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Toying with Ideas
When it comes to designing kids’ rooms,
it’s better to let their preferences for
colors and styles dictate the approach
 Because they’re removed from the
flow of the rest of the house, kids’ rooms don’t have to conform to any one theme. That’s the beauty of a child’s room – it can be anything he or she wants it to be. Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating a completely unique space for a little one.
The most important rule when
designing a kid’s room is to remember they have a lot of stuff. To keep it under control, Peters Township designer Jodi Lesniakowski suggests a closet organizer complete with multi-level rods for hanging clothes, shelves for stacking books and games, and dresser drawers for
tucking away anything else they have laying around. “It creates more room for them to move,” Lesniakowski says.
Another rule of thumb when
designing a child’s room is to select a few different hues; then let them pick their own color scheme. “You should allow them to be individuals,” Lesniakowski says. “They have personality – let that show. You set the boundaries and they pick the colors within them. Give them a choice.”
If the child insists on a particularly loud color, Lesniakowski suggests using it on just one wall – maybe even on one wall in anadjoining bathroom – with a complementary shade on the rest of the walls.
When narrowing the
color field, Lesniakowski recommends parents evaluate their child’s choice in toys and clothes; then pick colors that complement a few dominant color themes. For example, she noticed her son
was choosing many toys with primary colors. In his bedroom, she opted for a denim blue and
subdued yellow on the walls. This palette not only works with the blue and orange bedding he chose, it also transforms his toys into accent pieces.
When selecting colors and patterns, it’s important to stay away from adult themes. Instead, create a juvenile room in an adult manner, says Lesniakowski. “Remember, it’s not your room,” Lesniakowski says. Bright patterns can be fun without being so childish they can’t be complimented with a more neutral wall color.
It’s also imperative to avoid the opposite end of the spectrum. “Don’t keep your child a baby –
they’ll hate it,” Lesniakowski says. Instead, give them the things they need as they grow. If your middle schooler starts hauling home tons of homework, it’s time for a nice big desk. If your child is a preteen, let them ditch the clowns and princess stuff and move on with funky patterns and colors.
However, if you follow another important rule, that won’t be a problem. Themes are a luxury. If your child likes Barbie, don’t choose wallpaper covered with the popular blonde. Instead, opt for something more adaptable, such as a purple wall, which can work with a multitude of themes as your child grows.
Parents also shouldn’t feel as though they must commit to the typical gender-stereotype wall shades. Every boy’s room need not be blue or every girl’s room pink – unless those are the colors they insist on. “Find things that fit their personalities,”
“Celebration, comfort, and cheer are three words that sum up a great nursery. Almost any room, no matter how small, can become a joyful place for baby and parents when it is suffused with light and color and outfitted with lovely furnishings and accessories. Creating a safe, hazard-free environment is a top priority in nursery planning. As you look around the baby’s room, you will probably see a host of obvious safety hazards such as outlets, electrical cords, and dangling curtain cords. Dozens of others may not be so obvious. Cribs have been under strict safety regulations since the 1980s, so you can be sure that any new crib you purchase in the United States will be safe.”
- Kathleen Smithnosky, Sensational Surroundings
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