A child’s bedroom is a haven, a sleeping space and a place to play. It should also be a place to imagine and to discover, to learn and to relax. With so many different requirements, how can parents create the ideal space for their child on a budget?
It may seem like a tall order but there are many tips and tricks when it comes to creating a wonderful space for your child without spending too much.
The first step in any room revamp is to look at the shape of the room and identify what you need to change and what aspects of the room don’t need altering.
A classically decorated room is always a joy and if you’re lucky enough to own good quality furniture then some simple but beautiful handcrafted textiles are a great way of creating a peaceful and lovely haven for a child’s bedroom.
If you have enough budget, it is a good idea to paint the walls in a neutral, light colour. White is ideal as it serves as a great backdrop for artwork and textiles. White also has the added advantage of allowing for regular changes in the room’s style as your child grows and his tastes change.
Good storage is a must; a room which is cluttered with toys, books and craft projects can never feel like a cosy place for a child to retreat to at night. Look into under bed storage boxes, these are cheap to buy and are a great place to keep things which are not in constant use such as dressing up clothes, board games, jigsaws and craft items.
Furniture which doubles up as storage is another good idea, so toy boxes which are also used as seating are a great investment.
When you are looking at pulling the look of the room together, the first thing to do is to decide on a colour scheme or theme. A good rule of thumb when choosing colours for soft furnishings and ornaments is to choose one predominant colour which will take up 75% of the room plus a secondary colour which will be used in 20% of the room and a third colour to be used for the remaining 5%.
This third colour is an “accent colour” and serves to highlight the main colours; a good way to use your third colour is within smaller items such as vases, frames and within the prints on fabrics.
Some good colour combinations include pink and orange, blue and green, red white and blue or lilac and pink
Once you have chosen your colour scheme look out for fabrics on sale and make a bedspread or cushion covers to compliment the finished look of the room. Choose fabrics which are easily washed and which can stand hot temperatures; children are messy creatures and their bedding is usually washed more often than that of an adult.
Posters, fun photo frames and even children’s art work can be massed on one wall making a gallery effect which may be updated often. Dedicate another wall to your child’s artistic development by painting a shape or a square directly onto the wall with blackboard paint.
Provide your child with coloured chalks so that they may write messages and draw self portraits as often as they choose.
A fun and creative bedroom need not cost the earth but if well planned will last for many years to come even as your child grows and develops.