Boys' Nautical Theme Bedroom

Create a nautical-themed room for your son, and watch his imagination set sail. Here's everything you need to complete the transformation.

Walls
Turn plain white walls into seafaring walls by painting a wave along the bottom of the wall. You can keep the waves close to the baseboard or extend them several feet up the wall for a more dramatic look. The choice is yours.

Bedding
Stick to a basic red, white and blue color scheme for the bedding. Then add in special pillows made by your son.

Out to Sea Pillows

What you'll need

• Several solid-colored throw pillows (white works best)
• Fabric crayons

Directions

1. Ask your son to decorate the pillows with nautical images-an anchor, waves, a sailboat-whatever strikes his fancy.
2. When he's done, follow the instructions on the crayon box to set the colors. Fabulous pillows in two easy steps.

Floor
Store-bought rugs are nice, but often pricey. Create your own nautical rug for the room in 15 minutes or less.

Wave Rug

What you'll need

• A blue carpet remnant
• A permanent marker
• Scissors

Directions

1. Filp over the carpet remnant and draw a wave pattern on the edge that you want to use as the top.
2. Cut the wave out with scissors.
3. Trim up the other edges of the rug, if needed.

Lamp
Purchase an inexpensive lamp with a basic wooden base and transform it into a lighthouse.

What you'll need

• A wooden lamp
• White and black acrylic paint
• A paint brush
• Masking tape

Directions

1. Paint the lamp base white, if it isn't already, and allow it to dry.
2. Wind two pieces of masking tape around the lamp to create a spiral pattern and fill in the void between the two pieces with black paint.
3. Once dry, remove the tape and add windows and any other details that you'd like-a beacon light at the top, for example.

For even more fun, trim the edge of the lampshade with blue or red bric-a-brac. A little craft glue is all you'll need to get the job done.

Window treatment
Skip the traditional curtains or valance and go for something a bit more expected: a port hole.

Port Hole Window

What you'll need

• A 2 x 1 board
• White paint
• A paint brush
• A miter saw or a hand saw and a miter box
• Nails
• A tape measure

Directions

1. Measure the window frame.
2. Cut four lengths of board to fit within the dimensions of the frame. .You'll want to miter the edges for a more finished look.
3. Paint the boards white to match your window trim, and allow them to dry.
4. Finish by nailing the boards inside the window frame, and your porthole is ready for use.

Storage
Storage needs to be functional, but there's no reason it can't be fun too. Head out to a craft store in search of a rowboat-shaped shelf. Paint it to match the room. To maximize the drama of the shelving unit, paint the boat one color and then use a second color to paint the edge of each shelf and around the outside lip of the boat.

If your local craft store doesn't carry this type of shelving, try an unfinished furniture store or shop online.

Art
Add a touch of whimsy to the room by converting several life preservers to picture frames.

Life Preserver Picture Frames

What you'll need

• Life preservers
• White felt
• Hot glue
• Scissors
• Pictures (you may need to have enlargements made)

Directions

1. Cut a piece of felt to serve as the backing for the frame. It needs to be several inches larger than the life preserver's hole.
2. Glue in place.
3. Cut a picture to the size of the hole.
4. Place the picture inside of the life preserver and hang.
5. Repeat with the remaining life preservers and photos.