Top Tips for Decorating Kids’ Rooms
Fun, colorful decorative touches can bring personality
and excitement to your child’s room and are easy to
update as his or her taste matures.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Kids outgrow the décor of their bedrooms almost as quickly as they do their
clothes and shoes. In fact, the typical child’s room is redecorated three or
four times by the time he or she reaches his or her teens.
Wendy A. Jordan, author of “New Kidspace Idea Book” (The Taunton Press),
offers the following tips to help you create an imaginative, comfortable and
safe environment where your child can thrive, and make the inevitable updates
easier to manage.
Choose a theme that’s youthful, fun and right for your child, but leave
room for his or her imagination to soar. “The room should stimulate
creativity, rather than drown it with a theme that’s too overpowering,” Jordan
advises.
Select durable, high-quality furniture and built-ins that can be rearranged
to create new looks and serve new purposes later. Modular desk sections and
stackable cubes make it easy to reinvent a room without buying all new
furniture.
Plan for change. Incorporate decorative highlights — such as wallpaper,
painted trim, window coverings and rugs — that bring personality to the room
and will be simple and inexpensive to update later.
Involve your child in the process. “Kids take such pride in helping plan
their rooms,” Jordan says. “Even young children have opinions, and you’d be
surprised at how specific they’ll be about their preferences.”
Make sure the space is size- and age-appropriate. Store your young child’s
toys close to the floor where they are easily accessible. Leave open space
where your toddler can run around and play with larger toys. Create an area
where your “tween” can hang out with friends.
Plan for the variety of activities that will take place in the room.
Include a quiet space where your child can curl up with a book or simply
decompress. Grade-schoolers will appreciate designated areas for games and
crafts. A separate work area becomes increasingly important as children grow
and schoolwork becomes more demanding.
Safety, of course, is key. Attach shelves securely to the wall so they stay
in place if your toddler climbs on them. Avoid furniture with sharp corners.
Cover outlets and keep electrical cords where young hands can’t grab them. Opt
for window coverings with breakaway tassels, and keep the cords out of a
child’s reach. Crib slats should be no more than 23⁄8 inches apart so that
baby can’t squeeze his or her head through them.
Choose products that don’t emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
particularly until your child is old enough to have demonstrated any
sensitivities. Look for wallcoverings, flooring, furniture and fabrics made of
natural or untreated materials.
Kids and messes go hand-in-hand, so select easy-care products. Seal wood
floors so stains don’t sink in. Walls and other surfaces need to stand up to
frequent wipe-downs.
Keep these tips in mind as you plan, and your child’s room is bound to be
the happiest room in your home.
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