Most parents fall into the trap of decorating their child’s bedroom around whatever phase they are currently going through. The worst of it is that the decorating is usually done at great expense, and with great pain and anguish, and 18 months later the child will have gone off it completely. You will be left with a dinosaur-covered wall and a hefty redecorating bill to get the bedroom back to normal.
There is a trick to a kids’ bedroom makeover that lasts, though. In this article I describe the tips I have used to set up my two children’s bedrooms so they will work for years to come.
Start With a Neutral Base
The best starting point is a neutral base that can work for kids of all ages. Soft neutrals, warm whites, gentle greens and muted blues are all suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids and even preteens and teenagers. If the kids want to add some colour to their bedrooms, it is easy to paint a single feature wall in a stronger colour instead of the entire room.
Likewise, instead of opting for novelty children’s furniture, it is far better to choose more grown-up pieces to ensure the bedroom can grow with your child. A full-size wardrobe is an excellent choice, as is a proper chest of drawers. If the budget allows, a mid-sleeper is a great option for a young child’s room. This type of furniture really does earn its keep in a small children’s bedroom.
Let the Accessories Do the Talking
Once you have got the basics sorted, you can start to add some fun to the room. Bedding, cushions, lampshades, posters, wall stickers and even rugs can all be changed to fit in with their current interests. My son’s obsession at the moment is space, so his bedroom is filled with space-themed bedding, cushions, a space-themed lampshade and some space-themed posters.
If you rent your home, peel-and-stick wall decals are definitely worth considering. They provide the full themed-bedroom effect while allowing a flexible approach. When the space phase gives way to the football phase, you can simply swap the decals in an afternoon rather than spending a weekend repainting the walls.
Add a Personalised Touch That Lasts
Themes come and go, but children’s names are forever, and they can be part of the bedroom for a lifetime.
Kids’ bedrooms are one of the few areas of the home where children can really express themselves. Neon signs are a particularly fun way to add a personal touch to your child’s room. Hung above the bed, a personalised neon sign with your child’s name on it makes a great night light for them to sleep under, and it can be enjoyed by children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. It makes a lovely centrepiece for the bedroom and helps create a fun, unique corner of the room for them to relax and play in.
There are lots of other things you can get with your child’s name on them too. Personalised prints with your child’s name and date of birth make a lovely gift. A personalised height chart on the bedroom door is a fun way for your child to track their growth over the years. You could also add a pinboard or wire grid to the wall, which is a great way for children to display photos, tickets and other mementos from days out and holidays.
Get the Lighting Right
Overhead lighting in children’s bedrooms can often make the room feel cold and unsuited to play. Bedrooms are for many things, including play, reading, relaxing and sleeping, and all of these activities can take place within the same hour. It is also important to remember the changing needs of children as they grow.
Using layers of lighting means the room can adapt. A bedside lamp works for reading before bed when they are small, and a reading light clipped to the headboard can take over when they are a bit older. Fairy lights or a glowing neon sign can create a magical setting before they go to sleep. Warm bulbs are best throughout the room; avoid very bright lights and bulbs with a blue-ish tone, as these can interfere with your child’s sleep. There is plenty of inspiration for lighting children’s bedrooms, including this guide on neon sign ideas for children’s rooms.
Plan Storage for the Long Haul
Storage: the bane of many parents’ lives! The type of storage needed for all the toys and games will change dramatically as the child grows up, so it is important to choose storage that can adapt. A deep box that stores Duplo when the child is young can later hold Lego or board games once the Duplo gets left behind. In fact, it will hold far more than the Duplo ever did.
Remember that storage in children’s bedrooms should be usable by the children themselves to clear away clutter. If they cannot reach it, there is little point in including it in their room.
Create a Corner That’s Just for Them
Every child benefits from a corner of the bedroom to call their own. For young children, that might be a reading area with soft furnishings to create a cosy atmosphere. For older children, it could be a space to complete homework and develop their interests and hobbies.
The Bottom Line
Creating a bedroom that grows with your child isn’t about guessing what they will be into in five years’ time and spending a fortune on it. Rather, it’s about using your money wisely to create a calm, neutral and well-lit space, then letting the cheap and cheerful layers change as often as your child’s interests do.
