Contents
Though your child may insist that their eternal love for unicorns or Spiderman will never fade, the chances are that this obsession will subside as they grow older. Therefore, when designing your child’s bedroom, it can be complex to balance being age-appropriate, expressive and palatable to both parent and child.
We recommend keeping it simple. Yes, that Peter Rabbit themed room that you’ve seen on Pinterest is beautiful. But in the future, it may become unpopular, antiquated, or even the dreaded word ’embarrassing’, ultimately leading to the need to redecorate once again. So, to create harmony between longevity and child-friendliness, read these top tips on how to decorate your child’s bedroom.
Frame firm favourites
Putting artwork, posters and other items of visual interest on a wall is one of the best ways of bringing a room to life, particularly for creative children who love to look at colourful images. When doing so, we recommend avoiding wall-destroying Blue-Tack. Instead, use quality frames to display art.
Not only does this protect your wall, as well as pictures themselves from sunlight and general wear and tear, but as framing experts Soho Frames explain, “a picture frame can be much more than a border and part of the whole artwork.”
Framing isn’t just for photos — cool vintage posters, favourite football shirts, and glossy jigsaw puzzles can all look fantastic under the protection of a bespoke frame.
Vintage posters
The vintage poster has remained a stylish bedroom staple for both the old and young. Perennially trendy, retro ‘travel’ posters now include sacred places of children’s fiction: from cities within the Star Wars universe to areas of interest in Middle Earth. With geometric, minimalist styles, these posters are trendy and a top choice for teens.
Football shirts
Framed football shirts are a fantastic way to inject personality and personal interest into a bedroom. They’re also a great compromise to that much requested Manchester United themed bedroom.
Jigsaw puzzles
Consider framing a completed jigsaw puzzle — especially if it is too special to take apart. A childhood staple, puzzles are often connected to childhood memories and the feeling of accomplishment. Whether an enigmatic jigsaw that was completed with Grandma on a rainy day or a vibrantly-coloured ten-piece design — show it off with a beautifully bespoke frame.
Create a reading nook
Is your child a little bookworm, or do you wish they enjoyed reading more? If striving to nourish an interest in reading, consider creating a reading nook: a quiet, private and oh-so-cosy corner for your child to lose themselves in a story. These nooks can provide opportunities for implementing a reading routine and be a place of privacy for children sharing a room with a sibling.
Cosy teepees or tiny tents can create the ultimate reading retreat for little imaginations to run wild. Add fluffy blankets or cushions, twinkly fairy lights and a stack of your child’s favourite fiction. Nooks aren’t just for large, airy bedrooms either. If you have a spare cupboard, you may be able to turn it into a reading nook by adding an upcycled bench or, more simply, replacing the door with a thin curtain.
Add soothing colours
Colour psychology is nothing new, but psychologists are now more than ever pressing the importance of suitable shade for children’s bedrooms. For instance, cool colours like light blues tend to be calming and encourage relaxation, while warm colours like orange and red stimulate energy.
One good option is to make a feature wall with a bolder shade (or the ceiling) to create a stylish juxtaposition. You may wish to pass on specific colours, such as red. The extrovert of the colour wheel has also been linked to overstimulation and even anger. Instead opt for dabs of upbeat yellows, calming pastel pinks and fresh greens.
Chalkboard paint can add a funky and versatile touch to your child’s room if used correctly. Some Pinterest posts show an entire wall (or even three) painted in this fashion, though that approach can look rather imposing. Instead, opt for just a dash of this noir paint as an alternative to a small easel. Once dry, you can even frame the area in a stylish wooden frame that beautifully juxtaposes your child’s sweet scribbles.
Give it a glow
Once you have the bedroom’s design and theme locked in, opt for lighting that enhances the room’s features. Make the most of natural light wherever possible, and then scatter wire-free lamps where it doesn’t quite reach. It’s important to effectively illuminate areas your child will spend a lot of time in, such as play areas or the aforementioned reading nooks.
As for the sleeping area, the staple nightlight has matured into a multi-sensory work of art. You can also cater to your child’s interests — think trendy, geometric dinosaur LEDs, sleepy moon wall lights, and intergalactic projectors to rival a planetarium. Wire-free, portable night lights can be excellent companions for late-night toilet trips, though be sure to avoid overly bright glares and opt for soft tones in soft white, blue, or purple hues to aid sleep.
