Kids grow fast and their interests evolve quickly, so that sweet bedroom your preschooler loved may not make sense for their needs in a few years. Before you know it, your kids are begging for a more grown-up space to match their evolving sense of personal style. Giving your kids the opportunity to create their own space is important for their developing identity – and you don't have to break the bank to do so. These are some budget-friendly tips for getting started.

1. Swap out bedding. A new comforter, sheet set or throw pillows can instantly transform your child's space, and many of these items can be found in discount stores for significantly less. Consider investing in a quality piece, like a comforter, that can easily be updated with a new cover as your child's favorite colors or interests evolve. Throw pillows not only make for a comfy space but can also be a fun item to use in games, like building pillow forts.


2. Pick a fun paint color. Painting the walls is one of the easiest ways to change a room, and it's also a great opportunity to let your child have a say in what their space will look like. If you don't want to end up with a crazy color, consider presenting your child a limited set of paint color options and then let your child make the final selection. If your child is old enough, they could even help with the painting process.


3. Update used furniture. Flea markets, garage sales, and online marketplaces are great options for finding inexpensive, used furniture, but not all these pieces may match the style of your home. Wearing a mask, sand down old pieces and then stain or paint them to match your child's space. You can also switch out hardware for a fresh look, like updating the pulls on a drawer or a nightstand.


4. Create a designated homework space. As you update your kid's room, consider inexpensive solutions for a homework station. Rather than purchasing a desk, create your own by staining wood from a hardware store. Drill brackets into the wall at desk height, attach the wood to the brackets, then add a chair and task lighting. Take your homework station to the next level by painting part of the wall with chalkboard paint, adding baskets for papers, pens and notebooks, and a write-n-wipe calendar to keep track of tests, due dates, and activities.


5. Streamline storage. Short on closet space? Get creative with furniture storage solutions, like a bed that includes pull-out drawers, or place your bed on risers to take advantage of additional space underneath. Fasten simple wooden shelves to the wall to display favorite books, and add pillows below for a cozy reading nook. Make your own personalized toy crate: Sand down a wooden crate to smooth the edges, stencil on your child's name, and then fill in the stencil outline with paint.


6. Add personality with special mementos. Rather than spending a lot of money on expensive artwork, use your child's own art, photos and mementos to decorate the walls. Put up a bulletin board so your child can add souvenirs, like movie ticket stubs, photos of friends or a pennant from a favorite sports team, and easily change these out as their interests evolve. Use inexpensive frames from a craft store to showcase their artwork. Add framed photos from a special family vacation to the dresser or homework station.