Kid's Rooms - Part 3 Girls Rooms

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1. AllPosters.ca: Angelique Tulips I, $284.99
2. Home Depot: 5 Light Chrome Chandelier, $169.00
3. Fabric.com: Summerlin Geranium, $10.98/yard
4. Fabric.com: Randy Geranium, $10.98/yard
5. Heirloom Linens: Alto Cotton Quilt, $129.99/queen
6. Ikea: Birkeland Queen Bed Frame, $389.99
7. CanadaFlowers.ca: Pink And White Tulips, $65.00
8. Ikea: Utsira Mirror, $24.99

As always, I started this room with a sensational fabric (see Item #3), which gave me the perfect jumping off point for this room’s design. When using such a bold coloured fabric, it is important to keep everything else in the room neutral, light and airy. This is why I choose a dreamy white bedspread (see Item #5) and a chandelier fit for a princess (see Item#2).

Choosing long lasting ‘bones’ for a room will allow the room to have enduring appeal to your little diva, but have fun with adding bright, bold fabrics to spice it up. Pillow covers can be easily switched, but it is expensive to change a ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ bed frame.

And, as with most women, girls love feeling like…well...girls! Add some tasteful painting of flowers or some real flowers if they are easy to come by, and make sure to always throw in a few items that sparkle for some instant whimsy. Shinny mirrors, chrome lamps and airy bedding – that’s enough to make any girl smile!

Kid's Rooms - Part 2 Boys Rooms

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1. Fabric.com: Ele Village Brown White, $6.98/yard
2. Fabric.com: Hooty Owl Village, $6.98/yard
3. Fabric.com: Fancy Dot Mist Putty, $6.98/yard
4. Sears: Circular Mirror With Silver Frame, $319.99
5. Ikea: Hemnes Storage Bench, $129.99
6. Map Town Ltd: Cranbrook Globe, $120.00
7. Ikea: Dekad Clock, $8.99
8. AllPosters.ca: Mountain Meadow Farm, $84.99

Whenever faced with decorating a child’s room, I love creating a whimsical room that the child can grow up in. Keeping more permanent pieces neutral will allow the room to grow with the child, and there are many ways of adding whimsy with less permanent items.

For me, choosing fabrics is usually a jumping off place for a room’s design – and this couldn’t be truer than with children’s rooms. Finding a few fun fabrics will allow you to spice up a boys room, without being stuck with permanent juvenile fixtures (‘Toy Story’ carpet? I think not.). Use the fabrics for things like bedspreads or toss pillows – things that can be changed easy (and cheaply) once your child out grows his love of elephants.

The biggest thing to consider when designing a child’s bedroom is storage – especially with a little boy. Boys seem to be collector’s of things – little trinkets that mean the world to them. Store these little treasures in wicker or fabric baskets, placed on book shelves. This way they are easy for your little one to reach and play with, but still hidden from Mommy’s design eye. Small benches that double as storage containers are also a great way to hide sports gear or ‘stuffies’.

The number one thing to remember when decorating a little boy’s room is: he is a little boy. All he wants is a durable room that will be able to keep up with his rough-and-tumble life style (and sticky little jam-hands!). Choose items for lasting resilience and you will have a room that will be able to grow with your little man.