Decorating children’s bedrooms to grow with them -

Decorating children’s bedrooms can be difficult because their needs and wants change as they grow (oh so quickly).

For me, the key is to create a timeless room that won’t need to be redecorated in a few years. But also ensuring the little ones are kept happy with a fun space to express themselves and nurture their individuality.

A child’s bedroom is their first experience of having their own personal space. So while it needs to provide them with a safe, practical and comfortable environment it should also reflect their personalities and desires.

Here are a few handy tips to help create a room that can easily (and inexpensively) grow with your child.

Prioritise your purchases

Try to think about the future so you can invest where it makes sense. For example, large furniture items such as the bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers and even rugs can generally remain the same over a period of time. Investing in quality pieces for these items will give you a long lasting, flexible and timeless base to begin designing the rest of the room.

Colours

While the wall colour can be easily changed, you may not want to repaint every couple of years to a ‘new favourite colour’.

A soft, neutral colour works well. This can provide a base for added colours and patterns of accessories that will change throughout the years. Wallpapering a particular wall or nook is a great option if you want to add a bit of impact.

It’s also good to bear in mind that colour has a significant impact on behaviour and mood. Painting a child’s bedroom in bright yellow or orange won’t provide your child with a calming and relaxing room. Whereas soft greys, greens or blues will.

Have fun with accessories and textiles

This is where the most fun is! While you may see this opportunity as a way to release your inner child, be sure to engage your little one when choosing soft furnishings. In saying that, it is important to have your choices complement and tie in with the overall look of the room. For example, this could mean selecting a rug that has similar colours to the wallpaper, or opting for complementary patterns for cushions in contrasting colours. Items such as bedding, artwork and cushions can make a real impact on the look and feel to a room and can easily and affordably be changed.

Storage is key!

Clever storage is key to a successful children’s bedroom design. There’s usually a tornado of toys and games so having a place where they belong is a good idea. Placing storage baskets in the room that are easy to access will (hopefully) encourage your child to tidy their toys. Freestanding or built-in cupboards and drawers are also great, practical options.

Shelving on the walls or bookcases will provide great storage. They can be used to display art, books and your child’s most treasured pieces. Place frequently used items on lower shelves for easy access and more decorative pieces up high. Safety is important with high, freestanding items so make sure to have them secured to the wall.

Typically, the majority of the furniture in a child’s bedroom is placed against and around the walls. This ensures plenty of open floor space allowing for freedom to move, playing and use their imagination.

Following these few simple rules will help please the grown-ups whilst still being perfect for the children.