Top tips to decorating your child's room together.
Oct
29
Written by:
29/10/2013 12:39
Winter is here and outdoor play is often not an option. Fear not, there’s plenty going on indoors to help keep your little one entertained.
How about decorating their bedroom together? Sounds challenging, but your really don’t have to be a DIY expert and your toddler will love helping. If you're stuck for ideas or the thought of attempting to put wallpaper up fills you with fear, our guide is here to help!
Getting underway
Before you shoot of down to the DIY shop, spend an hour or two getting a plan together. Giving your child ownership of the project is a good way to boost their independence and they'll take great pride in showing off the finished article to all their friends and family.
Use the following checklist to help you prepare for the decorating:
- Decide on a theme: It's very important to go for a theme that will preserve your child's interest - especially if you're on a tight budget and want to avoid re-decorating every other year. Themed television characters are great for pre-schoolers but when they start reception, they might suddenly decide they're too grown up for the likes of Bob the Builder and Dora the Explorer and put in a request for a make-over! Themes like the jungle, under the sea and space are much broader and therefore more likely to span their interest for longer. Alternatively you could go for a patterned theme such as stars, stripes or spots.
- Set a colour scheme: This is totally important to little boys and girls so choose wisely! There are hundreds of different shades available so take the time to scan the shelves and find one that you both agree on. Smaller rooms benefit from light, matt colours to give them a feeling of space whereas larger, brighter rooms can carry off a darker, glossier paint or wallpaper.
- Finishing touches: Before you start, think about their interests - children love rooms that are reflective of their own likes and achievements so displaying their artwork, photographs of their friends and mementos from places they've been will add a lovely personal touch. You could also create art projects such as hand/feet printing to include on the walls.
- Set your budget: Brightening up a room doesn't have to be overly expensive but on the flip-side it's very easy to over-spend when there's no budget to stick to. If it's a full room overhaul with paint, wallpaper and furniture, you'll have to allow a lot more than you would for a simple cosmetic enhancement so think about what you need and what you can afford before you set off for the shops. You can pick up some great bargains on auction sites like eBay and Gumtree at a fraction of the price you'll pay for brand new items.
- Plan the layout: Giving the layout of the room proper consideration will make it more practical for your child. Little things like moving the bed away from the window to prevent those early morning wake up calls and choosing alcoves for furniture to free up more floor space may seem irrelevant, but in the long run they'll make for a much more functional room.