Room to Grow

Help your child create a bedroom that embraces their individuality and your sensibilities

By Melanie Wanzek
CTW Features

Image courtesy Debi Treloar

From fire trucks to fairy princesses, a child's room is a perfect place to combine practicality and personality.

"It's their little microcosm," says Judith Wilson, author of "Children's Spaces: From Zero to Ten" (Ryland Peters & Small, 2007). "Help them make it their very own, a place where they feel secure and safe."

Wilson, who recently designed an army-influenced bedroom for her 10-year-old son, says it's important for parents to choose a sensible layout, practical furnishings and good storage. Also, consider staying away from themes since children's tastes often change.

"Keep ideas loose – a seaside mood, say, or an enchanted wood," Wilson says. "You might choose fabric as an inspiration point – perhaps a floral fabric with butterflies, which will then prompt walls in a few key colors and some large paper cut-out butterflies on the walls."

First stop: layout and color. Wilson says it's helpful to divide the room into a sleep zone, work zone and play zone. Stray away from the traditional blue or pink. Instead, choose reasonably bright colors for each, but not zingy – "the child will never sleep!" she says.

Next, make sure to provide plenty of storage for toys, games and personal treasures – it's vital to put most toys away at night so the child can sleep. "Toys come in all shapes and sizes," Wilson says. "Plan for drawers, open shelves, shelves to hold baskets, hooks, wardrobes and more. You can never have enough storage."

Also consider adding special touches to make the room unique.

"Children particularly appreciate 'fun' details – such as a rope ladder, a platform bed or twinkly lights set into the ceiling or wall," Wilson says.

And remember: Designing should be fun for the whole family.

�Plan a space you will enjoy as much as your child does,� Wilson says. �The possibilities are endless, and it's so much fun decorating a child's room.�

Here are a few basic tips Wilson suggests to help you get started:

– Choose furniture that will "grow" with your child. "Classics like a good chest of drawers will last them until they leave home," Wilson says.

– Allow flexibility. "As children grow they will want more input in their bedroom," she says. �Plan for that by choosing basics like a plain white blind and allowing for a pinboard."

– Make it peaceful. "Although many kids play in the bedroom, it should also be a soothing place to fall asleep," Wilson says.

– Make it personal. "Allow your children, however little, to display their treasures rather than worrying about the look of the room," Wilson says. Provide at least one display shelf, plus a pinboard for artwork.

– Light it up. Plan flexible lighting for overall illumination, task lighting and even something fun, such as a lava lamp.

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