Kids Decorating
October 15th 2006 03:03
Elliot, 2, and I are having serious disagreements about what constitutes good taste, and it's really got me thinking. It's time for a bit of a decorating overhaul in his bedroom - out goes the cot and in comes the big-boy bed, along with all the big-boy parephernalia that goes with it.
So we're in the shops looking at bedlinen, and I'm urging him towards the muted blue and white striped set with a subtle nautical motif. I'm thinking that we could ever scour the markets together for a beautiful old sailing boat that we could somehow attach to the wall.
Meanwhile, he has discovered Thomasland. Not that it's hard to find - the clever shop designers have plonked a great big train bed made up in the most hideous train bedlinen right at the top of the escalators. The bastards.
'But look - it's a sweet boat!' I say, showing him my sheets. 'You love boats!'
'No! I love Thomas.' he replies, grabbing at his. 'And Jack, and James, and Gordon...' he says, pointing out each train on the pillowslip. 'See? They're all here.' Great.
I can see that I'm fighting a losing batle. And while we don't walk out of the shop with the giant train bed (too expensive) Elliot does go out proudly clutching his new bedlinen, and telling everyone between bedding and the carpark about his exciting new purchase.
So in my mind, my son has committed his first crime against good taste. But maybe I'm wrong - who's to say that a bedroom decked out like a railway station is a mistake, and that low-key neutrals are the way to go for a train-mad 2-year old? He's opting for the things he loves, and thinks are beautiful, and so am I. Which one of us is right?
To me, decorating kids' rooms is all about compromise. It is their space, after all, so they should be able to express themselves. Let them have a bit of what they love, and a bit of what you love too. The train sheets (on sale) weren't prohibitively expensive, but the bed will be more of an investment and so here I won't be giving him a choice.
When it comes to the main bits of furniture, I want pieces that are going to last a few years - at least beyond this year's craze. I have no plans to go from buying train beds to buying skateboard ones, and then skull-and-crossbones ones - stages that we'll no doubt get to eventually.
Top Tips for Decorating Toddlers' Rooms
1. When it comes to large furniture, look for pieces that will stand the test of time - wooden pieces that can be repained, ample storage for an older child, a toybox that can later be used for books/ DVDs.
2. Keep the backdrop fairly neutral so that you can add bright, changeable touches of colour in bedlinen, cushions, posters, framed prints etc.
3. Make areas to display their collections of cars, trains, princesses - you may be surprised at how good they look en masse.
4. Let them get involved in their process - you want them to love their room.
5. Remember safety - no dangling cords, sharp corners or protruding edges.
So we're in the shops looking at bedlinen, and I'm urging him towards the muted blue and white striped set with a subtle nautical motif. I'm thinking that we could ever scour the markets together for a beautiful old sailing boat that we could somehow attach to the wall.
Meanwhile, he has discovered Thomasland. Not that it's hard to find - the clever shop designers have plonked a great big train bed made up in the most hideous train bedlinen right at the top of the escalators. The bastards.
'But look - it's a sweet boat!' I say, showing him my sheets. 'You love boats!'
'No! I love Thomas.' he replies, grabbing at his. 'And Jack, and James, and Gordon...' he says, pointing out each train on the pillowslip. 'See? They're all here.' Great.
I can see that I'm fighting a losing batle. And while we don't walk out of the shop with the giant train bed (too expensive) Elliot does go out proudly clutching his new bedlinen, and telling everyone between bedding and the carpark about his exciting new purchase.
So in my mind, my son has committed his first crime against good taste. But maybe I'm wrong - who's to say that a bedroom decked out like a railway station is a mistake, and that low-key neutrals are the way to go for a train-mad 2-year old? He's opting for the things he loves, and thinks are beautiful, and so am I. Which one of us is right?
To me, decorating kids' rooms is all about compromise. It is their space, after all, so they should be able to express themselves. Let them have a bit of what they love, and a bit of what you love too. The train sheets (on sale) weren't prohibitively expensive, but the bed will be more of an investment and so here I won't be giving him a choice.
When it comes to the main bits of furniture, I want pieces that are going to last a few years - at least beyond this year's craze. I have no plans to go from buying train beds to buying skateboard ones, and then skull-and-crossbones ones - stages that we'll no doubt get to eventually.
Top Tips for Decorating Toddlers' Rooms
1. When it comes to large furniture, look for pieces that will stand the test of time - wooden pieces that can be repained, ample storage for an older child, a toybox that can later be used for books/ DVDs.
2. Keep the backdrop fairly neutral so that you can add bright, changeable touches of colour in bedlinen, cushions, posters, framed prints etc.
3. Make areas to display their collections of cars, trains, princesses - you may be surprised at how good they look en masse.
4. Let them get involved in their process - you want them to love their room.
5. Remember safety - no dangling cords, sharp corners or protruding edges.
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