COLOUR IT KIDFRIENDLY
Gone are the days of coating your child’s room in typical genderspecific pinks and blues. Today, pastels in more modern shades are popular options, along with stately monochromatic hues and hits of bold colour.
“Colours can have a tremendous effect on the mood and well-being of children, so it’s important to do your research before tackling a decor project for a kid’s room,” said Martin Tustin-Fuchs, brand manager of Dulux Paints. Bright red is known to energize and stimulate, but may interfere with a restful sleep, he said, adding that cooler shades like blue have a calming, serene effect. Pastel hues are also known to be soothing, while bright, bold tones can promote a sense of playfulness.
Tustin-Fuchs pointed to a number of colour trends that are currently popular for kids’ rooms, including cheery citrus hues like lemon and lime that add fun pops of colour on focal walls or furniture. Complementary colour combinations — such as lavender mixed with soft green, and warm grey tones paired with creamy white or muted green, yellow, orange or purple — are also very functional and fun. Classic black and white never goes out of style, and can act as a clean backdrop for a room filled with bright accessories, painted furniture, and decorative bedding and window treatments.
Sherwin-Williams’s experts have been seeing a surge in contrasting palettes for kids rooms, as well as a move toward more decorative, elegant spaces as opposed to strictly playful, whimsical ones.
“We’re seeing a lot more sophisticated looks in childrens’ rooms,” said Michael Plank, director of colour marketing and design at Sherwin-Williams. “Trendy colours are warmer-based neutrals as well as cooler neutrals, like grey-based blues. We’re also seeing popular colours like heartthrob red popping up in a bright scarlet that is paired with sky blues and billboard greens.
“It’s a retro colour blocking palette and, the beauty is, it can be a neutral. It doesn’t have to be pegged into a ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ look.”
When it comes to choosing a paint colour for a child’s room, the experts agree: Be leery of going too trend-specific.
“Trends can provide great decorating insight and ideas,” TustinFuchs said. ”It’s important to recognize, though, that trends come and go, so plan for the long term and opt for colours that best suit your child’s personality.”
... Trends come and go, so plan for the long term and opt for colours that best suit your child’s personality.
MARTIN TUSTIN-FUCHS, at Dulux Paints
Plank added: “You want colours that can grow with the children.
“If your child is into robots, it can be fun to build those themes into the room, but from a colour angle, you may want to use an accent wall or paint the ceiling accordingly, and that way, it’s easy to change.”
Plank’s colleague Karrie Hodge, senior designer at Sherwin-Williams, agreed.
“Kids’ bedrooms or playrooms are seeing a trend in accent walls, which are a fun, playful way to dress up the room.
“Rather than painting the entire room a specific colour, it’s easier to switch out one wall.
“Or turn upwards to the ceiling, which is oftentimes considered a fifth wall, by adding a bright accent or striped pattern to the ceiling.”
Traditional children’s rooms may still turn to the classic pinks and blues when it comes to adding colour, but they don’t have to be muted.
From hot pink and fuschia to dark navy blues, colours are going bold and beautiful when it comes to kids’ spaces.