Do you have a kid who needs a bedroom makeover? Great! But, how do you make it a cool place for him without spending a lot of money? No problem! Read on for budget-friendly ideas to transform your child's room this weekend.

First of all, paint is your best friend. Choose favorite colors to paint diamond shapes, thin stripes, thick stripes, crazy swirls or fun polka dots. Paint stars on the ceiling or murals on the walls. Paint tired furniture with fresh colors and worn floors with vibrant patterns. Paint is awesome because you can have a new look in a matter of hours! It’s the number one way to create a truly unique bedroom for your child.

Look for innovative ways to make the bed stand out as a really cool focal point. Hang a canopy above it or create an interesting headboard out of plywood. If the bed fits into a niche or window alcove be sure to outfit it with curtains that pull all around it for a secret hideaway. There’s no need to spend lots of money on designer bedding. Just dress your bed with 2 or 3 solid colors to create visual interest.

Dress your windows inexpensively by using bed sheets for panels. Run the curtain rod through the seam at the end or, if you prefer, drape them across the curtain rods for a window topper. It’s a simple, inexpensive, no-sew look that can be created in seconds. For a touch of unexpected whimsy, hang ordinary blinds on the window, and paint polka dots, stripes or geometric shapes on the closed side.

Visit yard sales and thrift shops for cheap bedroom accents. Such places are serious gold mines for finding fantastic items for your child’s room that won’t break the bank. Look for ugly pictures with awesome frames. Toss the pictures, paint the frames and re-use them for your child’s masterpiece drawings. The same goes for a bland brass or ceramic lamp. Paint the base; add a new shade and you have a new look for much cheaper than purchasing new.

When shopping yard sales and thrift shops, keep an eye out for a few choice things that will really add to the look of the room and speak to your child’s interests. For example old oars, vintage skate boards or airplane models displayed on a wall can be found for mere dollars, yet really enhance your child’s decor.

Yard sales are also treasure-troves for bedroom furniture at rock bottom prices. Look for sturdy pieces with dovetail drawers, rounded corners and solid wood construction. It’s not necessary to find an entire set. A fresh coat of paint and updated knobs makes it possible to create a coordinated look with non-matching pieces. There’s no cheaper way to furnish your child’s room, short of using furniture you already own or receiving furniture as a gift.

If there’s room, provide furniture in sizes that will grow with your child. Choosing a twin-size bed over a toddler bed will save you money in the long run. A big comfy adult size lounge chair provides a place for mom or dad to read bedtime stories, but also offers a wonderful space for your child to curl up and read to himself for years to come. A desk can start out as a changing table and later become a place to study or a vanity to play dress-up.

Look for interesting ways to add storage that are easy on the budget. Replace broken dresser drawers with wicker baskets or fill cubby units with large plastic pails, file boxes or milk crates. You’ll get bonus seating if you pad the top of low storage units or toy boxes, too.

One last money saving feature to keep in mind is to go for a look that will last more than a few years. All kids love theme rooms, but kids also quickly outgrow them. Make it easy on yourself and your budget by finding a way to incorporate their interests without having to redo everything. There’s no reason you can’t work a specific character like Spongebob or a specific theme like ballerinas into your decor. When you limit these specifics to a few repeating elements, then you can easily substitute them with something else when your child’s interests change.