They might be little, but they have BIG personalities, and they’ve probably told you all about it! Any parent knows what it’s like to watch their little one blossom into their own tastes and preferences – and along with that comes the desire for a space that they can call their own. If you’re making over your child’s bedroom, why not take the opportunity to inject some of their unique personality into the décor?
Divide the room into zones
When planning a child’s bedroom décor, it might help to think in terms of separate zones throughout the room. One zone will naturally contain your child’s bed, but consider what other zones your child might like. A place for drawing? A mini kitchen? A big open mat with baskets of toys? A play tent?
As you’re arranging these separate units into a cohesive whole, remember to keep in mind your child’s favourite toys, and the games they always tend to go for. This will help you lay out the room in a way that suits them perfectly.
Think colour
Do you remember how utterly important it was to determine your favourite colour as a child? You might have a princess-smitten daughter who loves pink in every conceivable shade, or a child who simply loves all things orange. Think carefully about the clothes they gravitate towards, their hobbies and interests, or even the colour of crayon they always seem to reach for – wouldn’t they love to have a room dedicated to their favourite hue?
With kids’ bedrooms, it’s always a great idea to start with a neutral base like white or pale grey, and then add pops of colour in the form of cushions, playful rugs, accessories or wall hangings. Remember – just because it’s their favourite colour today, it doesn’t mean it will still be in a two years’ time.
Make it personal
The first thing many children are taught to write is their very own name. There’s a lot of pride and sense of identity in a child’s name – and you can use this to your advantage when designing a special space just for them. Clever accessories can incorporate your child’s name – wooden letters in coordinating colours that spell their name, or else personalized bedding, notebooks or even stuffed animals.
Consider painting a thoughtful mural that includes your child’s name, or if you’re not a confident DIYer, colourful letter stickers can be put on anything and everything to make a bedroom feel like home.
It’s all about the animals
It’s a rare child who doesn’t love animal-themed toys and books. Why not include their favourite animal into their bedroom décor? Unicorns are a perennial favourite and blend well with many colour schemes. Other lovely options for girls include rabbits or butterflies – or ponies, if you have that kind of daughter! For boys, it’s almost a guarantee that dinosaurs will appeal, or you can play with the colours and styles that comes with a woodland animal theme or bumblebees.
The trick is to keep the animal theme consistent across the room. If your child has a love for cats, consider a few stuffed toys, a cat-themed bedspread and a beanbag with cheeky ears to pull the room together.
Show off their talents
What makes your little one totally, 100% unique? A child’s bedroom is a place where they can go to be themselves – to play, to explore, to make believe or to just spend alone time in their own imaginations. Think about your child’s interests and talents and find a way to showcase this in the décor you choose for their rooms. Budding artists might love an enormous corkboard to display their latest masterpieces. Outdoorsy children would love a tiny aquarium or a few plants to care for in the window sill.
If you’re in any doubt, ask your child! They’ll likely be happy to share their latest passions and curiosities. Build a shelf to artfully organize your little bookworm’s growing reading collection, or ask a more craft inclined child to decide where they want a string of fairy lights to go, or what kind of posters they’d like on the walls.
It’s true that children can sometimes seem fickle and distractible, but even the youngest among us have their own tastes and ideas, and they deserve a room that reflects their unique personality. The good news is that it’s not difficult or expensive to personalize a child’s room – it only takes a little forethought and care to make it extra special.