Kid Style
As more tykes become interested in decorating, parents are finding themselves with a whole new world of options
Home makeovers almost always illicit the thought of thousands of dollars being poured into redoing a kitchen, bathroom or living room. Rarely does a child’s room come to mind.
“Kids’ rooms are often an afterthought, which to me it shouldn’t be the case,” says Sherri Blum, a certified interior decorator and owner of Jack and Jill Interiors, Westminster, Md., which specializes in decorating children’s rooms.
Children’s rooms often are the smallest rooms in the house, says Blum, yet often hold a lot. The key to a successful, inexpensive makeover, is what Blum does at the start of every project: evaluate the purpose of the room. Babies will sleep and need to be changed; older kids will play and do their homework in their rooms. The more knowledge possessed the easier adaptability will be.
Instead of the classic pink or baby blue paint jobs, Blum is seeing more aqua or turquoise for boys, and salmon or a washed-out orange for girls. “They’re not babyish and can grow up with the child,” she says. A classic paint job will be cheaper than wallpaper or creating a faux finish or mural on the walls, and will be easier to change when a child outgrows a phase or when the next redesign comes about.
“Be fully aware that your child’s tastes and interests will be changing as quickly as his shoe size,” Blum says.
A new color scheme doesn’t mean a new set of furniture needs to be brought in, either. If the current pieces still are in good condition, a fresh finish, coat of paint or new fixtures will make them look new and connect the room.
In all of this, don’t forget child’s opinion. Having them look through books and magazines and find ideas they like. Once done, their ideas can go into the plan. Giving them a role will help balance out the final outcome, says a framed poster of Darth Vader rather than a mural of an intergalactic battle, says Blum. Monogrammed pieces are great way to accessorize in a timeless fashion, says Blum. After all, their initials won’t be changing anytime soon.
“Your child’s interests definitely should be reflected within the room, even if just in the accessories,” Blum says.
And to make the most of the space, it’s important to make the most of the closet. Dressers, book cases, storage bins and back-of-the-door holders can keep their pint-sized possessions in order and keep the room from being cluttered. After all, it is their room. It’s their personal sanctuary, no matter how small.
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