensive that might last a bit longer, because my kids do things like draw and put stickers on their furniture.

Paint the Walls a Different Color: $50-$200

How much you spend on this depends on how many painting tools you already own! I went through a room painting frenzy a couple of years ago, so we already had things like rollers, trays, a ladder, dropcloths, etc. I definitely recommend getting some samples of a few different colors and painting patches on the walls before making your final color decision. Painting a room is a dramatic change that you can do in just a couple of days, so that’s a plus!

Change the Artwork: $0+

This could be as simple as hanging up some artwork your child has done, or it could become more of an investment if you are going to be purchasing artwork or posters. Let your child’s interests really take over here and customize the artwork to what they’d like to see on the walls every day!

Switch Bedrooms: FREE!

If you have two children who are willing, let them switch bedrooms! Move all of their furniture into the opposite room, and suddenly it’s like a whole new room!

Add an Area Rug: $20+

This is another one that I prefer to spend less money on even if it means it will need to be replaced sooner, because I have kids who draw on EVERYTHING. Make sure you choose a rug that is soft and in a color that your child enjoys to provide a pop of something new in their bedroom!

Upgrade the Lighting Fixture: $30-$100

Did you know it’s actually pretty easy to change your overhead light fixtures? I mean, I say that as someone who has only ever watched her husband do it. But it looks as simple as unscrewing one and replacing it with a different one! So, maybe take this suggestion with a grain of salt if you aren’t handy like my husband. A new lighting fixture can really change the vibe of a room, and there are lots of options out there.

Change the Window Coverings: $20-$50

We recently did this in my oldest daughter’s room, and it has made such a difference! She had blackout blinds, but she wanted light-filtering curtains instead. She found a set that were just her style, and now the room looks totally different! The bonus to this one is that you might be able to reuse the window coverings that you remove in a different room.

Get New Bedding: $30-$100

This is one that I will spend a little bit more money on, because I want to make sure it’s actually comfy! Getting new bedding is a small change, but one that your child will interact with every single day. You can focus on color scheme or a favorite theme, and there’s something out there for every interest!

There’s nothing quite like having a bedroom that feels like home. We do that for ourselves as adults, so why not let your kids make incremental changes that really add up to something that feels just right?