Child's Play - Designing Childrens' Rooms
With Lynn Fenwick B.I.D.
Fenwick and Company Interior Design

     There is no feeling in the world that describes the first time you see your child, the love that encompasses your entire being. This child is precious and we do everything in our power to give the best to this child. Decorating a child's room is both our desire to give our children the best we can afford and to provide the necessary functions that will allow for a child to utilize his or her room to the fullest. This room will be a laboratory, a place to eat, sleep and study. It will be his or her living room, library, a place he/she will develop friendships and a place to reflect. Every child is different, and every child's room will be different. Even the same child's room will be different in the various stages of their life. The stages of a child's life may mean re-evaluation of their room and even redecoration of their room four times before they go off on their own.

Infancy

     It is always so exciting to decorate for a baby. Parents-to-be usually have everything perfect for the baby's homecoming. A baby's room is probably the easiest to decorate. Besides the essentials, crib, chest, light, table and chair, the flavor of the nursery is up to the parent. This is the only chance you will have to do exactly what you want in your child's bedroom!

Some points to consider:

· Pink and blue are not the only colours for baby, in fact babies need high contrast. Red is one of the first colours they see after black and white.

· Light control is important. Horizontal blinds or shades will allow the baby to sleep during daylight hours. Safety is an important factor so please be sure the cords have a breakaway tassel, or ask your window covering specialist about the various options on cords for child safety. You might even consider shutters. They come in wood and are also available in easy to clean vinyl.

· Make sure the chair in the baby's room is comfortable for you to sit or rock in, and that it fits your lumbar region. Too often the chair is chosen for the look. You may be spending a number of hours in this chair, and it may become the reading chair at some later date. Choose it carefully.

Preschool

     The needs for the two to six year olds are; a crib to bed, chest, table and chairs, light over bed, light over table and chairs, wall diplay area, shelves for storage, clothes closet or armoire.

     These are the years of the greatest growth, the greatest adventure. These are the years where colour, form and shape are very important. Children at this age are curious about the world around them and their rooms are the field for discovery.

Points to consider:

· Put your eye level at two feet (approximately the height of your child) How interesting is that view? How easy is it to put things away? (I know I don't like putting things away if it is too hard to do-why would a child? ) Make life interesting at two feet from the floor, and make closet rods and shelving, with easy to use storage boxes, very accessible to your child's height.

· Leave a large area for play. This is where cars, Lego and dolls will end up. This space allows for imagination to run wild.

· A child changes quickly in this age group. Furnishings should be flexible and adaptable to this growth. A table and chairs that only fit a two year old is a an expensive choice. A table that grows or that the legs can be changed is probably a better choice.

· Bed size always is a dilemma when a child is moving from crib to a bed. It is always best to talk to your child about this move. It is even worth while to take him/her to a store where he/she can try out the different beds. You may have to take the bed size in stages, according to the child's comfort level. A youth bed (smaller than a twin) may be the answer. When you are choosing a bed, if at all possible, try to keep in mind the next stage of a child's life, where sleepovers become very important.

School Years

     During the ages six to twelve we witness another change in lifestyle and function to their room. School means the days of all play are gone and part of the room time may involve homework. A desk or work surface, a comfortable but sturdy chair and good lighting will be needed. They will need more storage for art supplies and all the toys that just keep accumulating.

· The sleepover becomes an important factor in this age group, and accommodation is
important. Bunk beds are every child's dream, but can take up a lot of room. Trundle beds or captain's beds are a wonderful invention. These types of beds store a second twin bed under the main bed.

· This is also the age for collections. Two ideas for these ongoing storage problems are to place a shelf that runs the perimeter of the room, above the door height, or to purchase a cabinet, with doors preferably, to keep all the collections contained.

· Clothes storage can also become a problem at this age. Re-organizing the existing closet is your first step. There are several systems on the market, but make sure the roll out bins are see-through and easily accessed.

Teen Years

     If we knew what we need for a teenager in their rooms when we buy houses, teens would have Master bedroom size bedrooms! Room is what a teenager needs. There should be concerns for storage of stereo, CD's, and TV's. Homework may now be done on a computer and they may need work stations instead of just a desk. Friends will all crowd into the space with doors closed. There are clothes, makeup and magazines. If there isn't proper storage, you know it won't be put away.

· This is the age where your child will have a definite opinion on what should happen in his/her room. Hear them out and work together to reach a mutually acceptable decor. Maybe one black wall can work-as opposed to four!

· If you must buy furniture, keep in mind pieces that would easily make the transition to a first apartment.

· Where do all those posters go?! Frame them in a funky metal frame without glass, back them with foamcore and the teen can change them whenever they want. If magazine cut outs are your problem, use six to nine inches of cork as a border around the room, the edges covered by 1/2 round dowel molding. Paint it all out the same colour as the wall or with a slight contrast and let them pin away!

      I hope this information on decorating children's rooms has been helpful. If you are needing some personal guidance on children's rooms or any other room in your home, please telephone us and make an appointment for a personal in-home consultation.