10 things to consider when decorating your child’s room
When it comes to decorating your child’s bedroom, it can be quite a tricky job. You want to make it as fun for them as you can, whilst also thinking of the longevity of the chosen design. For example, a fourteen year old girl is not going to still want a princess themed room that was brilliant at five, when she hits fourteen. Whilst this list could be endless, we have picked out 10 important things to consider and bear in mind when you come to decorating your child’s bedroom.
1) Go back to basics Make sure that you know all of the important pieces of furniture to get, so you can plan and design the room. If you are buying new furniture, take measurements, to ensure that they fit correctly. As a rough outline, and if the room permits, try and include the following items: a wardrobe, a bed, a desk and chair, a book shelf, storage areas and an art area.
2) Make it colourful Children love bright, colourful things, and their bedroom is the perfect place and opportunity to inject some colour. This is their area, and it should be a fun place for them to be. This does not have to be costly – if you are decorating on a budget, consider adding a brightly coloured lampshade, or some fairy lights. Coloured blinds are also an effective but practical way of adding colour.
3) Invest in sturdy furniture You need to bear in mind and consider how long they will have this furniture for. Beds, for example, need to be sturdy, as they will grow and become heavier and the bed will need to last. Also take this into consideration if you plan on investing in a themed bed. Choose one that can realistically be painted in a few years when your child has out grown the theme.
4) The age of your child This point follows on nicely. Think about the age your child is when you start the decorating process. If they are at the age where they will be reaching puberty in a few years, and their tastes are likely to change, think less about creating an entire themed room as this will be hard to change, and rather about adding themed accessories that can easily be changed.
5) Storage When planning the process of decorating your child’s room, it is so important to incorporate as much storage as you can. Make sure you have utilised and maximised every bit of space. You can make these options fun, to encourage your child to tidy up after themselves. If your chid has a small room, cabin beds are ideal, as the area below the bed can be used as either a study or storage area.
6) Siblings If you have more than one child sharing a room, bunk beds can be a brilliant option. These do not take up any more floor space, maximising the living area. If the children are close in age and you want to have a theme, make sure it is one that suits them both. If there is a bigger age gap, try a more neutral colour, and let them choose individual accessories.
7) Get the children involved After all, it is your child’s bedroom, where they will be spending their time, so it is only fair if they have their say as well. This can be as controlled as you like, but you can turn it into a fun project, to make it exciting, and this will allow them to see it as a positive change, particularly if they are not looking forward to a change. It will also encourage them to keep the room neat and tidy afterwards.
8) Make sure you have everything Make sure you know where everything is, when it comes to placing everything back into the room. This will save you time, and will help to keep it organised. This is the same with all of the decorating tools. Be sure that you have everything prior to starting your child’s room, so you do not have to stop halfway. The process needs to be efficient to keep their routine as normal as possible.
9) Stay organised OK, so this is very similar to the point above, but it cannot be stressed enough. You really have to be organised when it comes to decorating – if you are having furniture delivered, know when this is due to arrive, and what will needed to have been done before this. It is advisable to make a timetable of what jobs need to be completed on what day. This way there is no stressing as you know exactly what needs to be done.
10) Let them have space Your child’s bedroom is a place for them to relax and have fun. Therefore it is important to make as much free space for them as possible. Utilise space, and think outside the box for storage options, leaving as much free floor space as possible. This will give them plenty of room to move around and grow, making their room a fun place to be.
