From Babies To Young Adults
Need help to create a special place for kids? Here are some ideas to help you to achieve a look that your child can grow with.
We all want our newborn to have the perfect nursery; but how to cover all bases from baby to teenager? Unless you can afford to change the décor every couple of years; you are most likely looking to decorate with a décor your child can grow with, and use temporary decorating tricks like adding removable wall decals as their interests change. (Think love hearts, butterflies, super heroes, sports stars.)
If you want smart and timeless you can’t go wrong with a black and white base theme. For small windows use white Roman shades framed with black window architraves then add combinations of black and white furniture; finished off with pops of colour in scatter cushions and upholstered pieces.
For a full length window use a plain neutral light coloured fabric for curtains and toning slimline pelmet. Or use a combination of roller blinds for blocking out light teamed with full length sheer curtains. Remember that a child’s bedroom may amass lots of toys in bright colours that will add the colourful element to a neutral décor.
This neutral room can easily be changed as your child grows…
Cover a wall with a big picture mural, vinyl decals or posters. Add décor that reflects your child’s interests or where you live.
A beach theme always looks fabulous for coastal living and suits both sexes. Blue and white is not gender specific, is easy to live with and always fresh and crisp. Add oars and bold stripes for a masculine look. For a feminine look add a chandelier light fitting – little girls and big girls love them! Then just add favourite colours in cushions and accessories.
Your teenage daughter may not want the cute pink and purple love hearts and butterflies she used to crave…how about a chic sophisticated Parisian look? A sleek Roman blind in black with some diamante bling along the lower edge, teamed with sheer black side drapes pulled back in a dramatic sweep held in place with a gorgeous tassel tieback –maybe puddle the sheer on the floor for added drama? Add a glass top desk, acrylic Louis chair, chandelier light and some French poster prints – Voila!
Prefer New York? Change the posters to the Manhattan skyline, Times Square or any other iconic Big Apple image. Add a picture of the iconic Yellow Cab and some splashes of yellow in scatter cushions.
London? Add the Union Jack as a scatter cushion, posters of a red London Bus, red telephone box…you get the idea!
When your teenage son has outgrown the Super heroes and Thomas the Tank Engine look, he needs a very cool but masculine and stylish room! Striped Roman blinds with a pelmet in a plain fabric (pick out one of the colours in the stripes) is a look that is timeless. A bedhead or headboard in a coordinated fabric finishes off the décor.
There are heaps of fabulous geometric and retro prints available too – you will be spoilt for choice!
Teenagers need their own space; and how to incorporate a study area as well as some casual living space can be a dilemma in a small bedroom.
Think about using a day bed that can double as a hang out area. For a corner space use two simple upholstered bedhead panels attached at right angles to the walls to provide something to lean against; add some funky cushions and you have an instant chill out area.
Upholstered Bed Heads are a fantastic and very inexpensive way to make the transition between ages. I regularly changed the bed heads in both my children’s bedrooms for a quick and easy facelift. If you keep the window coverings neutral then you can go all out on the bedhead – bright bold stripes, pretty soft dimity prints, dramatic animal prints – anything at all will go with a neutral base décor. As the fabric required is so minimal, an expensive fabric can be used without the finished product blowing your budget. If you want the room converted to a guest room, just replace with a stylish bed head and add coordinating scatter cushions.
Happy decorating!
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