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By the time your child starts kindergarten, he's going to want a room of his own. A place to play, study
and show off his favorite things will take the place of pastels and nursery furniture.
"A child's room should be done twice-once for infancy and toddlerhood and again around the time the
child starts school," said interior designer Debbie Weiner, creator of Designing Solutions, a professional
interior design firm in Silver Spring, Md.
"This is not to say that rooms shouldn't evolve and reflect their changing tastes, but there are ways to
design a functional and fun space that grows along with a child," Weiner said.
With the right furniture and a clever eye for storage, it's possible to design a child's room that will
transform from toddler to tween with minimal effort. When shopping for kids' furniture, style is important, but
durability and functionality should always come first. It doesn't matter how cute it is, if it doesn't hold up and
grow with your child's needs, you'll be redecorating sooner than you think.
Opt for furniture with simple lines in basic colors. Simple, streamlined styles in wood tones and whites
work well with any decor.
Particleboard furniture has long been the choice for those decorating on a budget. It may be an
alluring option, but it has a relatively short life span. Once it chips, warps or peels, there is little you can do
to fix it.
Instead, look for durable hardwood furniture that can be stained or repainted if it suffers any major
nicks or dings-or as your child's tastes change. "Some damage to the furniture is inevitable, so consider
how easily these items can be touched-up," Weiner said. "Choose painted or wood finishes that match
magic marker and crayon colors for easy touch-ups."
Skip the expensive kid-size furniture and pieces with overt children's themes. Now is the time to
transition into classic, full-sized furniture that will last well into their teenage years.
Instead of race-car beds or cartoon character bedding, opt for race car pictures for the wall or a giant
Sponge Bob pillow. It's much easier to keep up with your child's changing interests when you splurge on a
few small pieces.
"Look for small ways to incorporate his favorite things so that you end up with a bedroom you can both
live with," Weiner said. "You want your child to love his room. Otherwise, he won't want to be in it."
In addition to a bed and dresser, every kid's room should have plenty of storage and a roomy work
space for schoolwork, art projects, puzzles and games. Buy a big desk now, one that comfortably
accommodates a computer, and you won't have to upgrade when the homework assignments start rolling
in. Be sure to invest in a desk chair with rollers, which will protect your flooring and make it easy for your
child to navigate their work space.
Look for desks with hutch-style bookcases to free up valuable floor space. To keep things tidy, add
baskets or plastic bins to the shelving so kids can stow art supplies and schoolwork out of sight.
"Cubbyhole style baskets for storing wine and displaying plants make great desk organizers," Weiner
said.
Modular shelving or plastic milk crates hold everything from homework projects and toys to backpacks
and shoes-and they can be reconfigured as your child's needs change.
For additional storage, transform an old toy box into a bench by adding a seat cushion or look for
ready-made lift-top benches for extra seating and storage. Even a simple box-style bench or a low table
can pull double duty. Just add a few wicker baskets below to help keep the mess in check.
and show off his favorite things will take the place of pastels and nursery furniture.
"A child's room should be done twice-once for infancy and toddlerhood and again around the time the
child starts school," said interior designer Debbie Weiner, creator of Designing Solutions, a professional
interior design firm in Silver Spring, Md.
"This is not to say that rooms shouldn't evolve and reflect their changing tastes, but there are ways to
design a functional and fun space that grows along with a child," Weiner said.
With the right furniture and a clever eye for storage, it's possible to design a child's room that will
transform from toddler to tween with minimal effort. When shopping for kids' furniture, style is important, but
durability and functionality should always come first. It doesn't matter how cute it is, if it doesn't hold up and
grow with your child's needs, you'll be redecorating sooner than you think.
Opt for furniture with simple lines in basic colors. Simple, streamlined styles in wood tones and whites
work well with any decor.
Particleboard furniture has long been the choice for those decorating on a budget. It may be an
alluring option, but it has a relatively short life span. Once it chips, warps or peels, there is little you can do
to fix it.
Instead, look for durable hardwood furniture that can be stained or repainted if it suffers any major
nicks or dings-or as your child's tastes change. "Some damage to the furniture is inevitable, so consider
how easily these items can be touched-up," Weiner said. "Choose painted or wood finishes that match
magic marker and crayon colors for easy touch-ups."
Skip the expensive kid-size furniture and pieces with overt children's themes. Now is the time to
transition into classic, full-sized furniture that will last well into their teenage years.
Instead of race-car beds or cartoon character bedding, opt for race car pictures for the wall or a giant
Sponge Bob pillow. It's much easier to keep up with your child's changing interests when you splurge on a
few small pieces.
"Look for small ways to incorporate his favorite things so that you end up with a bedroom you can both
live with," Weiner said. "You want your child to love his room. Otherwise, he won't want to be in it."
In addition to a bed and dresser, every kid's room should have plenty of storage and a roomy work
space for schoolwork, art projects, puzzles and games. Buy a big desk now, one that comfortably
accommodates a computer, and you won't have to upgrade when the homework assignments start rolling
in. Be sure to invest in a desk chair with rollers, which will protect your flooring and make it easy for your
child to navigate their work space.
Look for desks with hutch-style bookcases to free up valuable floor space. To keep things tidy, add
baskets or plastic bins to the shelving so kids can stow art supplies and schoolwork out of sight.
"Cubbyhole style baskets for storing wine and displaying plants make great desk organizers," Weiner
said.
Modular shelving or plastic milk crates hold everything from homework projects and toys to backpacks
and shoes-and they can be reconfigured as your child's needs change.
For additional storage, transform an old toy box into a bench by adding a seat cushion or look for
ready-made lift-top benches for extra seating and storage. Even a simple box-style bench or a low table
can pull double duty. Just add a few wicker baskets below to help keep the mess in check.
| Written by Chandra Orr. All Rights Reserved. Published September 2007 by The Homesteader - York County & Lancaster County, South Carolina, Edition. |
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