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Decorating a child’s bedroom

Once children reach the age of six or seven, their bedrooms are no longer places where they just sleep. They become a hideaway, a playroom, a social club for other friends and, eventually, a study area for homework. It also becomes of repository for all manner of things, ranging from toys, clothes, books, school and sports equipment and the occasional family pet.

Any parent decorating a child's bedroom in the hope that the decor will last for years has to plan ahead. There is little point in buying bedroom furniture that will be outgrown quicker than a pair of sandals. If the bed is to last for some years, buy the biggest one the room can accommodate. The child's legs will grow fast enough to the end of the bed. Bunk beds are a good space-saving solution if the room is shared, or just to have a spare bed for a friend. But make sure there is room for growth.

Colour

Most children will have favourite colours from an early age, and will love having a room painted in their preferred purple or the blue they love. If you do give into their demands, it’s an idea to use these colours as accents within the room rather than painting the whole room: it’ll be easier to change as their favourite changes. Alternately use pale versions of their favourite colour, as this will be easier to paint over than anything dark or bright.

And why not use blackboard paint for part of a wall or cupboard door? This provides a good drawing area for your child, you never know they may even grow up to be an artist, whilst also ensuring that the remaining space on the walls is left clean. Why not also use soft furnishings, bed linen, monster lamps, toys, rugs and curtains to add a splash of colour to the room. It's cheaper to replace the dinosaur or pony duvet cover, than to repaint the whole room, even when the bed linen comes with matching curtains. Put the children to work decorating their room by creating some artwork, framing it and hanging it on the wall- it adds the perfect finishing touch to a brand new bedroom!

Storage

These days, children have a lot of possessions and need the storage space to match. Don't just stop at a cute little bookcase. Buy versatile shelving that can be adjusted as the child grows. As with other children’s furniture , all of the storage has to be accessible to the child, otherwise he or she will leave everything on the floor. Use under-bed space for storage boxes on wheels for shoes or magazines. The back of the bedroom door is a perfect place to hang some organisers for small objects. Just make sure that all of the pockets are at a child-accessible height.