KID’S ROOM REBOOT
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 a way that’s cheerfully kid-friendly but not too age-specific, so you won’t have to redecorate too soon.
We’ve asked three interior designers — Brett Beldock of New York-based Brett Design Inc., Florida interior designer Andrew Howard, 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, Beldock says. She suggests limiting the number of colours to create a stylish space that feels orderly. Use white paint on walls, then bring in just one bold accent colour like red, navy or magenta, perhaps through a patterned rug and colourful 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.
DURABLE FABRICS
For those who worry about a lot of white in a child’s room, Howard says outdoor fabrics and rugs have become just as pleasant to the touch as indoor items, and they’re far more durable. These light-coloured items can be easily cleaned.
Use outdoor fabrics in places where kids “might be putting their hands, and where they might sit,” he says.
Patterns, too, can help hide wear and tear. Davin recommends using a patterned carpet that is “forgiving with stains” to add colour and style to a child’s room.
OPEN AND ORGANIZED
“Don’t over-furnish,” says Davin, because kids are likely to want a big open space to spread out on. Include only necessary furniture.
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.
Davin suggests hunting for fleamarket finds, like old armoires or Queen Anne dressers offering plenty of space.
Bunk beds with drawers are also useful.
Remember, says Howard, you will always need a bit more storage than you think. So keep one drawer or one big bin on a shelf empty for quick cleanup of clutter.
SMALL ROOM STRATEGIES
Large furniture pieces can make a small room feel smaller, and yet may be needed. Beldock says one creative strategy to keep desks and storage units from dominating a room is to use transparent, durable Lucite for these large pieces.
For lighting in small rooms, wall sconces are great because you don’t have to worry about kids knocking lamps over.
TOUCH OF PERSONALITY
Be sure to incorporate a few special items that express a child’s interests. Davin often includes framed prints like movie posters or depictions of favourite animals, or one big item like a surfboard.