Time to reboot kids’ bedrooms

The first weeks of school can be the perfect time to reboot a child’s bedroom.

Ideally, the room should be easy to keep organized and great for concentrating on homework. It also needs to be decorated in way that’s cheerfully kid-friendly and but not too age-specific, so you won’t have to redecorate too soon.

We’ve asked Brett Beldock of New York-based Brett Design Inc. and Catherine Davin of Pittsburgh-based Davin Interiors for some organizing and decorating strategies for children's rooms. ___ SIMPLE CHOICES In choosing a colour palette, keep it as simple as possible, says Beldock. She suggests limiting the number of colours to create a stylish space that feels orderly. Use white paint on walls, she says, and then bring in just one bold accent colour, like red, navy or magenta, perhaps through a patterned rug and colorful bedding.

Another trendy but timeless option: Use charcoal paint on the walls with crisp white trim, then add a white-and-charcoal patterned rug, and bring in bolder colours through books and keepsakes displayed on shelves. Colorful lamps are also a great way to add personality. ___ DURABLE FABRICS For those who worry about using a lot of white in a child’s room, where it could easily get dirty, Howard notes that outdoor fabrics and rugs have become just as pleasant to the touch as indoor items, and they’re far more durable. So light colours can be much more easily cleaned than they would have been a decade ago.

Use outdoor fabrics in places where kids “might be putting their hands, and where they might sit,” he says. Even if your child is neat, “his friend might wipe Cheetos all over everything and not think about it.”

Patterns, too, can help hide wear and tear. Davin recommends using a patterned carpet that’s “forgiving with stains” to add colour and style to a child's room. “By the time they grow out of it, it might be time to change the carpet anyway,” she says. ___ OPEN AND ORGANIZED SPACES

“Don’t over-furnish,” says Davin, because kids are likely to want a big open space to spread out on. Include only furniture that’s necessary.

And while some open shelving is great for displaying favourite items, all three designers recommend plenty of closed storage for kids' rooms. Deep drawers, bins with lids and cabinets with doors will all help kids stash their items.