Monday, November 28, 2011

Decorating kids rooms.. as easy as 1,2,3!

A child’s bedroom should be more than a place to sleep at the end of a busy day, it is in fact his or her own little house. Children play, learn, think and dream in their rooms. Children’s bedrooms can also be the rooms in the house where parents can really be creative with the interior design and have some fun! When designing your child’s room, make sure you keep it simple like ABC: Adaptability, Brightness and Cleanability.

Children grow up fast, and so do their needs. A child’s bedroom needs to be adaptable so that he or she can play in it, have friends over, do homework and whatever else they might dream up. A bright room will stimulate their minds, it can also create a happy and comfortable environment. Cleanability is obvious, the faster you can put everything away the better. You’ll need lots of storage areas for toys, clothes and sports equipment to help keep the room clean and your mind at ease.

A good tip is to get your child involved, if possible. Children who feel they are involved with the design of their new room will have a greater sense of ownership, This sense of ownership can come in useful later on when asking him or her to clean the room or even just go to  his or her bed at nighttime. However do be aware that you should also ensure you are guiding your child in the right direction. Avoid faddish designs such as this week’s favourtie cartoon character or the brightest colour in the shop. Stripes, dots and checks are great for covering walls and curtains, they bring a fun environment and ensure lingevity. If there are demands to add a favourite cartoon character, be smart and go for cushions or soft toys that will be easier to change.

Bright, vibrant colours will fuel the imagination of your child. There is no need to stick to blue for the boys etc, there are plenty of colurs out there that can substitute for the staples. Some popular nursery color schemes are chocolate & light blue, chocolate & pink, chocolate & lime green, sage green & pink, black & yellow, navy & green, and red & pink. You can also go for themes based on your child’s preference. The list of ideas is endless, and many design companies have fabulous designs in their books worth browsing through. Some popular examples are :

• nature themes with big game wildlife,
• nursery rhymes or fairy-tales,
• ocean scenes from sharks to mermaids to pirates,
• sports themes like rugby, car racing or snowboarding.

Furniture is key when aiming for cleanability. When choosing your furniture remember to be practical and flexible while ensuring it all fits in with the design of the room. Are you after sweet and elegant white furniture, or tempted more by chunky and indestructible bright furniture? Storage is of great importance, think drawers under the beds and lots of chest and baskets for easy access to toys. Again if you involve your child you are more likely to end up with something that will please them, they might love putting their toys away in their favourite piece of furniture!

Flooring is another core consideration. Carpets provide great protection for your child when they fall and can also give you a sense of security. If you do have wooden floors then you will need rugs for that reason, just be careful not to have them such that your child will trip over the edge. You can also have great fun with a really funky rug for your child.

Safety should also be top of your mind when designing your child’s room. Get down to your child’s level to ensure you don’t miss any potnetial dangers. A few core tips are:

• Keep bunk beds for your older children, they’re not really suitable for under six
• For your windows note that blinds now come with a safety device that fixes all chains to the wall thus stopping children from hanging out of chains, and remember to fit childproof locks if windows are easily accessible.
• Use stoppers on drawers and doors to prevent them from slamming shut on little fingers.
• Ensure wall hangings and mirrors are securely fixed to the walls and won’t fall easily.
• Make sure all plugs and wires are safe and hidden as much as possible.

Remember that your child’s room should be their room. Hopefully you will have great fun designing it, and your children will be inspired by what you’ve created!