Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this a terrible birthday present?

96 replies

Frazzels · 27/04/2019 20:06

I'm thinking of decorating DS's bedroom for his 8th birthday. He's not asked for anything in particular this year but a few months ago he got his own bedroom and no longer has to share with his little sister. We haven't done much with the bedroom yet just kind of shoved everything from his old bedroom in there when we moved and his old room wasn't too nice either so it's a bit of a mess. I was thinking of redoing the whole bedroom perhaps into a football theme as he loves football and having as his main birthday present, possibly as a surprise. Is this an odd birthday present?

OP posts:
kbPOW · 27/04/2019 20:07

It's not really a present at all to be honest.

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 27/04/2019 20:11

It's not really a present at all to be honest

Really? I know a few children who have had room makeovers for their birthday, one as a complete surprise the others partly as a surprise/partly planned with them

cliquewhyohwhy · 27/04/2019 20:12

It sounds a great birthday present.

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 27/04/2019 20:12

I just did this for dd 11 at her request.
We decorated just before her birthday and bought her a new double bed, bedding, cushiobs and shelves and stuff. Then on her birthday she got artwork and accessories to go in there and her name in lights and an echo dot for her room coz she loves her music. She was made up with it all.

TheDarkPassenger · 27/04/2019 20:13

Mine got a new bedroom for their birthdays. Better than plastic shit they are not interested in. They were both buzzing about it (they share a room Nd have birthday close together) they still got other bits aswell

Rarfy · 27/04/2019 20:13

I wouldn't give just that but I think it's great. One of my fondest memories as a kid is going away to my nanas and coming back to see my bedroom had been completely made over including wallpaper, bedding and accessories. It was amazing and I really really loved it.

Betsy86 · 27/04/2019 20:13

Is there a way he can stay away as you are decorating and not know anything about it? Then when he gets home have a big reveal but also have some presents in a nicely displayed pile for him in there.
I think it would be nice and if your getting all new stuff like bedding etc then i think it would all come together nicely for him to come home to.
If hes going to be home and knows your doing it/only present then hmm not so sure xx

pudcat · 27/04/2019 20:14

Brilliant idea. We did this for my son many years ago and he loved it

LuckyBug89 · 27/04/2019 20:19

I did this for my daughters 9th birthday, she didn't know she was getting her own room (had been sharing with her little brother and waiting for her baby brother to be old enough to leave the nursery) spent the day when she was at school moving furniture and transforming the nursery. She absolutely loved it!

Original poster
Frazzels · 27/04/2019 20:21

He stays at his dad's or at grandparents on some weekends so it would probably work as a surprise, he'll definitely have some other presents too

OP posts:
GeorgiaGirl52 · 27/04/2019 20:22

Great idea!
I did this for each of my children on their 8th birthdays. We "did away with" the nursery theme and they got to choose (within reason) what they wanted. Ballerinas, horses, and dinosaurs were their chosen themes. These lasted into their teen years and by then they could decorate themselves with posters, etc.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 27/04/2019 20:23

Would you not decorate the room anyway? I'd not see it as a gift tbh, if DH decorated a room and said it was for Christmas/birthday I'd not be impressed.

Nanny0gg · 27/04/2019 20:24

My mum did it for me once when I'd been away.

I was gutted! No discussion or consultation.

Is it the sort of thing he would be happy with?

CIT80 · 27/04/2019 20:25

We have done this as birthday present it’s a great idea rather than buying toys just for the sake of it

Neverender · 27/04/2019 20:26

Sounds lovely - I'd have loved this as a kid and remember well when my mum did my room up while I was away. Loved it!

drinkygin · 27/04/2019 20:26

We did this for my daughter, she got loads of new cushions, accessories, bedding rugs wallpaper etc the whole lot. She absolutely loved it. I took her on a day out while it was being done and she came home to a completely new bedroom.

brizzlemint · 27/04/2019 20:26

It's a good present as long as it's not just painting the room - we did it for DD and she got the room completely redone with new carpet, furniture and pictures for her wall etc etc. She loved it.

Dieu · 27/04/2019 20:26

I think it's a great idea, provided there are some nice accessories included too.

mum11970 · 27/04/2019 20:27

Depends on the child really. Agree with a pp, I wouldn’t be happy if my dh decorated a room and called it my birthday present either.

MrsLinManuelMiranda · 27/04/2019 20:29

We did for my DD's 10th birthday while she was away at school camp.She had all new furniture including lamp shades and bedding etc. She loved it. I am sure we gave her other pressies to open as well but can't recall what as it was 8 years ago.

TurquoiseAndPurple · 27/04/2019 20:30

Such a lovely idea!

30not13 · 27/04/2019 20:32

Df is getting her room decorated as her birthday present this year. She will be 6. She's rather happy about it. She admits she has enough toys etc. She's going to get gifts from others still plus a couple of token small things from us. Nothing wrong with it at all.

Aprillygirl · 27/04/2019 20:34

I think that'd be a great present for a boy his age op.

ThunderStorms · 27/04/2019 20:35

I think it’s only a good idea if he’s involved with the decisions and is buzzing about it.

goldenchicken · 27/04/2019 20:37

Nice idea to redecorate if DC wants it, but not as a birthday present no........

Swipe left for the next trending thread