Designing & Decorating Children's Rooms
By Corena Lea Kessel, Interior Designer - Design Wise San Diego

Do you remember your room when you were a child?

I think most of us can go back and describe our room at a time it mattered most. A child’s bedroom should reflect a space where discovery and imagination can happen freely. This will be a place where your child will spend some time. During these years their bedroom will become a space where they will make some of their first choices on what they like and don’t like. Let’s talk a bit about making this not only fun, but functional AND a big easy for you! 

Walls:

• Make a Chalk or Dry Erase Board into an entire wall.

• Does your child have a favorite movie or theme? There are digital imaged wall coverings that will adhere to a wall just like wall paper.

• Go with Earth Tone’s when picking paint colors so you can accent that room with whatever colors they may fall in love with, as they age.

• Place some rope between 2 eyehooks and use clothespins to display art work and projects.

• Shape your own Pin Board along the center of the wall for pictures. You can also cover that pin board in any kind of fabric for some fun color accents.

Furniture:

• Use Microfiber or Sunbrella Fabrics, they are easy to wipe up and actually repel messiness.

• Bunk Beds with a desk or storage will give you ultimate function along with being super fun for the kiddies!

• Headboards can be wrapped in any fun fabric or create the illusion of one by having a bookcase on either side, and putting a picture over the bed. This will also give you extra storage.

• Swap that dresser for a fun Accent Chair and put the drawers under the bed. There are some fun storage beds out there!

• Give them some sort of Table - it can be a spot where they do their homework and play games.

Lighting:

• Use nightlights. Nightlights will give your children comfort between dreams and help avoid any tripping or falling over things during a half sleep walk to the bathroom. They come in many styles and sizes.

• Put a Reading Lamp on the nightstand if your child reads. If they don’t it will actually encourage it!

• Let them pick out a decorative light switch. They are easy to swap out.

• Make sure that the Window Shade’s or Treatment’s on their window has a continuous cord and is able to be easily opened so they can let fresh air and light in during the day.

• Hanging Paper Lanterns are also fun, and make story time that much cozier.

TIPS:

• Build their Closets up and give them a step stool so they can use this space for organizing some of their toys or accessories.

• Add a Canopy over their bed and they will feel like they are sleeping in a fort.

• Accessorize with frames, lamp shades, bedding and accent rugs.

• If they have enough room by their window, make a window seat - they will Love It!

• Add some plants and let them have that fish, turtle or frog in their room. Nature is always a great accessory.

• Keep the TV in the Family Room.