In July it’ll be a year since we’ve moved into our Tennessee farmhouse. And, because of all the things that have to get done after you move (like unpacking boxes like a maniac because you’ve heard brown recluse spiders like to live in cardboard, and that scares you to death), you may or may not have put off decorating your kids bedroom.
Sound about right? Glad it’s not just me.
All that to be said, other than buying comforters and bookshelves, my boys bedroom needs a personal touch, and now is as good of a time as any to do it.
If you’re right there with me, and you’ve worked on the rest of you home, but are finally ready to make the kids space special too, here’s a few simple tips to get you (ok, us) started.
If your child’s bedroom needs a makeover, it can be difficult to decide how to decorate the space. In addition to having a comfortable and functional area for your kids to spend their time, your child’s bedroom also needs to be a little fun!
As you plan your decorating scheme, consider these five simple tips for decorating your kid’s bedroom.
Simple Tips for Decorating Your Kid’s Bedroom
Make it Functional
Think about the things your child does in their bedroom aside from sleeping. Then, make a plan for the space according to those activities. Older children, for example, will need a desk (like this Mid-Century desk I found for my daughter) for homework and plenty of seating for all their friends. While a younger child will need space to play and run freely without extra furniture getting in their way.
My kids have a to share a room, that can be extra tricky when trying to decorate. We set ours boys up dorm style for, with the same size beds and same set of bookshelves, and that seems to have worked well so far.
Provide Lots of Storage
If your kids are like mine, they have tons of stuff, so be sure to give them plenty of space to store their things. From toys to clothing, make sure everything in your child’s room has a place. In addition to making it easy for your kids to find what they need in their room, this strategy will also make daily clean-up a breeze.
For example, on their book shelves, they display their Funko Pops, LEGOS, books, video games, and board games. Under the bed, plastic containers with lids store more toys, and seasonal clothing (this set of 4 on Amazon are really similar to what I use).
Oh wait, that’s not only seasonal clothing under the bed, that’s the clothes they took off last week and kicked under the bed along with that missing shoe and 19 mismatched socks. And, is that an empty bag of chips?
If we’re being honest, lots of storage is great. Making them use it, that’s an entirely different blog post.
Use Temporary Decor
It’s likely that your child’s tastes are going to change over the years. Instead of constantly redecorating the space as your child grows, consider using temporary décor in their bedroom that can easily be swapped out as they wish. Removable wall decals and framed artwork that can quickly be refreshed is perfect in a child’s room because they can easily be changed as your kids grow.
One good idea that we’ve done over the years with all the kids is to invest in a few really high quality poster sized frames (similar to these on Amazon), and as their interests change, you can swap out new posters as wall art.
Make Sure They Have Room to Grow
Purchasing furniture for your child’s room is one of the biggest expenses when redecorating. As you purchase furniture for your kid’s room, think about how long they will be able to use the piece and how easily it can be incorporated into future room designs.
A racecar bed, for example, may seem like an awesome choice for a toddler, but a middle schooler probably wouldn’t be very happy sleeping in it. When picking furniture, simpler pieces are often the better choice for a kid’s rooms.
I do, however, like the idea of an accent piece or two to suit their style and taste. If you’re a DIY-er, you can paint a piece of furniture in a special theme or design, and change it later as they grow. I did this for my two boys with a Star Wars BB8 dresser and a Dr. Who Tardis dresser, and they still use them. But, it’s just paint, so when they decide they’ve outgrown the style of the dressers, I can repaint them.
Let Your Kids Help
Infuse your kids’ personality into the design of their bedrooms by letting them help. Whether you let them pick the entire theme or just choose the colors that you’ll incorporate into the décor, allowing your child to help design their room’s décor will ensure they love it when you’re finished.
In conclusion, try to think back, do you remember your childhood bedroom? I definitely remember being able to help pick out a new comforter once or twice, and paint colors. When I was older, my parents let me hang pics torn from magazines of the 90’s teen heartthrobs (I’m looking at you Leonardo Dicaprio).
But more specifically than that, being able to feel, as a child or teenager, some ownership of my bedroom space was very comforting. It was my own little retreat, my space to play, daydream, read, be crafty.
Using these simple tips for decorating your kids bedroom can have the same results for your child.
Do you have any additional suggestions for decorating your kid’s bedrooms? What about you, what do you remember most about your childhood space?
