For a kid, the most valuable room in the house is her own. It's the place she plays, dreams, entertains friends, and keeps her stuff (well, most of it). Judging by the wealth of imaginative ideas we've received from readers, it can also be the most fun space for families to decorate. Here, you'll find a collection of inspiring projects ranging from cleverly refinished furniture and whimsical wall decorations to horse corrals and complete fantasy makeovers designed to breathe new life into a child's private pad.

AMANDA'S PRINCESS BED

When Amanda Morrison was 4 years old, her two brothers moved out of the bedroom the three had shared and into freshly refurbished digs in the family's Blackfoot, Idaho, home -- leaving her with private quarters for the first time ever. Thinking the space could use a major makeover, her mom, Carda, asked Amanda how she'd like it decorated. Her answer? An emphatic "Just girls!"

"She's our little princess," says Carda. "She loves to play dress-up, and to have her own little castle would be her dream." So that's what Carda set about creating. Using a basic jigsaw, Carda cut a large, turreted headboard (1) and footboard (2) from a pair of old wooden closet doors. She screwed the footboard onto the back of a cabinet (3) and painted everything a pale lavender.

Next, she screwed the headboard into studs in the wall, then painted on simple windows and stamped stone blocks using small pieces of sponge dipped in bright pink and purple acrylic paints. It's the perfect medium, she says, because mistakes can be quickly wiped away with a wet rag.

Extra touches include a simple canopy (fashioned from a ring of plastic pipe and sheer netting) (4) and a small shelf (5) for princess accessories. Carda also topped the footboard cabinet with a hot-pink cushion (6), turning it into one of Amanda's favorite spots. "We call it her princess throne," says Carda. And there's another big selling point: "The whole thing cost under $30."