Two weeks ago we shared our Children’s Hospital makeover project, and this week we began installing the room. We’re still waiting on roughly 40% of the deliveries, but in the meantime here are four simple, budget-friendly holiday DIY projects we completed for the space.
We focused on projects that are removable, family-friendly, and easy to personalize. The four we finished so far:
- A faux fireplace with real branches
- An interactive paper bulb garland
- Gilded cardboard letters spelling “PEACE”
- A blue gradient menorah
1. A Faux Fireplace With Real Branches
We created a portable, kitschy faux fireplace to sit in the recessed niche below the TV. A real fireplace isn’t an option in a hospital, so we made a removable panel that looks cozy without any risk.
We started with a thin plywood sheet cut to size at Home Depot and stained it gray. Instead of painting an illustrated fire, we used real fallen branches. I split several branches in half so each had a flat side to sit against the plywood.
After arranging the halved branches to mimic stacked logs, we let them dry and sealed them with several coats of clear spray polyurethane so they wouldn’t shed. We glued the pieces in place and then reinforced them with screws from the back for security.
Sherry painted graphic, single-color flames (Terra Cotta Red by Valspar) rather than layering multiple colors, which made the look bold and simple. To keep the display removable and hospital-friendly we attached the finished panel with 3M Command Velcro strips.
The finished vignette included donated chevron stockings handmade by a local Etsy shop. The fireplace has already brought smiles to kids and families, which is the whole point.
2. An Interactive Christmas Light Garland
Next to the fireplace we hung an interactive paper “Christmas lights” garland designed for kids to personalize. The concept is simple: paper bulbs clipped to a string like a clothesline so artwork can be added and easily displayed.
Sherry cut cardstock into oversized bulb shapes and glued silver paper “sockets” onto small clothespins. The bulbs clip onto silver twine and are removable so children and families can draw directly on them and rehang their creations.
We left a few pre-colored bulbs as examples; while installing, a 10-year-old named Jessie colored several for us, including a self-portrait. It was a perfect reminder that the installation invites participation and brightens the room instantly.
3. Vintage cardboard “PEACE” letters
Above the garland we hung a “PEACE” sign made from craft-store cardboard letters. The word felt appropriate for a hospital holiday display—calming, gentle, and welcoming for families.
We cut the front face off each letter to reveal the layered cardboard edge, then sanded the cuts to smooth them. Sherry spray-painted the edges gold and painted the interiors with a turquoise-to-navy gradient using craft paints we already had on hand.
The metallic edges combined with the painted interiors gave the letters a slightly vintage, industrial look. People were surprised to find they were lightweight cardboard rather than metal when they touched them.
4. A Gradient Menorah
To complement the blue gradient in the PEACE letters, Sherry updated a plain white menorah with two spray paint colors for a graduated effect. We found the menorah at a party supply store and used a dark blue near the base and an aqua shade in the middle, leaving the tops white.
The gradient took only a few minutes and ties the menorah visually to the other blue elements in the room, adding holiday variety while keeping the palette cohesive.
That covers the four completed projects so far. We still have a handful of tasks to finish before the full reveal, including window treatments, a cozy armchair, larger wall art, and a corkboard display of messages and cards that many of you have sent—thank you for those thoughtful contributions. The team will be finishing the remaining items next week and editing a short video of the makeover, including some of the emotional reactions from families who use the room.
Here’s the current to-do list, with completed items crossed off:
New paint job on walls.Done!Build a large custom chalkboard for holiday cheer messages and kid doodles (and hang it). Done!Assemble tree and decorate it.Done!Buy (and paint) menorah.Done!Make clip-up garland for kid-drawings.Done!Make removable fireplace panel for under the TV and decorate the “mantel.”Done!Cut, paint, and hang our big PEACE sign.Done!Receive custom art for the kitchen area from a kind reader (all the way in Australia!). Done, just have to hang it!Add in a white (but not ceramic) animal friend somewhere.Done!Add snowflakes to all the windows.Done!- Make wintry (washable faux velvet?) tablecloths & add small snowy tree centerpieces.
- Hang wreaths in kitchen area.
- Pick up window treatments (once they’re done) and hang them.
- Paint and hang di-cut trees around room ledge (we partnered with a local company to help).
- Decorate pillars near entry and arch between them.
- Bring in cozy armchair for corner.
- Paint and hang two cork boards full of messages from you.
Create wood slice art (3 pieces) for the wall between those two cork boards.Done, just need to hang them!
Beyond the decorations, working with the hospital staff and families has been humbling. Seeing the care the team provides and getting small glimpses of the challenges families face has put our holiday decorating efforts into perspective. We’re grateful to everyone doing difficult, meaningful work for these families—and thankful we could contribute a little warmth to the room.
Update: You can view a collection of our favorite holiday decor finds in our original holiday post.