Decorating for a Child’s Stages and Changes

by Lee Mink, ASID

Children grow up so fast that it seems like a flash since your princess who had wanted to be pretty in pink now demands a soccer theme for her room. Or your baby who cuddled comfortably in a green froggy crib now wants a "big-boy" fireman's bed.

Accommodating these changes can be exhausting and expensive. I've watched one young lady go through four bedroom schemes during the past eight years. Compare this to our usual suggestion that a room shouldn't need "refreshing" more often than every ten years and you see how costly these whims can become. So how can you give that prince or princess a theme they love without spending a king's ransom?

Keep Basics, Add a Theme

One way is by having your basic pieces, such as a chest of drawers, bed frame, and black-out shades, neutral and then adding or subtracting any thematic accessories.

The room pictured here was updated for a 13 year old from her childhood haven. Now interested in fashion, we added a mannequin lamp and shade in place of one with story book characters. Venetian mirrors replaced cartoon posters while a chaise lounge gave an "adult" area to listen to music and read. Keepsakes and favorite old  stuffed animals were neatly consolidated in glass front cabinets. Her dresser and bed did not have to change.

Respect Color Choices and Add Inexpensively

Color is usually very important to children. Just ask any 3 year old what their favorite color is, and you are sure to get an answer. Kids respond almost viscerally to their favorites while feeling very unhappy with their dislikes. It is important to be respectful of their preferences, as color really affects one's mood. Ask your child to name a favorite color or two. Then armed with this information, go shopping for some fabric choices which reflect his or her taste. Showing your “client” some samples may help them choose fabrics which can be used as throw pillow covers, bulletin board frames, or new valances over windows. If you are thinking about a new spread, it is better to buy one ready-made or fabricate a duvet cover from sheets. The crucial thing is to get the color you want while insuring washability.

Another quick and easy way to change a theme in your child's room is to use a small area rug on hardwood floors. A shaggy 3 x 5 foot rug thrown as a fun area on which to play can give the room a jolt of color. But it won't be too upsetting when a ladybug red is exchanged for palm tree green in a few years. Your floor, which is the expensive part, is still the same at no cost for a change.

Essential Storage Tips

Storage is key in keeping kids clutter under control. A table and little pastel chairs make a lovely place to play. But where do you put the paper & crayons that are to be used? Try purchasing a 24" storage cube and painting a 30" round plywood top for the table. Then add little storage cubes as "chairs" and you'll also have another handy spot to tuck away small toys.

Let the space under a bed be filled with clear plastic storage containers or a guest bed on a rolling trundle. Closets should be modified for youngsters so that the hanging rods are at a lower height to match the length of little shirts, shorts, and skirts and a child’s easy reach. That way you may be able to double your hanging space or add new shelves above the rod for folded garments and other storage. And, perhaps, encourage neatness.

Decorate with Safety in Mind

When planning any room its wise to keep safety in mind. Are cords on window shades a potential hazard? What about lamp cords and high display shelves? Do they pose a potential problem? Children are naturally curious and adventuresome. I've learned from my own 5 grandchildren how fast a toddler can go from laying on the  changing table to scaling the display shelves above.

Room to Grow

Give them some play space which will also encourage quiet times of creative thinking. If that means just a twin sized bed instead of a double, so be it. A child’s room is very important to the young occupant. In decorating for children, respect their preferences, as well as your budget and energy, for a room that reflects their individuality and a happy place to grow.

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Lee Mink, ASID, heads Lee Mink & Associates Interiors, Pasadena, California, which provides residential and commercial design, space planning, and custom designed furnishings services. She can be reached at (626) 796-3900 or email: lee@leeminkinteriors.com

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