Like clothes, kids can grow out of their rooms quickly. She may like SpongeBob today, but want a Barbie bedroom tomorrow.
So when it comes to decorating a child’s bedroom, the best advice is: Keep it classic.
“If you’re going to spend the money to decorate, choose classic, not cartoony-type, fabrics,” said Page Palmer of Page Palmer Interior Design. “Choose classic fabrics if you want the room to stay. Keep the fabrics more solid and the lines clean.”
But that doesn’t mean your child can’t have style. A solid yellow wall and a pale pink bedspread could be accented by a SpongeBob throw pillow or a Barbie beanbag chair.
“The kids will bring the personality to the room,” Palmer said, whether that’s the cartoon characters they like or posters of their favorite actors.
Keeping the basics neutral means that a room can go from age 8 to 18 with some inexpensive tweaks, such as changing out bedding or adding new lighting.
Solid colors and clean lines, though, shouldn’t come at the expense of coziness. Texture is an important part of a child’s room, Palmer said. A shag rug, for example, lets children’s feet sink into the floor. And a soft blanket or throw pillow gives them something soft to hold on to even after the stuffed animals have moved out of the room.
Whether they’re too old for stuffed animals or not, it’s also important to consult with your child before decorating the room, said Tracy Morris of Tracy Morris Design.
“Children should be involved in the design process because they will be the ones learning and growing in their space,” Morris explained. “You want a child to feel proud of their space so it creates a sense of ownership and they want to take care of the space you have helped them create.”
Even if that means they make selections you wouldn’t put in your own bedroom.
Palmer seconded the sentiment. “Your child may want to have lavender or purple or even brown or black walls. I would let them express themselves. It’s important to let them have input and work with what they choose.”
A black room, for example, may seem a bit scary, but it can be accented with gold and silver fabrics or lots of white to offset the dark color. “It could actually be quite cozy,” Palmer said.
