Timeless style is key
A child’s room with a built-in princess castle might seem like the epic dream of many little girls. but there are few sixteen year olds who would appreciate it.
Kids change quickly—the foods they like, the music they like, and yes, the designs they like.
If you don’t want to be going through a major design overhaul every few years, consider some basic rules for creating a warm and functional space that will grow with your child.
Baby Furniture That Makes Sense
The adorable nursery furniture is nice but won’t stand the test of time. Ideally, choose classic styles in neutral colors so that they can last and grow with your child.
Instead of a traditional crib, get one that turns into a single bed. You will at least get the baby to school age with one piece instead of having to change to a toddler bed and then a single.
Forget the changing table and opt instead for a well designed, solid dresser with a changing pad on the top. As they get older, you can get rid of the pad and the dresser remains.
Multifunction pieces are great to ensure that they can last longer than a year or two. Anything with storage is perfect, as there will be no shortage of toys later on! Bookshelves and even comfortable accent chairs should not scream ‘nursery’, they should whisper ‘neutral’, so that your child can use them for years to come. A great example of this is the Oasis accent chair from !nspire:
Design Style Customized To Your Young One
If you really want a themed room for your child—superheroes, for example—make sure that the basic room is more neutral and the embellishments come in forms that can be easily changed if your child decides that superheroes are passé.
Personality is easy to add—and change—with pillows, lampshades and comforters. Keeping with the superhero idea, consider framed prints and removable wall art. If you’re really motivated, perhaps paint an accent wall in a single color (red for wonder woman, blue for Captain America), but don’t have your local artist paint heroes on the ceiling!
If the basic structure of the room is classic with clean lines, the accessories and accents are where your or your child’s personality can shine and they can be changed in a day.
The casa bed by !nspire is a perfect example. It comes in three colors, beige, grey and dark blue, and the latter two colors would be perfect for an ‘I love action heroes room’, a ‘high school sleepover’ room, or even a ‘home from college for the weekend’ room.
Colors Need Not Be Boring
Classic doesn’t mean you have to forsake bright, bold colors. After all, most kids prefer them.
But if you can remain gender neutral, you’ll make your life easier downstream.
If pink is an absolute requirement for your small princess, stick to a muted shade rather than hot pink and bright purple polka dots.
Similar to the action hero theme above, you can always add pillows, throw rugs or other pieces to bring in the hot pink. The background of pale pinks will just blend and remain easy to embellish.
Patterns are also great in a child’s room, so long as they remain ageless. Train motifs or butterflies with faces are cute when the littles are two, but a tween will roll their eyes and pretend to gag. Think about creating a space that can be changed with little effort.
!nspire TIP: Cover one wall with chalkboard paint! From little to big, this is a fun way for a child to be able to express themselves!
Include Your Kids!
As your child grows, include them in the plans for decorating their rooms. After all, they will sleep, hang out, read and do homework in this space. You want them to be comfortable with it and to have their own special touches.
We’re always curious to know what classic pieces of furniture stayed with your child through the years. Tell us!