Decor & Renovation
How to decorate your kid’s bedroom in a way that you’ll both love
Image: Janis Nicolay
Decor & Renovation
How to decorate your kid’s bedroom in a way that you’ll both love
Take these expert tips into account to create the bedroom of your little one's dreams.
Decorating a new room from scratch is always fun but decorating a kid's room can be even more so. In a child's room, there's so much more opportunity for fun, creativity and a bit of whimsy. But when you sit down to look at all those magazine clippings and that Pinterest board crammed with ideas, where do you even begin? According to Andrea Colman, principal interior designer at Fine Finishes Design Inc., you should start off by thinking about how the room will be used. "Kids spend a lot of time in their bedrooms playing and sleeping, so you want to create a room where they can do both comfortably," she says. "Their bedroom should be a place where they love spending time, whether alone or with their friends and reflect their interests."
To create a space that changes with your child as they grow, Andrea recommends incorporating their favourite superhero/heroine or colour in elements that are easy to change like bedding or removable decals. "You can find wall decals of every size for every interest on the Internet," says Andrea. "If bubblegum pink is a must-have for your little princess (and not your first choice), use it in small doses in a fabric for window treatment, bedding or lampshade."
Here are more tips for decorating a space that's both kid- and parent-approved!
Flooring
Image: Janis Nicolay | Story: Style at Home | A Pink, Pretty and Playful Little Girl's Room
Carpet may seem best if you have an infant or toddler at home because it's soft to cushion knees for new crawlers and frequent toddler falls. But carpet can also get pretty dirty, hiding grime in the fibres of the carpet's pile. "In general, I like hardwood or laminate because they are easy to clean and are hypoallergenic," says Andrea. "An area rug is a great opportunity to add a pop of colour and provides a soft cozy place to sit on the floor and play."
Furniture
Image: Virginia Macdonald | Story: Style at Home | A Red, Blue and Floral little Girl's Room That Breaks Tradition
Furniture is an investment, so you want to choose wisely before you spend a lot of money. The best strategy? Look for transitional pieces. "I think it's important to invest in furniture pieces that grow with your child, taking them from toddler to teen," says Andrea. "Cribs are no longer temporary pieces; many companies now offer cribs that convert to toddler and full-size beds." If space is an issue in your little one's room, Andrea recommends looking for multifunctional furniture. "As kids' rooms are usually tight for space, I like using pieces that do double duty like a bed with drawers underneath and storage ottomans that provide a comfy place to sit and read," she says. "If you're short on floor space, make use of your walls for vertical storage. Just be sure that all items are secured tightly to the wall." Make sure you have enough accessible storage for toys and books. "If they cannot reach it, they cannot put it away," says Andrea.
Surfaces & Materials
Image: Ashley Capp | Story: Style at Home | Mature and Glam in Pink
Furniture and fabrics in a kid's room have to stand up to a lot of wear and tear, not to mention crayons. "Investing in pieces with durable finishes will pay for itself time and time again," Andrea says. She suggests looking for wood pieces that have water-based lacquer or polyurethane finishes, which are low in VOCs and can off-gas. "Pieces painted in semi-gloss or pearl finish provide durability and scrub-ability. Furniture made out of MDF with a veneer shell are cost-effective but can swell if exposed to water." When it comes to fabrics, she recommends synthetic blends of nylon or polyester, which resist staining. "We also use indoor/outdoor fabrics such as Sunbrella, which hold up to just about anything a kid can throw at it or on it!"
Paint
Image: Janis Nicolay | Story: Style at Home | A Pink, Pretty and Playful Little Girl's Room
Choosing the right paint means not only finding the perfect colour but the perfect finish as well. Many paint companies offer washable flat paints but Andrea prefers an eggshell paint; she says it has the best sheen for painting kids' rooms. "Paint companies have a range of products—good, better and best," she says. "Your kids will definitely put your walls to the test and this is a place where it will pay to upgrade to a better quality for more durability, and ultimately painting the walls because you want to, not because you need to."When it comes to choosing a colour for your child's room, Andrea suggests the parent picks three options and lets the child choose from the three pre-approved choices. This will leave everyone happy in the end.
Lighting
Image: Janis Nicolay | Story: Style at Home | Two Sisters With Two Different Design Styles
"There are three types of lighting in design that work together—general, task and accent lighting," explains Andrea. "In most cases, the general lighting is the ceiling fixture. You may have heard about how blue light can keep us awake at night—not something you want in your three-year-old's room!" Instead, she recommends looking for bright, natural daylight bulbs that can provide plenty of task lighting. And consider installing a dimmer switch that allows you to control the amount of light needed throughout the day. "For older kids who may have a desk in their room, a task lamp is important to keep them from straining their eyes," says Andrea. "A lamp on the bedside table is perfect for bedtime stories."
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