Spring Decorating-Part Six-Children's Rooms

Good design is just as important in your child's room as it is in the rest of the house. The furniture should be functional as well as pleasing to the eye. This is one room that will change as your child grows. The crib that they had as babies will change to a small child's bed in preschool years and then to a regular bed as they keep growing. Soon enough they will need an extra bed for their first sleepover.

Bunk beds, two twins or a futon? You will need to think ahead when planning the decoration of your child's room. Let your child participate in choosing what they want in their room. Do they have a favorite color? Letting them make choices helps them feel important and empower them! These days there are so many options for decorating a child's room.

WALLS: The walls are important in the room. They take up the most space and will set the tone for whatever you choose to do here. If you decide to paint the walls use a scrubbable finish like a semi gloss...you might be surprised what little artists can do to their walls! Painted stripes are a fun idea here. I know many people love the idea of a mural in their child's room. These days many companies have decals that can be stuck on the walls and taken down again with no damage to the walls. Etsy.com has some great ideas for decals. Just enter the word decals on etsy's browser window and see what pops up. If you want a more traditional mural, have it painted on canvas cloth. When your child grows up they may not want it anymore, it can be rolled up and stored and used for one of his/her own children someday. It is such a nice keepsake to pass on!

FLOORS: Wall to wall carpet or wood floors with an area rug are the best choices for little feet on cold mornings. Tile floors  and bare surface are not the best choice. They are hard on tender feet. Great and fun carpet choices out there now for kids. Polka dots, stripes, circus themes....you name it, it is out there!

WINDOWS: I like shades or blinds in the child's room. A flat roman shade with a valance is a clean unfussy look for younger children. If you have a daughter and want the "princessy" type room , draperies are a good choice for that with a shade underneath to block out the light.

FURNITURE: The furniture you choose for this room is an important choice. It will need to grow with your child. When they are babies, choose a changing table that can be used as a dresser later on. Make sure that the drawers are easy to pull out. Choose a dresser with rollers under the drawers, it helps them become a bit more independent as they grow.  The decoration should not be too fussy on the dresser so they can use this through their teenage years. Bookshelves are a necessity here. Encourage reading with your children!  Set up a low table in their room so they can have tea parties. Open shelves with rubbermaid containers with a picture on the front of what is stored there helps encourage them to clean up when they are young. Closets should have a lower rod to hang their clothes so they can reach the hangers.

DETAILS:
- Buy lots of inexpensive plexi -glass art frames. This is great for displaying their art work as they grow. Have them sign and date their art work at the bottom.
-Storage space should be plentiful and safe to access. A cute painted wicker trunk works great for storing dress up clothes when young and sweaters when a teenager.
-If two children share a room , let each have their own side of the room and let the middle of the room be shared.
-Bolt heavy furniture to the walls when they are young. Little climbers can get hurt climbing bookshelves or dressers.
-Do not put a crib on an exterior wall, it is the coldest wall in the room.
-Put a "cold to the touch" nightlight in the room.
-Take your child to the store to help pick out their sheets and blankets.
-There are many companies that can help you "babyproof" your home. Get down on the ground and walk around. See the many hazards in a baby's room. Electrical sockets are a big hazard and need to be blocked.

Decorating children's rooms are such fun. Just keep in mind to include your child in the decorating decisions when they are old enough such as preschoolers. Keep a file of different ideas to show them. They grow up so fast...www.LeslieDeanInteriors.com