We bought 13 year old DD a new full mattress and box spring ($750), an IKEA Hemnes dresser ($400), PB blackout curtains ($200), a new duvet cover and shams ($150) and an IKEA Hemnes desk and chair. We reused a small solid wood dresser, side table and headboard she had by painting and adding new hardware. Bought a bulletin board, some frames from a thrift store to frame her own art. We have a similar income level/home value to you.

If I was convinced she would take good care of it, we would have bought better furniture. But she’s managed to spill makeup and nail polish remover on enough stuff, so we decided on IKEA.

Anonymous wrote:Question for OP: What is in your child's room now?

OP. Cheapest ikea twin bed with good mattress: ikea desk and desk chair; hand me down wood dresser; free fb marketplace bookshelf; hardwood floor. White walls, own artwork framed. Bare windows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean this kindly but you recognize this will vary widely based on family circumstances?! What good will it do to know some people will use Facebook marketplace to source free things and another will spend $20k to buy higher end furnishings? Is there something more valuable we can answer?! Eg I prioritize a dresser and desk because they can grow with the kid. I expect to upgrade their bed to a larger bed as they grow older so spend slightly less on a headboard/frame. I buy matching frames for 11x14 pictures that we print from our favorite vacations or moments and rotate out as they grow. My budget is irrelevant.

+1. Usually I budget zero dollars because there is so much free stuff floating around.

Totally. I was going to suggest Buy Nothing. My girls love the stuff I find on there.

Between second hand and thrift store and family…probably $500.

We are big on reuse and recycle so we would never buy all new.

this varies from zero to whatever people want to spend.

from age one of my kids had the same furniture from age 6 - about 15. the other one, from age 4 to about 15. so are you using things you have or getting everything new. for me a room redo would mean new bedding, new paint and a few accessories, so not a lot of money. when we changed the kids furniture, one got furniture from world market and the other from craigslist.

if you want all things from PB, then you will have to spend a lot. you will also probably have to wait a long time for it.

tweens are finicky, so make sure kid knows that this setup (furniture) is to last her thru her high school/college years (or whatever your parameter is). you may change bedding again, but no need to keep refurnishing.

Are you hiring a designer?

Question for OP: What is in your child's room now?

Anonymous wrote:OP we make $275K and house is worth $850K. If that helps. One child. Trying to set a room by room budget.

I'm the PP that just posted - very similar salary, slightly more expensive house, and yeah, we're focusing on functionality over beauty. Clothing storage and a place to do HW are our priorities.

Anonymous wrote:I mean this kindly but you recognize this will vary widely based on family circumstances?! What good will it do to know some people will use Facebook marketplace to source free things and another will spend $20k to buy higher end furnishings? Is there something more valuable we can answer?! Eg I prioritize a dresser and desk because they can grow with the kid. I expect to upgrade their bed to a larger bed as they grow older so spend slightly less on a headboard/frame. I buy matching frames for 11x14 pictures that we print from our favorite vacations or moments and rotate out as they grow. My budget is irrelevant.

Really love this take on the question.

I am taking on a tween refresh, too, and am prioritizing getting Elfa for her closet because the three drawer dresser we bought when she was a baby isn't cutting it anymore. We'll decide after we get the closet done if she needs a new dresser or not. We are also swapping out her small Covid desk for a bigger desk with drawers because she'll have homework in middle school (she is at a no HW elementary school). We also put up some artwork of her choosing (some were her own paintings, plus some typical tween things like the fairy lights that you can clip photos to, a light box, etc.) and that is easily swapped out as her tastes change. She's choosing to keep her twin bed for now, but we'll buy a full or queen if she decides she wants a bigger bed when she's a teen. Right now she prefers having floor space to spread out and play with her younger sister.