Words: Anne Schauffer | Image: iStock
Your child’s age is a good guide to what will work best in their room. Each child has different tastes, habits, likes and dislikes, so you need to incorporate those into their space. Involve them in decisions such as colours, characters from books or TV and sporting heroes. We chat with Michele Metior of M&M Design about what to keep in mind when giving the little one’s room a makeover.
Trends
Michele says that just as with everything, children’s rooms also go through trends, largely in colours, types of wood or even the style and brand of furniture. “But a child’s room is for the child, so take care it’s about him or her before fashion. Each room’s dimensions are different, so are each child’s needs, so marry the two carefully. Look at the room holistically before shopping piecemeal.”
Budget
Working on a budget isn’t difficult, it just requires more DIY. Comparing prices online and in stores can also uncover some differences.
Paint is relatively inexpensive, so changing the colour of walls and furniture offers a dramatic facelift. Scouring second-hand stores and Facebook community sales groups for items which others no longer want, can lead to some great bargains.
You could choose to keep the room’s shell simple and monochromatic, then add colour with bright framed posters, quotes, comic strips, wallpaper squares, a bold inexpensive carpet and a bed throw. The options are endless and the inspiration is everywhere.
Walls and floors
“The more practical the flooring, the better. Timber and vinyl are clean surfaces and can be spruced up with a washable rug,” says Michele.
For walls, look at using washable paint, painting a wall with blackboard paint for play, using wallpaper on a feature wall, creating a mural or making your own design – something simple, like stripes or plain walls with stars, all you need is masking tape or stencils.
Decorate for the future?
If you want the room’s decor to last through a few phases of the child’s development, make sure that the high-ticket items are neutral. Michele suggests practical furnishings and furniture. “You can find multifunctional pieces, which last from baby to adult: for example, a changing unit for a baby which can be dismantled and reassembled as a desk unit.”
Storage
For young children, Michele suggests easily identifiable storage spaces. “That way, they learn fast how, and where, to pack and unpack their own toys.” You can also choose storage spaces which will hold a little one’s toys today and a teen’s sporting goods in the future. “Baskets are great for that and so are shelves,” says Michele.
“Coat hooks are really handy – and there’s a wide range, from different-sized wooden ‘dots’ (in plywood or colour) to more industrial-looking ones (which are great when used with metal lockers) – and their functionality can move to school bags, uniforms and sports bags.”
