May Keepsakes | A Little Girl to Big Girl Room Refresh

This month’s May Keepsakes is inspired by a very sweet little girl to big girl room refresh happening in our own home. This keepsakes may be arriving a little late in the month, but in many ways, that feels fitting. Children’s rooms have a way of changing slowly and all at once, with little signs of growing up tucked between the toys, books, stuffies, and tiny treasures they still hold onto.

For this room, I wanted to create something that felt playful, practical, and full of charm. A space that still feels soft and magical for childhood, but with pieces that can grow alongside our daughter in the years ahead. The foundation of the room begins with a few beautiful new pieces, including a smoked oak platform bed with built in storage, a velvet green headboard, and a coordinating dresser. The storage bed felt especially perfect for this season of life, with plenty of room for toys, blankets, and all the beloved stuffies that somehow multiply overnight.

We also installed DIY beadboard to bring warmth, texture, and a more finished feel to the room. Above it, I’ll be hand painting the Summerfield Cottage Wall Stencil from Royal Design Studio Stencils in three colors. I love that it gives the feeling of wallpaper, but in a more budget friendly and personal way. The pattern brings such a cozy country romance to the walls, and the hand painted quality makes the room feel even more special.

One of my favorite parts of this refresh has been mixing the new pieces with vintage and found treasures. A vintage Venetian mirror sourced from Facebook Marketplace adds a little bit of whimsy and old world sweetness, while a vintage Carrera marble top vanity table from France will become her desk. The marble already has age, patina, and a few marks from its own past life, which makes it feel wonderfully suited for a child’s room. It is sturdy, forgiving, and beautiful in a way that does not need to be overly precious.

We are also adding a vintage apothecary cabinet for all of her little collections, trinkets, and keepsakes. The tiny drawers feel perfect for a child who loves to gather small treasures. A scalloped side table, pleated bedside sconce, embroidered bedding, and soft layered details round out the room with just the right amount of sweetness.

For this month’s mood board, I imagined a room that feels like childhood held gently. A little bit storybook, a little bit country cottage, and a little bit grown up. The palette of dusty coral, rosemary green, warm wheat, natural linen, and smoked oak creates a space that feels collected, cozy, and lived in.

More than anything, this May Keepsakes edit is a reminder that children’s rooms do not have to be overly themed or temporary. They can be layered with pieces that tell a story, hold up to real life, and still feel full of wonder. A beautiful little room for growing, dreaming, reading, playing, and keeping all the tiny treasures that make childhood so special.

xo Ashley Southworth