Decorating a nursery is a mother's prerogative. The colors, theme and styles of furniture are all at her whim to choose and decide upon. But when children get a little older, their room should be a reflection of who they are - not their parents. Creating a child's bedroom to reflect the child can be a fun and rewarding process, too. And while the theme, if any, will be key, the furniture will make or break the deal. When it's time to take down the fluffy bunnies or A, B, C blocks from the wall and transform a baby's room into a growing child's abode, seek advice from the child. Find out what he or she is interested in. Perhaps your little princess wants a royal room? Or, maybe your little quarterback wants to go with a football theme? It's even possible no theme will be desired. Remember to ask them though ... it's their room now. Don't try to impose your whims and wishes on the little things like border paper or colors (within reason). If a theme is chosen, this can open the door for a whole lot of fun. Decorating, let's say, a princess room doesn't have to cost a bundle either. Plan together what you'd like the room to look like and start shopping for accessories. An old floor length mirror, for example, can be picked up at a junk shop or yard sale and painted high-gloss white to fit in just perfectly. Small implements and accessories such as pillows, a faux canopy and so on can go a long way, too, without breaking the bank. And while looking for the accessories is really a blast, the real meat of the room lies in the furniture. This is where your opinion can and should count, too. Furniture for a growing child should be comfortable and functional. It should also be of quality construction. If a theme is chosen, look for pieces to fit into it, but keep in mind if the construction isn't quality, it's not likely to last. A $1,000 princess bed that's put together with staples may look cool at the start, but once the little royal does some jumping and normal wear and tear takes place, it may look like a crusade came through the room. Try to find pieces that will fit the theme and grow with the child as well. Your seven-year-old may want a football room, but when he's 15 that could change. Buy for now, but keep your eyes on the future. When creating a room for a growing child keep in mind the extras that will eventually need to go into a room. A desk for school; perhaps a computer stand as well will be needed most likely. If you buy furniture that will work for the seven-year-old only, you'll find yourself buying again a few years down the road. But if you choose items that blend into the room and will work with different design themes and good quality pieces are chosen, a single purchase should suffice over the many different stages your child will go through as he or she grows. No matter what's chosen, make sure the furniture is comfortable, fits in the room well and is well designed enough to handle the wear and tear a child can dish out. Children are tough on their furniture, so their furniture should be tough enough to handle it. |
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