It’s About Your Child, Not You …
I have redesigned over 75 children’s bedrooms (taught 96)—just in 2020 and 2021 alone—as an online interior design instructor to teens and tweens during COVID school lockdowns. Working with all those kids helped me to better understand their wants and needs, and I thought this would be a great topic to share with you …
BLOG POSTED BY:
Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
NOTE: I was a teacher through Outschool, but because of their privacy policy, I am not allowed to show any before or after pics of children’s bedrooms that I worked on in my class. Instead, I will be showing you some actual design suggestions I made to the children and their parents. I do not have the source of the photos since I used these in the past for teaching purposes.
NOW IS THE TIME
It is summertime and the perfect time to work on your child’s bedroom redesign. So, let’s get started!
INVOLVE YOUR CHILD IN THE PROCESS
Is this you?: Your young one is growing up before your eyes, far removed from diapers and bottles, and capable of tidying and organizing their own space. CAPABLE is the keyword here. Actually, getting your child to tidy up and organize their space is a whole challenge in itself, right? But, how awesome would it be if they wanted to tidy up because they loved their space?
Or is this you?: Your child is quickly approaching his or her teens and has ‘outgrown’ their kiddie room and is wanting something ‘cool’ to hang out in. Either way, now may be the perfect time to reimagine their most precious and occupied zone – their bedroom – while also reflecting their changing tastes and preferences.
There are really three stages in children’s bedroom designs: a baby nursery … graduated into a young boy or girl’s room … graduated into a tween and teen bedroom.
Redesigning a child’s bedroom can benefit his or her general well-being and development. I do know this for a fact! A well-designed space can boost creativity, promote organization, and create a sense of comfort and ownership. To me, the keyword here is OWNERSHIP. Make your child’s private space one they love by getting them so involved in the process that they feel ownership, pride, and want to keep their space nice and organized.
A bedroom redo can be an incredibly beneficial process for both parents and child alike. Not only does it provide parents with the opportunity to introduce design elements they feel are important to create an attractive and enjoyable space, but it also gives children a chance to express themselves in a creative way.
PARENTS, LISTEN UP!
That last point is particularly important. This is your child’s opportunity to express their creativity and self-interest and shape the world around THEM. It is true kids do not, and should not, make big household decisions. But this is THEIR space, so when you have committed to a bedroom redesign, make it a place they will feel proud of and safe because they were able to dictate the terms of it.
Their bedroom should be about them, within reason, of course. If they want neon yellow paint color on the wall or something you deem inappropriate, then, you should not include that in the design. You are the parent, so guide them.
On a Personal Level …
Before I move on to the next point, I feel the need to stress something to you. PARENTS, LISTEN UP! I have personally witnessed—within my own inner circle—where a mother wouldn’t allow her 14-yr-old daughter to have her bedroom redesigned. It desperately needed a redesign. It was a graduation gift from me to the girl, and I was going to redesign it. The daughter was so excited, having seen my work firsthand and knowing how many children’s rooms I had redesigned.
But I knew what was really going on. The mother had her own stuff and collections in the daughter’s room and wanted to keep them in there, but the daughter does not like or want those things in her room. The mother is using parts of her daughter’s room to hold some of her things because there is ‘nowhere else to put it’. This depresses the daughter, and her room really needs an overhaul. This is very upsetting to me, for several reasons. If you are one of those parents who is doing something similar, STOP IT!! Your child deserves to have that small space to him or herself. You get the rest of the house.
THE STEPS NEEDED …
The first step is to determine a theme with your child (examples could be a character theme or a place like the beach). That means deciding on the right colors for paint/wallpaper, comforters, window treatments, and various décor.
Ask your children, “How do you want your room to feel? What are some activities you really want to include in your room? What colors do you like? Can you draw me a picture of your new room?” You will be pleasantly surprised by the insights they share. If your child is a tween or teen, have them show you some inspirational pictures on the internet of what they like.
I have found, in general, that all kids LOVE string lights, LED flashing-colored lights, or tube lighting. They also love a cozy reading nook to do their homework and for reading pleasure. I have also found that a lot of girls love plants. They do not need to be real plants.
From there, work together to create zones (a reading zone, a desk or homework zone, a hangout zone with friends—which sometimes is part of the reading zone—and a bed or sleep zone). Be sure to include some of their specific desires. If they want a specific theme, borrow from colors inspired by that theme, and layer in accents of some things they shared with you.
HOW TO APPROACH COLOR AND DESIGN ELEMENTS
Kids love color and lots of it. It is common to see numerous colors in a young child’s room. However, if your child is entering their tween/teen years, they will want a little more of a mature room and theme. In this case, you might want to mainly stick to three colors: a primary color (the color you see most in the room, which is the wall color), a secondary color (this is the second color you see most in the room such as comforter or curtains), followed by an accent color (which consists of about 10% of the color in the room and serves as a pop of color, like pillows and decor). The picture below to the left is a perfect example of that type of color scheme (light blue, brown, and creme).
I caution against overkill with specific characters or design elements throughout the entire space, such as an all-Barbie bedroom or Disney from floor to ceiling, as these interests will change faster than their stage of development. Instead, follow key decision principles that you would likely apply in any other room of your house.
Aim for balance in the room, harmony by combining different elements (glass, metal, wood), décor of varying heights (so everything isn’t the same level and boring to the eye) and at least three layers of lighting, if possible: general, ambient, and task lighting.
Additionally, consider upgrading their bed. If you feel daring, skip the typical white or natural look, and opt for a favorite painted color that matches a nearby element or a spray painted metal bed frame. Think about adding special lighting, as mentioned above. Paint the ceiling or a focal wall any favorite but different color that can be easy to change in the future. And include layered seating beyond just the bed to include bean bags, gaming chairs, papasan chairs, and hanging egg chairs. These are fun extra seating options and make for a great space for kids and their friends to hang out.
Installing pegboard above a desk is probably my favorite design element for a child's bedroom. It is super functional, keeps a child organized, and looks really cool. It is very inexpensive and can be found at major home improvement stores. They are also a great way to add some color to a room!
Do not pressure yourself into making hasty decisions or finishing the job too quickly. A child’s room remodel doesn’t have to happen overnight. Spend time selecting key items like the bed, bedspread, floor covering, and wall art, and set a reasonable budget.
If in doubt, seek expert assistance from a designer. You can also get ideas from HGTV, Pinterest, design magazines, and online sources.
IN CONCLUSION
A child’s bedroom design should go through three stages as your child grows older: a baby nursery … graduated into a young boy or girl’s room … graduated into a tween and teen bedroom. Whatever the case may be, THIS IS YOUR CHILD’S OPPORTUNITY to express their creativity and self-interest and shape the world around them.
REMEMBER, this is THEIR space, and your child deserves to have that small space to him or herself. Give them a space they will truly love. Who knows, it may be the very thing that makes them want to keep their room clean! ☹
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