kristen C asked:


Hi everyone!

Ok, so, I’m moving into an apartment next month and I’ve already decorated every room in the house…all I need to decorate is the bathroom. Originally I was going to buy a cute shower curtain and go around what the curtain looked like (colors, etc.) but now I’m thinking I want something unique. I even thought about painting something on the wall to go with whatever my focus was….nothing big. Can someone help me? I thought about a city theme or something like that but I don’t want to go with a beach theme, too cliche!

Jayden

Mr.Andrew Caxton asked:




Difficulties in decorating kids’ room. Great ideas that will make parents and kids happy. Make it a together project.

One of the most important decorating questions you might have run into is the interior design style for a rooms kids. There is no challenge on how hard you saw people trying new decorations in rooms for kids. They always seem to have the doors and windows closed when friends comes over. Decorating rooms for children or teens is usually fun, but when it comes to decorating kids’ rooms, all the joy flies out of the window. So many people have tried to decorate their children’s rooms in fun and imaginative ways, only to find their ideas fall apart because children have such strong ideas about how they want their own rooms decorated. Their ideas and the parents’ ideas may not necessarily be compatible.

You can find ways to keep everybody happy, and still not spend a fortune on decorating. A good idea is to have a few ideas that you like, and that coordinate the child’s room with the rest of the house, and then let the child pick out of those options. In this way, the child still feels he has a say in how his room is decorated, and you will have a room that you like and that goes with the rest of the house. One of the most important considerations in decorating a kid’s room is that it must be a room that is as simple as possible and easy to keep clean. This means that accessories should be kept to a minimum so that there is less to dust and vacuum. You should also try to keep the furniture at a minimum, since there will be less space for clutter to gather.

Many parents like to decorate their kids’ rooms with a cute theme. This is probably not a good idea unless money is no object, since kids grow quickly and tastes change. If you don’t mind spending a lot on a new theme every few years, that’s O.K., but most people can’t or don’t want to spend that kind of money. Better to have a neutral room so where you don’t have to throw the old stuff away constantly. Just look around at garage sales some day. You will see entire rooms of so-called “themes” going for ten cents on the dollar.

But garage sales are a great way to decorate your kid’s room. Many well constructed items of furniture or accessories are available as kids grow, and you can take them and remake them into your own with a little paint and adding some other items. Let your child help pick the accessories and also help with the painting; when a child is involved in this process, he will have more of a sense of ownership and will keep the room cleaner. If you don’t want to paint a room, consider the use of wall hangings. You can really personalize a room by framing and hanging works of art that your child has done. Old refrigerator art work can be spruced up and matted for beautiful displays. Place them in groups by age done or subject and they make lovely groupings. Even if a child objects to this, they are secretly pleased that their efforts are appreciated. This is another way of involving your kids, spending quality time with them and also makes the decorating project fun and interesting for both of you.



Stephen

Madison Bree asked:




Is it time to put away the nursery bedding? Is your child growing out of his or her baby theme? Here are some ideas to help you and your child decide how to decorate their bedroom.

 First, get your child involved in decorating their bedroom. By this time you will know their likes and dislikes, such as colors or themes. Your child will want to be surrounded by decor that they enjoy, and you will want to give them a space that is multi-functional as well. Begin by choosing things that they will grow into, such as the bedding and the furniture. This will save money over time so that you won’t have to change the colors and theme for a long time to come.

Here are some ideas for decorating your child’s bedroom;

 Bedding- When it comes to bedding choices, buy something that is good quality that will last for years to come. I recommend finding good quality bedding and buying it when it is on sale. That way you still have something of good quality, and you will save yourself a lot of money. Again, choose something they can grow into. Bedding that has patterns with characters that they like when they are three, may not be something they will still enjoy at age seven or eight. Bedding with patterns such as plaids, stripes, sports, animals, or floral’s are great choices when it comes to having something for years to come. Then you can find other decor to coordinate with the bedding.

Color- Choose colors that coordinate well with the bedding, that also give it some contrast. For example, my son has a patchwork quilt with shades of blue, green, and yellow. I painted his room a nice shade of blue to pick up the several shades of blue in his quilt, and his curtains are a green gingham pattern, which also coordinate with the bedding, but contrast well with the color on his wall. Whatever colors you choose, find several colors that coordinate well, so you can have the room nicely decorated, and make it fun for your child!

Wall decor- Remember, this is your child’s space, so have wall decor that is personalized. Using wall letters to spell their name is a great way to start. You can buy them online, or go to your local craft store, and find letters that you can paint yourself. You can also find pictures that can be personalized by the company that sells them, and that keep with the theme of your child’s room. For example, if you choose to have a ladybug theme, you might find prints with that theme online, and they can add a name for a small fee.

Something else to keep in mind when it comes to wall decor, is finding decor that won’t damage the walls. I recommend wall decals. They simply stick to the walls, and if your child gets tired of them, they peel right off the wall and won’t leave any sticky residue. You can find different types of wall decals at stores that sell bedding, or online art or poster stores.

Shelves also provide a nice space to add decor such as photos, trophy’s, or other memorabilia. You can even find shelves that have a place underneath with hooks for hanging hats, baseball bats, or jackets, which hang securely to the wall.

Pictures that keep with the theme are easy to find or do yourself. Sometimes you can find framed art that is part of a collection for a specific theme, or you can do it yourself. For example, if you are going with a jungle theme, you might be able to find a poster with jungle animals on it, and find a frame that will fit, and frame it yourself! Or you can use a good quality paper, and make a picture from your wall decals, or paint one yourself (if you have that talent), and then frame it.

Organization- One thing is certain in a kids room, and that is that it will get messy. That’s just a part of being a kid. But you will want to provide some ways to help them keep it organized. Stand alone bookshelves are a great space for their books, toys, stuffed animals, or their art supplies. Place baskets, totes, or boxes on the shelves to keep these items separate. Having a toy box, or toy bins is a must to keep the space organized as well. You just can’t neatly organize all of their toys, and the toy box will make it easier for clean up with certain toys.

Just remember, your childs bedroom is their very own space which will be used for many purposes, so make it multi-functional. It’s not just a place to sleep, but to play, read, or study. You can provide that space for them, not only for many purposes or conveniences, but by giving them a fun colorful space that they will enjoy and grow into.



Rodney