5 PROS’ TIPS

Children’s rooms can be comfortable, reasonably organized and a source of pride for everyone, writes Patrick Langston. Here are design tips from five professionals:

1 Lisa Goulet, Lisa Goulet Design (lisagouletdesign.com) Talk to your child about her likes and passions — it’s her room, after all, and it should reflect her personality. Let your child choose the colour; if you’re nervous that it will be too “out there,” give her three versions of her favourite colour, all ones that you can live with, and let her have the final say.

2 Susan Sykes, Decorating Den Interiors (susansykes.decoratingden.com) Incorporate your child’s favourite activities or hobbies. For sports, dedicate a special place to display medals and trophies. Got a budding artist? A big bulletin or magnet board highlights his or her creations.

3 Laura Boisvert, Laura Boisvert Design (lauraboisvert.com) Keep it simple. People tend to go crazy with colour or character-themed textiles, but youngsters go through so many phases that you’ll end up redecorating once a year if you’re not careful. Use peeland-stick wall decals for themes: They’re cheap and easy to change. Bonus idea: If they want something you can’t live with, compromise with each other. Learning to compromise teaches them a valuable life skill.

4 Candace Plotz, Candace Plotz Design (candaceplotzdesign.com) Think outside the box when it comes to bedskirts. For a little girl’s room, I love to use tulle to create a tutu effect. A loft bed is a great investment: It gives a small child a play area underneath. 5

Sarah Kidder, Sarah Kidder Design (sarahkidderdesign.com) Toys and books can easily overrun a space, so invest in good storage. Ikea’s Trofast system is great because you can customize the configuration with shelves and/or buckets of differing sizes to fit your child’s needs.