Interior design is no joke. Especially when it comes to designing and decorating a kids’ room that will have to evolve over time, and transition from goofy, through strikingly whimsical, to an overly serious setting so depictive of a modern-day teenager. That’s right, your baby is going to grow up one day, but the road to adulthood will be laden with many changes and challenges you will have to accept and overcome. So how do you decorate a child’s room so that it grows with them through the years? Let’s take a look.
It all begins with the right foundation
Children are eccentric creatures and as such, their tastes, desires, and general preferences towards anything in life can change in an instant, influenced by the visual stimuli around them. You might have just bought them the toy they’ve been begging for, but don’t be surprised or offended if they stop playing with it within a day – kids are like that and they will change their “opinion” frequently.
So naturally, painting the entire room a hue of their choice is not exactly a prudent idea. Your child might like purple today, but what happens when they start screaming for green or blue walls? Nope, just save yourself the stress and stick to a neutral color palette on the walls, boasting two to three hues max. You can then accentuate other features such as curtains, furniture, and accessories with vibrant hues – these are much easier to replace with time.
Furniture should be aesthetic and functional
A race car bed is probably the only thing a little boy wants in this world, and while you have every right to indulge him, it wouldn’t exactly be a long-term investment. In a couple of years (which will pass by in an instant, by the way), he will grow tired of it or simply outgrow the bed frame, and you will need to replace it.
Instead, you want to take a practical approach, and choose furniture pieces that are not only aesthetic, but highly functional as well. For instance, get a bed that is big enough to support your child’s growth spurt, but accessorize it with race car sheets and pillowcases – see how you can indulge your kid and get your way at the same time? Nowadays, you can get modular furniture that can be easily upgraded to fit the growing (pun intended) needs of your child.
Create long-lasting accents
Accents are what will truly define the setting and create an oasis where your child will feel right at home, surrounded by the things that are near and dear to their heart. What’s even better is that they can typically be upgraded, replaced, and transformed quickly and easily to fit the decor and your child’s newly found preferences.
Accents come in many shapes and forms, and they can be everything from the accentuating hues around the room, to the little trinkets on the shelves and window sills. For instance, wall-hung jersey framing works wonderfully with the aforementioned neutral backdrop. What’s more, these types of accents that are closely linked to your child’s emotional triggers have a much higher chance of staying relevant throughout the years.
Dedicate certain areas to your child’s interests
Given the fact that your child is bound to have a few changes of heart as the years go by, you want to be prudent in your decorating. Anticipating possible fields that your child might want to explore in the future, and preparing the room to meet their needs and aspirations, will be crucial in supporting their psychological development and helping them become successful, thriving adults.
With that in mind, you want to divide their room into specific sections, perhaps each section supporting a certain field of interest in science and art. Don’t forget to create a little play area as well where you can replace the toys as your child’s preferences change.
Layers make every transition easier
Finally, when decorating for long-lasting effect, you want to think in layers. Instead of overstuffing the space with trinkets, furniture, and decor options that fit their current needs, think about layering the room with these elements strategically so that you can replace them easily when the time comes. Every time your child has a change of heart, you can simply “peel off” a layer in order to make room for a new toy, accessory, accent, or even a grand feature such as a computer or a window-side telescope.
Children grow up fast. Much faster than we parents would like, really. As the years go by, our children develop new skills and interests, and are motivated by completely new experiences. Let’s help them make all the right decisions on the road to healthy adulthood by first giving them their own sanctuary that will grow with them.