Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to count my son’s bedroom makeover as a birthday gift?

175 replies

QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:19

My son is turning 8 next month and we are planning to decorate his bedroom as part of his birthday.
He needs a few things doing anyway - fresh paint, a new rug, some storage, and generally making it feel a bit more grown up.
Part of me thinks it will be really exciting for him and a nice birthday surprise, but another part of me feels a bit guilty because decorating his room is arguably something we should be doing anyway, rather than counting it as a birthday present.

He is having a birthday party, so it’s not his only birthday treat, but I’m wondering what other parents think.
Is decorating a child’s bedroom for their birthday a bit off, or is it a perfectly reasonable birthday gift when it’s something they’ll genuinely enjoy and benefit from?

Would you have considered a room makeover as part of a birthday when your children were around this age?

OP posts:
Muffsies · 21/09/2026 14:30

We decorated our youngest's bedroom as his 10th birthday present. He got to choose all the colours and new bed linen, etc. It also came with a computer desk for doing his homework from, just like his older brothers, so that made him more feel grown up. I also found a large board and printed loads of pictures of him with family, friends, pets - special memories, etc. He wasn't expecting the photo board and loved it, he's added more photos since.

I think if you get him something special/personal that he wasn't expecting or that makes his room a bit more grown up it will feel more like a proper birthday present.

momager22 · 21/09/2026 14:30

If he has gifts to open too I’m not sure what is the point of this thread ?!

Original poster
QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:30

@Ace56
He did ask, as he’s embarrassed when his friends come over. The young looking wallpaper for example.
We’ve covered it the best we can with posters but it obviously needs re-doing. So we thought this was a good opportunity for an overhaul.

OP posts:
NewNewYork · 21/09/2026 14:29

It's not a birthday thing, sorry.

Original poster
QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:28

Oh and a neon gaming light plus new bedding

OP posts:
Original poster
QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:28

We’re stripping the wallpaper (as it’s a bit young for him now) re-painting with a colour of his choice, bought some cool new furniture in ‘gaming’ style (we gave him options to choose from). A nice new rug. Repainting the furniture etc too.
Also getting him a few nice pictures and gaming accessories for the walls as well.

OP posts:
Dandeloosha · 21/09/2026 14:27

Not the room itself, but I would take him to pick a duvet cover/lamp/rug/light/pictures and have a nice lunch after, and that could be styled as part of his present, especially if he went with a Spider—Man theme or similar.

Ace56 · 21/09/2026 14:27

Does he actually want his bedroom decorated? Like did he specifically say ‘I’d like to get x and y and change my room?’ If so, it can be part of his bday gift.
If it’s you taking the lead and deciding his room needs to be updated, then it’s something that should be done anyway so not really a bday present for him.

Butsometimesnot · 21/09/2026 14:27

QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:26

@Butsometimesnot
No, he has gifts to open too. The bedroom is an extra. But it was going to be part of it, along with the party.

What other gifts?
I mean sure you can say this is one his presents to him but he won’t actually think it is

montysmaw · 21/09/2026 14:27

My mother got me a wardrobe for my 10th birthday. It was shit.

Original poster
QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:26

@Butsometimesnot
No, he has gifts to open too. The bedroom is an extra. But it was going to be part of it, along with the party.

OP posts:
Butsometimesnot · 21/09/2026 14:25

QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:25

I feel a bit bad now. We’ll decorate his room either way. But I might look for some extra presents now.

He’s still having a party with all his friends and I have bought him gifts to open too.

Yes, please do!!

Pachycephalosaurus · 21/09/2026 14:25

Repainting because the paint has chipped off is not a birthday present (unless he deliberately inflicted the damage himself)!

But a new colour at his request, a new rug when the old one is perfectly good, etc, could definitely be a birthday present. So long as he knows that's what he's getting.

I had a room makeover for a birthday present once - I was a few years older but the general idea is sound.

Butsometimesnot · 21/09/2026 14:25

Ate you seriously suggesting your 8 year old has nothing to unwrap from his parents on the day of his birthday @QuirksAndCardigans ?

Original poster
QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:25

I feel a bit bad now. We’ll decorate his room either way. But I might look for some extra presents now.

He’s still having a party with all his friends and I have bought him gifts to open too.

OP posts:
Catza · 21/09/2026 14:24

QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:22

Yes he knows it’s part of his birthday gift, along with the party.
We’ve obviously bought him a few gifts too.

So what's the problem? He has a new bedroom, a party and gifts. What do you think this child is missing in addition to all this?

Butsometimesnot · 21/09/2026 14:24

MonsterasEverywhere · 21/09/2026 14:23

If it's something that needs doing anyway, surely you should just be doing it?

Exactly

Butsometimesnot · 21/09/2026 14:24

If he was 18… yes
But no way at this age

MonsterasEverywhere · 21/09/2026 14:23

If it's something that needs doing anyway, surely you should just be doing it?

Violet76 · 21/09/2026 14:23

I think for a teenager this would be fine as they would probably have more of an input. Not sure for an 8 year old if this would be their main gift.

backformoreofthesame · 21/09/2026 14:23

For an older child who is perhaps being allowed to choose something more expensive than the norm then yes, for a younger child , no

Dayglojuice · 21/09/2026 14:22

I wouldn’t count this as a present but I might reduce what I spent on an actual present if money was tight because of the bedroom.

Original poster
QuirksAndCardigans · 21/09/2026 14:22

Yes he knows it’s part of his birthday gift, along with the party.
We’ve obviously bought him a few gifts too.

OP posts:
OriginalSkang · 21/09/2026 14:20

I think YABU.

Ifailed · 21/09/2026 14:20

So long as he understood it was part of his birthday, then yes.