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Designing Your Kids Room is Childs Play!
by: Batsheva Vaknin
Would your childs room benefit from some fresh design ideas
and reorganization? Most could, but it can be hard to know where
to begin and what concepts to use. Obviously, the age and personality
of your child, not to mention your budget, will dictate much of
the design concept. But where and how to begin? With these easy-to-follow
tips, you will be ready to dive right in and decorate.
A room with a viewpoint
Every piece of furniture, wall-hanging and accessory in a childs
room contributes to an overall feeling conveyed by the room. A sports
theme conveys excitement, while soft white clouds against a light
blue sky add a relaxing, inspirational touch. Choose the design
that is right for your child by having a conversation with each
object and piece of furniture before you place it in the room, asking
what it could contribute and where it would like to be placed. Ask
the room what color it would like to be painted, or the walls what
they would like hanging on them. Stay open-minded and you will realize
the answer to each question is within you.
Give your child the room of his or her dreams - literally
Did you know that children sleep for up to sixteen hours a day
and sometimes more, depending on their age? For child development,
sleep is as vital for health and well-being as food. So your first
consideration when designing your childs bedroom should be
to create a space that feels comfortable, warm and safe. Keep this
in mind when planning to decorate, since creating an atmosphere
where your child can sleep peacefully is more important than adapting
the latest hot design trend.
Minimize distractions, maximize peace of mind
Messy, cluttered rooms add a subtle layer of stress to the inhabitant,
and can inhibit proper relaxation. Keep your childs room well-organized,
with as few distractions as possible. Before you begin to decorate
your childs room, remove all furniture, toys, clothes, and
wall-hangings. Clean the entire room, using natural cleaners that
wont irritate your childs sensitive nostrils and lungs.
Color me beautiful
Paint can transform an ordinary room into a world of your childs
own. Color will influence how your child feels, so choose shades
or combinations that promote relaxation, security, happiness and
love. Green, blue, pink, pastel orange, and beige are all good choices.
Let your child help pick the color, but stay away from bright reds
and yellows which can be overly vibrant, making it hard for your
child to relax, and from dreary grays, browns or black, which can
be depressing and may affect your childs mood. Paint should
be freshened every two to four years, and should provide a nice
backdrop for the rest of the room.
Bed sheets, blankets and bumpers should also be soothing to the
eye, so steer clear of bright, dominant colors. Pastels of any color
work fine here, as does plain white or cream. When it comes to room
accents, you can be creative with colors. A childs chair or
step stool can be painted in bright primary colors, eliciting feelings
of excitement, while a large soft teddy bear or rug can be light
blue or pink, enveloping your child in comfort and love.
Clear that clutter!
Once the paint is dry, bring back in the bed. Place the bed in
its ideal location, then one by one, fill out the room with the
other furniture pieces (see Feng Shui Tips, below). If the room
starts to look cluttered, do not feel you must fit in everything.
Trade the chest of drawers for a closet organizer, wire or wood
systems.
Clothes that no longer fit should be donated, passed to a friend
in need, or stored in waterproof storage boxes in a garage or storage
space, along with clothes that are out of season. (Make sure if
you are storing these clothes to clearly mark the outside of the
boxes for easy identification.) Limit toys and books to those the
child makes use of daily and weekly. Give away unused toys, or store
them in waterproof boxes in a garage or storage space. The more
clothes and toys you get rid of, the more room you will have for
future fashions and fun activities.
Feng Shui tips
You may have heard or read about Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese
art of object and furniture placement. Feng Shui explains that each
area of a room attracts a different type of energy from the other
areas. Implementing Feng Shui in your childs bedroom design
can maximize the effectiveness of the furniture and art you are
already planning to use. For example, Feng Shui teaches that a bed
should be placed in the corner of the room farthest from the door.
Your childs head should be at the end of the bed where the
door can be easily viewed, and there is no chance of getting startled
by an unexpected visitor.
The northern section of your childs room promotes stillness,
so this would be an example of an ideal placement for the bed. The
desk should be placed far from the door, in the Northeast part of
the room if possible, since this is the Knowledge/Education Sector.
This area is also a great place for educational posters, such as
letters of the alphabet or a picture of Einstein. Select artwork
carefully, taking time to notice any hidden messages. Each image
gives off a specific vibration, so only choose the most positive
pictures for the walls.
Of all the activities your child will do in his or her room - including
grooming, relaxing, studying, and playing - in mind that sleep is
most important and must be supported by the design of the room.
Take your childs personality into consideration, as well as
his or her hobbies and special interests. Still, keep all décor
in check so that it does not overwhelm or clutter the space. And
finally, have fun! The energy, love and care you bring to this project
will permeate every objects placement, adding an invisible
yet invaluable element to whatever design you choose to implement.
About The Author
BatSheva Vaknin
I have a lot of experience in the furniture retail business and
i love to write articles as a hobby.
http://www.homeandliving.com/
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