DIY: KIDS’ ROOMS STORAGE, DÉCOR AND MORE
Designing your kids’ rooms can be a daunting task but creating a space that is functional is important to making it last for 18 years. If you’re child is old enough, this can also be a great time to have your child give input and help with the design and assembly of their room. If you involve them they’re more likely to enjoy their space and you’ll have a nice helper along the way.
Whether you’re converting an old room or starting from scratch, here are a few areas to keep in mind.
Color
Starting with an inspiration piece can be a great help. Find something that reflects your or your child’s personalities, as it will help guide the room in the best direction. This can be an old book, favorite jersey or any other item. Your piece will dictate whether you want to stay in a certain color tone or use the colors from your son’s favorite football team. And remember, you don’t always have to paint each wall the same color. Maybe choose one strong, vibrant color from your inspiration piece to paint one wall while leaving the rest white.
Furniture and Storage
Storage is a very important factor when it comes to creating a functional kid’s room and finding furniture that has built in storage will be a tremendous help. IKEA offers custom design closet inserts that can be tailored to your child’s specific needs. Most come with baskets that can be used to store games, books and toys out of site. Choosing a bed that has underneath space is good too. You can find large containers that slide under the bed which will help keep clutter out of site when the families in town. Furniture is also a great place to think out of the box. Visit local antique shops, garage sales and even family members to find unique pieces of furniture that can add a unique flare to the room while still supplying creative storage solutions. Planning a layout BEFORE you buy furniture will save you a lot of time and frustration.
Safety
Hands down, this is the most important part of your child’s room. Whether your buying new furniture or pulling something from somewhere else in the house, it’s important that all furniture in your child’s room meets current safety guidelines. Make sure that all shelves and tables are attached to a secure anchor and can withstand being bump or pushed on. Too much clutter can also be dangerous. Once a year, have your child decide which toys they no longer want or need and donate them to a local children’s charity. Why not teach giving when they’re early.
Budget
Most families don’t have an exorbitant amount of money to spend on a room. Be wise with your dollar. Decide on the pieces that must be new and the rest can be recycled from somewhere else in the house or a local garage sale. You’ll be surprised by the great things you’ll find. Also, don’t feel pressured to buy everything at once. Buy in stages. If you like a certain piece of furniture but the price is too high wait for it to go on sale or reach out to another local store who might be able to beat the price on a similar item. Set a budget and follow it.
When designing any room, be creative. Think of making a space that is aesthetically beautiful but has purpose and function. Creating a space that your kids love and works for them. As you kid gets older use these same ideas when replacing or rearranging their room. Most importantly, have fun.
Sources:
www.TBParenting.com
www.CasanovaDesignGroup.com