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Creating a Kids Dream Room
How Can I Create a Kids Dream Room?
Kids bedrooms are where memories begin…both for the child and the parent--spaces that will be fondly remembered for years to come. How can you create a space that is perfect for your child; space that they will be proud to call their own, a space that they will want to be sent? We all need a space of our own, no matter what our age. Children will thrive with a spot in their home that nurtures their imagination, provides a serene place to rest and acts as a refuge for them from the outside world.
A child’s bedroom is like many places in our homes, multi functional. We know the main focus of a bedroom is sleeping but your child most likely will use that space to play and eventually study. Creating a space that is conducive to sleeping, playing, studying, and a serene spot to “escape” is easy with a bit of planning and organization.
Include your child so that they will feel involved and have a sense of ownership in their room. If children share a room, allow each child to personalize a section of their room so they each have their sense of individuality. Let your child have a say in the color, theme or design. Even toddlers can tell you what they like or do not like. School age children will most likely want a “theme”, cartoon themes are very popular and a teenager will most likely have a distinct idea about how they want their rooms. Compromise will be key; mom will want something that can “grow” with the child and not break the bank and her back!
This article will contain parts to help you design the perfect “dream room” for a child from toddler, school age and into the teenage years.
Part 1: Designing space for a toddler
Transitioning a toddler from a crib to a toddler bed should be approached with fun. Recreate the room to adapt to the growing child to make this change exciting.
Remember at this age safety is key. Keep outlets and door latches with covers on them. Lock windows and keep drawers locked or latched. Keep blind strings out of children’s reach.
A toddler will be happy with some color, let them tell you which color they prefer. Pick a wall to paint, or add a border around the room. This will brighten a room and make it look fresh without breaking the bank.
Often a child will have a favorite animal, character, toy or tv program. Adapt those interests into the design of her bedroom. An easy and inexpensive way to do this is to purchase themed bed sheets and comforters with those interests.
With small children organization will help maintain your sanity while keeping their toys easily accessible. Consider a wooden toy box to keep his toys out of site but within arms reach. There are many wooden toy boxes to choose from that will really compliment a rooms theme and actually become an heirloom. Tupperware is also an excellent way to keep toys put away but children can easily keep them organized, put blocks in one container, cars & trucks in another. Teach them to play with one container at a time and to put those toys away before pulling out the next set of toys. It’s never too early to teach “cleaning” skills!
An important aspect of a child’s room should be a spot to read. Instill this early in a child’s life. At a young age, include a bookshelf and keep age appropriate books within the child’s reach. Bedtime rituals provide the perfect opportunity to wind down after a long day; story time should be a part of that ritual from the newborn stage forward. Both parent and child will reap rewards from this and the memories will be priceless.
Window seats are a wonderful spot to create a serene place to read. If that is not possible consider a rocker. Either a big one for mom and dad and hold the child in your lap or give your child a seat of their own! Look for themed rockers that will truly be a prized childhood possession. These are perfect as a gift from a parent or grandparent.
When purchasing furniture for a toddler consider convertible furnishings; beds and dressers that will adapt to your child as he/she grows. Price compare these options. One thing to keep in mind is the change of a bed or dresser style will make the room feel “new”, and will be an easy way to update a room as your child grows. Often you can resell a crib at a garage sale or on ebay and get a good percentage of your investment back. Buying a toddler bed will make your toddler feel really special. Toddler beds are low to the ground, have a safety rail, provide the perfect transition to “big kid” bed and can be found in a variety of themes. Popular themes include the Princess bed and the Firefighter bed. Nautical themes and Cottage themes are also very popular. Look for night tables/stands and bookcases to complement the beds. Keep in mind like cribs, these beds will be limited in the number of years that your child can use it. But once again you can usually easily resell the toddler bed and get a good percentage of your investment back.
This is a special time in your child’s development and life. Many exciting discoveries take place as your toddler explores and learns to love his world. Make his/her bedroom exciting for them and provide a place to let their little imaginations thrive!
Coming Soon….Planning a bedroom for school age Back to Articles |
