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What should I consider when decorating a baby or child’s room?
By Janice Paisley of Janice Paisley Design Consulting
The first consideration is the age of the child. At each age, children
and parents use the room for different functions. With many preteens and
teens favourite shows revolving around decorating, they can have some pretty
savvy expectations too. In this column, I will address developing a baby and
toddler room.
Baby and toddler rooms are best when they are bright and cheery as well as
interesting yet functional. The early brain development of the child should
be a consideration. Murals, themes and colour are good ways to achieve this.
Coming up with a theme or inspiration is the first challenge. Consider using
commercially accepted characters such as Care Bears, Disney and Winnie the
Pooh. There are also many generic themes including jungle, under the sea,
teddy bears, patchwork quilts and even some religious themes (Noah’s Arc is
a popular one) to choose from.
The initial inspiration can also come from a variety of elements. Typically
it starts with fabric or it could come from a cherished toy, lamp, heirloom
piece or maybe you find a wonderful crib set that sets off a lot of ideas.
Theming is a great way to have fun with a room. In saying theming, I don’t
mean the catalogue kind, where you have the bed exactly matching the drapes,
etc. In other words, you may find a piece of bedding that instantly sets off
a chain reaction; let’s say a simple islet lace crib bedding inspires you to
“Peter Rabbit”. Then the quest begins for the fine details such as a lamp, a
toy chest, a wonderful mural, or even a simple wall paper boarder that pulls
in a variety of colours. Next you can choose paint colours and draperies to
tie it all together. The best rooms I have created have always had that
evolutionary feeling; meaning that one item brings you closer to the next,
without looking over done. It is also ideal when you find functional pieces
such as storage units or furnishings that tie in with the overall theme.
Knowing the sex of the baby makes theming the babies room a lot easier,
however if you are waiting until the birth of a baby, choose a basic theme
that can grow with the child. For instance, choose a farm theme and get the
basic background in place. Once the sex and personality of the child is more
well known, more pieces and ideas can be added to continue the theme so the
room can grow with the child until they are 8 or 9 years of age. It is by
this age they start to want to have some input. Children are really with us
for so little time. This is a wonderful way to enjoy the journey!
For more decorating advice, contact Janice Paisley of Janice Paisley
Design & Walls of Art at 403.667.5675 or
www.janicepaisley.com
or www.walls-of-art.com
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