Your child’s tastes and needs are going to change rapidly when they grow. That’s why the prospect of decorating your kid’s room can feel like an impossible task to get exactly right, not to mention that they seem to have grown even bigger every time you turn away and look back.
However, there’s no reason for it to be an impossible feat; with the right planning and decorating ideas implemented, you can create a practical, useable and fun space that your kid will love spending their time in.
- Think Practical but Fun
If a young child had their way, the room would probably be filled with fun and colorful items which serve no purpose. Needing a room to be practical doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice on personality, fun and quirkiness, however.
Think of items that are needed, and how you can make them more interesting. If your child needs a place to sit in their room, why not find the best bean bag chair for kids?
Your child will need a bed, of course, but that doesn’t mean you have to go for something plain and practical. There are so many children’s bed designs out there, that you can find something fun for your little one while still serving the purpose of getting a good night’s sleep.
If your child needs storage facilities, try to resist opting for plain boxes and designs. Be open to more interesting design choices.
- Don’t Crowd the Room Too Much
Your growing child is going to need space to move around and play, especially if they have a lot of toys and interests. As they get older, they may also want to invite friends to stay and to spend time in their room, or play games. This means you want to ensure that you have enough space in the room for them to do that.
It can be tempting to fill the room with useful furniture items, but too much might result in no spare floor space left. Fill the room with essentials and think about space-saving opportunities, such as a high rise bed which can have a desk built underneath.
- Think About the Near Future
You don’t want to be redecorating your child’s room every year, or each time they get a new interest. Consider carefully their age range and what the near future holds. You can then implement this as best you can into the planning process.
If your child is starting school soon, for instance, then you may want to consider a desk so that they have a place to complete homework. If your child is developing more of an interest in clothes, you may want to opt for a bigger wardrobe space.
Also think about items which can serve a double purpose in the future, or how you might want to change items. You could buy a plain bed-frame and purchase a separate headboard, for example, so that the headboard can always be replaced as their tastes change and they get older, without having to replace the entire bed at a cost.
- Allow Your Child to Have an Input
You don’t want to plan out the perfect color scheme, only to find out that your child hates it when you’ve finished painting. It’s always a good idea to include them in the planning stages. You can always veto outrageous suggestions which are out of budget, but in regards to color scheme and items they would like in the room, it’s worth listening to them (and makes it more likely that you’ll end up with a room they’re going to love).
- Be More Creative with the Walls
Instead of spending a lot of money on tins of paint for every wall, you can always keep the walls bare but instead incorporate a mural or a wall decal on a focal point wall. This is a great idea if you’re looking for a solution that you can easily change down the line, without it costing too much, as wall decals can easily be removed from the wall to leave the walls empty, and murals will only be a small job to re-cover without having to rectify the entire room.
Decals or murals can be based on your child’s favorite story, characters or perhaps just a design they like.
Or, if you’re not looking to paint the walls at all, you can always hang framed pictures or wall art which show off your child’s interests and favorite colors.
- Open Shelving Is Better
Children don’t want to be bogged down with heavy drawers and cupboard doors. Having open shelving is much easier to store, tidy and get out items, such as books and toys. It also enables you to see all items clearly at all times, so you know when a tidy up is in order, when an item is missing, or when your child needs help to look for something.
You can always make open shelves outwardly appear more interesting by painting the interior of them a playful color, or using lights to light them up from the inside.
- Consider Finishing Touches
Budget-friendly final flourishes can make a difference to the whole room’s aesthetic and feel, and it’s often the little effort which can make a big difference.
The right lighting is important for the perfect child’s room. Do they need a nightlight? If so, think about their interests and what sort of nightlight would best relax them and make them feel at ease. They may also love colorful fairy lights to give the room a warm and cozy glow, and they will enjoy being able to hang up these lights in whichever way they see fit.
Soft furnishings such as scatter cushions and throws can also help the room to feel more cozy, and these can be a chance for the child’s personality to shine through, whether it’s a cushion imprinted with their favorite Disney character, or a bed throw in their favorite colors.