The Joy of Children's Rooms

One of my favorite projects to work on are children's rooms. You can really let your imagination go wild with kids rooms. Whether it's bright colors or funky patterns, the possibilities are endless. I generally stay away from overly "themed" rooms, especially those that are commercialized (i.e. Disney Princess, Winnie the Pooh, etc.). They get old, fast and it's difficult to transition them as the child gets older unless you completely re-do the entire room. Besides, I think you can still give your daughter the Princess room of her dreams without looking like you just made a trip to Disneyland (one of my favorite places, by the way!).

Here are two pictures to illustrate my point. The purple and green room below is my daughter's room. She really wanted Princess, but I couldn't succumb to the Pink and Disney logo everywhere. So, I broke out the paint brush and painted the walls, bed and dresser. (the latter two found on Craigslist!) There are splashes of pink and princess throughout the room, but it is subtle. The next room (the pink one) is very sophisticated, yet still very girly. I love the shade of pink - very light and airy.

McKenzie's Room

Pretty in Pink!

Another way to make a great impact in a kids room is with fabric. I LOVE the curtains in the green room below. The black and green contrast is super fun and something that could easily transition to an older child's room over time. (and I love the lamp, too - but you already knew that!) As with my daughter's room above, paint can open the door to so many possibilities. Whether you paint furniture, or fun dots like the ones below, it's a great way to personalize a child's room. These dots give the room a modern feel, whereas polka dots would make it more whimsical.

Of course, not everything has to be hand made or found through a designer. I really do love Dwell and Pottery Barn Kids for their ability to create a theme without going over the top. (to a certain degree) An example is the stripe feature in the blue room below from Pottery Barn. Stripes are actually much easier to do than you may think. I like the variation of widths on the one below.

For those interested in more a more Modern look and feel, you certainly can't go wrong w/ Dwell. And, they now sell versions at Target!! The key to doing a Dwell-style room well is keep the rest of the room simple. Don't over the accessorizing and you should be fine!

And, speaking of accessorizing, there's so many great ways to accessorize a kid's room - whether it's creative lamps, art or paint. I love "notNeutral designs" by wallcandy arts. It's especially handy for those of you who hate to paint but want to add a bit of whimsy to the walls.

In short, to create a fantastic room for your little pride and joy, here are some general rules to follow:

1. Don't over due a theme. If you have a jungle theme, don't have animals on the bedding, window coverings, rug AND as accessories. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
2. Have fun with color and don't be afraid to try something bold. Remember, it's just paint! It's a small investment to make and you can always re-paint.
3. Incorporate storage - let's face it, we can't help ourselves and want to give our kids everything we can. Unfortunately, their stuff accumulates quickly and you need great storage solutions keep things neat and tidy!
4. Create a room from the heart - make it a place both you and your child will love being in.
5. Lastly, have fun!!