No, this is not a post about exercise, before you start shuffling uncomfortably in your seat and looking shifty, it is more about how to keep up with the ever changing tastes, trends and needs of a child’s bedroom.
The bedroom your child has now was probably once a nursery, with night lights and toys that tinkled in the soft glow of the room and cute pictures of bunnies and scenes from nursery stories and the like.
Moving on from the nursery, there were possibly themed duvet covers and matching wallpaper, you get the picture, as children grow so does their personality and there is no better place for them to explore and to show their ever developing natures, than in their own bedrooms.
When the time comes for an overhaul, when toys are spilling out onto the landing and the bedroom resembles the proverbial bombsite, it is time to move into action! It needn’t cost the earth to improve the room, and sticking to a few basic rules, should make future revamps quick, cheap and easy to carry out.
Storage is of major importance. If there is a home for every item of clothing and every last toy, then there is no excuse for children to not tidy their rooms and keep them that way! Investing in wardrobes that have shelves and drawers integrated inside, means the room will look uncluttered as everything is in its place behind cupboard doors!
A good sized wash-basket will leave no excuse for a clothes strewn carpet, and this can also be the basis of having your child help a little on laundry day.
If there is space, a desk is a brilliant investment especially as the older the child grows the more homework there will be to complete! A desk can also house a computer, a stereo and have more drawers for school books and folders, pens and pencils.
Shelving that can be easily reached, but can also be raised in time, is also great for storing books, DVD’s, cd’s and little knick knacks that ALL children seem to accumulate!
Investing in a quality bed that will serve a child for many years is essential given the amount of time they spend asleep. A quality mattress that supports the back without being uncomfortable is also an item where skimping on quality will only cause discomfort, restless sleep and a need to be replaced sooner rather than later. There are many mattresses to choose from, testing out both bed and mattress before buying them will ensure you get the correct one for your child.
Try to avoid themed wallpaper as your child gets a little older. Choosing neutral colours with one wall full of colour that can then be changed intermittently will be much easier than having to redecorate the whole room once your child falls out of favour with Batman. Instead, have themed duvet covers, this should appease your child and it won’t be such a big deal when they grow out of it!
Leave a wall free for children to hang up their own artwork, or have a huge blackboard for them to scribble on, this encourages them to be imaginative and express themselves.
Storage, a decent bed and a colour scheme that can easily be complimented with linen and textiles, will give your child a smart or pretty bedroom that will stand the test of time!
Pauline is a full time mother to three children who are a variety of shapes and sizes and much like a box of chocolates, she never knows what to expect next from these sweeties!