When it comes to kids’ rooms, there’s always a balance between designing for who they are right now and creating a space that can grow alongside them. For designer Jordan Kahn, her daughter’s bedroom makeover became the perfect example of how paint can completely transform a space, not just visually, but emotionally too. 

With one of our favorite hues, Wing It, on the walls, the room shifted from bold and youthful to layered, cozy and timeless while still feeling playful enough for a 12-year-old with a very specific point of view. 

Designing For A Growing Personality 

“This client is probably my most picky...my own 12 year old daughter!” Jordan jokes. 

The family purchased their home as a new build in 2018, giving them a completely blank slate to work with. And from the start, Jordan wanted her kids to have a creative say in their own spaces. 

That freedom led to her daughter’s first room makeover: a fully purple bedroom complete with matching walls and bedding. While it perfectly reflected her personality at the time, Jordan knew the bold color choice might not evolve as easily with her over the years.

Before

After

Sure enough, about a year and a half later, it was time for a refresh. 

“The vision was something softer and more polished while still feeling whimsical,” Jordan says. 

The result is a room that feels equal parts cozy cottage retreat and preppy vintage hideaway, and of course, layered with personality, collected decor and meaningful details. 

From Bold Purple To Soft & Versatile 

The transformation started with paint. “My daughter knew from the get-go that she wanted a soft, barely-there pink for this new version of her room,” Jordan explains. 

The team swatch-tested both Wing It and Meet Cute, but the winner quickly became obvious. 

Because the room only has one south-facing window, natural light was limited, something Jordan had to carefully consider when selecting the final color.

“Meet Cute read a little too dark and tan for the space, but Wing It ended up being the perfect blend of light and warm.” 

On the walls, Wing It reads like a muted pink: soft, cozy and bright without feeling overly sweet. It instantly lightened the room while creating a more elevated backdrop that can easily evolve over time. 

Now, instead of feeling themed around one stage of childhood, the space feels flexible, something that can mature alongside its owner while still reflecting her personality today. 

Proof That Paint Changes Everything 

One of the biggest takeaways from this makeover is just how dramatically paint can change the feeling of a room. 

“The room feels bright and fresh while still being warm and cozy,” Jordan says. 

And because she was covering a darker color with a much lighter one, prep mattered. 

“I did use Clare’s primer since I was going from a slightly darker color to something very light and it did an amazing job for the coverage.” 

In true Jordan fashion, though, the actual painting process was a little less precise. 

“I’m very much a wing it type of painter (pun intended!), so I don’t tape off anything.” 

Honestly? Respect. 

Layered, Collected And Full Of Personality 

Beyond the paint color, the room makeover came together through a thoughtful mix of vintage finds, DIY details and meaningful decor. 

Jordan rearranged the layout to make the room feel more functional, swapped out her daughter’s desk, and brought in an antique vanity sourced from a local estate sale to create more floor space and a dedicated getting-ready area.

The room is filled with charming layered details that nod to Jordan’s signature style, a mix of English country and early Americana influences. 

“The layering, pattern mixing and lived-in feel of those homes speaks to me,” she says. 

Some standout moments include: 

-A hand-pleated toile lampshade  

-Vintage Ralph Lauren fabric repurposed into a throw pillow  

-Collected floral and toile textiles  

-Quirky art prints and treasured objects displayed on the bookshelf  

-An Etsy book print that ties together the room’s blush pink and teal palette  

Even the teal-and-white bow quilt, one of her daughter’s must-have items, helped shape the room’s final aesthetic. The end result feels deeply personal, cozy and curated over time rather than overly designed. 

A Room That Reflects Who She’s Becoming 

Perhaps the sweetest part of the project was Jordan and her daughter collaborating on the design together, even when their visions didn’t always align. 

“I learned that I am raising a young lady with her own very specific aesthetic and taste,” Jordan says. “That’s a joy to see but also a hard pill to swallow when that doesn’t line up with my own vision.” 

But ultimately, the balance between Jordan’s cottage-inspired style and her daughter’s request for something “preppy” created a space that feels uniquely hers. 

And maybe that’s the magic of a really good kids’ room: it doesn’t just reflect who they are now, it leaves room for who they’re becoming. 

One final detail Jordan loves? Nearly everything in the room was sourced secondhand, proving that beautiful spaces don’t have to come from buying everything brand new. 

With a thoughtful layout, collected decor and the perfect soft neutral on the walls, this makeover is proof that the right paint color can completely transform a room and continue working beautifully through every phase of life. 

Related: This Dreamy Pink Kids’ Room Is Straight Out of a Fairytale